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Communication is the cornerstone of any successful relationship—and the same goes for your relationship with your doctor. Talking to your doctor openly and honestly, after all, is the key to feeling comfortable, confident, and clear headed as you take control of your wellness journey. Today, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about talking to your doctor and advocating for yourself every step of the way. Read on for our top tips!

1. Be open when you’re talking to your doctor.

Doctors have seen it all. Whether it’s an embarrassing ailment you’re dealing with or a question you’d rather not ask—don’t let fear control the way you communicate with your doctor. At best, withholding information can disrupt the level of care you’re provided or cause you to live for far too long with discomfort that can be easily treated. At worst, it can lead to surgical complications or misprescribed medicine. Trust us when we say there isn’t a scenario your doctor hasn’t encountered—or a question she or he hasn’t before heard.

When it comes to talking to your doctor, remember that everything you say is private and confidential information. It won’t leave the four walls of your doctor’s office. While telling a friend something embarrassing or confidential can be scary for fear it may “get out”—no doctor will share your private information. Rashes, bumps, bad breath, night sweats, infections, itches, depression, mental illness—both medical school and real-life practice have prepared your doctor for everything (and then some). What may feel embarrassing to you is simply commonplace in a doctor’s eyes. They deal with thousands of cases every year—and they certainly won’t be fazed by whatever it is that’s bothering you (we promise!).

2. Answer lifestyle questions honestly.

Tempted to fib about how many drinks you have each week or whether you use cannabis? Don’t. The more the doctor knows about your diet and lifestyle, the better your medical care will be. Being dishonest when talking to your doctor about whether you use tobacco or how often you exercise can disrupt the success of a surgery, lead to an unexpected reaction to medication, or prolong a recovery period. Also, keep this in mind: your doctor is asking about your smoking, drinking, diet, lifestyle, and exercise habits out of necessity—not out of a desire to judge or shun. Allowing them a full and open understanding of your lifestyle will ensure they can provide you the best possible care and outcome.

PRO TIP: All allergies matter! Patients often neglect to disclose allergies they don’t deem relevant to a certain appointment or procedure. But it’s always best to share every allergy you have when talking to your doctor—dogs, peanuts, sulfa drugs….everything—and allow them to decide whether the allergy is relevant.

3. Make a list of questions before talking to your doctor.

You may go into your doctor’s appointment with a head full of questions, but nerves can get the best of you when you’re talking to your doctor. Couple any anxiousness you’re feeling with the fact that physicians often seem to be in a rush—and, before you know it, your appointment can be over and you’ve forgotten to ask key questions you had in mind. We always recommend making a comprehensive list of top-of-mind health questions before your appointment. And don’t rely on your memory to document the answers—bring a pen and paper or use your phone to take notes as your doctor answers each question.

PRO TIP: Getting ready to head into surgery? Check out our top tips for what to ask before surgery.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask for further clarity when you’re talking to your doctor.

With medical jargon and confusing pre-op protocols, it’s perfectly normal to be unsure about something your doctor said. If you find yourself scratching your head as they’re explaining something, ask them to repeat themselves or explain in more detail. You’re not sitting for the SATs—a doctor’s appointment shouldn’t feel like a test you have to fudge your way through. As a patient, you have every right to ask for further explanation about anything you don’t quite understand. You can also always call the office after you’ve left to gain further clarification as well.

5. Know that nurses are a great resource, too.

Nurses are often the unsung heroes of the medical world. Physicians are typically in a rush and juggling tons of patients each day—while nurses are often the ones who have time to break things down and spend more one-on-one time with patients. Get to know the nurses in your doctor’s office. They can typically answer questions and provide clarity when getting in front of a physician or talking to your doctor is difficult.

6. Use your patient portal.

In today’s digital world, most medical practices will have some sort of an online patient portal or app. Definitely create an account and take advantage of all that it offers! From medical records and bloodwork results to upcoming appointments and treatment plans—you can often access your personal medical information in a more timely manner via your patient portal versus waiting for a call back from your doctor. Many patient portals also include messaging options. Thinking back to our first tip in today’s post, if you’re embarrassed about asking something in person when talking to your doctor—you can always use your portal’s messaging feature to ask online.

7. Get all of the information you need to make informed decisions.

Remember—doctors are absolutely the experts, but you are still allowed to (and should!) advocate for yourself when talking to your doctor. From getting a second opinion before opting to undergo surgery—to asking about replacing the old-school from-midnight fast with an approved presurgery drink instead, explore options openly with your doctor. Don’t be afraid to ask about alternative treatments, holistic wellness options, or using clinical nutrition in place of more severe interventions. As long as you’re respectful and curious—rather than undermining—any seasoned doctor will be more than happy to help you explore all of the options available to you before encouraging you to make a decision.

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Overall, being open and honest when talking to your doctor is so important for the best possible outcome—whether you’re battling an ailment, preparing for surgery, or simply attempting to get as healthy as possible!

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Ready for more goodness? Browse the rest of the CF Nutrition blog for empowering health, wellness, and lifestyle tips. And don’t forget to fuel yourself and your family along your health journey with the clean, clinical replenishment of CF(Rehyrdate)® and CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity +—our fan-favorite electrolyte drinks.

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Since the beginning, CF Nutrition has been a physician-founded, conscious clinical nutrition brand. The primary goal of CF Nutrition has always been to help more people, patients, and parents quickly access the game-changing benefits of clean clinical nutrition. Today, then, we’re so excited to announce we’re officially rolling out CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ in 10 Central Market locations across Texas—making it easy and convenient to support your immunity and fight dehydration naturally, effectively, and quickly on the go. Read on for everything you need to know about this exciting retail rollout and what it means for your everyday hydration.

Where can I find CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ in Texas?

Starting November 12th, look for half-liter bottles of our rehydrate drink on the shelves and in the cold section of Central Market Austin, Central Market San Antonio, Central Market Southlake, Central Market Fort Worth, and Central Market Houston. A subsidiary of HEB stores, Central Market offers gourmet groceries, fresh produce, and a wide selection of organic and natural foods. We’re incredibly excited to have CF Nutrition products in a store that emphasizes overall health and high-quality nourishment.

What exactly is the CF rehydrate drink?

CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ is a natural electrolyte drink with immune-boosting ingredients. Formulated with functional vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and naturally-sourced electrolytes—and free from harmful dyes and additives—it offers a clean, clinical-grade, colorless option for replenishing and rehydrating on the go.

What makes the CF rehydrate drink different?

CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ provides the nutrition and hydration you won’t get from water alone with a nutrient profile featuring essential electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals. We leave out the synthetics, sugars, and dyes you will get with traditional sports drinks and other hydration beverages on the market.⁠ It’s also specifically formulated to support a strengthened immune system and enhanced general wellness.

How should I use CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+?

Whether you’re traveling, working out, recovering from a night of fun, fighting the flu, experiencing a bout of stress, or pregaming for the weekend ahead. There are countless reasons and seasons to reach for a half-liter bottle of our rehydration drink. With less than 1 gram of sugar per each half-liter—and none of the synthetics or additives you’ll find in other rehydrate drinks—its intentional formulation rapidly replenishes lost fluids and essential electrolytes, including those lost quickly through sweat and illness. 

When is clinical-grade hydration essential?

• Fighting a cold or flu
• Recovering from illness or surgery
• Preventing or easing a hangover
• Traveling locally or abroad
• Experiencing altitude sickness or dehydration
• Fueling up for—or recovering from—a workout

Who is the CF rehydrate drink for?

Medical-grade hydration is something everyone needs regularly, but we find it’s become a regular fan favorite amongst the following groups…

• Parents: Available in Aloha Blend, Orange, and Kiwi Strawberry, little ones tend to love the taste of CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+—and parents appreciate the fact that it’s not only natural, clean, and clinical-grade….but free from harmful neon dyes that make a mess of clothes and cars. The best part? Immune-boosting ingredients like vitamin c, vitamin d, zinc, and magnesium promote optimal immune health and wellness for the whole family—while naturally-sourced electrolytes make for quick-and-effective replenishment, minus all of the added sugar.

• Athletes, Runners, Yogis, and Cyclists: Even the best sweat sessions can leave you feeling depleted and drained. The problem with most post-workout options? Water alone just won’t cut it when it comes to replacing the electrolytes you lost quickly—and reaching for a traffic-cone-orange, sugar-packed sports drink means undoing all of the hard work you just put in to cleanse your body. A half-liter bottle of CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ offers athletes, yogis, runners, and every active person in between a healthy, effective way to treat your body to complete clinical-grade replenishment.
• Anyone wanting to hydrate more effectively: From keeping your energy levels, mood, and brain function up—to boosting your immune system, preventing hangovers, and relieving constipation—the benefits of staying hydrated are endless. That’s why our team of medical professionals and beverage scientists here at CF Nutrition specifically formulated CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ to offer everyone a tasty, on-the-go, next-level clinical hydration option.

How is CF rehydrate drink different from Pedialyte or Gatorade?

That’s a great question! Check out the breakdown below for an at-a-glance look at what makes CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ a superior, cleaner, more practical option for fighting dehydration.

CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+  

• Sugar: Rather than being saturated with added and artificial sugars, CF(Rehydrate)® has only 1 gram of added sugar and is lightly sweetened with natural stevia rebaudiana.
• Colors: CF(Rehydrate)® is clear, colorless, and completely devoid of artificial colors and dyes.
• Flavors: CF(Rehydrate)® flavors are natural, resulting in a taste that’s light, refreshing, and enjoyed by children and adults alike.
• Electrolytes: CF(Rehydrate)® contains more electrolytes than Pedialyte®. Magnesium, phosphorus, and selenium for complete hydration. More sodium per bottle for superior replenishment 
• Amino acids: CF(Rehydrate)® contains the amino acid L-citrulline, used to improve blood flow and aid in the process of muscle repair.

Pedialyte®: 

• Sugar: While Pedialyte® includes some electrolytes, the majority of this formulation is a mixture of water, dextrose (a simple sugar that is not ideal for diabetics), and acesulfame potassium (a highly processed artificial sweetener).
• Colors: Many of the color additives in Pedialyte®, like Red-40 and Blue-5, are among the most common allergens and food irritants, especially for children.
• Electrolytes: Pedialyte® contains less sodium and fewer electrolytes than CF(Rehydrate)®.
• Amino acids: Pedialyte® does not contain amino acids or other recovery-enhancing ingredients.

Gatorade®: 

• Sugar: One serving of Gatorade® has 21 grams of added sugar compared to < 1 gram in CF(Rehydrate)®. (The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar to 100 calories per day which equals 24 grams or six teaspoons. Gatorade Zero and other low-calorie versions include artificial sweeteners and sugars. Some individuals may find these ingredients challenging to digest and can experience gastrointestinal distress after consumption. 
• Colors: Just as is the case with Pedialyte®, many of the color additives in Gatorade®, like Red-40 and Blue-5, are among the most common allergens and food irritants—especially for children.
• Electrolytes: While the original Gatorade® formulation contains sodium and potassium, it does not include additional electrolytes such as magnesium, selenium, and phosphorus.
• Amino-acids: Gatorade® does not contain amino acids or other recovery-enhancing ingredients.

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Overall, we’re thrilled to bring clean, clinical-grade hydration to families, athletes, and everyday health-conscious consumers via Central Market stores throughout the great state of Texas. Keep an eye out for CF Nutrition products next time you’re in Central Market—and learn even more about our game-changing rehydrate drink right here.

Not in Texas? No problem. You can order CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ online.

We are a month or so into 2021, and if you set New Year’s  Resolutions, it might be getting a little more difficult to stay motivated and stick to your health goals. Or, perhaps the stress of 2020 spilled into the new year and you didn’t find the time to set any 2021 resolutions. Either way, CF Nutrition is here to help you get on track to make 2021 YOUR year to become the healthiest and happiest version of yourself. In this article, we discuss ways to set realistic and sustainable fitness and health goals that you can actually keep. 

1. Don’t overestimate how much time you have to dedicate to fitness

I ‘m going to workout 7 days a week for an hour and a half in the New Year. Sound familiar?

There are several factors that go into how much time you can spend on fitness. If you work from home and don’t have children, you might have more time to dedicate to fitness than a parent who has to work in an office. Work and kids are just two of the many factors that may decrease someone’s available time in the day or week to dedicate to fitness. When creating a fitness New Years Resolution, it’s important to evaluate all of the responsibilities you have and be realistic with how much time you can spend being physically active. Overestimating how much time you can spend on fitness is one of the main reasons people don’t stick to their new health goals. 

If you have a busy schedule, HITT workouts may be the most effective and timely way to get in your workout. A short 30-minute HITT class can burn a lot of calories and give you more energy boost to go about the rest of the day. There are several online HITT classes to explore so it’s easy to find one that you enjoy.

Setting a goal for how many days per week to be active is a great way to make sure you reach your health goals. If you’re new to exercising, maybe start small and aim to be physically active 3 times per week. Once you’re comfortable with this workout schedule, you can then gradually work to increase your weekly fitness goal. If you start with unrealistic expectations, it’s easy to give up altogether and go back to your old ways, leaving you feeling discouraged. 

2. Don’t have the ALL or NOTHING approach

This year I will not eat any sweets. (Eats one cookie, throws in the towel)

Having an all or nothing approach to diet can be detrimental to your health goals. When we are too strict with ourselves, eating one cookie can lead to a whole day of poor eating and junk food binges. If you are craving a cookie, eat the cookie and go on with your day. Eating something that doesn’t align with your normal healthy diet is perfectly normal. Try not to overthink it. 

This all-or-nothing mentality can affect your fitness goals as well. If you miss a workout on Monday, don’t think your whole week is ruined. Instead, get right back on track the following day. Having an all-or-nothing approach is very common for people when they are starting new habits but trying to avoid this mentality will help you stick to your health goals and create a healthier YOU.

3. Focus on what you put into your body, rather than what you’re cutting out.

No sugar, no white bread, no alcohol, no pasta, no gluten. Sound familiar?

Ever think about how many restrictions you implement with your diet? There’s low carb, vegan, sugarfree, dessert-free, starch-free…. the list goes on and on. But what if we focused instead on what we ARE eating. Instead of telling yourself you can’t have any chocolate this year, set a goal to make sure you eat 5-7 servings of vegetables each day. Or, instead of restricting white bread, make sure you get the right amount of fiber each day. By putting so many restrictions on our food intake, we make food the enemy. I know it sounds crazy, but food is not the enemy. IT FUELS US. So maybe this year, you consider setting health goals like:

1. Eat 5-7 servings of veggies each day
2. Eat the rainbow
3. Consume 2-3 servings of fruit in each day
4. Eat healthy fats like omega-3’s
5. Adequately hydrate each& every day
6. Get in the recommended daily amount intake of fiber

By focusing on what you put into your body, your relationship with food will heal and you will look to food as a way to nourish and fuel your body, rather than depriving it.

5. Remember that weight loss is a gradual process

The recommendation for weight loss is 1.0-2.0 LBS/week not 20LBS in 2 weeks. 

Do you expect to become a millionaire overnight? Unless you are a very lucky lottery winner, you probably won’t become a millionaire overnight. I love to use this analogy as a Registered Dietitian when working with patients to reach their weightloss goals. Just like you can’t expect to strike it rich overnight, you can’t achieve sustainable and lasting weight loss instantaneously (and you definitely shouldn’t attempt to either). Weight loss is a gradual process and it takes time, hard work, and patience. If weight loss is something you are looking to achieve this year, keep in mind that this process takes time, so be patient. Try not to dive into fad diets that make you eliminate carbs or consume juices instead of meals. Research shows that chronic dieting leads to weight gain and an unhealthy relationship with food. If you follow a restrictive diet you will eventually give in and binge eat whatever you were restricting. This unhealthy cycle is known as the dreaded yo-yo diet and can not only lead to weight gain but also health complications. Trust me, I know it seems like giving up carbs and sweets is the straightforward answer to finally achieving your weight loss goal but I can assure you, it’s not. Sure, you might lose weight quickly at first, but after a few weeks, it’s very likely that you will gain it all back when your body adjusts to this new way of eating (or you ultimately give in to your very normal cravings). I cannot stress the importance of eating a well-balanced diet enough: all the food groups play an important role in keeping you healthy, strong, and energized. 

We hope these tips help you set realistic health goals for yourself this year and become the happiest and healthy version of yourself.