I'd get a second opinion if something doesn't sit right with you. Doctors are human and they make mistakes too. Nobody knows your own body better than you do. If your gut says something is wrong, keep pushing until you get answers.

Be careful trusting health advice you find on the internet, including mine. There's a LOT of junk out there — supplement companies and diet gurus trying to sell you something. WebMD is decent for general info but it can't replace an actual doctor.

I work in healthcare and see this question frequently. The short answer is that individual results vary enormously. What works for one person might not work for another. The best approach is to work with your doctor to find what's right for your specific situation.

I had this same concern and went to see a specialist. It turned out to be much less serious than I thought. But getting professional medical advice gave me peace of mind. If you have insurance, use it — that's what it's for.

The evidence on this is actually mixed. Some studies show one thing, others show the opposite. When the science is unclear, I default to common sense: eat a varied diet, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and don't stress too much about individual health fads.