Q: I understand pretzels to be a "smarter" choice far as a snack instead of chips etc, however, could too many cause discomfort, bloating of the belly, constipation, and others given the fact they contain wheat, flour, gluten?  I ban carbs but enjoy pretzels for a treat sometimes but always have a stomach ache, bloated feeling and constipation.  Hope I'm not being graphic but I trust you'll understand and perhaps provide some advice.  I've tried the gluten free ones but they're hard as rocks!  Any answers could help. - Diane

A: Pretzels may seem like a healthier snack choice, but the truth is there is nothing healthy about them. The fact that they are lower in fat than chips may be deceiving because they are still quite high in calories. Pretzels are made from white flour so they are full of sugar and salt. Eating too many of them could lead to some stomach discomfort. A better snack alternative would be popcorn because it is high in fiber and low in fat and calories. Popping raw kernels in a popcorn machine is the healthiest way to make it, but there are some microwave versions that do not contain butter and are low in sodium. Just make sure they do not contain hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils.