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Nutrition
Last week, MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Health’s consumer health database, published the top 10 most visited health topic searches of 2012:
Looking at these searches, it would seem that the public are searching for information on the most common health threats in the United States. According to the Mayo Clinic, the top seven threats to women’s health are heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, accidents, and type 2 diabetes. The top seven threats to men’s health are similar: heart disease, cancer, accidents, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and suicide.
Of course the most visited sites could also mean that people who were diagnosed with high blood pressure and diabetes started exercising but they had trouble breathing, had heart palpitations, got sunburned, and hurt their backs!
So now that turkey day is over and done with, answer these questions:
- Are you overweight?
- Exercise less than 3x per week?
- Have high blood pressure or high cholesterol?
- Have any immediate relatives with diabetes?
Today there are millions at risk for developing type-2 diabetes. Many people don’t understand the severity of the disease which often leads to stroke, heart disease and even blindness.
You can do a lot to improve your chances of NOT getting type-2 diabetes such as monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol levels, exercising and being more active, eating healthy, etc.
For more info, please visit:
http://healthfinder.gov/nho/NovToolkit.aspx
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diabetes.html
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/consumer/prevent.htm
The FDA is investigating the death of a Maryland teenager from a heart arrhythmia after drinking large cans of Monster Energy on two consecutive days, reports the New York Times.
Current FDA rules do not require companies to disclose caffeine levels in their beverages. The type of 24-ounce can of Monster Energy that the Maryland teenager drank contains 240 milligrams of caffeine.
Are you or your patients having strange symptoms after taking an new herbal supplement? Natural Standard can help!
Natural Standard, a source for high-quality, evidence-based information about complementary and alternative medicine, announced today the release of their new Adverse Effects Checker.
Simply check off the symptoms and the Adverse Effects Checker will provide a list of dietary supplements that may be causing those symptoms.
 As the “locavore” movement continues to blossom across the country, it’s no longer only rural citizens who have access to less-industrialized food options: even residents of cities are finding ways to grow their own produce, or at least acquire it from nearby sources. This provides more economical and healthy options for cooks. A part of this movement has been the choice of some urban homesteaders to raise their own poultry.
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) currently has a page on its website with helpful information about Keeping Backyard Poultry. The major point that the CDC addresses is the prevention of the spread of Salmonella, an illness that is transmitted in a variety of ways. It can be spread through contact with poultry (or any birds), including chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys.
Salmonellosis is an infection with the bacteria called Salmonella. Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.
The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness. The CDC highly recommends hand-washing and careful hygiene to anyone handling live poultry or poultry products such as meat or eggs. All poultry and poultry-related equipment and supplies should be considered contaminated even if the animals look healthy.
Interestingly enough, the Times-Picayune published an article last year that examined troubles with feral chicken populations which have grown since Hurricane Katrina. Recently, local ABC affiliate WGNO-TV covered a story about the difficulties in catching feral chickens in the city. New Orleans has its own special set of issues when it comes to the cosmopolitan bird.
The American Dietetic Association is celebrating March 2012 as National Nutrition Month! Check out their website at www.eatright.org for lots of recipes, ideas, and info, and investigate these delicious recent publications on nutrition on display here in the Isché Library (on the third floor next to the Library elevator):
- Behan E. Therapeutic Nutrition: a guide to patient education (2006).
- CB Cataldo, LK DeBruyne & EN Whitney. Nutrition & Diet Therapy: principles & practice (2003).
- Dudek SG. Nutrition Essentials for Nursing Practice (2006).
- Escott-Stump S. Nutrition & Diagnosis-Related Care (2008).
- Gershwin ME, JB German & CL Keen. Nutrition & Immunology: principles & practice (2000).
- Grodner M, S Long & BC Walkingshaw. Foundations & Clinical Applications of Nutrition: a nursing approach (2007).
- Hark L, & G Morrison. Medical Nutrition & Disease: a case-based approach (2003).
- Katz DL, & RSC Friedman. Nutrition in Clinical Practice: a comprehensive, evidence-based manual for the practitioner (2008).
- Kaufman M. Nutrition in Promoting the Public’s Health: strategies, principles, & practices (2007).
- Mangels R, VK Messina & M Messina. The Dietitian’s Guide to Vegetarian Diets: issues & applications (2004).
- Nehlig A. Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, & the Brain (2004).
- Owen AL, PL Splett, & GM Owen. Nutrition in the Community: the art & science of delivering services (1999).
- Snetselaar LG. Nutrition Counseling Skills for the Nutrition Care Process (2009).
- Stipanuk MH. Biochemical, Physiological, & Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition (2006).
- Whitney EN. Nutrition for Health & Health Care (2007).
- Whitney EN, CB Cataldo & SR Rolfes. Understanding Normal & Clinical Nutrition (2002).
- Williams SR. Williams’ Basic Nutrition & Diet Therapy (2005).
The Stay Healthy, Louisiana! blog (from the Louisiana Public Health Institute) posted that a gumbo z’herbes recipe from the New Orleans School of Cooking was featured in Shape magazine. Who says Louisiana food can’t be healthy?
Growing up, my mother always cooked her stuffing in the turkey. It was delicious, the stuffing not the turkey, that was more of a centerpiece. Little did we know back then that we were living on the edge.
Food poisoning will put a serious crimp in your Black Friday plans, my friend. If you cringe every time you see your Aunt Martha wipe down the counters with a sponge that has been in her sink since the pilgrims landed or you get queasy when you see your nephew touch every dinner roll with his grubby hands before putting one on his plate, check out this site and forward it with offending family members under the guise of sharing recipes.
And if you’re still one of the few who cook their stuffings in the bird, err on the side of caution and invest in a food thermometer. Who doesn’t need a new kitchen gadget anyway?
The Food and Drug Administration issued an update last week on the health hazards of eating too much black licorice.
From the update: If you’re 40 or older, eating 2 ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks could land you in the hospital with an irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmia.
FDA experts say black licorice contains the compound glycyrrhizin, which is the sweetening compound derived from licorice root. Glycyrrhizin can cause potassium levels in the body to fall. When that happens, some people experience abnormal heart rhythms, as well as high blood pressure, edema (swelling), lethargy, and congestive heart failure.
I wonder if this applies to black jelly beans too?
Louisiana ranks 48th nationwide in breastfeeding rates? For shame, ladies. These things aren’t just for show, you know.
Breastfeeding reduces obesity in children and builds stronger immune systems. Sure, everyone knows how great breastfeeding is for babies but did you know a mother can burn 500 calories a day breastfeeding? What other time in your life can you lose weight while relaxing in a comfy chair.
During World Breastfeeding Week check out all the benefits of breastfeeding and what resources are available locally for all the hot mammas out there.
The Trust for America’s Health has released a new report, F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2011 which finds that adult obesity is increasing across the Nation. Louisiana is the 5th most obese state with 31.6% of its adult population being obese; we are one of the 16 states with an obesity rate above 30%.
 1943 USDA nutrition chart  2011 USDA's MyPlate With the reveal of the new food plate from the USDA, nutrition has been in the news lately. An article on NPR’s Morning Edition recently discussed “Washington’s long tradition of trying to guide the American diet”. From turn of the century agricultural expeditions to “the Poison Squad”, a group of young volunteers who explored the effects of contaminated food in the basement of the Department of Agriculture, this report chronicles the relationship of government and nutrition.
If you’re in DC this year, a new exhibit, “What’s cooking, Uncle Sam? The Government’s Effect on the American Diet” at the National Archives details America’s food history.
Adding color to your day is always a good idea; after all colors can brighten a room, lift your mood, and apparently improve your nutritional health.
The month of March is National Nutrition Month sponsored by the American Dietetic Association. The theme for this year is “Eat Right With Color,” encouraging everyone to add a burst of color to their plate with vegetables and fruits.
Find out easy ways to improve your daily eating habits at http://www.eatright.org/nnm/
On January 31st, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans were released and their main focus is to emphasize that reducing calorie consumption and increasing physical activity will lead to better health. Currently, more than two-thirds of adults and one-third of children are overweight or obese and ultimately the new guidelines will help to prevent diet-related chronic disease. Tips that are emphasized to incorporate in our everyday lives are:
- Avoiding oversized portions
- Drinking water instead of other beverages
- Consuming foods with less sodium
- Reducing caloric intake
- Increasing fresh fruits and vegetables
Be on the lookout for more consumer-friendly tools and advice which will be released within the next few months.
For more information please visit:
www.dietaryguidelines.gov
www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines
www.healthfinder.gov/prevention
www.mypyramid.gov
Last week, the US Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin released a Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding. This call to action was aimed at families, communities, employers and health care professionals to improve breastfeeding rates and increase support for breastfeeding. Download the complete report and the fact sheet.
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