BLOG 302 AUTISM

BLOG 302 AUTISM

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a type of developmental disability that affects people in different ways. A person with autism will communicate, interact, and behave differently. There is not a single cause or single type of symptom which makes this disability very unique to each person. Symptoms also appear differently and can start as early as in the first few months or life or can start in early childhood. Most of the time, signs appear before age 1, and if not 80-90% of parents see the symptoms by age 2. The spectrum is also very wide. Some children also “out-grow” certain behaviors. Some children show very noticeable symptoms while others have very mild forms. The common denominator is the person’s ability to communicate and interact, which all ties into social behaviors. Social skill problems are the most common difficulty people with ASD have. Relationships are hard to handle.

Understanding diagnosis can be complicated. Certain signs to watch for include:

1.       Preferring to be alone.

2.       Disinterest in talking, sharing, or playing with others.

3.       Not understanding emotions.

4.       Avoiding eye contact and/or physical contact.

For 40% of autistic children, they do not talk at all. However, some do start to talk later in life and others (25-30%) do have language skills but then lose them. Trouble with language skills might include repeating the same phrase over and over (echolalia), trouble pronouncing, delayed speech, having a robotic voice, trouble staying on topic, and not responding to humor or sarcasm.

There are also tell-tale sign behaviors. Repetitive hand motions are common like flapping or twirling. Having routines and rituals are common and a person with ASD does not like these habits to be disrupted. They can become fixated on certain tasks or habits. Pacing or feeling hyper is common. Being extremely sensitive can be a trait or having aggressiveness. Clumsiness is also a behavior.

The key is early detection. Therefore, as a parent, be sure to take notice if your child has one of the following characteristics:

1.       Does not smile by 6 months.

2.       Does not coo or babble by 12 months.

3.       Cannot speak with single words by 16 months.

4.       Does not play or have imaginative qualities by 18 months.

Doctors don’t know what exactly causes autism. Genes seem to be the biggest culprit. There is not a lab test to diagnose ASD, rather, determination is based upon observed behaviors. Every child needs to have their regular check-ups with their pediatrician. It is in fact a fallacy that vaccinations can cause autism.  Having a healthy pregnancy is important. ASD is a special condition that many people still grow up to lead successful lives with. Behavior is a learned trait, so with time ASD can be addressed with different therapies and with practice these actions become more and more manageable and controlled.

BLOG 301 FALLING

BLOG 301 FALLING

When we fall it isn’t exactly something we planned for or meant to do, but it happens. Falling happens especially as we age, and sometime the resulting injuries can be major setbacks. People over the age of 65 are at the highest risk. In fact, 35% of this 65 and older population experiences at least one fall per year. The risk increases even more with people over age 70. At least 45% of this age range falls at least once per year. Three million of these adults go to the emergency room each year and then 800,000 end up being admitted to the hospital. Even though falls are unpredictable, there are preventative measures to help at least lower the risk of incidence and the ability to recover quicker from the fall.

Individuals are at risk not just with age, but also with their health status and type of lifestyle. As we age, balance is not as efficient as it once was, so unstable surfaces and stairs can be problematic. Stepping up and down off sidewalk curbs is troublesome. Vision and hearing loss are also common with aging, so this too can make getting around safely an issue. Cognitive functioning is not as precise as it once was either. Muscles atrophy with age and conditions like osteoporosis and diabetes can impact overall wellbeing. There are medications that can also pose a risk to being more prone to falling because they can affect coordination and balance. These typically are psychotropic drugs, antidepressants, or sedatives. They can cause drowsiness. Other possible medications that can cause risk for fall are cardiovascular related such as beta-blockers or diuretics. This is because they can cause cognitive impairment, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Some people feel this when they go from seated to standing. This can also cause them to feel weak in their first few steps and possibly fall.  

Falling at home is probably the most preventable environment. Making sure the home is not cluttered, placing most used items in areas easy to access, and making sure bathing and bathroom areas are not too low or not requiring a high step in and step out entry/exit, are practical measures to take. Floors should not be slippery, areas should be well lit, and trip hazards shouldn’t be around.

The fear of falling can be limiting for some people who would rather not go anywhere to avoid this happening. Broken wrists, hip fractures, head injuries, and broken ankles are all possible fall related injuries. Up to 95% of hip fractures are from falls. Staying active, making sure you are aware of your surroundings, and using a cane or walker, are preventative measures. Often, we become reactive after falling and then try to improve balance and coordination. These things shouldn’t be put off until we age. Exercise is medicine for all ages, and if you don’t move it, you do lose it. We should be ready for the unknown as much as we can.

 

BLOG 300 BONE BROTH

BLOG 300 BONE BROTH

Bone broth has been given extra attention by health minded people. Bones and connective tissues of animals are simmered with water to make this broth, which doesn’t necessarily sound appealing to drink. The most common animals the broth is made form include chicken, beef, pork, lamb, bison, fish, turkey, and venison. There isn’t an exact recipe or correct way to make bone both, but usually a large pot of water, vinegar, and the animal parts are simmered to taste. Vinegar is the key ingredient because it pulls all the nutrients out of the bones. Salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, and thyme are commonly used ingredients as well.

Why would anyone want to drink the broth of animal parts? Animal bones are filled with vitamins and minerals our body greatly benefits from. These include calcium and magnesium which strengthen our own bones. Animal bones also have zinc, iron, vitamin A and B, as well as collagen. Simmering the bone parts releases all these nutrients so that we can drink and absorb the benefits.

Another purpose of bone both is its ability to improve the digestive system. It can help reduce inflammation in the digestive track. The collagen in bone broth turns into gelatin which has an amino acid called glutamic acid. Once in the body it converts to glutamine which helps the functioning of the intestinal wall. This fights against leaky gut and other gastrointestinal diseases. Collagen also aids with joint health. The other amino acids in bone broth (glycine and arginine) help fight inflammation. Glycine has also been shown to help with sleep. Deeper sleep, less waking up, and falling asleep faster have all been found by those who drink bone broth near dinner/bedtime.

Bone broth is packed with benefits and has very little calories. It can help with weight management because it is high in protein and low in calories. It can be homemade, or store bought. Bone broth dates to pre-historic times when hunter-gatherers used the left-over body parts of the animals they killed for food. Today, the benefits remain and what might seem like the part of the animal you would normally throw away, you could save (or freeze) to make use of for a healthy drink.

BLOG 299 LACTOSE INTOLERANT

BLOG 299 LACTOSE INTOLERANT

When someone says, “I can’t have dairy”, we automatically assume they are lactose intolerant. For many, of use, we just think that means you are allergic to dairy and that is as far as our knowledge goes with this condition. “Lactose” actually means “sugar”. This type of sugar is specifically found in dairy products. Lactase is an enzyme that our body produces in the small intestine. However, when a person is lactase deficient, symptoms can arise once they eat dairy. Many people who have a low level of lactase are still fine eating dairy. For others who have true intolerance, symptoms can include gas, bloating, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and sometimes vomiting.

When the body has an adequate amount of the lactase enzyme, it turns the lactose sugar into glucose and galactose. When there is a deficiency of the lactase enzyme, the food consumed moves to the colon instead of undergoing digestion and absorption. Then bacteria in the colon forms causing the symptoms of lactose intolerance.

There are a few risk factors. Asian, African, American Indian, and Hispanic people find this condition to be more common among their race. Premature babies are at risk because their small intestine may not have fully developed. Having any problems or disease associated with the small intestine raises the risk for someone.

There are three types of this condition:

1.       Primary: This is the most common type that develops in adulthood. Milk products become hard to digest and genetics are usually the key determinant.

2.       Secondary: This type occurs as the result of an injury, illness, or surgery that affected the small intestine. The small intestine has started to produce less lactase. This is the type of condition that is associated with celiac disease and Chron’s disease.

3.       Congenital or developmental: This would arise if the mother and father have both passed on the gene to their child. It is rare to be lactose intolerant during infancy.

A doctor can diagnose this condition by having a person perform the lactose intolerance test which involves drinking a liquid that monitors the body’s reaction to lactose. There is also the hydrogen breath test where a doctor has the person consume a high containing lactose beverage then measures the amount of hydrogen in the breath. If the body doesn’t like lactose, it will release those gases and hydrogen during this test. A stool sample can also be taken. Through trial and error, a person can determine if they need to completely avoid dairy, discover what items to particularly avoid and those that are safe foods, and can use lactose-free or reduced products. We have to eat to live but were not all given the same digestive tract for this process. Milk does a body good, but not when the body rejects its digestion.

BLOG 298 ACNE

BLOG 298 ACNE

Acne is a very common skin condition that has to do with hair follicles, oil, and dead skin cells. Acne likes to make itself visible through its presentation of pimples, oily skin, blackheads, whiteheads, and scarring. These symptoms are found on the face, chest, shoulders, and back. Almost everyone has had one of these acne types at some point in their life. The oil glands on the face clog the pores. Pores are where hair follicles are found. Large pores that are clogged create blackheads. These look like tiny black dots on the face. Small pores that are clogged create whiteheads which are the white colored bumps that surface and release puss when aggravated. Either type can develop into a pimple that is typically tender and swollen. Severe cases of acne form nodules that can even become infected.

Acne likes to claim its fame during puberty and last into a person’s 20’s. Adult acne is more common in women than men. The primary culprit of acne is hormones. Heredity also comes into play. Chocolate won’t cause acne as commonly believed. The increase in hormones during the teenage years produces more androgens which are the male sex hormones (including testosterone). Testosterone produces sebum which is the skin’s oil glands. Bacteria can also clog the hair follicle pores. It is the bacteria that makes the black and/or whitehead. It then makes sense that women on birth control or people using steroids are at higher risk for acne due to hormonal changes induced to the body.

For most people, acne makes them feel uncomfortable. Although mainly temporary, it can leave scarring. There are plenty of over-the-counter remedies such as facewashes and creams. When these approaches don’t work, a doctor might prescribe medication. Make up and cover creams can be an option. The most effective treatment is trying to prevent sebum production. Preventing bacteria growth is also important. Exfoliation can help unclog the pores. Cleansers can be used that have sulfur, and/or benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid, salicylic acid. For many, soap and water alone can help prevent acne. For others, topical gels, alcohol, or acetone might need to be used to reduce oil on the skin. This will help treat how the skin grows and sheds. A doctor can prescribe antibiotics. Some of these medications do have possible side effects of dry skin, swelling, and sensitivity to sunlight.

No one likes the visibility of acne, and the teenage years can be troublesome when it comes to appearance. Hormones like to control us in so many ways. Keeping a clean face will always help. We just must remember to hold our heads up high even if a few bumps are on the surface. Fortunately, acne is only temporary. 

BLOG 297 DELI MEAT

BLOG 297 DELI MEAT

A nice heart cold cut, lunch meat, whichever type of deli meat you favor, reading the labels of these pre-packed proteins is very important. There are so many types of deli meats from bologna to turkey breast, making a selection available for every taste bud. However, this “meat”, really isn’t just meat, rather, it’s a concoction of different by-products filled with chemicals. The fat and sodium in excess increase the health risks increase for developing Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, while chances of heart attack and stroke also rise.

Processed meats contain plenty of preservatives, hence their shelf life in your refrigerator. These particular preservatives are nitrates or nitrites. These are a potential carcinogen. All of the added flavors, smoking, salting, and curing the meat, have been linked to cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers processed meat, which is deli meat, to be a Group 1 carcinogen. Other additional ingredients include like butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Those don’t sound like they are meant to visit the digestive system.  It seems like a couple slices of bread with lettuce and tomato with whichever meat, would be a healthy lunch choice. So easy to make must mean too good to be true. Some meat labels say they have no artificial sweeteners or are uncured, but the label needs to say nitrates or nitrites free. We are easily lured by the words “natural” or “organic”, but further investigation needs to be done. Eating ingredients that we are unable to pronounce should probably be avoided. Bologna is basically a mix of sausage, pork, chemicals, and preservatives. In other words, avoid.

This doesn’t mean that you have to completely cut deli meat out of the picture. However, looking for low sodium options is important. One slice of typical deli meat can contain over 200 mg of sodium, and most sandwiches are layered with meat. It is interesting that the World Health Organization has found that eating just 50 grams of deli meat or any processed meat daily increases the risk for colorectal cancer by 18%. Anything packed and preserved has been transformed from its original taste for us to have easy access to and for manufactures to prey on our pursuit of convenience. Choosing a deli counter versus a packaged is also a better option. A person can also roast their own meat and slice it themselves. The more far removed you know where something has come from, the more you should remove it from your diet. In the end, hold the mayo and cheese, and tell the person crafting your sandwich that you will pass on the nitrates too.

BLOG 296 COTTAGE CHEESE

BLOG 296 COTTAGE CHEESE

Creamy, soft, white, and ripe……cottage cheese aims to please both taste buds and your health. Cottage cheese is fresh, not aged or ripened over time like other cheeses. It is made from curds from pasteurized cow’s milk, which can be or combine regular milk, non-fat, or reduced fat types. Therefore, cottage cheese comes in different varieties, so buyers might prefer or need one type versus the other depending on how the cheese will be used (e.g., eaten raw or in a recipe). Cottage cheese is quite versatile offering different curd sizes (small, medium, large), sodium-free, lactose-free, whipped, and/or creamed.

When it comes to nutrition, the various types have various nutrients. As an example, the nutrition information for one-half cup of low-fat cottage cheese is 81 calories, 1 gram of fat, 14 grams of protein, and 3 carbohydrates. For Daily Value (DV), it contains 29% for B12, 5% calcium, 20% sodium, 4% folate, 19% selenium, 5% for B6, 5% for zinc and copper, and 13% for phosphorus.

Protein wins when it comes to cottage cheese. Because of the high amount of protein cottage cheese contains (70% of its calorie content), cottage cheese helps with fitness nutrition. Combined with resistance training, it can help with muscle building. A trick bodybuilders use is to eat cottage cheese right before bed because it contains a type of protein called casein. This type of protein is absorbed slowly and 80% of the protein in cottage cheese is casein. Casein can help with muscle synthesis without impeding the breakdown of fats. High protein foods can also help with weight loss because of the feeling fuller effect. Cottage cheese is high in protein and low in calories so it a great weight loss aimed food to incorporate.

The downside of cottage cheese is the amount of sodium it contains. Choosing low sodium or reduced sodium is recommended. For frequent cottage cheese eaters, this is important to avoid raising blood pressure.

Other than just eating cottage cheese on its own, it is versatile in many recipes. It can be an ingredient used to make pancakes or waffles, in smoothies, spread on toast, with granola, to make dips, as a substitute for mayonnaise, with scrambled eggs, baked in goods life muffins and dinner rolls, in lasagna, as a sour cream substitute, or simply with fruit.

Cottage cheese can even be made at home. The process of curding involves adding vinegar and acidic substances like lime to warm milk. With more acidity, the protein starts to break apart in the milk. Casein and whey begin to separate. Now the curd forms and can be cooked allowing more moisture to set in. Then it can be washed to rid of any acidity and then drained to get rid of the rest of the moisture. Some people like to add cream and salt to taste.

Cheese is a well-liked food by many. Dairy is certainly a staple of many diets. Nearly all kids drank milk for healthy bones growing up. Cottage cheese certainly has its benefits for those who aren’t lactose intolerant. It has as different texture than other types of cheese, but that’s what makes it especially good.  Food that tastes good and is good for you is hard to pass up.