Health and medical news Blog
Welcome to our look into the world of healthy lifestyle
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If you are trying to reduce your kilojoule intake there is still a minimum amount of certain foods that you should be eating each day. These are:
• Breads/cereals/and grain foods—5 servings or more. 1 serving means – 1 bowl breakfast cereal (30 grams), 1/2 cup cooked pasta or rice, ? cup cooked grain such as barley or wheat, 1 slice bread, ? bread roll or muffin.
• Vegetables—4 servings. 1 serving means – 1 medium potato (about 150 grams), cooked vegetables such as broccoli or carrot—eat freely. Raw leafy vegetables, such as lettuce—eat freely.
• Fruit—3 servings. 1 serving means: 1 medium orange (200 grams), 1 medium apple (150 grams), ? punnet strawberries (100 grams).
• Dairy foods—2 servings.1 serving means: 300 ml milk, 40 grams cheese, 200 grams of low-fat yoghurt or other low-fat dairy foods.
• Meat and alternatives—1 serving. 1 serving means – 60 to 80 grams cooked lean beef, veal, lamb or pork 120 grams lean chicken (cooked weight, excluding bone), skin removed 120 grams fish (cooked weight, excluding bone), 2 eggs, 1 cup cooked lentils or dried peas or beans. In our experience, looking at the diets of hundreds of people who want to lose weight, the change required is often to eat more!
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Tags: Diabetes
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The socio-cultural macro environment represents the values, expectations and attitudes of the wider social environment. Community attitudes to convenience foods and leisure saving technologies are examples. A hedonistic and materialistic atmosphere where moderation is considered unfashionable is common in many sectors of Western societies. Where this is coupled with easy access to palatable, high-fat foods and reduced necessity for energy expenditure, obesity levels are likely to increase. In Australia, an advertising expenditure of $1 million per day on food stuffs, confectionery and soft drinks is combatted by an equivalent amount per year spent on public health education, some of which is presumably aimed at eating for reduced body fatness.
With increased affluence there is also an increased opportunity for over-indulgence through the social processes of dining out, business lunches, social festivities and celebrations. There are also cultural and ethnic differences in food preferences and exercise availability: European-style food is usually higher in fat, for example, than Asian foods; some foods, such as pork, have traditionally held a higher social status than vegetables or fruit in different cultures; opportunities for exercise are reduced for some ethnic and religious groups such as Middle Eastern and Muslim women.
Male attitudes to health are known to differ from those of females. Men have typically been less responsive to health messages, attend doctors less often, but suffer more from most forms of illness than women. This has been attributed to social and attitudinal differences between the sexes—men feel more isolated and vulnerable if they admit any concern about their health. Overcoming these attitudes is a major obstacle to providing acceptable fat loss programs for men. Cultural attitudes in some ethnic groups also mean that partner support for fat loss practices, particularly by males for females, is low or non-existent.
Social attitudes to physical activity can influence participation. Increased interest in jogging in the 1970s for example, followed by aerobics and then weight training in the 1980s, formed the pattern of a social ‘trend’. It is doubtful, however, if these have compensated for the decreases in physical activity that have occurred at the workplace or the decreases in other ‘incidental’ activity in day-to-day life. Multi-event sports like triathlons have become popular, but this is usually only amongst the very fit. Fun runs and community activities, however, have the potential to attract large numbers of people who may otherwise remain inactive. Socially acceptable forms of activity differ according to ethnic group, nationality, age and gender. Being fat carries a negative status, but more so for women, and being inactive also carries a negative status, but more so for men.
The influence of the socio-cultural macro environment has been particularly noticeable in countries like the UK and the Netherlands. The overall nutrient intake in the food in both countries is similar, but the obesity rate in Britain is increasing at a much greater rate than in Holland. According to Dr Wim Saris, from the University of Limburg, this might be put down simply to the fact that only 3 per cent of British transport involves the bicycle, whereas the equivalent figure is over 30 per cent in the Netherlands.
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Tags: Weight Loss
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Although fat moves continuously through the fat cycle, at times lipogenesis dominates and at other times lipolysis dominates. The overwhelming factor influencing the balance is the state of feeding, with fasting favouring lipolysis and feeding favouring lipogenesis, as already discussed. These directly correspond to the demand for fat as fuel.
Another condition which favours lipolysis is stress, either physical or psychological, such as exercise or a fearful situation. Adrenalin causes an increase in lipolysis with FFAs being released into the bloodstream anticipating a demand for fat as fuel. If the situation passes without the need to use the extra energy, such as with exercise, the fat returns from the fat cycle back to the fat cell In other words, an increase in lipolysis does not always correspond to an increase in fat utilisation for energy.
A number of other factors can influence the balance of lipolysis and lipogenesis. A large fat mass tends to increase the amount of lipolysis and thus the amount of FFAs available for energy needs. Insulin, catecholamines, Cortisol and sex hormone levels can also alter the balance. Fat cells in the hips, buttocks and breast are more responsive to female hormones than the fat cells on the abdomen, which are more prolific in men.
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Tags: Weight Loss
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Foreign bodies seem to have an amazing attraction for children, and it is incredible the number and range of items that are swallowed. The incidence is highest in infants in the 1-3 year age group. Coins, screws, nails, washers, bits from toys, plastic gadgets such as doll’s eyes, wheels from toy cars, and pins, safety pins and otherwise, have all gone down the red lane. Sheer good luck, and the body’s ability to deal with these onslaughts, make the risks happily fairly small.
Most foreign bodies simply pass through the full length of the bowel, and in the majority of cases are passed at the far end with little discomfort within four to five days. In fact, a parent may be totally unaware of what has occurred. Occasionally symptoms may develop, but overall this is uncommon. Usually, the doctor’s assistance is needed if there is pain, a fever or vomiting resulting from the incident.
Sometimes a foreign body may be held up at certain critical points in the bowel. A sharp object, such as a pin or a needle, may penetrate the bowel lining and fail to move or it may actually perforate the wall.
Treatment
Most cases do not require any treatment. However, if the foreign body is known and especially if it is a sharp, potentially dangerous one, treatment may become necessary. If symptoms (as noted) occur, it will require medical attention.
The doctor may ask for a bowel X-ray if the foreign body has not been passed within a few days. However, only about 2-4 per cent of cases require active surgical intervention. These days, with the use of a long, flexible device called the endoscope, it is possible to locate foreign bodies and remove them fairly simply under an anaesthetic.
There is probably one major exception to the suggestion of waiting for the child to pass the object. That is in the case of the miniature mercury batteries that are now widely used in hearing aids, cameras and calculators; it is becoming more common for these to be in homes, often in ready access to infants. Their shiny silver metal coat is attractive to some children, who suck them, and several cases of their being swallowed have been reported. The incidence will inevitably increase over the next few years.
The acid of the child’s stomach may rapidly destroy the thin metal lining of the battery, so releasing very toxic quantities of mercury which may be lethal to small children. If this occurs, immediate treatment either from the doctor or at the emergency ward of the nearest big hospital is essential. The battery must be removed as urgently as possible before it disintegrates and allows the toxic substances to be absorbed by the body. Never forget this danger.
Do not give cathartics for foreign bodies. Do not give cottonwool sandwiches or follow other antiquated old wives’ tales. These all belong to a bygone era. Castor oil is definitely out, and so is cascara and similar products. They could stimulate the bowel violently and with sharp objects increase the risk of perforation. Do not get hysterical—death is not imminent. Ring the doctor for advice or take the child immediately to the nearest large hospital.
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Tags: General health
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‘I think I should breast feed Joanna,’ Karen said, as she looked happily at her tiny baby, now a few days old. ‘I mean, properly, not for just a week or two like some of my friends, but for as long as I am capable. Is that a good idea?’
‘It’s an excellent idea,’ I replied, and I meant it. ‘I am always pleased to hear young mothers opt for this sensible, safe and perfectly natural form of baby care. Breast milk is meant for human babies. Cow’s milk, as I’ve said for years, is great, but it is meant for baby cows.’
‘What are the chief advantages of breastfeeding?’ Karen asked. ‘I know there are lots, but I would like to hear the reasons doctors give.’
‘There are many,’ I answered. ‘The obvious ones are that the milk is just the right consistency for your baby. It is manufactured strictly for her. It contains all the nutritional needs she will have for the first several months. It comes ready made, free from germs, and there is no messy fiddling around with bottles and teats and the need to cleanse, wash and sterilize these. It contains the correct amount of most of the vital vitamins, proteins and other foods the baby needs. It is also manufactured in a form that is acceptable lo her, and does not need modification or diluting or anything else. The temperature is just right. And as one proud father once said with a sigh, “it comes in very attractive containers, too”.’
‘Isn’t breast milk supposed to contain protective chemicals?’ Karen cut in. ‘I’ve heard that breast-fed babies are less likely to develop certain illnesses.’
That’s true. It contains special products called antibodies, and these can guard against certain potentially serious infections. It is well known that gastric infections, sometimes life imperilling, seem much less common in breast-fed babies.
‘This is sometimes because germs are present in milk. Keeping milk is sometimes difficult, especially if there is inadequate refrigeration during hot summer weather. Germs causing gastric: upsets breed rapidly in milk products in the heat. These were once a serious cause of death for babies, though happily not so commonly seen today. But it is still a plus for breast feeding, because no special storage or refrigeration is needed.
‘What’s more, it is claimed by many doctors that “cot deaths” are less likely in breast-fed babies. Nobody knows what causes this terrible condition. The baby simply dies in his sleep, even though he appeared quite well when put to bed. It occurs during the first six months of life. It is not common, but still, many babies die.’
‘Don’t you agree that a mother can get closer to her baby if she is actively breast feeding her?’
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Tags: General health