Healthy Snack Ideas Fun For The Kids Part 3

Healthy Snack Ideas Fun For The Kids Part 1

Healthy Snack Ideas Fun For The Kids Part 2

Should you get a flu vaccination?

Vaccination clinics abound in the community. Should you visit one?

With the weather turning unseasonably colder in northern California the flu season is in full swing.  The annual influenza is taking its annual toll on the population and with the addition of the Swine flu that has accounted for a few deaths locally, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with local county health agencies have begun an advertising campaign geared toward motivating the masses to get the flu vaccine.

 This year, that campaign has been even more urgent due to outbreaks of the H1N1″swine flu” virus, which have spread from one country to the next in the past six months or so. Local H1N1 vaccine centers have been set up around the Sacramento County making the new Swine Flu vaccine available to most anyone that wants it.

 Should you get yourself and your children vaccinated against the flu? Just like all vaccines and medications, there are potential side effects associated with the flu shot. Minor side effects can include but are not limited to soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site, low-grade fever and other aches and pains. More severe, life-threatening complications have proven to be rare, but the danger still exists that someone can suffer severe effects from this alleged beneficial vaccine.

 The most common dangerous side effect is an allergic reaction. Since the vaccine is grown in eggs, it is more dangerous for those who have had an allergic reaction to other vaccines in the past. These reactions can include breathing problems, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, and a fast heartbeat or dizziness.

 The most serious side effect is Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). This is a disease in which the body damages its own nerve cells, resulting in muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. While most people eventually recover, some have permanent nerve damage and 5 percent to 6 percent of those who develop GBS will die. The CDC would remind you that only six of every 1 million people injected with the flu shot will develop GBS. That’s small comfort if you’re one of the six, of course.

 The CDC talks about the benefits of being vaccinated, but are those benefits backed up with the facts? The flu vaccine is always changing because the flu strains change from one year to the next. (The swine flu is one such variation.) The manufacturers of the vaccine take a shot in the dark and hope they’ll hit the right strain each year, but the fact is the flu shot is only 70 percent to 90 percent effective.

 The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics advocate simple health habits to prevent the spread of illnesses like the flu. Taking these steps can help people avoid the flu without having to get a flu shot in the first place:

 Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough/sneeze; throw the used tissue away.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water as soon as possible after coughing or sneezing.
• Keep yourself and any babies and children in your care away from people who are coughing or sneezing.
• Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth if you in close contact with people who are sick or have been sick.

 Consider these suggestions, along with the above information regarding risks vs. benefits, before getting a flu shot this year after all, it’s your health and the health of your children at stake.

Natural Solutions to Sinusitis

Clear drainage is better than yellow sticky snot

How do you know if a runny nose should be of concern depends on the type of drainage.  If you have a clear and watery discharge it is likely the result of an allergic reaction to something in the environment causing a histamine reaction.  If the discharge turns yellow or green in color and becomes thick and sticky that indicates a potentially more serious condition and a probable viral or bacterial infection underway in the sinuses.

 Regardless of the cause, sinusitis is a common problem with frustrating symptoms: congestion, cough, sore throat, fatigue, fever, pain and pressure around the eyes, cheeks nose or forehead. What can you do to prevent sinusitis? Harvard Women’s Health Watch offers a few simple suggestions for reducing your risk or relieving early symptoms of the condition.

 First, keeping your nasal membranes moist is a great way to avoid/reduce sinus symptoms. Stir 1 teaspoon salt into 2 cups of lukewarm water; use a squeeze bottle to stream the solution through your nose. Do this 1-2 times daily to keep your nasal passages from drying out and clear excess mucus before it has a chance to cause congestion and/or infection.

 Drinking lots of water every day is another great way to keep mucus from building up; water keeps mucus thin, loose and easy to dissipate with the saltwater solution or simply by blowing your nose.

 If you have sinus symptoms, inhaling steam also can help to reduce congestion and other symptoms. You can do this several ways: by spending a little extra time in a hot shower or steam room; or by boiling water in a pan and then inhaling the steam. (Place a towel over your head to maximize the effect.)

 Finally, sleeping with your head elevated helps prevent mucus from pooling. When mucus builds up in your nasal passages, it’s a veritable breeding ground for infection. It might mean you spend a few days and nights with a runny nose, but it’s better in the long run than the alternative – congestion and infection.

 Remember; always consult with your health care provider to make sure your symptoms aren’t indicative of something more serious. There are other natural methods of treating your sinus problems without having to rely on decongestants or other over-the-counter medications

Caution! Cough medicine not the best choice for Children

Children and over the counter cough medicine have shown they don't go well together accoring to leading Pediatritions

Children’s cough and cold medicines have taken a justifiable beating in the past few years, and the news isn’t getting any better (at least not for the drug manufacturers). A recent study published in the medical journal Pediatrics suggests use of these medicines in children under age 6 may cause as many as 500 child deaths per year – strike three in the eyes of many concerned parents and health care providers who feel the potential dangers aren’t worth the risk.

The first strike against cough and cold medicines came in 2006, when guidelines published by the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) stated that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are ineffective in treating the “underlying causes” of cough. The guidelines strongly recommended against the use of such medicines by children ages 14 and younger. At the same time, a review in Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology attributed the perceived benefit of cold medicines to “the placebo effect,” essentially suggesting parents (and their children) feel the medicine is working because they have an underlying assumption it will work.

Strike two came in 2008 – that’s when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health advisory recommending that over-the-counter cough and cold products not be given to infants and children under 2 years of age because of serious and potentially life-threatening side effects. The agency had received reports of deaths associated with decongestants and antihistamines in children, younger than age 2. Pharmaceutical manufactures complied, pulling products from the shelves. Approximately six months later, manufacturers announced they would voluntarily change their product labels, this time to warn against giving cough and cold medicines to children ages 4 and younger.

The FDA is in the process of deliberating whether to extend the ban on cough/cold medicines to children older than age 4; perhaps all the way up to age 11. A decision is expected within months. With up to 500 children dying each year, isn’t it about time? After all, three strikes and you’re out. Ask your doctor about the dangers of common child medications and potential none drug alternatives.

Local Organic Farms make it easy to eat well

Local Farmers markets provide fresh produce and several organic crops that can be delivered directly to your home.

Most local super markets now offer large sections of “organic” food usually in the fresh produce departments. Even Safeway has found success in its Organic brands of several traditional foods that now can be found in most sections of the food ales.

To be classified “Organic”, foods are grown or raised (meat and dairy) in an environment free from anything artificial including chemical fertilizers, pesticides, weed killers, drugs, antibiotics and hormones. Organic food is produced in a manner that helps retain powerful nutritive value and avoids unnecessary exposure to potential toxins.

One of the easiest ways to purchase organic food is locally from farmer’s markets, family farms and food co-ops, many of which use organic production methods. One of the longest and most successful is held in the Sunrise Mall south parking lot every Saturday morning. If you like the idea of consuming an apple grown down the street, picked at the peak of its ripeness without post-harvest pesticides, and that didn’t travel thousands of miles from another country (which may or may not have appropriate pesticide regulations), then a farmer’s market, farm or co-op is an excellent resource.

Home delivery is another great source of organic foods that has been developed near here in the Capay Valley. Farm Fresh to You farms have a unique program of home delivery through out the Sacramento area. These flexible plans bring fresh fruits and vegetables delivered to your home or business as frequently as you want in prices that meet most household budgets.

There is probably no better way to gain access to the healthy organic foods your body craves most than by growing them yourself. More and more people are getting on the home-gardening bandwagon as food, fuel and energy costs continue to rise. Home gardening, especially organic gardening, can be a great help in avoiding the consumption of manufactured foods and offset some of the cost concerns with organic produce. The City of Citrus Heights has begun a large community co-op gardening program just this year at the corner of Sylvan & Stock Ranch Road.

To learn more about the health benefits of organic foods, visit the Organic Consumers Association Web site.

If you know this, knee injuries can be avoided

sports injuries account for most knee injuries

The growth of organized amateur sports over the past 30 years has spawned an unexpected and unwanted increase in sports-related injuries. Many young athletes suffer sports-related injuries that can turn into lifelong problems.

To learn why our knees are injured so frequently, it’s important to know how the knee works. The knee joint is composed of four bones: the femur, the tibia, the fibula and the patella. Cartilage covers the joint and provides a smooth, lubricated gliding surface so the knee can move. The shape of the knee joint is stable, but to function properly, the ligaments have to be in good shape, too! Those ligaments include the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL).

While the ACL works as the main stabilizer when the knee is bent, the PCL works as the main stabilizer when the knee is extended. The collateral ligaments are used when you move side to side. The medial and lateral menisci are located within the joint and act as “shock absorbers” and also influence knee stability.

If you hurt the knee, remember to use ice first then see your doctor.

 The most commonly injured parts of the knee are the ACL and the medial meniscus. Tears of the meniscus usually take place during twisting, pivoting, or decelerating movements, or as a result of direct impact.

A vast majority of people, young and old, excessively pronate. This means that when the foot hits the ground, it flattens out or unlocks, rolling inward and creating a twisting stress up the leg and into the knee. These twisting stresses do three things to the knees: stretch the ACL, stretch and twist the medial meniscus, and inhibit contraction of the quadriceps muscle.

Common sense tells us to prevent the excessive damaging motions by supporting the foundational structures (your feet) so they function within the functional range of motion.  Many chiropractors as well as podiatrists evaluate the quality of the arches of the feet. If the arches aren’t supporting the legs and pelvis sufficiently, it can create stresses that lead to injury or joint wear and tear. It’s just like the foundation of your house; if it settles too much, it creates stress in other parts of the structure.

Take a proactive step to avoiding injuries and preserving the health of your knees, hips and spine. After all, you know what they say about “an ounce of prevention.” Ask your doctor for a thorough foot evaluation, particularly if you’re experiencing knee pain or participate in activities that put you at risk for a knee injury.

Emotional aspects of health

Great relationships are an important part to total health

Health is more than the absence of disease; it encompasses all aspects of life that are good and uplifting to you and those around you.  Health philosophies around the world have various aspects that all life is part of and derives vitality from elements in our physical universe.

  In traditional Asian philosophy there are five elements Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood.  In India where all holistic health care is said to have derived, Ayurvedic traditions also has five elements but they are expressed as Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth.  Keeping a balance in all these elements is how we maintain optimal health in the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of our lives.

In Meridian Therapy (a part of the Asian traditions) as I have practiced it for many years, there are two factors in keeping these elements balanced, our environment and our emotions.  Because our bodies are essentially a processing plant, we take in air, water and food that our body digests and assimilates the nutrients then eliminates the waste.  It does the same thing with the electrical energy (chi) that is produced from the air,

The energy in the body (Chi) permeates all tissues and is life to the cells

water and food.  Our body generates Chi that flows along the Meridian pathways as seen on acupuncture charts and then eventually is eliminated down through the legs and feet and back into the ground to recycle back into the environment.  So, as David Caradine learned from his master in the TV series Kung Fu, “you are one with the Universe Grasshopper.”

The two things that throw off these elements have to do with the environment and emotions’, so keeping them in balance is the key.  Environmental elements that you have direct control over deals with what you put into and on your body.  Some of those things were pointed out in another article dealing with Anti-oxidants and aging.  In the remainder of this article let’s take a look at the emotional aspects of balancing these elements and how it can affect our health.

The key emotions that throw the five elements off balance are;

1. Grief & Guilt
2. Worry & Pensiveness
3. Anger
4. Fear

As with the environmental issues each of these emotional aspects has specific symptoms that arise when they are off balance.  That help’s to identify which emotion is the cause for the imbalance you may be experiencing.

Grief & Guilt are associated with the Lung and Large intestine meridian in Traditional Oriental Medicine.  The classic symptoms would be Sinus headache and congestion, constipation or diarrhea, upper extremity pain, symptoms of the lower bowel, skin conditions, and head and neck symptoms.  Any respiratory symptoms e.g. asthma, emphysema, COPD, bronchitis coughs and colds.  Dermatological syndromes e.g. eczema, acne, psoriasis, dry skin.

Worry & Pensiveness are associated with the Spleen meridian dealing with Female and/or male pelvic dysfunction including sexual dysfunction, infertility, hormonal involvement, menopausal/menstrual dysfunction.  Blood formation, anemia, hyper/hypo glycemia, pancreatic dysfunction, immune function, lack of energy, gastro-intestinal syndromes, reflux disorders, heaviness in the legs, edema and lower extremity pain.

Anger is associated with the Liver meridian which has symptoms related to muscle spasms, cramps, ligament/tendon dysfunction throughout the body.  Fibromyalgia syndrome, any eye symptomatology and vision disorders, neurologic syndromes, allergy and histamine responses, immune system disorders and migraine headaches.

 Fear has two meridians associated with it the Kidney and Bladder meridian.  Symptoms associated with this emotion are kidney or bladder dysfunctions, renal diseases, symptoms affecting the osseous system osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, lower back pain or general and severe pain, bed wetting, prostate, uterus, ovary disorders, sciatica.  Conditions affecting the ears, hearing disorders, vertigo and equilibrium problems.  It is associated with coldness in the body and can affect scalp hair.

These lists are not comprehensive but they do give you some idea of the magnitude that our emotions can play on our overall health.  For a more comprehensive list of associated symptoms, call or stop by the office and I can provide it for you.

One way to treat these symptoms if an emotional component is present is through the Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT.

It is based on the meridian system and stimulating various acupoints with a finger tapping along a specific sequence.  I have used it with a few patients and find validity to what this technique proposes.  You can go to the EFT web site and download for free a manual on how it is self administered and even watch some video clips on various conditions that respond to EFT.  Try it and have fun experimenting with balancing your emotions to eliminate related symptoms.

Why is dietary fiber such an important part of an adult diet?

Surveys show American consumers are actively looking for products that contain fiber. Over the past five years, the number of consumers increasing their use of fiber has risen steadily.

Fresh vegetables is a great source of natural fiber

A Health Focus Trend Report showed that in 2006, more than 42 percent of consumers reported they were actively increasing their fiber intake, while 9 percent reported increasing their use of carbohydrates that promote digestive health.  A Survey from the International Food Information Council’s Consumer Attitudes showed that in 2007, consumers ranked fiber as a top 10 functional food, actually rating it higher than green tea.

The traditional understanding of dietary fiber and its nutritional benefits has been mainly in the area of regularity. Dietary fiber may help keep our bowels moving regularly. In the United States the recommended daily intake of fiber is 25-38 grams per day, the vast majority of Americans consume far less.

This trend seems to be changing as evidenced in breakthrough research from as early as 1986 in the journal Gastroenterology highlighted the beneficial effects of colonic bacterial fermentation of complex carbohydrates such as fiber. Since then, multiple additional studies by leading researchers in renowned journals such as the British Journal of Nutrition and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition have provided even more insights into this critical process.

Banana and Mango are fruits that provide great natural fiber

The traditional categories for fiber were bakery or cereal products. While these products still are abundant, the discovery of new sources of soluble fibers in particular has enabled food and beverage manufacturers to add fiber to nontraditional products, such as beverages and dairy products. There are now prebiotic fibers in beverages, yogurt and bars. Dietary supplements containing prebiotic fibers also are very common.

Food manufacturers have obviously responded to consumers’ demand for fiber and digestive-health products, and there are now more products with fiber or digestive-health claims in the marketplace. In fact, according to the global new products database, the number of new products in 2006 with a fiber descriptor on the label surpassed the number of new products with more traditional and established claims like “added calcium” or “reduced fat.”

 Even more astounding, the number of new products with digestive-health claims introduced into the marketplace was second only to products with a vitamin fortification claim. In 2007, the term prebiotics was used on at least 54 food and beverage products, a remarkable increase from approximately 23 a year earlier.

For more info: Refer to another article in this area on healthy gut bacteria.

Next Page »