Just as we all thought the flu season was coming to a nice and peaceful conclusion, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning about a new strain of influenza A (H3N2) virus-labeled “A (H3N2)v”. Apparently there have been 12 reported infections with this new strain. Whats interesting is that influenza A (H3N2)v is composed of genes from avian, swine and human viruses. Children under the age of 10 are the most vulnerable. The 2011-2012 influenza vaccination does provide some protection against A (H3N2)v and there is a specific vaccination that is being manufactured that will provide direct protection.

Obesity Epidemic Report: Waistlines Continue to Expand!

Here we go again-one day the obesity epidemic is solved. The next day we wake up and read that “by the year 2020, one in five American children will be obese.” What do we believe? Well, recent research coming out of Columbia University’s School of Public Health (Claire Wang, MD, ScD-American Journal of Preventive Medicine), suggests that by analyzing weights of children from 1971 to 2008 (NHANES), the average weight of these children will increase by 2 kilograms, if no action is taken. This translates into the following: 21 % of children ages 2 through 19 would become obese. And by “action” Wang and her associates came up with the following:  

•  Just to stay at 2008 levels would require an average reduction of 41 kcal/person/day — 17 for those in the lowest age group, 37 in the middle ages, and 67 for adolescents.
• To reach the Healthy People 2020 goals would require an extra cut of 23 kcal/person/day — 5, 40, and 31 for kids 2 to five, 6 to 11, and 12 to 19, respectively.
• And to reach the more aggressive Healthy People 2010 goals would take an average reduction of 120 kcal/person/day — 33, 149, and 177 for children 2 to 5, 6 to 11, and 12 to 19, respectively. 

Wang and her colleagues determined that there needs to be a 64 calorie decrease in total calorie consumption per day to avoid this 2020 obesity prediction. To achieve this, Wang suggested a decrease consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and an increase in physical education.

 Childhood Obesity:  A Genetic Link! Have Our Children Picked the Wrong Parents? 

Okay don’t get all worked up-yes I know that our children had no choice in the matter. But now researchers are demonstrating a stronger evidence based genetic link between adult obesity and childhood obesity. Struan Grant, PhD from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia published his findings in the journal Nature Genetics. Grant and his colleagues found new genetic “regions” associated with the gene OLFM4 on chromosome 13 and the gene HOXB5 on chromosome 17 both associated with the risk of obesity. More work on this amazing discovery to follow. Stay tuned! Don’t blame mom or dad just yet! 

Common Tests and Treatments Over-prescribed and Overused: “Choose Wisely”

In an attempt to get physicians to follow more evidence based therapies and guidelines and “reduce waste and harm in the health care system” , 9 major medical specialty groups in association with consumer products evaluator Consumer Reports and the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), have listed therapies and tests that in their opinion are “ frequently overused.” Each of the medical societies have come up with a top five list called their “Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question.” The nice societies contributing are the following: American College of Radiology (ACR), the American College of Physicians (ACP), the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American College of Cardiology (ACC), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC). There will be more medical groups adding their recommendations soon. To read the lists please click on this link: Choosing Wisely: http://choosingwisely.org/?page_id=13.  Stay tuned for more on this volatile topic.

Remember, you have a calorie register in your body. Think of it like a cash register. Every type of food has a calorie value. And all of the food calories, no matter what type they are (e.g. meats or fish, cheese, milk, bread, etc-proteins, fats or carbohydrates) pass this register on their way to the digestion center. So at the end of every 24 hour cycle-the register adds up the amount of calories that have been consumed. It then calls up the metabolism center and asks how many calories have been burned up for the same 24 hour period. If more calories were used up than were consumed, a negative number is produced and suggests that conditions favor a loss of weight. If on the other hand, more calories were taken in than used up, a positive calorie balance is produced which tends to lead to weight gain. Of course this is n over-simplified explanation and many other factors have to be taken into consideration, but basically you get the picture. Now if you overwhelm your system by eating 3000 calories of fats like healthy olive oil or 3000 calories of lettuce or even 3000 calories of lean steak but only use up 1000 calories, where do you think that extra 2000 calories goes? Well, there’s a good chance it will be turned into body fat.  Remember, eating an extra 3500 calories per week adds an extra pound to your weight or cutting the 3500 calories per week will help you shed that pound.

So you can start to see that, it really is the total amount of calories that you eat that really is the main component of weight gain and loss. This “total calories consumed” concept also should make you more aware of the facts that it is very important to make the best of those calories consumed-in plain English-eat a healthy diet composed of lots of fruits and veggies (half of every plate), low fat dairy, lean proteins, low saturated/solid fats (e.g. red meat), more mono and poly unsaturated fats (more fish, nuts, beans and plant proteins), more water, less salt, less added sugars and more whole grains (less refined products like white rice and white starches). Just don’t eat too much. We all need to eat less, but eat healthy. And don’t forget to spend time each and every day exercising. Get and stay fit. People who exercise are a generally healthier group of people.

So my friends, keep thinking total calories! And as far as after dinner eating-skip it. If you get hungry, try drinking a 6 ounce glass of water first and then if that doesn’t fill you up, have some lettuce sans dressing. Lettuce, a veggie, is low in calories and composed mostly of water.  Salad items like lettuce, cucumber slices and peppers are good between meal snacks and are naturally low in calories and add to your daily veggie count! 

How to calculate the amount of calories-information that can help you:

A. A protein has 4 calories per gram; a fat has 9 calories per gram and a carbohydrate has 4 calories per gram. To calculate the total calories, multiple the amount of grams of the food times the calorie count. Example:

My meal consisted of a piece of fish/protein-10 grams (10 x 4=40 calories),  and a thin slice of whole grain bread/carbohydrate-5 grams (5×4=20 calories) and a teaspoon of olive oil/fat-5 grams (5×9=45 calories). The total calories for this meal are: 40+20+45=105.

Get Your Plate In Shape

NERDEL AND THE NERDEL COMPANY JOIN WITH ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS

DURING NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH^®

ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO ‘GET YOUR PLATE IN SHAPE’

Month-long campaign highlights the importance of making informed food choices

and developing sound eating and physical activity habits

 Nerdel and The Nerdel Company are proud to join the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association) during March in celebrating National Nutrition Month^®. This year’s National Nutrition Month theme is “Get Your Plate in Shape” and encourages consumers to remember to include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and dairy on their plates every day.

 Here are a few ways to “Get Your Plate in Shape” from the food and nutrition experts at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:

 Make half of your plate fruits and vegetables: Eat a variety of vegetables, especially dark-green, red and orange varieties. Add fresh, dried, frozen or canned fruits to meals and snacks.

• Make at least half your grains whole: Choose 100 percent whole-grain breads, cereals, crackers, pasta and brown rice. Check the ingredients list on food packages to find whole-grain foods.
• Switch to fat-free or low-fat milk: Fat-free and low-fat milk have the same amount of calcium and other essential nutrients as whole milk, but less fat and calories. For those who are lactose intolerant, try lactose-free milk or a calcium-fortified soy beverage.
• Vary your protein choices: Eat a variety of foods from the protein food group each week, such as seafood, nuts and beans, as well as lean meat, poultry and eggs. Keep meat and poultry portions small and lean. And be sure to choose seafood as the protein at least twice a week.
• Cut back on sodium and empty calories from solid fats and added sugars: Compare sodium in foods and choose those with lower numbers, and season your foods with herbs and spices instead of salt. Switch from solid fats to healthy oils like olive and canola oil. Replace sugary drinks with water and choose fruit for dessert.
• Enjoy your foods but eat less: Avoid oversized portions. Use a smaller plate, bowl and glass. Cook more often at home where you are in control of what’s in your food. When eating out, choose lower calorie menu options.
• Be physically active your way: Adults need at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of physical activity every week. Choose activities that you enjoy, and start by doing as much as you can.

 Initiated in 1973 as a week-long event, “National Nutrition Week” became a month-long observance in 1980 in response to growing public interest in nutrition. Additionally, to commemorate the dedication of RDs as advocates for advancing the nutritional status of Americans and people around the world, the second Wednesday of March has been designated “Registered Dietitian Day.”

 As part of this public education campaign, the Academy’s National Nutrition Month website includes a variety of helpful tips, fun games, promotional tools and nutrition education resources, all designed to spread the message of good nutrition around the “Get Your Plate in Shape” theme.  

 he Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association) is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Academy is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at www.eatright.org.

Links and Information:

A. To learn more about the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010-please check out: www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/

B. To learn more about the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans-please visit: www.health.gov/paguidelines/guidelines/defauylt.aspx

C. Please visit: www.choosemyplate.gov  to learn more about the new and improved food pyramid program-MyPlate

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is working with both public and private partners to raise awareness of heart disease through vital research investments and public health programs. The Million Hearts Initiative takes aim at this disease, with a goal of preventing 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next 5 years. Other efforts, like the HeartTruth, which addresses women’s heart health, and the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative, which confronts childhood obesity by helping children choose healthy foods and stay active, work to provide people with resources and ways to make heart healthy changes in their everyday lives .

And thanks to the new health care law, the Affordable Care Act, new health plans must now cover recommended preventive services, including blood pressure screening for all adults and cholesterol screening for adults of certain ages or at higher risk, cost-free.

This month, as we take time to educate ourselves about the risks of heart disease, and recognize the efforts of medical researchers and healthcare professionals dedicated to prevention, early detection, and effective treatment, consider what steps you and your family can take to promote and adopt a heart healthy lifestyle.

For more information on American Heart Month, please visit:  http://millionhearts.hhs.gov/index.html

For more information on women and heart disease, please visit: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/educational/hearttruth/ or http://womenshealth.gov/heartattack/  .  

To learn more about the First Lady’s Let’s Move campaign, please visit: http://www.letsmove.gov/

Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343 
 
Links and information:

A. Million Hearts:  Million Hearts™ is a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over five years. Million Hearts™ brings together communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies, and private-sector partners from across the country to fight heart disease and stroke.

B. Heart Truth: The Heart Truth marks a decade of commitment to women’s heart health. During February’s American Heart Month, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) reaffirms its commitment to increasing awareness about heart disease among women and helping women take steps to reduce their own personal risk of developing heart disease

C. The Make the Call. Don’t Miss a Beat   campaign is a national public education campaign that aims to educate, engage, and empower women and their families to learn the seven most common symptoms of a heart attack and encourage them to call 9-1-1 as soon as those symptoms arise. A woman suffers a heart attack every 90 seconds in the United States. Yet according to a 2009 American Heart Association survey only half of women indicated they would call 9-1-1 if they thought they were having a heart attack and few were aware of the most common heart attack symptoms.(http://womenshealth.gov/heartattack/)

Know the symptoms of a heart attack :

1. Chest pain or discomfort

2. Unusual upper body discomfort

3. Shortness of breath

4. Breaking out in a cold sweat

5. Unusual or unexplained fatigue (tiredness)

6. Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness

7. Nausea (feeling sick to the stomach)

You can all see that there is no easy answer. But we do need to start somewhere. Our kids are getting fatter. We need to help them. We need to help ourselves. I have always believed in education-bring back the Home Economics courses and retool them for today’s e-generation. Teach cooking, dieting, and food safety to our kids and continue reinforcing this knowledge until they reach college. This will help. Provide alternative forms of exercise for our kids-like yoga, tai chi, dance, boxing and fencing. This will allow kids the option of individual performance sports as well as team sports. Let’s encourage our kids to exercise and find the particular sport they like.  This will help them maintain exercise and fitness as they grow into adults. Research shows us that most of our kids now drop exercise as they mature into their teen years.

My friends, obesity is a major problem and we need major solutions to fight it. Let me hear your thoughts-write to me at talk@nerdel.com.

10. Eat more fruits and veggies for every meal-yes, this is super important. Besides being a recommendation by the USDA and the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans, fruits and veggies have lots of vitamins, antioxidants, nutrients and fiber with very little fat and sugar. Remember to “make half of your plate fruits and veggies.”

9. Exercise for at least 60 minutes a day. Okay, I know you are saying to yourself, “unrealistic,” but this is really important, not only for kids but for adults too. Exercise provides many healthy benefits including weight control and it has been firmly established that those adults that exercise on a regular basis are a healthier group of adults and can maintain their good health as they age. For kids, they too need 60 minutes a day-including recess and other physical activity. For some adults, 90 minutes is needed. Walking is included and remember the 10,000 steps a day theory-that will equal approximately 5 miles-so get yourself a pedometer and get going!

8. Drink lots of water and forget the sugar and salt loaded, supplement loaded energy drinks. Many of the energy drinks that are available today are meant for use by athletes that are involved with vigorous training. If you fit into that category, then maybe you can benefit from a supplement loaded fluid replacement. For everyone else, the supplements, salt and sugar are too much. Water and natural fruits are a much better choice. And please never mix energy/supplement drinks with alcohol under any circumstance. Bad idea!

7.  Use 2% milk and low fat dairy products. The whole milk products have too much fat. The skim milk products basically only have sugar and water. So choose the 2% varieties. Milk provides calcium and is important in children’s growth. Don’t forget the yogurt and cheese products as well-keep them all low fat.

6. Choose more whole grains. Whole grains provide the vitamins, fiber and proteins that are removed from the refined products. Try whole grain pizza crust, whole grain pastas, rice and breads-they are really delicious!

5.  Get a flu shot. The seasonal flu is already presenting itself and peak season will be between February and April. The recommendations for vaccination now cover virtually everyone (from age 6 months of age up)-and there are both a nasal spray and injections available everywhere that will cover the three most common influenza viruses: influenza B, influenza A (H1N1) and influenza A (H3N2). Contact your medical provider as soon as possible.

4. Try adding more olive oil and fish to your diet. Olive oils and fish are made up of unsaturated fatty acids (Monounsaturated or MUFA and Polyunsaturated or PUFA) and these MUFA’s and PUFA’s may help lower the risk of heart disease, may help lower your cholesterol, may help control your blood sugar (which is a good benefit if you have diabetes), have a beneficial effect on ulcers and stomach conditions, can reduce blood pressure, may help in asthma and arthritis, may even prevent colon cancer, may slow the aging process and moisturize the skin. Lots of benefits that saturated fats like butter and red meats can’t match!!

3.   Wash your hands frequently. Howard Hughes really wasn’t so crazy after all. Yes he was an extreme Germ-a-phobe, but as we all know, viruses and germs are transmitted so easily. Some viruses and bacteria can remain on a surface for up to two weeks. One study found that our cell phones have a high rate of fecal material on them. What? Yes, that’s correct. Think twice before you put someone else’s cell phone up to your ear (disgusting!).  Washing your hands after touching door knobs, restaurant menus, and most strange surfaces can cut down on your germ exposure. And parents make sure your children are frequent hand washers too-think of all the surfaces they touch–yes OMG.

2. Go and get a check up by your health care provider, NOW! What are you waiting for? It’s important for everyone to get an annual physical exam. Kids and adults both need exams yearly. Medical exams are necessary to check your blood pressure-which can be a silent killer. Many people are walking around right now, this very moment with high blood pressure and if left elevated and unchecked can result in a major heart problem-heart attack and or a stroke. Blood pressure can be treated successfully and will be life saving! Men over the age of 40 need a special blood test to check the prostate gland called a PSA. Women, starting at age 40 (according to the American Cancer Society) need a breast exam called a mammogram, and both men and women after the age of 50 need a check of their colon called a colonoscopy. The annual exam will also check your cholesterol-which is a measure of your blood fats. This can tell the doctor if you are accumulating too much blood fat-which is also a risk of causing a heart problem. Bottom line-go and get a checkup-your family will be proud of you and it could save your life!

1. There is a tie for the number one spot: A. Don’t forget to laugh, B. get a pet, and C. don’t watch too much violence on the TV or the internet! Okay, we all know that laughter is good medicine. Many studies have shown that laughter helps relaxation, increases endorphins (the body’s natural feel-good chemical), improves and strengthens the immune system, increases your energy levels, decreases stress effects on the body and may even lessen a pain issue. Laughing also may be protective of your heart. Having a pet can also aid in relaxation and stress relief. It also builds confidence and responsibility and lessens fears for children. Caring for the daily and general needs of an animal/pet is an incredible experience for kids and allows them to understand the feeling of having a life to take care of other than their own. As for violence on television and the internet, the amounts are increasing. Video game sales of violent software have skyrocketed into the mega-billions. Is it any wonder why our kids are not sleeping well, why there is more teen depression and violent behaviors? In 1977, attorney Ellis Rubin used a television defense- for his 15 year old client accused of murder of an 83 year old female neighbor-suggesting that his client couldn’t tell the difference between fantasy and reality due to an obsession with watching a popular TV crime show called Kojak. Everyone thought that defense to be strange and unrealistic. Now, it’s probably more relevant than ever. Violence is becoming a natural part of our techno-world. But it doesn’t have to be! Don’t make it a part of yours or your child’s.

Now these are just some of my ideas. I put them in a decreasing order just for fun but they are all important and could all be number one. I would like to know some of your healthy tips. Please send them to me at talk@nerdel.com. I will publish the most interesting, effective and unique tips in an upcoming column.  As my predecessor used to say, stay fit and healthy the Nerdel way-have a wonderful Nerdel New Year!

Professional basketball player Jeff Green of the Boston Celtics went in to have his annual physical and came out with unexpected news: he has an aortic aneurysm and will need to have surgery. Green, 25, will undergo surgery at the Cleveland Clinic and will miss the entire 2011-2012 abbreviated NBA basket ball season.

What is an aortic aneurysm anyway? The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body and sometimes due to various medical  conditions and risk factors (e.g. high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, male gender, emphysema, genetic factors and obesity), it becomes very large and dilated and can balloon outward which is called an aneurysm. This ballooning has a high risk of bursting or rupturing, which is usually catastrophic and most of the time lethal. The key is to catch it early!!

What are the symptoms of an aortic aneurysm? In most cases, the aneurysms develop slowly over a long time and can be painless while growing to a large size.  As the blood vessel grows and expands, sometimes it can grow rapidly and start to tear. When it tears, the symptoms may be the following: pain in the abdomen or back, pain that radiates into the groin, buttocks and legs, nausea, vomiting, rapid heart rate, clammy skin and finally shock.

What are the physical signs of an aortic aneurysm?  A lump in the abdominal area or feeling a pulsation in the abdomen are two of the more common signs.

How can I find out if I have an aortic aneurysm? Testing is very simple, non-invasive, painless and can be performed in a physician’s office. The easiest test to have is called an ultrasound of the aorta. This is an examination of the aorta using sound waves. The test can measure the size, shape and location of the enlarged aorta. Another common test is called a CT (CAT Scan) scan of the abdomen, and uses an x-ray method to obtain cross sectional pictures of the abdomen area-also measuring the size, location and extent of the dilatation.

What is the treatment? Well, if an aneurysm is detected, preventively, a measurement will be made and an assessment will also made as to whether it is stable or enlarging (patient has symptoms).  Aneurysms larger than 2 inches (5.5 cm) and those expanding quickly will require immediate surgery. Those less than 2 inches will be followed closely with frequent examinations. Several surgical methods are available including open surgical repair and using an endovascular stent.  Acute rupture of an aneurysm is lethal more than 80% of the time.

Lesson: If you have any of the risk factors or conditions mentioned above, please discuss having a preventive-screening examination of the aorta (ultrasound of the aorta) with your health care provider as soon as possible. This test, which can take only ten minutes to perform,  can be life saving!! Catching an aneurysm early is the key to managing this condition. Jeff Green is a very lucky man and should have a full recovery and may be able to rejoin his Boston Celtics team for the 2012-2013 NBA season. For more information , please visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

We are all guilty of eating when we are not really hungry. Some call it stress, while others say they just need to have something to keep them busy. Others say they don’t know why they are eating-they just eat and eat and eat. Is it due to the TV commercial for that juicy burger or oven hot pizza? How about just sitting and watching television. Have you worn out the path to the kitchen?Whatever the reason is, it’s not hunger that is stimulating this “extra” eating. And this “extra” eating  piles on the calories, lots of them! In between snacks and non hunger related snacking made up of carbs and fats are responsible for a large amount of the overweight and obesity we are seeing. So how do we change this persistent habit? A new study by a group of researchers at the University of Minnesota led by Kerri Boutelle, Ph.D. and published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, demonstrates that by improving the responses to the clues of truly being hungry and decreasing the responses to non hunger related eating, children can be trained to respond better to hunger and less to other stimuli (e.g. television commercials focusing on food). Boutelle and her group were also able to train children to understand body clues better and to respond better to being satiated from a meal and not to overeat. Lesson: This study shows that hunger, satiety, overeating and non hunger related eating, are all behaviors that can be targeted for training and teaching. We can help our children to be better in touch with their feelings and to better understand when they are reacting to a non hunger stimulus. Here is an idea-shouldn’t we be able to select the commercials that will play during the programming that our children are watching ? TV commercial selection-the next frontier!

ARE YOU BEING TOLD BY YOUR DOCTOR THAT YOUR CHILD IS OVERWEIGHT? MOST STATISTICS SAY NO!

Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, led by Eliana M. Perrin, M.D., MPH, reviewed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, collected on almost five thousand kids ages 2 to 15, with an elevated BMI, and found that only 22 percent of parents reported that they were told that their child was “overweight.” Only 58 percent of parents of children classified as “obese” by BMI criteria, were informed by health care providers that their children were obese. Lesson: As a parent, get involved in the health check up of your child. Ask about his or her weight. Ask whether the weight is normal, over or under established guidelines. Find out what the recommendations are depending on the status. Get connected! Don’t wait for the information to get to you-or not get to you!

NUTRITION LABELING MOVING TO THE FRONT OF THE PACKAGE (FOP)!

A new front of the package (FOP) nutrition labeling system will soon start showing up on our foods. Beginning with the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990, food companies were required to disclose nutrition information (servings per container, total calories, sodium, cholesterol, carbohydrates, proteins, sugar, etc. ) on the back of the package. Jumping to 2011-the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), have determined that they can make a bigger impact with FOP nutrition labeling, not only to detail the elements inside the food, but also to  “increase   the proportion of consumers who readily notice, understand and use the available information to make more nutritious choices for themselves and their families, and thereby prevent or reduce obesity and other diet related chronic disease.” A sneak peak at the components to be on the FOP label include the following: calories, saturated fats, trans fats, sodium and added sugars.  In addition, a symbol system designed to help consumers “distinguish between products of greater or lesser nutritional quality” will also be present. Lesson: FOP nutrition labeling will be here soon! It will be a welcome evolution to the original nutrition labeling system and hopefully will be easier for everyone to understand. It will also be a new push by the FDA/USDA to empower all of us with the information to make healthier choices for us and our children!

Dr. Susanne Rautiainen and her research group from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, reported in the journal: Stroke, that after collecting data on the dietary habits of women, they found that those women who consumed the highest amount of antioxidant containing foods (foods that have elevated levels of vitamins C, E, carotenoids, flavonoids and phytochemicals-fruits and veggies and grains) had a lower risk of stroke.  Lesson-Make half your plate fruits and veggies-especially if you are a woman!!!

VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES AND EFFECT ON BRAIN FUNCTIONING

Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine presented data recently showing that in a test group of young men, ages 18 to 29, that were told to play a violent video game for ten hours, MRI studies and cognitive testing performed afterwards revealed changes in brain function, and cognitive behavior. These changes did revert back almost to baseline, after a week of not playing the games. Lesson: parents, be careful with what video games your children are playing in your home and at the homes of friends. There is an abundance of violent and incredibly popular video games coming out daily, for all of the techno-game boxes and these games seem to obtain viewing access in many homes with young children. Be aware,  stay informed and stay connected !

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE GOES UNTREATED IN MANY TEENS

Research from Esther Y. Yoon, M.D. MPH and her colleagues at the University of Michigan published in the journal: Pediatrics and reported in the online medical news journal Medpage Today, indicates that many teenagers that have elevated blood pressure, and who are considered “hypertensive” by guidelines,  do not receive medication for it. Lesson: if you are a parent of a child that has elevated blood pressure, keep track and make a diary of the pressure readings at home (at various times of the day) and follow up with your pediatrician, primary care physician and or specialist. Monitor the sodium (salt) intake in your child’s diet by looking at all foods, snacks and beverages (e.g. energy/supplement loaded drinks). And monitor your child’s weight and calorie intake.

WHY YOU NEED TO TAKE THE FLU VACCINE?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), everyone ages 6 months and older should receive an influenza vaccination on a yearly basis. The vaccines are meant as protection from the three most common influenza viruses of the year you may have exposure to:  this includes influenza A (H1N1), influenza B, and influenza A (H3N2), and can make your illness milder if you get sick from a different influenza virus. If you received a flu vaccination last year, your bodies immunity may have declined over the year so it is recommended that you receive a fresh vaccination to raise the level of immunity to the new set of viruses that have the highest risk of exposure. By 2 weeks after receiving a vaccination, the body develops antibodies to protect against the viruses in the vaccine. Those antibodies help protect us from influenza viruses if we come in contact with them later. Even though everyone after the age of 6 months of age is recommended to receive the influenza vaccination, the following groups of people are at high risk for developing flu-related complications and definitely need the vaccination:

1.  Pregnant women
2. Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
3. People 50 years of age and older
4. People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
5. People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
6. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
   • Health care workers
   • Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
   • Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

Lesson: Discuss the influenza vaccination with your health care provider as soon as possible. The CDC recommends that people get the vaccination as soon as it is available, especially the high risk groups. IT IS AVAILABLE NOW!!! For more information, please visit the CDC influenza vaccination information site at www.cdc.gov/flu.

So why is this diet so good for us? Let’s examine it a bit more closely. The Mediterranean diet, took its name from the foods and diet that was being followed by the residents of Southern Italy, mainland Greece and the island of Crete in the 1960’s. This plant based diet is composed of lots of olive oil/olives, fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains (cereals and breads), beans, dairy in the form of yogurts and cheese, tree nuts, but no BUTTER. Also there is a moderate consumption of fish and poultry, low to moderate consumption of eggs and a low consumption of red meat. Moderate alcohol intake, optional to the diet, is an additional beverage added to meals. Regular outdoor activities and exercise is also a vital component of the healthy lifestyle.

So why should I follow the Mediterranean diet? How does it help me?

Well, in review of many studies on the Mediterranean diet, here is a partial list of the benefits:

1. Decreased mortality from all causes
2. Reduced risk of heart disease
3. Reduced risk of cancer
4. Reduced risk of diabetes
5. Reduced risk of obesity
6. Reduces risk of developing lung disease
7. Reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (mild cognitive impairment)
8. Reduce risk of developing inflammation
9. Reduce risk of developing Parkinson’s
10. Reduction in episodes of sleep apnea (see above OSAS)
11. Positive effect on lipid levels (levels of fat in your blood stream)
12. Positive effect on control of glucose (sugar) in your body
13. Positive effect on blood pressure

Isn’t that enough? The Mediterranean diet is a lower saturated fat nutritional plan and the fats are mostly monounsaturated. Research studies have indicated many heart  and health benefits from the consumption of plant based foods.

So there it is my friends, part one of why you should consider switching to the Mediterranean diet plan. There are no other diets that have the plethora of health benefits! Opa!

Links:

1. European Lung Foundation (2011, November 2). Mediterranean diet and exercise can reduce sleep apnea symptoms. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 29, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2011/11/111102093043.htm