lancerie's Blog

Category health

May 09, 2009
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Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses has been documented

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A British Airways cabin steward is being treated in an isolation unit at a London hospital after falling ill on a flight from Mexico, where a killer virus is believed to have caused at least 68 deaths and sparked widespread panic. Health experts say it has the potential to become a global pandemic.
 
The BA steward was undergoing tests in a London hospital for the swine flu virus after arriving on a flight from Mexico City. It is the first suspected case of the new flu strain to be reported in Europe, prompting fears it may have spread across the Atlantic from Mexico.
The World Health Organization says the swine flu strain - a unique mix of human, pig and bird viruses - constituted a public health emergency of international concern. Twenty people are known to have died in Mexico so far out of a total of 1,004 reported cases, and 48 more deaths are thought to be attributable to the outbreak.
At least nine swine flu cases have been reported in California and Texas. The most recently reported California case, the seventh there, was a 35-year-old woman who was treated in hospital but recovered. The woman, whose illness began in, early April, had no known contact with the other cases.
At least two more cases have been confirmed in Kansas, bringing the US total to 11. State health officials said yesterday they had confirmed swine flu in a married couple living in the central part of the state after the husband visited Mexico. They have not been hospitalized, and the state described their illnesses as mild. Dr Jason Eberhart-Phillips, Kansas's state health officer, said: "Fortunately, the man and woman understand the gravity of the situation and are very willing to isolate themselves."
Additionally, at least eight students at a New York high school were last night also believed to have a form of human swine flu, but authorities are not yet certain if it is the same strain that has killed people in Mexico.
The 38-year-old BA steward is being kept in Northwick Park hospital in north-west London, which has a specialist ward for patients with suspected tropical and infectious diseases, while doctors carry out swabs and blood tests. A Health Protection Agency spokeswoman said: "We are aware of a patient admitted to a London hospital with reported travel history to Mexico. As a precautionary measure the patient is being tested for a range of respiratory and other illnesses ... At present there have been no confirmed cases of human swine flu in the UK or anywhere in Europe."
The crew member, who flew out to Mexico on 20 April, is understood to have shown symptoms of fever before embarking yesterday for the return leg to Heathrow. He had been suffering from high temperature, aches and dizziness the night before the return flight but was allowed through health controls at Mexico City airport to report for duty.
He collapsed around two hours into the flight, and was isolated from the other passengers. None of the other crew members or passengers reported similar symptoms. A BA spokeswoman said: "We can confirm one of our cabin crew felt unwell during the flight from Mexico and was taken to hospital on arrival at Heathrow. The Port Health Authority met the flight at Heathrow and no other passengers or crew was detained."
The Mexican government yesterday issued a decree authorizing President Felipe Calderon to invoke powers allowing the country's health department to isolate patients and inspect homes, travelers and baggage. Mexico's health secretary, José Angel Cordova, said: "We are very, very concerned."
Yesterday, people in Mexico City were being ordered not to kiss or shake hands. Football matches went ahead without spectators, theatres, shops and museums were closed, staff was inside locked schools scrubbing classrooms with disinfectant, and health workers patrolled buses, ordering sickly looking people home.
The WHO stopped short of issuing a worldwide alert over the swine flu strain, but its director general, Dr Margaret Chan, said that option remained "on the table".
Scientists have long feared that a new flu virus could launch a worldwide pandemic. Evolving when different flu viruses infect a pig, a person or a bird, mingling their genetic material, a hybrid could spread quickly because humans would have no natural defenses.
"We are seeing a range of severity of the disease, from mild to severe, and of course death," said Chan. "The eight cases in the US have been mild in terms of severity and it is too premature to calculate the mortality rate of this disease."
Any doubts over the extent of the emergency were dispelled last night by the sight of soldiers handing out blue surgical masks to pedestrians and motorists along Mexico City's central boulevard, Paseo de la Reforma. With TV and radio calling on the population to seek medical advice for any flu-like symptoms, queues grew at clinics and hospitals across the city.
Calderon said his government learned only on Thursday night what kind of virus Mexico was facing after tests by specialist laboratories in Canada confirmed the outbreak as a type - labeled A/H1N1 - not previously seen in pigs or humans. Few of the cases appear to have had any contact with live pigs.
The WHO said the virus appeared to be able to spread from human to human and contained human virus, avian virus and pig viruses from North America, Europe and Asia.
Given how quickly flu can spread, there might be cases incubating around the world already, said Dr Michael Osterholm at the University of Minnesota: "Hundreds and thousands of travelers come in and out [of Mexico] every day."
It was unclear how much protection current vaccines might offer. A "seed stock" genetically matched to the new virus has already been created by the US Centers for Disease Control. If the US government decides vaccine production is necessary, it would be used by manufacturers to get started.
At Mexico City's international airport, passengers were questioned to try to prevent anyone with flu symptoms from boarding aircraft and spreading the disease. The Foreign Office issued a warning to UK travelers about the outbreak, but stopped short of recommending people did not visit Mexico. US health officials took a similar line, urging visitors to wash their hands frequently.

 
sb
April 04, 2009
Sample Weight Gain Diet

When you are creating your weight gain diet, you will hear many opinions on how many calories you should be adding per day and what kind of foods you need to eat. The truth is that you need to experiment to see what is right for you. Here is a sample weight gain diet that can help you experiment and get started. Breakfast should combine whole grains and high calorie and nutrient rich foods. For example combine granola, chopped nuts, raisins and banana into yogurt and enjoy a glass of milk with it. Have a snack mid morning with something rich like peanut butter or cheese with a piece of fruit. For lunch have a calorie rich salad including avocado, canned tuna, vegetable, olives, lettuce, sesame seeds and olive oil or a sandwich with lean meats and a lot of vegetables. Have a mid afternoon snack of milk with a muffin or granola bar. For dinner have baked chicken with vegetables and rice. Enjoy some ice cream for dessert.

 

Calorie Supplements in Everyday Recipes

Some unusual ways to create calorie supplements and protein to your everyday meals: Add powdered milk (2 to 4 tablespoons) to a cup of milk, or mix powdered milk into puddings, soup, vegetables, pancake batter, milkshakes and potatoes. Powdered milk contains 33 calories per tablespoon and 3 grams of protein per tablespoon. You can also add eggs or egg substitute to recipes like meat loaf, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, chicken salads and casseroles. You can also add extra eggs to pancake batter and French toast. Eggs have 80 calories each and 7 grams of protein. There are always innovative ways to add calories to help in gaining weight.

 

What Protein Does in Your Weight Gain Diet

Protein is necessary for metabolic function and other bodily processes and it also helps our immune system to fight off disease. It is a building block in hair, finger nails, skin, cartilage, muscles and bones. Adults need protein to build up and replace tissues that are breaking down with use and children need protein to grow. You can get protein from meat, eggs, beans, grains and dairy products. Although protein helps your metabolism, it should not be avoided in your diet for weight gain. A balanced mix of the food groups will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle while maintaining a healthy weight.

 

Gaining Weight: How Long

Gaining weight is an individual process. Some people will have less difficulty putting on weight than others. Remember that gaining weight fast is not practical. Gaining weight at the rate of 2-3 pounds a week is a sensible. By adding 1000 calories a day to your required calorie need, you can gain 2-3 pounds in a week. If you seem to be gaining weight at a faster rate, you may want to eliminate some calories or fats. Slow and steady is the way for healthy weight gain.

 

Calorie Supplements and Weight Gain

If you are a patient fighting a disease like cancer or AIDS, there may be times when, despite your best efforts, you don't want to eat. Even if you have the option of high calorie, nutritious and tasty meals, you may be too tired, nauseous or just not in the mood. In times like these, calorie supplements can come in handy. Nutritional and calorie supplements should not be a staple in your diet, but they can be a real help in a pinch. These calorie supplements, especially when they are nutrient, vitamins and minerals can help you maintain a weight, or add calories when you are trying to gain weight.

 

Children and Being Underweight

If your child is underweight, or on the cusp of being underweight, it would be indicated by a body mass index that is lower than the 5th percentile for the child's age. There are some health risks of being underweight. In many cases, being slightly underweight can be perfectly normal, especially if your child has recently gone through a growth spurt, eats healthy foods, and is normally active. Being underweight can also signal a problem and deserves medical consideration if your child is not gaining weight or has recently lost noticeable weight, has diarrhea, vomiting, poor appetite, or a low energy level. Children can be at risk for developing eating disorders, especially if your child has a poor self body image, seems to exercise a great deal, has stopped having periods (amenorrhea), or is using laxatives to help lose weight. Additionally, children and adolescents who experience a sudden weight loss may be showing symptoms of Diabetes Type 1. Weight gain diets for children should be closely monitored by both parent and doctor to ensure maximum nutrition and growth.

 

Vegetarians can Gain Weight Too

Just because you don't eat meat doesn't mean you can't create a successful weight gain program. Vegetarians and Vegans often have trouble consuming sufficient calories and nutrients but you can gain weight in a healthy way and maintain that healthy weight. Look to lactose free weight gain supplements and try to integrate more foods like avocado, cheese, nuts, rice, pasta and legumes into your diet. Use olive oil and other natural fats in your cooking.

 

Calorie Counters

There is a lot of weight gain advice out there and one of the major tips is to count your calories and make sure that you are ingesting a certain number of calories each day. Don't know which food have what caloric content? Look online for web sites that have calorie counters. There are even some sites that have daily calorie journals. You may have to pay a small fee, but having a tool like this at your fingertips can be invaluable in helping you gain weight in a disciplined and healthy manner. You can also find books at the library or at your local bookstore that can give you the caloric intake of every food under the sun.

 

Weight Gain and the ElderlyThe need to gain weight when elderly is an increasing challenge. With limited incomes and increasing costs, the elderly tend to reduce food. A high calorie, high nutrient weight gain supplement is ideal for the elderly to maintain body weight and to gain extra weight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sb
April 04, 2009

Imagine walking into your parents' house to find your entire family poisoning themselves. Mom and Dad are sitting on the couch munching dioxin. Grandma is in the kitchen doing a shot of formaldehyde. And Aunt Betty is stuffing her face with antifreeze. But just when you think you're shocked and horrified, it gets worse. Before you can yell out the words, "Stop, you're killing yourselves!" Your family approaches you and offers you some of their poison. So what do you do? If you say no, you won't be part of the group and you'll feel left out. If you say yes, you'll be poisoning yourself just to fit in and be accepted.

Sounds like a scary scene from a science fiction film or a really bad dream. But it's not—it's Christmas!

Don't the holidays look just a little different from the eyes of those who know where their food comes from? And once you know, it's hard not to want to share it with anyone who'll listen. The problem is that most often that does not include your own family. So no matter how badly you want them to be aware of good nutrition, informing them over the holiday meal is probably not a good idea.

Let's face it, most of your family probably already feels a little annoyed by your healthy eating habits, whether you talk to them about it or not. Anytime you make a choice that is different from the mainstream, it challenges others' belief systems. For instance, just by choosing to eat organic foods, you raise the question for others, "What's wrong with the regular produce from the grocery store?" The problem is that most people don't want to know the answer to that question. So the conscious choices you make about the foods you eat challenge people to think about things they would rather not think about. Unfortunately, some people would rather not know the truth about certain things, especially when it comes to food.

But when you know, there's no going back, is there? So the question is, do you join them in celebrating the holidays by pigging out on foods that destroy your health? Fortunately, you don't have to. Here are seven tips to help you eat healthy this holiday season—without alienating yourself from the people you love:

1. Bring a healthy dish to pass

This is one way to ensure you'll have something healthy to eat, while sharing something nutritious with your family. Bring a tasty dish like meatballs or a hearty soup that you can fill up on without having to eat so much of the other stuff. If you're still tempted by desserts or feel the pressure to join others in eating them, bring a healthy desserts well. Almond cookies are perfect for sharing and allow you to satisfy your taste for sweets while still being part of the group.

2. Have the party at your house

This is the best way to ensure that you'll have something healthy to eat while celebrating the holidays with your friends and family. Hosting a party gives you a little more control over what kind of foods will be served. Suggest that your guests bring salads or some of the healthier family favorites. And you can provide the real stuff like homemade salad dressing, real butter, whole grain breads and a free-range turkey with real gravy. Now you may be asking yourself why you should spend the extra time and money to provide better quality foods when most of the guests wouldn't even appreciate them? But remember, you still have to eat and, amazing as it may seem, this could be the first time some of your guests have ever had good nutritious foods. Once they taste real food, you may even get a few converts!

3. Arrive later

What do you do when you are invited to the kind of party where you know there won't be anything healthy at all to eat (only pizza, pop, cake and ice cream)? You could pack your own meal but then everyone will stare at you and wonder why you're too good for their food. Nothing like drawing more attention to the "health freak." You could also skip the meal and sit there while everyone else eats. But then you might be considered rude, or you'd be asked repeatedly "Are you sure you don't want something to eat, not even just a little piece of cake?" So if you want to avoid the nagging questions and totally alienating yourself from the group, maybe it would be a good idea to show up after the meal. Without lying or making up excuses, simply tell the host that you won't be able to make it for dinner, but you'd love to come and visit with everyone afterward.

4. Eat before you go

A common strategy for attacking the holiday meal is to skip breakfast and lunch—this way when the party gets started there is plenty of room to pig-out for the rest of the evening. Now this way of thinking doesn't really work for someone who is trying to avoid eating foods that are harmful to the body. Instead, it would make more sense to start off the day with a balanced, hearty breakfast. Make sure that you eat a protein-based breakfast balanced with natural carbohydrates and plenty of good fats. And to avoid having to eat more compromised foods than you'd like to, eat a good nutritious meal before you leave for the party.

5. Learn to say no

All right, so you've make it through dinner doing your best to make the healthiest choices possible but now here comes Aunt Betty peddling her famous Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake. Even if you're not tempted by the dessert, how do you say no to someone who simply won't take no for an answer? Well, you just say no. If you make up excuses like, "Not now, I'm too full," people will continue trying to push their desserts on you for the rest of the evening. Get in the habit of saying, "No thanks, I don't eat dessert," without feeling the need to explain yourself. At first you may be met with some resistance, but eventually people will get the point and stop asking you.

6. Avoid preaching

It's hard to watch people you care about knowingly and unknowingly eat foods that destroy their health. But the quickest way to alienate yourself from your family during a holiday meal is to tell them everything wrong with the foods they're eating. You figure that if they only knew. . . but if they really wanted to know, they'd ask you. By now your family has probably figured out that you have an interest or passion for health and nutrition, so if they really want to engage you in that topic of conversation, they will, and then by all means let them know!

7. Take the focus off of food

Make celebrating the holidays with your family and friends more fun and meaningful than pigging out on a bunch of nutrient-depleted junk food. Bring some games that get everyone involved. Plan activities for the kids such as making ornaments or making a snowman. Or, get out the old family photo albums and tell stories as you reminisce about the good times you've shared together—that didn't revolve around food!

sb
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