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The World Health Organization and numerous other health care agencies (both government and private) have established that tanning beds are detrimental to health.
The UVA & UVB radiations emitted by the beds are carcinogenic for the skin. They can damage the DNA of skin cells leading to skin cancer. The rays also accelerate skin aging due to loss of elasticity and can cause eye damage. The rays have a cumulative effect over the years; the longer the exposure, the greater are the risks of development of skin malignancies, especially in a person under 30. Certain connective tissue diseases like Lupus, can exacerbate after use of tanning in beds or sun bathing.
However, comparing the use of tanning beds to smoking is like comparing apples to oranges. Both are carcinogenic, but affect different body systems which cause cancer by different mechanisms.
Answer submitted by Dr. Nidhi Tiwari who specializes in Internal Medicine and is with Provena Medical Group and is a member of the Provena Mercy Medical Center Medical Staff.
The Dukan Diet was developed by French nutritionist and medical doctor Pierre Dukan over ten years ago and has gained incredible popularity since its creation. The media reports that millions of French women follow this diet to maintain their figures, as well as celebrities and models. Until recently the diet has only been available inFrance but the English version of The Dukan Diet officially became available in 2010. The U.S.version recently became available just this month of April 2011.
The Dukan Diet is similar to the popular Atkins diet in that it is based around eating high-protein foods while severely limiting all carbohydrates including fruits, starchy vegetables, legumes and whole grains. Unlike the Atkins diet, the emphasis is on sources of protein that are low in fat such as fish, poultry and reduced-fat dairy products. The Dukan diet includes four phases: the Attack phase, the Cruise phase, the Consolidation phase, and finally the Stabilization phase.
The Attack phase is followed for one to ten days and dieters are told they can expect to lose between seven and ten pounds within the first five days. During this phase dieters consume only protein foods that may be seasoned with condiments that do not contain fat or carbohydrates Dieters are warned that they may experience bad breath and a dry mouth during this phase, which may be alleviated to some degree by drinking more water.
In the Cruise phase of the Dukan Diet, days of protein only are alternated with days of protein and vegetables. The types of vegetables allowed in this phase are limited to those that do not contain starch such as lettuce, spinach, celery, cucumber, asparagus and tomato. Vegetables can be consumed raw, steamed, or in soups and stews.
The Consolidation phase is the maintenance phase and commences once you have achieved your goal weight. You will continue to base your diet on protein and vegetables but are also allowed one portion of fruit as well as two slices of whole-grain bread each day. In addition you are permitted one extra serving of a carbohydrate food per week, which may include foods like pasta or rice. In this phase of the Dukan Diet you are also allowed one ‘celebration meal’ each week, which is increased to twice a week after you have been in phase three for a while.
The final Stabilization phase is the ongoing lifestyle phase of the Dukan Diet. In this phase you are instructed to go back to eating whatever you like while continuing to use the rules of the Consolidation Phase as a guideline. One day of the week dieters are instructed to eat only protein.
Just like any other diet, there are pros and cons to the Dukan Diet. Some pros include fast results in the first phase which can boost motivation, no calorie counting required, the diet includes vegetarian options, a meal plan, and recipes, and the “celebration meals” in the final phases of the diet can help psychologically to improve adherence to diet.
Some cons of the Dukan diet include that it is highly restrictive and requires elimination of healthy foods including fruit, grains, legumes, and nuts. Some dieters may experience mood swings and fatigue. Dieters may also experience constipation, headaches, and bad breath on high protein diets, and the diet is not suitable for people with a history of gout, kidney disease, high cholesterol, or eating disorders. Furthermore, dietary boredom is highly likely due to the limited food choices, especially for those who don’t enjoy eating animal products, and the diet also encourages consumption of artificial sweeteners and diet soda.
In conclusion, the Dukan Diet is an extreme approach that emphasizes low-fat protein. While dieters can expect to lose weight following this plan, it is highly likely that weight will be regained upon a return to normal eating habits. The best way to approach weight loss is to eat a variety of healthy foods which include fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, healthy fats and low fat protein foods, and to maintain good portion control. Exercise is also important as well for overall health and wellness and can accelerate weight loss. Restriction of certain foods or food groups is not recommended due to the high possibility of feeling deprived and overeating or bingeing on that type of food and regaining any weight lost.
Answer submitted by Mia Handell, registered and licensed dietitian at Provena Mercy Medical Center.
Certain ethnic groups are more at risk for developing diabetes. African Americans are one of these groups. Being overweight is another significant risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes.
Who is at greater risk for developing Type 2 diabetes?
- People with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and/or impaired fasting glucose (IFG)
- People over age 45
- People with a family history of diabetes
- People who are overweight
- People who do not exercise regularly
- People with low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides, high blood pressure
- Certain racial and ethnic groups (e.g., Non-Hispanic Blacks, Hispanic/Latino Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and American Indians and Alaska Natives)
- Women who had gestational diabetes, or who have had a baby weighing 9 pounds or more at birth
Visit stopdiabetes.com to take the FREE Diabetes Risk Test.
If you believe you are risk, you may want to schedule an appointment with a physician for a physical exam. Part of that exam would most likely include a blood test to check if you have diabetes.
Answer submitted by Rita Smith, RN, MSN, CDE, Certified Diabetes Educator at the Provena Mercy Medical Center for Diabetic Wellness.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley and can be found in a large variety of foods that we eat. Gluten-free nutrition therapy is only indicated for individuals who suffer from gluten intolerance or have a condition called celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune ailment in which a person is unable to metabolize gluten and causes symptoms including diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal distention, and electrolyte depletion.
Today, many people who have not been diagnosed with celiac disease and experience no symptoms have given up gluten in an attempt to lose weight. A gluten free diet eliminates any food containing wheat, barley or rye. Bread, pizza, pasta, most cereals, cookies and cakes made with traditional white or whole wheat flour all contain gluten, so therefore are not allowed on a gluten-free diet. Gluten is also present in not so obvious products as well including many soups, pasta sauces, salad dressings, packaged meals and frozen dinners which contain gluten in the form of soy sauce, barley malt or modified food starch. A strict gluten free diet requires you to study food labels to avoid gluten-containing ingredients.
The demand for gluten free products is very high and there are more products on the market today that are “gluten-free.” Gluten-free products were not readily available in the past. The little amount of gluten-free foods that were available in the past did not taste very good. Going gluten free is easier than ever nowadays because of improvements in labeling and greater awareness. Stores such as Whole Foods even have specific shopping guides for gluten free shoppers.
A gluten-free diet that eliminates refined flour and simple sugars (such as those found in packaged cookies and snacks) will improve health and help with weight loss. Many people report feeling better and more energized after giving up gluten. For these reasons, people who do not have gluten intolerance may follow a gluten-free diet to aid in weight loss. However those who follow a gluten-free diet for weight loss still need to be careful because gluten-free products may still contain a significant amount of calories. In fact, some gluten-free products have more calories than their gluten-containing counterparts because of added sugars and the presence of white rice flour and potato starch. Gluten-free on a label does not mean that a product is low calorie or healthful.
In conclusion, if your doctor prescribes you a gluten-free diet, you must follow it. If you follow a gluten-free diet for weight loss, it is important to still follow sound nutritional practices which means including a variety of fruits and vegetables, lean meats and proteins, and limiting refined sugars and fatty/fried foods.
Answer submitted by Mia Handell, registered and licensed dietitian at Provena Mercy Medical Center.
The long term consequences of poor posture can be neck or back pain, a stooped appearance, rounded shoulders with forward head, and in some cases balance difficulties when walking. We have all seen those people who are slumped over as they walk.
Good posture gives us a more pleasant appearance. Our clothing will fit better and it can be easier to breath since the lungs have more room to expand.
The best thing you can do to improve your posture is to be aware of it. It takes conscious thought to maintain proper posture, but there are a few things that can help.
- Each time you pass a surface where you can see your reflection, look and think about how you are moving.
- As you are sitting in a chair or at the computer, sit upright, use the back of the chair.
- A couple of simple exercises may help: squeezing your shoulder blades together 10 times-3 sessions per day or rolling your shoulders backwards (not forwards) 10 times-3 sessions per day.
- Lastly, keep your chin tucked in. Take a deep breath and relax your shoulders.
If you do these simple things, you will be able to maintain good posture.
Answer submitted by Jill Luminais PT CEASII, a Senior Physical Therapist and a Certified Ergonomic Specialist at Provena Mercy Medical Center.
As you probably know, there are two different types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. They both have different causes yet they also have two common factors. First you must inherit a predisposition to the disease and secondly something in your environment triggers the diabetes. Genes alone are not enough.
According to the American Diabetes Association, people with type 1 diabetes need to inherit risk factors from both parents. However, that alone is not enough to cause type 1 diabetes. Environmental factors are also important. One environmental trigger may be related to cold weather as type 1 diabetes more often develops in the winter than summer and is more common in colder climates.
In type 2 diabetes, family history of the disease is one of the strongest risk factors for getting the disease. However, again environmental or life style factors are also very important. Such things as obesity and lack of exercise or sedentary life style are risk factors for diabetes.
Provena Mercy Medical Center is a proud sponsor of the Annual Step-Out Walk to Fight against Diabetes on Saturday, October 16, 2010 at Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles. Every dollar raised through Step Out plays an important role in supporting the Associations mission: to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information or to register, please visit diabetes.org/stepout or call 1-888-DIABETES.
Answer submitted by Maria Aurora Diaz, Board Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Practice Nurse, Certified Diabetes Educator & Clinical Manager of the Provena Mercy Medical Center for Diabetic Wellness.
All of us are concerned with getting the most out of our food, whether it is taste, quality, texture, and overall nutrition. The most nutrient dense foods are those eaten immediately after picked or caught, however not all of us are farmers, hunters, and/or fishermen. With modern technology, most of our food supply is processed for the benefits of consumer safety and food variety.
Research shows that canned and frozen ingredients are comparable in nutrition to cooked fresh counterparts. The moment you pick a fruit or vegetable, or catch a fish, or milk a cow, food starts to change texture, taste, perhaps color, and nutrient content. That’s why food producers usually process food as fast as possible, while nutrient content and overall quality are at their peak. Immediate processing helps lock these qualities into food. As long as processed foods are handled properly, from the food manufacturer to the supermarket to your home, there’s little nutrient loss. Freezing, drying, and canning retain the nutritional quality of foods. Whether food is fresh or processed, it is up to you to minimize nutrient loss in your kitchen.
Nearly every food preparation process reduces the amount of nutrients in food. In particular, processes that expose foods to high levels of heat, light, and/or oxygen cause the greatest nutrient loss. Nutrients can also be “washed out” of foods by fluids that are introduced during a cooking process. For example, boiling a potato can cause much of the potato’s B and C vitamins to migrate to the boiling water. You’ll still benefit from those nutrients if you consume the liquid (i.e. if the potato and water are being turned into potato soup), but not if you throw away the liquid. Similar losses also occur when you broil, roast, or fry in oil, and then drain off the drippings.
Freezing, when properly done, is the method of food preservation which may potentially preserve the greatest quantity of nutrients. Most frozen fruits maintain high quality for 8 to 12 months. Unsweetened fruits lose quality faster than those packed in sugar or sugar syrups. Most vegetables will maintain high quality for 12 to 18 months at 0° F or lower. Longer storage of fruits and vegetables than those recommended above will not make the food unfit for use, but will decrease its quality.
You must use good quality freezer containers to maintain the quality of frozen fruits and vegetables. A high quality container should be both moisture and vapor proof so that moisture can be kept in the product and air kept away from it. There are two types of packaging materials for home use: rigid containers and flexible bags or wrappings.
Rigid containers made of plastic are suitable for all packs and are especially good for liquid packs. They are often reusable and make the stacking of foods in the freezer easier. Cardboard cartons for cottage cheese, ice cream and milk are not sufficiently moisture-vapor resistant to be suitable for long-term freezer storage. Covers for rigid containers should fit tightly. Flexible freezer bags and moisture-vapor resistant wrapping materials such as plastic freezer wrap, freezer paper and heavy-weight aluminum foil are suitable for dry packed products with little or no liquid. Regardless of the type of storage container, press to remove as much air as possible before closing.
For more information on food storage and preservation, please visit: http://www.nutrition.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=11&tax_level=2&tax_subject=391&topic_id=1759&placement_default=0
Answer submitted by Mia Handell, registered and licensed dietitian at Provena Mercy Medical Center.
Yes, type 1.5 diabetes does exist, and this condition could be thought of as a hybrid between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The typical patient with type 1.5 diabetes is aged 30-50 years and is not overweight. Generally, they test positive for pancreatic antibodies, especially GAD (glutamic acid decarboxylase) which cause a decline in insulin secretion more gradually than in type 1 diabetics. Patients with type 1.5 diabetes can initially control their sugar with oral agents, such as metfromin and sulfonylureas, however, they generally progress to insulin therapy within two to four years which is sooner than most type 2 diabetics. Some studies within the past few years have suggested treating type 1.5 diabetes with insulin from the onset may more effectively prevent/delay diabetic complications.
Answer submitted by Elisa Hofmann MD who specializes in Endocrinology. Dr. Hofmann is currently with Fox Valley Endocrinology and a member of the Provena Mercy Medical Center medical staff.
The American Heart Association recommends that we should consume less than 1500 mg of sodium per day. However, the average American consumes over 3400 mg of sodium daily. Sodium is hidden in many foods, and the sodium content is extremely high in restaurant foods, prepared or canned foods, soups and condiments. There is about 600 mg in a ¼ tsp of table salt, so be careful not to add salt to your foods! Substitute pepper, seasonings or lemon juice to add some flavor to your foods.
Why is this so important? Taking in too much salt can lead to hypertension (high blood pressure), heart attack, stroke and can also damage the kidneys. Excess sodium intake leads to fluid retention, and as more fluid is added to the vascular system, the blood pressure will rise. Hypertension makes the heart work harder, damages the blood vessels, and can eventually lead to a heart attack. High blood pressure is also hard on the kidneys and is a risk factor for stroke.
According to the New England Journal of Medicine, if Americans reduced their salt intake by 1200 mg per day, we could greatly improve our health. We could decrease the number of coronary heart disease patients by 90,000 a year; the number of stokes by 49,000 a year; the number of heart attacks by 76,000 a year; the number of deaths from all causes by 68,000 a year. Now, that is a pretty good reason to put down the salt shaker!
Answer submitted by Melissa Leguillon APN, CNP, Cardiovascular Nurse Practitioner at Provena Mercy Medical Center
Quitting smoking can be a difficult thing to do. About 70% of people who smoke want to quit smoking and only about 4-7% will successfully quit smoking (cold turkey) without any help or medication. Approximately, 25-33% will be successful and off cigarettes for at least 6 months when using medications to help. Up to 40% of people who smoke and participate in smoking cessation programs successfully quit smoking and stay off cigarettes for at least one year. Success rates may seem low but do not get discouraged, everyone is not always successful on their first try.
It is important to understand that smoking is an addiction caused by the nicotine in cigarettes. It can be as addictive as cocaine and alcohol. Because your body becomes dependent on smoking, your body makes it difficult for you to quit. If you have tried to quit before, and were not successful, please DO NOT GIVE UP! Try again in a few weeks and reflect on the past experience or experiences to help you be successful this time.
If you have not tried nicotine replacement therapy or medications yet, it is definitely something to look into. There are over-the-counter nicotine replacement agents and prescribed medications that can help you quit. Some of the over-the-counter medications are the Nicotine patch, gum or lozenges. Some of the prescribed medications are Zyban, Wellbutrin, Chantix, Nicotine inhaler and Nicotine nasal spray. Please consult with your physician if you are considering trying any of these.
Look for support! Your support system can greatly impact your outcome. People who have a good support system have a higher success rate. Tell your family and friends that you are quitting and ask them to help and support you. Find someone to lean on and call when you feel that you may be giving in to a cigarette. This person should be aware that you are trying to quit and know that you will call him/her when you are feeling weak. Look for support groups close to you. Support groups give you the opportunity to share and learn experiences with others that are going through the same thing as you.
Finally, look for a smoking cessation program close to you. A smoking cessation program will provide you with all the information and support necessary to help you be successful in quitting. It will address topics such as coping skills, medications, nicotine replacement therapy, nicotine dependence, quitting skills, recovery and relapse prevention and stress management.
Provena Mercy Medical Center offers a “Freedom from Smoking” cessation program. Please feel free to call 1-866-PROVENA to obtain information on the next available clinic and register.
Answer submitted by Maria E. Iniguez, RN at Provena Mercy Medical Center – Center for Diabetic Wellness Certified Freedom from Smoking Facilitator.
