Weight Loss and Diet Blog

You know the old saying - a hospital is the last place a sick person should want to go. Well, we probably don't want to go to those extremes, but hospitals are full of germs.  Surprise!   OK, so we already knew that, but maybe we need a reminder.

C. difficile is drug-resistant bacteria that causes extreme diarrhea and can be deadly especially to those whose immune systems are already weakened by other illness.  And this bacteria is running rampant through the hospitals and skilled nursing homes of this country. 

For many, even though the disease can be held at bay for long periods of time, there is no cure.  Once contracted, C. difficile is an affliction you may have for the remainder of your life - hitting carriers much like Crons Disease with regular bouts of cramping and diarrhea.

And while we can't avoid these places there are things we can do to protect ourselves.  If you are simply visiting, even if you are by all indications quite healthy, wash your hands, clothing and purse-handles thoroughly when leaving. 

While you're there keep your hands away from your face.  And if you're going to be there for any length of time, wash your hands several times during your stay.  If you touch anything in the building, assume it is contaminated with the bacteria.  Better safe than sorry. 

If you are staying in one of these facilities, make sure all personnel was their hands when entering the room.  If you are too ill to do this, have a family member stay and help you.  They or you should also be double checking that the medicines you are being given are the correct medicines and are being given in the correct dosages. 

And last but not least, don't depend on the anti-bacterial wipes and gels available to protect you against this disease.  New evidence shows these simply spread the germs around.   There is no substitute for good ole soap and water.

Until next time,
B.J.
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What Is The Idiot Proof Diet?

I finally get it!  It's not about the antibiotics I take - though I shouldn't be taking antibiotics every time I get a sniffle - it's about the Antibiotics I eat!

Did you know almost everything we EAT and DRINK contains antibiotics?  Animals are being fed antibiotics at low doses to prevent disease and to make them grow larger.  It's mixed in their food!  I knew they were giving them antibiotics, I didn’t know they were feeding them antibiotics.

Animals receiving antibiotics in their feed gain more weight, so it's big money for the cattle and poultry producers.  It's also big money for the drug manufacturers.  70% of all antibiotics sold are sold to the agriculture community.  Big Bucks! 

But it doesn't stop there, we eat those cattle and chickens; we drink the milk, we eat the eggs.  Unfortunately it doesn't stop there either.  After those antibiotics pass through the digestive system of those animals (and us), they find their way into the water systems, and are spread on the vegetables, both to water the plants and as fertilizer.  It's in everything we put on our tables. 

I had, to this point, comforted myself that because I didn't take a lot of antibiotics, I wasn't a part of the problem.  Not so fast, it seems maybe I haven't done enough.

In October 2007 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), they reported there were about 100,000 cases of invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in the United States in 2005, leading to about 18,600 deaths.  Deaths for that same year due to HIV/AIDS were about 17,000.

At my house we're going to be eating a lot more wild Alaskan salmon (don't eat farm raised), and looking for meats raised without antibiotics.   If you've got the freezer space and are able to find a local farmer who will raise and sell grass feed beef, you're all set.

Until next time,
B.J.
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A new study about the link between a large abdomen and the risk for developing Alzheimer has just been released showing those who had a more rotund, apple shape during their middle age were anywhere from 81% to 243% more likely to develop this deadly and frightening disease. 

The study of 6,583 men and women between 40 and 45 had the distance from their back and their upper abdomen measured during their regular checkup.  They followed up with these same folks some 35 years later and found those with the larger distance were more likely to develop Alzheimer.

Now this was not your regular ‘over all’ weight retention.  We've known for some time those who carry extra weight are more likely to develop all sorts of diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer.  This study was specific to abdominal girth and the risk for Alzheimer. 

Just another reason to watch our weight, our waists and the glycemic index of the foods we eat.

Until next time,
B.J.
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