Hydration and the Flu

Q: I have always been told to drink clear soft drinks versus water after the stomach flu.  Why?

A: When recovering from the flu, the goal is to increase your stamina by gradually increasing your fluid and food intake.  The first step is drinking clear liquids to hydrate and replenish nutrients that were lost due to the flu.

A clear soft drink is not necessarily easier on the stomach or better than water when starting the hydration process.  The best liquid is dependent on the body’s needs, what a person can keep down, and personal preference.

The following liquids are generally prescribed:

•         Water – purest form of hydration available

•         Clear soft drinks

•         Usually free of caffeine and other additives

•         Drink it flat – carbonation may irritate the stomach

•         High sugar content may irritate stomach

•         Sports drinks to boost the body’s electrolytes

•         High sugar content and additives may irritate stomach

•         Clear broths

•         Low acid fruit juices

Carrots and Vision

Q: Do carrots actually improve one’s vision?

A: Carrots can improve one’s vision if the person’s diet is lacking in Vitamin A.

Carrots are a good source of vitamin A, which is essential for good vision.  Consuming the recommended daily amount of Vitamin A is known to provide the following eye benefits:

•         Protects the surface of the eye (cornea)

•         Delays the onset of age-related macular degeneration

•         Prevents dry eye syndrome (chronic lack of sufficient lubrication and moisture on the surface of the eye)

Consuming the recommended daily amount of Vitamin A is easily achieved by consuming a well balanced diet.  Vitamin A deficient diets are rare in the United States and common food sources are dairy products, fish, fortified cereals, fruits, and vegetables.

It is important to keep in mind that Vitamin A helps maintain good vision and delays some eye issues, but it will not prevent the development of all sight-threatening conditions.

 

"Beer Belly"

Q: Is there any truth to the phrase “beer belly?”

A: The phrase is generally associated with men that have large stomachs.  It implies a direct relationship between beer consumption and stomach size.

There is some evidence that increased alcohol intake leads to larger waist sizes, but the main culprit is calories.  When you consume more calories than you burn, the excess calories are stored as fat.

Age, sex, and hormone levels determine where the fat is stored:

•         Men tend to store fat in the midsection.

•         As people age, they lose muscle mass.  Less muscle mass means a lower metabolism.  Lower metabolism with no change in caloric intake leads to fat storage. 

•         Hormone levels decline in men and women as they age.  The decline results in more fat storage at the midsection for both men and women.

To reduce or eliminate a beer belly you need to burn more calories than you consume.  One of the most efficient methods to achieve this caloric deficit is by increasing your lean muscle mass through strength training.  More muscle mass means a higher metabolism and an increase in the number of calories burned by the body.

Popping Blisters

Q: An earlier blog post from July discussed the causes of blisters.  Should I pop a blister when I get one?

A: Popping a blister may lead to infection.  The best treatment for a blister is to let the body’s natural healing process occur.

When a blister develops, the body responds by forming new skin underneath the affected area.  The fluid-filled blister keeps the new skin clean, moist, and free of dirt and debris.  Eventually the fluid is absorbed and the blister dries out, breaks down, and exposes the new skin.

In some cases, letting the natural healing process occur is not an option (e.g. work).  If you need to pop a blister:

•         Use a sterilized needle or razor

•         Cleanse the area thoroughly and make a small hole

•         Squeeze out the fluid, but do not remove the blister

•         Let the old skin remain to protect the new skin that is developing

Gluten

Q: What is gluten?  Why are some foods gluten-free?

A: Gluten is a naturally occurring protein found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye, and oats.  Its unique structure results in the elastic consistency found in the dough derived from these grains. 

Over the centuries, the elastic consistency led to the use of these grains in breads and other baked goods which are staples in most diets.

Some people have intolerance to gluten.  Symptoms of the intolerance range from headaches, bloating, diarrhea, weight loss, and malnutrition.  People with the worst cases of intolerance are sometimes diagnosed with celiac disease.  This is an autoimmune disorder and is characterized by the reduced ability of the small intestine to properly absorb nutrients from certain foods.

A gluten-free diet is prescribed to minimize or eliminate the symptoms of the intolerance.  Some foods are naturally gluten-free (including some grains) while others are made to be gluten-free.  The link below from the Mayo Clinic provides a list of gluten-free foods.

References:

http://www.celiac.com/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gluten-free-diet/my01140

Energy Shots

Q: What is the 5-hour ENERGY® drink and is it good for you?

A: 5-hour ENERGY® is marketed as an “energy shot” that provides a quick and convenient boost of energy without the calories and sugar of full-size energy drinks, coffees, and sodas.

The 5-hour ENERGY® website lists the follow ingredients for their original energy shot:

•         Vitamin B (B6, B12)

•         Niacin

•         Folic Acid

•         Caffeine -  contains as much caffeine as a regular cup of coffee

•         Other ingredients including:  Citicoline, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Taurine, Malic Acid, and Glucuronolactone

Is it good for you?  The “energy” in the shot comes from the caffeine.  Ingesting a single energy shot on an infrequent bases is most likely not problematic.  In reality, people are regularly consuming the energy shots with other caffeinated drinks and this is leading to caffeine overload.  Too much caffeine can lead to several health issues including:  insomnia, nervousness, nausea, increased heart rate, and high blood pressure. 

If you are regularly fatigued, it is recommended that you look for natural ways to boost energy levels.  Suggestions include:

•         Eat several small meals vs. infrequent large meals

•         Don’t skip meals, especially breakfast

•         Avoid large amounts of sugar and fat

•         Take quick exercise breaks throughout the day to shake off drowsiness

•         Exercise regularly

•         Stress management

•         Quality sleep

Blisters

Q:  What causes blisters and how are they different from blood blisters?

A:  Blisters result from irritation or damage to the skin from an external source.  The most common reasons for blisters are:

•         Friction: brief and intense rubbing confined to a small area of skin.

•         Burns: contact with hot surfaces, exposure to flames, steam, or severe sunburns.

•         Irritants, Allergens, or Drugs: contact with certain chemicals, cosmetics, drugs, medications, or plant allergens.

•         Infections or Viruses: chickenpox, cold sores, shingles and other infectious illnesses.

Blood blisters differ from regular blisters in that blood blisters result from trauma to the subdermal tissues and/or blood vessels.  The trauma leads to bleeding and blood pooling underneath the skin.

The most common cause of blood blisters is pinching of the skin tissue (e.g. pinching your fingers with a pliers.)