Hope For A Healthier Life – my journey and victory over Sickle cell

Studies indicate that the obesity epidemic starts at an early age. Approximately 80% of children who were obese during their youth (10 to 15 years of age) became obese adults by the age of 25. Additionally, if children are overweight before they’re eight years old, then their adult obesity will be more severe.

Childhood obesity is linked with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and a wide range of health problems. Yet, no single factor is said to cause overweight children, but rather a combination of genetic, behavioural and environmental factors.

At its most basic level, obesity epidemic is caused by the consumption of more calories than the child can use, which causes the remaining calories to be stored as fat.

Obesity

In rare cases, genetics can play a role in the obesity of children with Prader-Willi syndrome, although behavioural factors, like the consumption of high calorie foods, minimal physical activity and a lack of supervision, are more likely contributors to weight gain.

More vending machines offering fattening foods have popped up in schools and suburban bus commutes keep kids from walking or riding their bikes to school.

If left untreated, childhood obesity can lead to a number of problems, both physical and psychosocial. Physically, 70% of obese 5 to 17-year-olds have at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor already, whether it is high blood pressure, high cholesterol or abnormal glucose tolerance, and 25% have at least two risk factors.

Diet & Nutrition

Obesity is also the leading cause of diabetes endocrinology, as 60% of diabetics are also overweight. More immediate health problems include sleep apnea, hepatic steatosis (fatty degeneration of the liver), kidney failure and asthma. Psychologically, obese adolescents become the targets of social stigmatization, which can leave lasting emotional scars that may never fully heal.

To combat childhood obesity, be sure to encourage diet nutrition . Serve nutritious dinners and encourage healthy snacking by offering fruits and vegetables, rather than chips and cookies.

Helping your son or daughter to stay active will not only prevent excessive weight gain, but it will also improve self esteem and coordination, reduce stress and anxiety, decrease blood pressure and strengthen bones.

Type 2 Diabetes

Instead of letting your child “veg out” in front of the TV or computer for hours each day, encourage after-school sports, bike rides, karate, swimming, dance and other physical activities.

In households where carbonated beverages and sugary snacks are always served, it can be hard to maintain control.

The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped sac situated under the liver and most of us don’t even notice we have it until it starts making its presence felt. The gall bladder is the place where the bile produced by the liver is stored. Every time we eat, the gallbladder is stimulated and releases bile into the intestine. Bile is necessary for the proper digestion of food. When the gall bladder is removed, it creates a lot of problems, such as constipation,  diarrhoea, heart burn and so on.

The function of the gallbladder is to store bile and concentrate. Bile is a digestive liquid continually secreted by the liver. The bile emulsifies fats and neutralizes acids in partly digested food. A muscular valve in the common bile duct opens, and the bile flows from the gallbladder into the cystic duct, along the common bile duct, and into the duodenum (part of the small intestine).

Conditions and Diseases of the gallbladder

Sometimes the substances contained in bile crystallize in the gallbladder, forming gallstones. These small, hard concretions are more common in persons over 40, especially in women and the obese. They can cause inflammation of the gallbladder, a disorder that produces symptoms similar to those of indigestion, especially after a fatty meal is consumed. If a stone becomes lodged in the bile duct, it produces severe pain. Gallstones may pass out of the body spontaneously; however, serious blockage is treated by removing the gallbladder surgically.

Removal of the Gallbladder

In some cases, the gallbladder must be removed. The surgery to remove the gallbladder is called a cholecystectomy (pronounced co-lee-sist-eck-toe-mee). In a cholecystectomy, the gallbladder is removed through a 5- to 8-inch long cut in your abdomen.

Once the gallbladder is removed, bile is delivered directly from the liver ducts to the upper part of the intestine.

Complications from Gallbladder removal

Complications are rare. When complications occur, they may be in the form of: bleeding, infection and injury to the duct (tube) that carries bile from your gallbladder to your stomach.

Some patients also experience diarrhea. The cause of diarrhoea after gallbladder removal isn’t clear.

Eating regularly is a very good idea to develop, in fact for those with SC  it would do them a world of good because it would help the digestive system to cope well with digestion. This would also help the body to absorb the nutrients in the food into the blood stream quicker. When you eat a large meal, you find that it takes longer to digest and you tend to become bloated which is sometimes very uncomfortable. Eating regularly  makes the body healthier.

However there is a problem, for those who have had their gall bladder taken out it is more difficult to digest food properly especially fatty food. It always difficult to deal with digestion properly, but there is always a solution.  When eating they should take a digestive enzyme before food which would help in digesting the food properly, that the solution.

There is a huge amount of research that indicates that most people should be eating slow release carbohydrate foods as frequently as every 2 hours – for some people with metabolic issues this frequency can be as short as every 45 minutes.

Most of those with sickle cell find it difficult to put on weight, this is because the metabolism does not work and absorb nutrients as it should. Although putting on weight is nearly the same thing as loosing it, you have to keep on at it till it works.  Since one person differs from the other, you should find out what works best for you  in this information.

1. It is wise to eat small meals frequently, because of the problem of digestion in those with Sickle Cell  this would help the body to absorb much more nutrients into the blood system.

2. Make sure you rest a lot so that the body is not over stressed.

3. Avoid sugar this weakens the immune system, but there is a very good sugar known as Trehalose it is less sweeter than sugar, it gives you lots of energy and can also be used in cooking.

4. Building muscle mass also helps to put on weight, by doing simple exercises often enough, to build your muscles.

5. Eat foods that are rich in protein like fish,chicken, soy beans,eggs and so on.

6. Make sure you also drink a lot of clean water apart from juices and tea.

7. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables

8. Vitamins and minerals are a good thing to go for especially those who have sickle cell they need it more to help the body work properly.

9. Omega 3 is very essential for those with SC, adding this fatty acid to your diet is a sure thing to do to improve your over all health especially your heart and brain.

10. Nuts are a good snack for in between meals like almonds hazel nuts, walnuts and so on

Putting all this together would help a lot, most people I know who have sickle cell are skinny, but I suppose this would help.

Water bottles are not bad, only if you know how to use them. For instance the first time of using a water botttle is ok, but if re-used over a long period like a year or more it is poisonous and can kill. The plastic used for the bottles has a chemical in it called (polyethylene PET) also another carcinogenic element DEHA which are posinous to the human body and may cause cancer. Therfore be aware, it is better to invest in polycarbonate bottles or get a filter water bottle which is safer and free from chemicals.

At long last the sickle cell guide is ready. The challenge we’ve faced is to make it as complete as possible while not too large. It is still a work in progress and just this morning we had a major ah ha moment when we recognised a bit more information that might be vital but as with everything we’ve seen we have to test it first.  Come back soon and we may have more information for you.

To download the current version of the Sickle Cell Guide Click the Link

If you want to be updated automatically as we publish new information please click here

I Saw this article via twitter and couldn’t help but be encouraged that a prominent man is raising the game re sickle cell and thalassaemia. I’m still very concerened that once they have been diagnosed as eiether carrying the trait of having full sickle cell that there really is no treatment options only management.

The real truth lies in the fact that a well managed diet, an active lifestyle and some quality nutrient dense food (supplemented where necessary) is so effective at keeping the pain under control. However, while we remain under the control of Government and the medical profession via the pharmaceutical companies things will get no better.

Education is what is needed first, then support, research into drugs is importnat but should not be the first port of call.

Archbishop Welcomes Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening for All

Wednesday 18 March 2009

As a result of this programme, all women receiving antenatal care in England will be offered screening for the serious genetic diseases sickle cell and thalassaemia.

Meeting a promise set out in the 2000 NHS Plan, this service joins the already established newborn screening programme which ensures that every baby born is offered screening for sickle cell. This is now identifying 350 affected babies every year. In England, sickle cell affects an estimated 13,500 people with an estimated 240,000 carriers; this makes it the most common genetic disease in the England – affecting more people Cystic Fibrosis

The Most Reverend & Rt, Hon Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, who has been Chair of the Screening Programme since 2001 commented:

“I whole-heartedly congratulate the NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme as it formally celebrates the full roll out of antenatal and newborn screening.

“By offering screening to all pregnant women and babies, we can now support couples to make informed decisions and also ensure that babies receive the immediate care they need. I am delighted that sickle cell and thalassaemia are finally getting the recognition they deserve as serious genetic diseases affecting some of the most marginalised groups in our society. This is an important step in both providing better care and tackling serious health inequalities. The next challenge is to ensure that effective screening is backed by high quality care for those living with the diseases.  I will continue to support the Programme’s efforts and the invaluable work it does. Together with newborn screening, these programmes together form the world’s first linked antenatal and newborn screening programme – a model for genetic screening which has already attracted interest internationally.”

Dr Allison Streetly, Director of the NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme, explains:

“Realising this goal means that every pregnant woman in England, no matter where she lives, will now be offered screening for sickle cell disease and thalassaemia.  This is huge progress considering that less than ten years ago screening was rarely available even in areas where sickle cell and thalassaemia were common. Screening identifies not only people with the disease but also genetic carriers, ensuring in the long-term, individuals and couples will have the option of making informed decisions before they have a child.”

Dietary Factors and Supplements

Foods. Good nutrition is essential for anyone and critical for patients with sickle cell disease. Some dietary recommendations include:

• Fluids are number one in importance. The patient should drink as much water as possible each day to prevent dehydration. Female patients may want to include cranberry juice to help prevent urinary tract infections.
• It is important to have 5 – 9 daily servings of green, red, and yellow vegetables, fruits, or juices that are rich in antioxidants and other important nutrients. Some research suggests that antioxidant foods or supplements (such as vitamins E or C) may help inhibit the formation of the dense cells that trigger a sickle cell crisis. One medical group has created a “cocktail” of supplements and food extracts that are rich in antioxidants and iron-binding compounds that might have more protective effects on the sickling process than single antioxidants. It includes garlic extract, black and green tea extract, pycnogenol, alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, and beta-carotene. In any case, patients might eat foods containing these extracts and take supplements of the antioxidant vitamins E and C if their diet does not adequately supply them.
• The chemical resveratrol, which is found in red grape skins, appears to have properties similar to hydroxyurea, the primary drug used in sickle cell disease. Drinking great amounts of grape juice is unlikely to make much difference, but adding it to a child’s diet is unlikely to do harm.
• Protein is important for sickle cell patients.
• Studies on omega-three fatty acids, found in fish and soybean oil, suggest that they might make red blood cell membranes less fragile, and possibly less likely to sickle, although no studies have proven this definitively. Fish and soy products have health benefits in any case. In one small study, fish oil supplements reduced the frequency of painful episodes over the course of a year.

Minerals and Other Natural Substances .

• Zinc. Zinc sulphate appears to help reduce red blood cell dehydration. Important studies indicate that it helps prevent sickle cell crises and reduce pain and life-threatening complications. A study on children with sickle cell suggested that supplements may help improve growth and weight gain. It may also boost the immune system and help protect against bacterial infections. Zinc deficiency is a common nutritional problem in sickle cell disease, so supplements may important.
• Magnesium. Magnesium protects against potassium and water loss in sickle cells. Small studies are reporting promise for its use in preventing dehydration and increasing hemoglobin S concentration.
• Arginine. Arginine is an amino acid that the body converts to nitric oxide, a natural substance that relaxes blood vessels. The sickle cell process reduces nitric oxide levels, which may be responsible for much of the pain in these patients. Arginine and other substances that convert to nitric oxide are being studied in trials.
• L-glutamine is an ordinary amino acid that is heavily used by sickle cells. One study using supplements of this substance reported that after a month it caused positive changes in the blood. Another small study found that daily oral glutamine supplementation improved growth and nutritional measures in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease.

Vitamins. Patients should take daily folic acid and vitamin B12 and B6 supplements. Vitamin B6 may have specific anti-sickling properties. Some experts recommend 1 mg folic acid, 6 microgram vitamin B12, and 6 mg vitamin B6. Foods containing one or all of these vitamins include meats, oily fish, poultry, whole grains, dried fortified cereals, soybeans, avocados, baked potatoes with skins, watermelon, plantains, bananas, peanuts, and brewer’s yeast. Of note, folic acid can mask pernicious anemia, which is caused by deficiency of vitamin B12 and is more common in African-Americans than other populations.

I don’t begin to understand what the money controllers in this country have done to us and how they brought about this market crash. All I know is that it’s going to make everything around us cost more. That includes food.

It was mostly a novelty for me when I first started making my own soymilk. I had been buying my soymilk in the grocery and didn’t even know for along time that I could make it myself. I mean, who makes milk? I don’t live on a dairy farm, so my only access to cow’s milk was the grocery store. So when I made the switch to soy, it didn’t even occur to me that this could turn into a do-it-yourself project.

Luxury Becomes a Need?

Making my own soymilk was absolute luxury. I was a step up from folks that were still buying this drink in stores because I had the ability to control what I put in my soymilk and how I wanted it to taste. Then I learned how to make tofu and soy yogurt. My luxury continued.

My opinion about this food source has quickly changed. My Soymilk Maker has become my most valued piece of kitchen equipment. It’s now a necessity!

The finacial burden of meat-based diets could soon grow beyond belief. What is the cost of a pound of meat? What will it become? How many meals can a pound of meat make? What’s the cost of a pound of soybeans? Right now, it averages 2 dollars. What will it become? It’ll be much less than meat.

Will Soy Become Survival Food?

You can do a lot of things with a pound of soybeans. You can make 5 pots of soymilk. You could use one of those pots to make a block of tofu. One pot of soymilk can make seven servings of yogurt. Also from those 5 pots, you’ll get almost 4 cups of okara, which can easily become 20 soy burgers.

The upside to all of this; soy is healthy. It’s a perfect protein food. It’s high in fiber and loaded with minerals. This may not be the best time to invest in the stock market, but it’s a great time to invest in health and food. An additional note: dry soybeans have a long shelf life when stored in tightly sealed containers.

Click below to listen to the Oct 2007 update on Ruth Akiboyes progress.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.