Staying Healthy in the New Year

This coming year brings much promise for many of us. We are all hopeful for a better, more stable, economy. With a new year, it is also traditional to hope for continued good, or improved, health. Many of us make our resolutions on just this subject. I will be one of them.

I was listening to ElderCare Talk Radio recently. Dr. Aboo Nasar and nurse practitioner Kim Kesch were the featured guests. The information provided was most interesting to me as is generally the case with this talk radio program. They briefly discussed a new study on a drug related interaction syndrome in seniors.
Although I knew this was a serious problem, especially in seniors, I was surprised to learn that drug interaction is now considered a “syndrome”. Professionals are seeing more and more problems with medications in the senior population. Too many are prescribed, often at the patients request after seeing an advertisement.
This can cause multiple side effects and interactions. Often time’s medications are not taken appropriately. Ms. Kesch pointed out that how you take your medication is as important as the dosage and the time you take it. For instance, one medication prescribed often for bladder infection, Nitrofurantoin, loses some of its potency if not taken with protein. The bottle will often read, “may take with food”.
That does not tell the person the correct information. Did you know that taking more than eight medications per day would create a 100% probability that you will suffer a fall? The increased chance of falls means an increased incidence in hip fractures. Hip fractures are a very significant player in overall health decline. They often are the underlying cause of death in our senior population. A medication evaluation is very important and is highly recommended, especially for those taking multiple medications, plus over the counter medications and supplements. This is yet another case of less being more. I believe that the less medications you take, the better off you will be.

This article is not meant to be an advertisement for either Dr. Nasar or Ms. Kesch’ practice, however, I have heard Dr. Nasar speak on several past occasions.
He utilizes a mix of both Eastern and Western methods in his practice of medicine. Additionally he cautions us all about the interaction of herbal supplements with medications. One of the things that impressed me about his practice is how closely he will work with his patients to find the balance they need between eastern and western practices, medications, supplements and nutrition.

One of the items stressed during this recent radio program was that food is medicine. It is most important to look at our diets to obtain better health and reduce the need for medication. The American population, as a whole, generally over eats while at the same time is under nourished. This occurs because so much of what Americans eat is high in non-nutrient calories. Soda’s, sweets, alcohol and fried foods are some of those types of “food” items. An “anti-aging diet” is often recommended. This way of eating is low in calorie (1,450-1,700 per day) but high in nutrition, fiber and minerals. A Mediterranean style diet and/or a European way of eating are also much better options than our traditional American habits and are similar to the “anti-aging” plan.

The common Mediterranean dietary pattern has these characteristics:
• high consumption of fruits, vegetables, bread and other cereals, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds
• olive oil is an important monounsaturated fat source
• dairy products, fish and poultry are consumed in low to moderate amounts, and little red meat is eaten
• eggs are consumed zero to four times a week
• wine is consumed in low to moderate amounts
This lifestyle also means eating your fruits and vegetables raw whenever possible, cooking our meals ourselves, and having proper socialization during the meal. (Please consult your physician before embarking on a new lifestyle, or diet, plan.)

Dr. Nasar also stated that stress is the most toxic condition our bodies deal with. One of the side effects of stress is the production of the hormone cortisol. It is the fight or flight hormone associated with adrenaline among other things. It is necessary for the conversion of proteins to energy. However, too much of anything is bad for you. Sustained increases of this cortisol can destroy muscle and bone, slow healing and normal cell growth and impair digestion. It also can increase blood sugar, affect other hormone levels and interfere with our sleep patterns. Some people turn to alcohol in a misguided attempt to relieve the symptoms of stress. Alcohol is very high in non-nutrient calories and can actually increase the level of cortisol in the body. To top it off, most people that drink do so at night when cortisol should be at its lowest level. They then wonder why they are awake at 3 am. To quote Dr. Nasar; “cortisol is like battery acid” to our systems. You may be asking, how can I keep this seemingly nasty hormone at a safe level? Some herbs and supplements may help. Ask your doctor about them. Better yet, reduce your stress level and don’t drink frequently or in access. Women should have no more than one glass of wine per day.

To reduce stress try: message or yoga; get plenty of rest (8 hrs or more sleep per night); use meditation or self- hypnosis; do not skip meals and eat healthily; reduce intake of coffee; exercise up to 1 hour per day; and enjoy sex regularly if able (yes, it does make a difference).

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Wishing you all a Wonderful, Healthy and Blessed 2010

Live; Laugh; Love
Nancy Coulter Beland
Owner, Starfish Resources*
www.starfishresources.net
760 522 6478
starfishresources@gmail.com