Low Potassium Diet: Healthy Eating Plan for People with Kidney Disease

Most of the people nowadays are very much dependent on easy-to-prepare foods. So, it is no longer surprising if the prevalence of chronic illnesses just like kidney disease keep on rising. And since March 8 is World Kidney Day, I decided to feature here some low potassium foods for people with kidney problems.

Although potassium is the perfect mineral that helps keep the blood levels in a healthy range, excessive intake of it could also cause major kidney damage. This is the reason why the a low potassium diet (less than 100 mg per serving) is among the best healthy eating plans for people with kidney disease because the said organ can no longer remove the excess potassium in the urine.

Good Sources of Low Potassium Diet:

One-half cup of mandarin oranges (98 mg)

Ten small grapes (93 mg)

One-half cup of sweetened applesauce (78 mg)

One-half cup of fresh blueberries (63 mg)

One-half cup of red bell pepper (88 mg)

One-half cup of green cabbage (60mg)

One-half cup of boiled cauliflower (88 mg)

One clove of garlic (12 mg)

One-half cup of raspberries (93 mg)

One tablespoon of olive oil (less than 1 mg)

One-half cup of cucumber slices (88 mg)

One cup of iceberg lettuce (87 mg)

Once-half cup of frozen green beans (85 mg) 

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Having Problems with Bowel Movement?

So you are having problems with your bowel movement? Being careful with the foods you ingest is the very first requirement.

So what are the foods that let you experience difficulties during defacation? 

Well, these are the slow-digesting foods. These are foods that would take three to six hours before they are totally digested. Samples of these foods are pasteries, cakes, mayonnaise, strong cheese, meats, sausages, seafood, pulses (such as chickpeas and lentils, etc.), and oil nuts (like almonds, walnuts, etc.).

So what are the ideal foods to eat?

You need to select foods that are easy to digest such as veggies, cottage cheese, unsalted soft cheese, boiled egg, milk, flour, whole grains (like oats, wheat, rye, etc.), pasta soup, sweet dried fruits, and fresh seasonal fruit. All these foods take only about two hours to fully digest in your body.


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5 Signs You Might Have a Chronic Disease

They say the best way to determine ones health condition is to consult a doctor because this professional has vast knowledge about human health. Every medical doctor is also equipped with a variety of high-end hospital medical equipments that can detect any abnormalities inside the body, especially for serious conditions wherein the patient experiences no signs or the symptoms are not revealed immediately. But do you know that there are some instances wherein even without using the most basic hospital medical equipment, one can also conclude whether something is abnormal in his or her body through the abnormal changes in ones physical appearance? Yes, that’s true! By merely looking at the appearance of a person or even without using hospital medical equipment, specialized doctor can say if the patient is suffering from a serious illness. Ok let’s start analyzing some of the abnormal changes that might be easily seen in a person's body.

Silvery Hair – This unusual change of a person’s hair is often associated with Griscelli syndrome or partial albinism with immunodeficiency. However, a person with silvery hair might be suffering also from Elejalde’s syndrome or a neuroectodermal melanolysosomal disease that is very common in Mexico.

Redness of Sclera – Sclera is the white outer layer of the eyeball. When this portion turns into red, this is an indication of an eye infection. However, for some instances, redness of sclera is also associated to other chronic diseases like Crohn’s disease, Reiter’s syndrome, Grave’s disease, etc.

Bronze Skin – A person whose skin colors appears in intense or metallic bronze is  often diagnosed with Addison’s disease. This disorder is involves a progressive destruction of the adrenal glands which then results to difficulty of secreting adrenocortical hormones. Bronze skin can also be associated with bronze baby syndrome,  hemochromatosis, chronic renal failure, biliary cirrhosis, or a drug reaction.

Yellow nails – Yellow or jaundice nails is often associated to a fungal infection. However, it can also indicate a more serious condition such as liver disease, lung disease, thyroid disorder, diabetes or psoriasis.

Reddish or “Strawberry” Hands – If the unusual changes of hands color is seen on children, this is often associated to an autoimmune disorder called Kawasaki disease. Inflammation of mid-sized blood vessels are not only seen in hands but throughout the body. Other conditions linked to inflamed hands are Raynaud’s syndrome, chronic liver disease, and other pregnancy-related issues for women.


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Foods that Often Trigger Allergies

Some people are born to have some allergies on foods, others are on the weather. There are also some who are allergic to animal furs while others are to smoke, dust, or even medicines. There are so many types of allergens but the one common factor that triggers ones allergies are foods.

Food Allergy over Food Intoleranc:e:

Food allergy is often misinterpreted as food tolerance and vice versa. So before we proceed to foods that often causes allergy, let’s make a distinction first between these two terms. The condition is called food allergies when the person’s immune system has an abnormal reaction to a certain food. This means that eating even a tiny amount of food could set off an allergic reaction and symptoms could strike within minutes of digestion. However, when the reaction does not affect the immune system, then it is called food intolerance. This simply means that a person can still safely eat a little portion of so called “prohibited” foods.

Common Food Allergies:

Fish

About 7 million Americans are allergic to flesh proteins, which are found in fish. Those who are allergic to cod tend to have allergy in other fish such as hake, pike, carp, and whiting. Sometimes fish allergy is confused with histamine (scomboid) fish poisoning. 

Shellfish

Allergy to shellfish is said to be lifelong. This simply means that when a person develops allergy to shellfish, there is a very little possibility that they will lose it. Shellfish includes crabs, shrimps, lobster, etc. About 60% of those with shellfish allergy would experience an allergic reaction during adulthood.

Eggs

Allergy on eggs usually affects young children. Most allergic reactions associated with egg involve the skin and it is also among the food allergies that are most likely to be outgrown before they reach adulthood. Approximately 1.5% of young children are reported to have allergies on eggs.

Nuts and Legumes

An estimate of 1.8 million Americans are allergic to nuts and legumes, which are primary storage of proteins. Nuts include walnut, almond, hazelnut, coconut, cashew, pistachio, and Brazil nuts. Peanuts, on the other hand, falls under legumes but the proteins present in peanuts are similar in structure to those in nuts. Allergy to peanuts is considered as lifelong.

Milk

This is another allergy-causing food that affects primarily the kids. According to studies, 90% of children with allergy on milk will lose the said aversion by the age of three.

Prevention:

So, are you allergic or your child has allergies on these mentioned foods? Then the surefire way prevent this condition is to stay away from these allergens.

Why is Proper Handwashing so Important for Nurses?

December 4-10 is credited as National Handwashing Awareness Week. The celebration aims to increase public awareness about the importance of handwashing. For health care workers such nurses, handwashing has been part of their standard operating procedure. For these professionals who often appear wearing a nursing scrubs and support hose, handwashing is a vital requirement since they have hands-on daily contact with their patients. And it is only through properly washing of hands before and after holding something in which they can control the spread of infection from one patient to another or from nurse to patient in the hospital.

Handwashing may seem to be just a very simple procedure for nurses in support hose but has a vital role in ensuring safety of their patients against infectious diseases. And while writing this article, I found this very interesting infographics regarding the different disease-causing agents that might exist in nurses’ hands once they failed to wash their hands.

Hepatitis A virus – this is among the infectious and epidemical viruses that attack the liver. It might exist in the hands of a person wearing a nursing scrubs and support hose since the mode of transmission is through fecal-oral route.

Staphylococcus – This bacteria that appear in grape-like clusters under the microscope are the most commonly causes of skin infection. It can be acquired from other person who are already infected by the said bacteria however, could be prevented if proper infection control will be observed.

Pseudomonas  -  This bacteria is commonly found not just in homes but also in hospitals. Hence; patients and health care workers wearing support hose are also susceptible to acquire this disease-causing pathogen. Pseudomonas is usually transmitted through direct contact but indirect contact is also possible.

Haemophilus – The bacteria is known for causing quite serious illnesses such as meningitis, epiglottitis, pneumonia, generalized infection, etc. Haemophilus bacteria, which are transmitted through direct contact, inhibit in the respiratory tract of healthy person and do not immediately revealed signs and symptoms.

Shigella – Shigella are contagious bacteria that primarily cause intestinal infection. A person infected by shigella bacteria will experience bloody diarrhea and severe intestinal pain. The bacteria is also transmitted through fecal-oral route hence; observing good sanitation such as proper handwashing is very important.

Streptococcus Pneumoniae – Also known as pneumococcus, this bacterium causes serious infections of the lungs, middle ear, lining of the brain, and bacteria. These pneumococcal diseases most commonly occur among young children but elderly or those with serious medical conditions or chronic disorders that primarily affect the lungs, heart, or kidney as well as those who are alcoholics, diabetics, with sickle cell anemia, and the likes. The bacteria is spread through airborne or direct exposure to the  respiratory droplets of infected person.

All these bacteria could be prevented if everyone will make it a habit to wash their hands before and after holding something.

Today is World AIDS Day

red ribbon is used for world aids day

December 1, 2011 is World AIDS Day and here are a few facts:

• Worlds AIDS Day is first observed in 1988 and this year marks the 23rd anniversary.
• This year's theme for the said celebration is "Getting to Zero" Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination, and Zero AIDS Related Deaths.
• The purpose of designating this special day is to increase  public awareness and education about AIDS/HIV disease.
• HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus - a virus that attacks the body's immune system

Worldwide Statistics of HIV/AIDS (updated November 2011)

• More than 34 million people now live with HIV/AIDS.
• 3.4 million of them are under the age of 15.
• In 2010, an estimated 2.7 million people were newly infected with HIV.
• 390,000 were under the age of 15.
• Every day more than 7,000 people contract HIV—nearly 300 every hour.
• In 2010, 1.8 million people died from AIDS.
• 250,000 of them were under the age of 15.
• Since the beginning of the epidemic, more than 60 million people have contracted HIV and nearly 30 million have died of HIV-related causes.

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A Healthy Gift Idea for Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner and for sure most Americans are now so busy finding for the best presents they could give to their love ones since giving gifts is among the highlights of this celebration. And when it comes to Thanksgiving gifts, nothing is better than giving our loved ones with something that will offer benefits to the health like a cornucopia basket filled with healthy fruits and vegetables that are in season. So what are the healthy fruits and veggies that are in season?

Corn – Good for the heart and best source for energy. Corns are cholesterol free, very low sodium, good sources of vitamin C, manganese, folate and dietary fiber.

Brussels Sprouts – They are good for the heart and contain lots of cancer-protection substances. Brussels sprouts are low fat, saturated fat free, very low sodium, cholesterol free, low calorie, good source of dietary fiber, high in vitamin C, good source of folate.

Pumpkin – Good for the heart and eyes. Pumpkins are fat free, cholesterol free, sodium free, good source of vitamin C and excellent source for vitamin A.

Sweet Potato – Sweet potatoes are fat free, saturated fat free, low sodium, cholesterol free, good source of dietary fiber, high in vitamin A, high in vitamin C, good source of potassium.

Pineapple – Contain lots antioxidant protection and immune support, vitamins for energy production, and with anti-inflammatory properties. Pineapples are fat free, saturated fat free, very low sodium, cholesterol free, and high in vitamin C

Grapes – Contains lots health-supportive phytonutrients that help boost almost all systems of thebody. Grapes are fat free, saturated fat free, very low sodium, cholesterol free

Cranberries – Good for the heart, for digestive tract, for kidney, and contain lots of anti-cancer properties. in fact, this fruits has been featured in my last post regarding dash diet. Cranberries are fat free, cholesterol free, sodium free, and good source of vitamin C as well as fiber

Pear – Good for the eyes, heart, colon, and helps prevent postmenopausal breast cancer. Pears are fat free, saturated fat free, sodium free, cholesterol free, excellent source of dietary fiber, good source of vitamin C.

By the way, when it comes to fruits baskets or simply cornucopia baskets, you can always find them both in local and online stores