World Stroke Day 2013

World Stroke Day - October 29 2013

Stroke - a non-communicable disease that attacks 15 million people worldwide every year and claims a life every six seconds. 

On World Stroke Day, October 29, 2010, the WSO and its members worldwide launched the “1 in 6” campaign. The theme was identified to mirror today’s reality that one in six people worldwide will have a stroke in their lifetime. While the overarching “1 in 6” theme of the campaign will continue in 2012/2013, the slogan entitled “Because I care… “was launched on World Stroke Day 2012. The slogan was chosen as it can easily be adapted to all cultures and in any setting The slogan attempts to address prevailing misinformation about the disease.

 

 “Because I care…”

  

·         I want you to know the facts about stroke

·         I want you to learn how to prevent the assault of stroke

·         I will break the myths surrounding stroke, e.g., “stroke only happens later in life”

·         I want you to have access to the best possible treatment

·         I will ensure that you receive quality treatment, care and support

·         I will be with you every step of the way towards your full recovery

Do not take chances. One in six people is at risk for stroke – it could be you. Learn the facts. Save a life today. Act Now! commit to the following stroke challenges:-

Know your personal risk factors: high blood pressure, diabetes, and high blood cholesterol.

Be physically active and exercise regularly. Experts suggest that regular exercise, for example a brisk walk of about 30 minutes at least four days a week, can go a long way in preventing stroke. 

Maintain a healthy diet high in fruit and vegetable and low in salt to stay in a healthy state and keep blood pressure low. The unhealthy junk foods can add up to your calorie and cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart problems.

Limit alcohol consumption.

Avoid cigarette smoke. If you smoke, seek help to stop now.

Learn to recognize the warning signs of a stroke and how to take action.

 

Sleep well. Sleeping less than five hours a day, can increase the risk of stroke or cardiac arrest.

Getting away from the office or family tensions is not easy, but try to change how you handle them. The more you relax, the more easily your body will be able to regulate stress levels. Select something you enjoy and stick to it. 

Mrs Shilpa Mittal
Nutritionist and Diet Consultant
Founder Shilpsnutrilife - Diet and lifestylemakeover

Reducing Your Breast Cancer Risk - Other Dietary Guidelines

Reducing Your Breast Cancer Risk - Other Dietary Guidelines

Reduce the Amount of Fat You Eat 

Especially fat  from animal sources.  Environmental (and other) toxins accumulate in the fatty tissue of animals (especially red meat). Pesticides used on the food that animals eat, antibiotics that are injected to kill bacteria, and hormones that are injected for maximum growth, are all toxins that  can wreak havoc in a human body. These toxins can encourage the growth of cancerous cells.

 You should also avoid fast foods and junk food, as these contain many toxins in the form of transfats and preservatives.

Establish a Regular Exercise Program 

The biggest key to exercise is regular exercise, because it alters body chemistry in a favorable way to control fat deposits where excess estrogen is stored.

Maintain a Normal Weight 

Women who are of normal weight have a much lower risk of developing breast cancer.  If you are overweight, and especially if you have genetic factors that could pre-dispose you to cancer, consult with a nutritionist or dietician to help you plan a program to achieve permanent weight loss.

Eat  a diet rich in  B-Complex vitamin as it aids in the essential breakdown of female hormones (estrogen) by the liver.

Choline a  kind of B vitamin found in eggs, lean meat, fish, collards, and beans that has been shown to reduce cancer risk by 24% in women

Deficiencies in vitamin D have been found to possibly lead to cancer. You can increase your intake of vitamin D with a supplement, small amounts of sun exposure (with sunscreen protection), and by enjoying vitamin D fortified low-fat milk

CoQ10  Works as a powerful antioxident, increases energy at the cell level, and also boosts your immune system, which helps fight both the causes of cancer and the growth of existing cancer. It is produced in the body, but also found abundantly in organ-meats and tuna

Establish Healthy Eating Habits 

A good start would be to cut way down on fatty and/or sugary foods and drinks, replace the red meat you eat with fish, chicken or turkey, and up your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables.  Your health depends on it!

Mrs Shilpa Mittal Nutritionist and Diet Consultant Founder Shilpsnutrilife - Diet and lifestylemakeover

Treatment of osteopenia ("pre-osteoporosis") prevents osteopororsis

Treatment of osteopenia ("pre-osteoporosis") prevents osteopororsis

How often this happens...when you get your BMD done, it shows you in osteopenia range right, you are advised a few calcium supplements...and thats it you are done. Do you ever think of not letting it progress to osteoporosis.

The term "osteopenia" means "too little bone." It is not a disease. It refers to bone mineral density (BMD) that is not severe enough to indicate osteoporosis.

Bone mineral density is a measurement of the level of minerals in the bones, which shows how dense and strong they are. If your BMD is low compared to normal peak BMD, you are said to have osteopenia. Having osteopenia means there is a greater risk that, as time passes, you may develop BMD that is very low compared to normal, known as osteoporosis.

Osteopenia only slightly increases fracture risk.That's why its important to take care

Calcium The body cannot produce calcium; therefore, it must be absorbed through food. Dairy products, green leafy vegetables, nuts and soya are rich sources of calcium. Calcium supplements should be taken on the advice of a doctor. Good forms of calcium supplements are calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. But one should be careful not to get more than 2,000 mg of calcium a day.

 

Vitamin D supplementation- Vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium. Foods which are rich in vitamin D are eggs, fatty fish like salmon, cereal and milk fortified with vitamin D. Sunlight is also a good source of vitamin D. 

Exercise especially weight-bearing exercises done at least three to four times a week such as walking, hiking, and dancing are all good choices necessary to maintain bone health. 

In addition to diet and exercise, quitting smoking and avoiding excessive use of alcohol and cola will also reduce your risk of bone loss.


Mrs Shilpa Mittal
Nutritionist and Diet Consultant
Founder Shilpsnutrilife - Diet and lifestylemakeover

Strong Women Make Stronger Women

Osteoporosis is called the silent epidemic because of its symptomless development and the lack of public awareness. Don't be silent, spread the word.

Source :-http://www.worldosteoporosisday.org/

Mrs Shilpa Mittal
Nutritionist and Diet Consultant
Founder Shilpsnutrilife - Diet and lifestylemakeover

World Osteoporosis Day 2013

World Osteoporosis Day 2013

The theme for 2013 ‘Strong Women Make Stronger Women ’ will highlight the reasons why women in particular especially postmenopausal  are at greatest risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

Professor John A. Kanis, President, IOF (International Osteoporosis Foundation) says, “Osteoporosis is a serious threat to women’s health - worldwide one in three women over the age of 50 will suffer a broken bone due to osteoporosis. Yet too many women are unaware of their increased risk after menopause and fail to take preventive measures.”

IOF recommends five essential strategies to help maintain bone and muscle strength in later life:

1.Exercise 30–40 minutes, three to four times per week and ensure a mix of resistance training and weight-bearing exercise. As you age resistance training (e.g. using elastic bands, weight machines) becomes increasingly important.

2. Ensure a bone-healthy diet that includes enough dietary calcium and protein, with enough fruits and vegetables to balance the increased need for protein. Make sure you’re getting enough vitamin D too – through sunlight, diet, and supplementation if required.

3. Avoid negative habits such as smoking and excessive alcohol intake and maintain a healthy body weight. Women who are underweight are at higher risk compared to those with a normal body mass index.

4. Find out whether you may have personal factors that increase your risk of osteoporosis. Common risk factors include early menopause before the age of 45, use of glucocorticoids, rheumatoid arthritis, malabsorption disorders (e.g. celiac or Crohn’s disease), previous fragility fracture, or a family history of osteoporosis and fractures. Complete the One-Minute Osteoporosis Risk Test

5. Menopause is the critical time to get your doctor to assess your bone health status. Ask for a fracture risk assessment (e.g. FRAX) and, if indicated, take a bone mineral density test. If treatment is prescribed ensure that you adhere to your therapy.

“Women are the pillars of strength for their families and communities. I urge all women approaching the menopause to take action for bone health now in order to enjoy good quality of life and independence long into the future.” said Judy Stenmark, CEO, IOF.

Although Osteoporosis is called the silent epidemic because of its symptomless development and the lack of public awareness. Don't be silent, spread the word.

Source :-http://www.worldosteoporosisday.org/

Mrs Shilpa Mittal
Nutritionist and Diet Consultant
Founder Shilpsnutrilife - Diet and lifestylemakeover

Strong Women Make Stronger Women

Mrs Shilpa MittalNutritionist and Diet ConsultantFounder Shilpsnutrilife - Diet and lifestylemakeover

People with osteoporosis can feel their bones getting weaker

 People with osteoporosis can feel their bones getting weaker

Osteoporosis is commonly called a “silent disease.” Often, breaking a bone is the first clue you have osteoporosis. Some people learn that they have osteoporosis after they lose height from one or more broken bones in the spine. These broken bones can even occur without any noticeable pain.

Each year, 1.5 million people suffer a fracture because of weak bones. The most common breaks are of the wrist, spine and hip. Bone disease is costly for society and individuals with the disease. Four times as many men and nearly three times as many women have osteoporosis than report having the disease.

Mrs Shilpa Mittal
Nutritionist and Diet Consultant
Founder Shilpsnutrilife - Diet and lifestylemakeover

World Food Day
16 October 2013

 

16 October 2013 is World Food Day.  The day is about recognising the worldwide problem of hunger.   And this year the theme for the day is “Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition”.   

However, it is not just about donating food to the world's hungry and undernourished peoples. It is about doing something to help them help themselves. If I was hungry and someone gave me a plough to farm my land I would be far more grateful than if they gave me a sack of potatoes.If I had a plough I could be self-sufficient and produce my own food.That is what the day is trying to encourage.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation is a division of the United Nations, and is responsible for World Food Day.  Along with raising awareness of hunger and poverty, the day aims to encourage economic and technological cooperation between different governments and with non-governmental organisations.

With an estimated 1.02 billion malnourished people across the globe it is a pretty serious matter and worth the public and private investment that is being sought out.So that's why it is important to raise awareness via World Food Day.

Have you heard of stomach binding?  Ziporra Mbungo ties a rope tight around her stomach so that she can stave off hunger pangs – food is scarce and she gives what little food she does have to her grandchildren.
 
What kind of world are we living in when a human being needs to do this? This method is in common use right now in Somalia.  After one of the worst droughts experienced in more than fifty years the current famine has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and more are dying.

There are a number of factors that decide whether famine will be declared.  Some of these factors include whether 20% of the population is living on less than 2,100 calories, the presence of civil war and when people have access to less than four litre of water per day.

They need aid right now and that means sending food and water.  It might be time for World Food Day yet, but the struggle against hunger should be fought all year round.