Nutrition Mad

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Alcohol

February 17th 2010 06:03

I went to the Sevens in Wellington on the weekend. I was fun even though I’m not keen on the rugby, but dressing up as a cowgirl and people watching was pretty interesting. Unfortunately, the excessive drinking that goes a long with the Sevens leads to a few sad sights. There were so many ambulances brought to the aid of alcohol-poisoned party goers. This shouldn’t be the case if people drank responsibly and looked after one another. After seeing this, and this has happened many times before, I thought I would make you all more aware of what alcohol can do to you and this I believe is the perfect time to do this because its summer time, semester one and a time for parties.

You may think that alcohol is not harmful but I can tell you that if you overdo it you may end up in the emergency department and we don’t want that. It’s ok to enjoy a few drinks (up to four for women and six for men in one sitting anymore is considered binge drinking), it relaxes you and it can help you have a good time. By the way, the purpose of this column is to inform you about the effects of drinking, not scare you.

As you probably know, immediately after drinking alcohol you may experience feelings of pleasure and relaxation, which explains why alcohol is the drug of choice for many people. Sounds okay so far, but heavy drinking can cause some unpleasant short term effects such as weight gain, personality changes, feeling anxious, memory loss, confusion and problems in the bed room if you get my drift. In the long run, heavy drinking can cause major damage to the brain, the central nervous system, digestive system, heart and liver increased risk of some forms of cancer and psychiatric problems. After all, it is a poison.

Drinking faster than your body can break down and eliminate alcohol from your body causes alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal. Look after yourself and your friends, if you suspect that someone has had waaay too much to drink look for the following signs and call for an ambulance if they are showing them:

• Slow, shallow, or irregular breathing
• Confusion
• Difficulty awakening the person
• No withdrawal from painful stimuli (for instance from pinching)
• Unconsciousness (passing out)
• Blue-tinged skin or pale skin
• Absent reflexes
• Seizures

It makes me think why people drink so heavily since it is so harmful. Weight gain, wasting a whole day in bed due to a hangover and liver disease sound very unappealing, but that’s just me. Why do you drink? Why do you choose not to drink? If you drink to excess because you feel pressured, shy around others, bored, lonely, depressed, then maybe you should rethink your drinking. Get new friends, read self help books, take up a new hobby, or if it’s more serious, go and see a doctor.
I
f you have any questions, then please email me at nutrition.advice@gmail.com or leave your questions here.
Krissi

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Posted By: Krystle Chester - Category: No Category

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First chaff column of the year

February 2nd 2010 09:08

Hi, I’m Krissi and this is my column about food, nutrition and health. It’s a new year and I have not written a column in ages, so bare with me. Since it is my first column of the year and there are quite a few of you who have just left home, I thought maybe I should give you a little bit of advice. You may not think you need it, but humour me. Anyway, I love it when my readers send me emails, so feel free to suggest ideas for my columns or ask me questions. It’s hard work writing about 500 to 600 word columns each week without a clue about what I should write about. Yes, so advice.

1. Baked beans are a source of cheap low fat protein, calcium and iron. This is especially important for the vegans and vegetarians out there. Protein, as you may know is needed to form hormones and for cell repair and many many wonderful things that your body does. Iron is very important; it’s good for the brain and your immune system. Pretty damn good for something that comes out of can.

2. Chickpeas are also excellent sources of protein and they are tasty. Have them as hummus, falafel, roasted or in a curry.

3. Eat a variety of foods. Different foods have different nutrients, so it is important to add a bit of variation to your diet. Not only does variety prevent boredom, but also it helps your body get all the nutrients it needs.

4. Hostel food. You may want to avoid it. When I was a first year hostel student, I did eat hostel food. It wasn’t the most pleasant of “cuisine”. Often the vegetables were soaking in fat and if you were not in by 5 pm, you missed the “good” food. Although this was, quite some time ago and I believe a new company caters for Massey hostel students, so the food may be pretty decent.

5. Instant noodles and pasta for one aren’t particularly healthy. I know that they are quick and easy to make, but they are very high in sodium. Don’t get me wrong, your body needs sodium but only in tiny doses each day, say around 1600 mg. But too much is not good for you, especially those of you who have high blood pressure. Instead of eating instant noodles, boil up some rice noodles (they’re lower in fat because they aren’t deep fried like some types of wheat noodles) and top them with stir fried vegetables.

6. Eat whole grain bread its filling and full fibre, which is good for your digestive system, controlling your blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

7. If you have time and access to the internet, check out http://www.foodworks.co.nz/ and http://www.healthyfood.co.nz/. Foodworks has the latest news on nutrition and the Healthy Food Guide is loaded with nutritious recipes to suit everyone including people on low budgets and up to date information on health and nutrition.
If you have any questions, just email me at nutrition.advice@gmail.com or leave your questions here.

Krissi

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Posted By: Krystle Chester - Category: No Category

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Picnic ideas

December 29th 2009 07:58

Picnic lunches
• Potato salad - chop up a few potatoes; pop them into a pot of water, cook and cool. Drizzle wholegrain honey mustard dressing over the potatoes and add raisins, chives and pumpkin seeds. Potatoes are a fantastic source of vitamin C, which helps you absorb iron.

• Brown rice salad - cook up some brown rice, drain and let it cool. Add dried currants, mandarin segments, cashew nuts and pumpkin seeds and dress with olive oil. Nuts and seeds are excellent sources of protein and brown rice is a low fat source of fibre, iron, calcium, B vitamins and protein. Fibre helps fill you up and keep your digestive system healthy. Iron is essential for a healthy immune system, calcium is needed for muscle function, B vitamins keep you energised and protein is required to help repair damaged cells and for making all sorts of hormones.

• Sandwiches – sandwiches make a cheap, high fibre healthy meal, depending on the ingredients of course! Make sandwiches with fancy whole grain bread and fill them up with lean meats, tuna, or salmon. Add chopped cherry tomatoes, lettuce, hummus, carrot, avocado, low fat cream cheese or cottage cheese for a tasty sandwich. Try peanut butter sandwich with grated carrot and raisins for an interesting vegetarian alternative.
Snacks

• Rice wafers with hummus. Hummus and rice wafers are yummy but healthy and is reasonable inexpensive too. Hummus is full of protein, and is a source of iron and calcium. Try pumpkin and kumara hummus for something a little bit different.

• Grapes and cheese – choose a low fat cheese like Edam and cut into small cubes.
• Cottage cheese on rice crackers – these are tasty and are a good source of calcium and protein.

Dessert
• Tropical fruit salad – combine chopped up pineapple, guava, mango, rock melon and honeydew. Tropical salads are rich in taste, vitamin C and fibre.

• Blueberry muffins – homemade blueberry muffins made with wholemeal flour and minimal sugar and saturated fat are best. Wholemeal blueberry muffins are great source of fibre, and vitamin C.

• Strawberries – they are yummy and packed full of vitamin C and vitamin A, which helps you see. And guess what? Strawberries are almost in season, which means they will be cheap.

• Yoghurt – freeze a few pots of yoghurt and bring them along frozen to your picnic for a delicious cool dessert. Yoghurt is a good source of vitamin D and calcium, which are great for your bones.

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Posted By: Krystle Chester - Category: No Category

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Gluten and dairy alternatives, and sandwhich fillings

October 31st 2009 02:43

Hi everyone, this week I answer a couple of readers’ questions. Keep the questions rolling in because I really appreciate it and gives you an opportunity to learn something that is relevant to you.

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Posted By: Krystle Chester - Category: No Category

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August 6th 2009 06:40

“Hello, I am a 50 year old woman that is recovering from breast cancer (mastectomy right side) and just had a bone density test. My doctor called and stated that I have the beginning phases of osteoporosis. They want to put me in prescription medicine (fosamax). I want to know if it possible that I might work on diet instead of drugs. I exercise plenty, I am 5'7, 130lbs. Any help would be appreciated.”

I suggest taking the medication provided by your doctor as well as

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Posted By: Krystle Chester - Category: No Category

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February 2010

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December 2009

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October 2009

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