Public Spark

Recently, I read Brian Wansink’s book called Mindless Eating and was immediately captivated. It is an in depth look into understanding why and what we eat. I will be pointing out specific examples in this blog, which are spoilers so be warned!

These are some of the themes mentioned in the book that apply to my life:

• Seeing food=Eating more

  Whenever snacks are more visible you eat more. I used to have all the snacks lying around especially during the college days. I would eat candy or whatever was in my sight. It was easy to get to and convenient, which was the problem. Once I stored them, my volume for eating greatly decreased. I still get to enjoy my snacks, but I don’t overeat.

I thought it would be interesting to interview my mom’s thoughts about being a mom on this day. However, my mom found it difficult to answer my questions, which included what are the good things about being a mom, the down side and advice for future moms. She said it was too hard to summarize and said that everything about being a mom was great.

I don’t know what it must feel like to be a mom. I can only assume the wonder and challenges of being with someone that resembles a part of you who evolves from a dependent stage to an independent individual.

Yesterday’s blog was about recognizing the symptoms of a stroke and knowing what to do. Today’s will describe some key steps in preventing a stroke.

• Stop Smoking

  Smoking can cause not only lung cancer, but also increase the chances of getting a stroke or heart attack. It harms the people who smoke it, as well as those around who inhale the second-hand smoke.

• Limit alcohol

  Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure, which can lead to a stroke.

My grandmother had a stroke about 10 years ago. My family and I still remember as though it was yesterday and what a frightening experience it was.

My grandmother complained of as we have come to know to be classic signs of a stroke:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg and usually occurs on one side of the body

• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

• Sudden trouble seeing in one eye or both eyes

• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

March 3 of every year is Girl’s day in the Japanese culture and May 5th of every year is boy’s day, also known as Children’s Day. It used to be called Tango no sekku (meaning feast of the banners). On girl’s day the doll’s are displayed, but on Children’s day the carp-shaped Koinobori flags are displayed, as pictured below.

My family never had boys so we didn’t celebrate much of this. However, it was an excuse for us to eat Kashiwa mochi (which are mochi rice cakes wrapped in Kashiwa (oak) leaves.

I was watching the news and came across some interesting myths and facts to consider over the summer. These are common misconceptions that can affect a healthy and fun summer.

• Myth #1: It’s dangerous to swim on a full stomach because you can cramp up

  I’ve actually tried this and I haven’t gotten cramps. I agree with the article in saying use your own best judgment. If you have severe heartburn perhaps it is not a good idea to go into the waters. Furthermore, through my EMT training as well, I have learned that you do get cramps from lack of drinking water or dehydration. Not having enough water before going swimming and then pushing your limits can cause you to have cramps. The article recommends in the case of cramping to swim on your back or swim sideways.

Yesterday’s blog focused on the what allergies are, the symptoms and types. Today’s will focus on other treatment options that I have been exploring. Although I rely on the Claritin and Benadryl regimen, I realized that there are natural options such as nutrients, herbs, and homeopathic remedies. Please consult a physician or qualified practitioner for potential interactions and side effects.

Nutrients

• Probiotics

  Studies show that there is a link between unhealthy gut and allergy. The Probiotics are beneficial in replenishing good bacteria in the intestine. The Probiotic foods include yogurt and fermented foods.

Since I was a child, I always suffered from seasonal, dust and cat allergies. The symptoms are the typical sinus congestion, sinus pressure, fatigue, itchy eyes, itchy nose, watery eyes, etc.

What are allergies? (Cleveland Clinic, WebMD )

Allergies are the immune system’s abnormal response to a foreign substance. People who have allergies have an immune system that reacts to what is normally a harmless substance and causes the immune system to react as though it were harmful.

What are some symptoms of allergies? (WebMD )

On Tuesday’s blog , I talked about 6 steps that have reduced cold symptoms for me. Here are 5 more steps that have worked.

1. Gargling with warm, salt water

   This is what my mom always tells me to do. It is natural and gentle on your throat. It helps to clear your throat of mucous that may be causing congestion. Even when you are not sick, it is a less invasive way of getting rid of harmful bacteria.

It seems like this season, people are catching all kinds of colds and allergies. My whole family has gotten sick within this month, including myself. Although the following are not a cure all solution, the following have helped my cold symptoms from getting worse:

1. Echinacea (wikipedia , National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine ,Herbal Information Center,
   University of Maryland Medical Center , Drugs.com )

   At the first sign of a sore throat, it is recommended to take echinacea. It is believed to help fight off infection and reduce the duration of the cold symptoms.