Monthly Archives: August 2015

Create school lunches with a slice of nutrition

orangesAugust is Back-to-School Month, and not coincidentally, it’s also Kids Eat Right Month. To help your kids continue to eat healthy while at school, SIU School of Medicine registered dietitian Cheryl Burns answered some common questions parents have about packing their kids’ lunches.

How do I prep a lunch for a picky eater?
Involve your child in the choices.  Have your kids pick the fruit and vegetables for lunches while at the grocery store, then when packing the meal, offer a couple choices. This lets them have some control of the meal.  Try to include one item they like when you’re adding a new item for them to try.
How can I get my kids involved in packing?
In addition to picking out some of their meal, kids can wash fresh fruit or make a sandwich by adding the ingredients between the slices of bread.
Can certain foods boost my child’s energy or performance during the school day?
A healthy protein food, like meat or dairy products, will boost brainpower and make kids more alert in school. Some examples are turkey, chicken, cheese, milk, pudding and yogurt. Fruits and vegetables also help with immunity.
What types of drinks are best to pack?
Read the drink’s label to look for added sugars in drinks that can easily go over the daily recommendation of no more than 3-4 teaspoons (12-16 grams) per day. This amount doesn’t include natural sugars like those found in fruit and milk.
Do you have any tips for packing the lunch bag?
Use an insulated lunch bag or lunch box to be sure that perishable foods will stay cold. Include a small frozen cold pack. A frozen pouch or box of juice will keep food cold too.
For more information, visit www.kidseatright.org
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

 

Losing popcorn, finding hope: A Springfield couple’s journey to parenthood

let's celebrateWritten by Lauren Murphy, SIU School of Medicine
Lexi Kotner is only 5, but she’s already an avid ice skater, gymnast and dancer. Kody Kotner, like his big sister, is active, joining his first soccer league at age 3. But seven years ago, their mom Jeannie underwent six failed inseminations and two failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles and believed she might never become a parent.
“Seven years ago, we were very frustrated and losing hope,” Jeannie said.
In 2009, Jeannie’s “stars aligned.” She and her husband, Marcus, met Dr. J. Ricardo Loret de Mola, OB-GYN and director of the SIU Fertility & IVF Center. “By chance, I ran into Dr. Loret de Mola at the Springfield airport,” explains Jeannie. “I recognized him from a picture in the local paper. I had left popcorn on the plane and was trying to convince the flight attendant to let me back on. It was nothing of real monetary value, but it was valuable to me – it was Garrett’s famous popcorn!” she laughs. “Dr. Loret de Mola overheard my conversation with the flight attendant and agreed with me that, of course, that popcorn was worth going back for. He convinced the flight attendant to let me back on!”
After confirming that the man was indeed Dr. Loret de Mola, Jeannie introduced herself. “I gave him my full fertility history and struggles in about five minutes,” she explains. Dr. Loret de Mola was confident that he and the SIU fertility team could help the Springfield couple. Less than a year later, Jeannie was pregnant with Lexi.
Now, as a mom of two, Jeannie has some advice for other couples struggling with infertility: There are no shortcuts. “You must follow your doctor’s and the team’s instructions,” cautions Jeannie. “Women and men going through fertility treatments need to be their best selves, they need to be as healthy as they can be to ensure this process will be successful.”
According to RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association, one in eight U.S. couples of childbearing age is diagnosed with infertility.
SIU’s Fertility and IVF Center opened in 2009 to provide a comprehensive approach to finding solutions for couples struggling with fertility. The practice provides evaluation and treatment options for female and male infertility. Among the treatment options are revolutionary, robotic-assisted surgical procedures, on-site surgical intervention for treatment of male infertility, ovulation induction and in vitro fertilization. Team members include faculty and staff from OB-GYN and urology, psychologists, geneticists and licensed dieticians.
“Our kids are our world,” said Jeannie. “I feel like I owe everything to SIU’s Fertility Center because I don’t think we would be parents today if the stars had not aligned and we were not able to use their services.”
Interested in learning more about SIU’s fertility services or meeting our specialists? Join us from 3 to 6 pm on Sept. 13 at Erin’s Pavilion as the Center celebrates its fifth birthday. Call 217-545-3101 to RSVP or to learn more about our services.
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

Osteoporosis: Bad to the bone

Written by Lauren Murphy, SIU School of Medicine
Eight million women in the U.S. have osteoporosis, says the National Osteoporosis Foundation.
It’s what SIU OB-GYN Dr. Casey Younkin describes as a public health problem, especially among aging women. “Half of all women will have a fracture following menopause because of osteoporosis.”
Dr. Younkin recommends that by age 65, every woman have a bone density scan. If women have the risk factors associated with osteoporosis and are post-menopausal, he suggests undergoing an evaluation even sooner.
Are you at risk of developing osteoporosis?

  • Are you underweight?
  • Do you smoke?
  • Do you have a family history of osteoporosis?
  • Are you taking steroids?
  • Are you Caucasian?
  • Are you a post-menopausal female?

If you’ve answered yes to any of the above questions, you should consider scheduling an evaluation with your doctor.
“Evaluation is done with a machine called a Dexa, which is actually a type of x-ray machine,” explains Dr. Younkin. “Many physician offices have these and just about all hospitals have them. It’s a painless test; you just lay on a table and the machine scans the areas of the spine and the hips because those are the critical areas.” Using this test, doctors can determine bone density, which reveals whether a patient has osteoporosis.
I found out I have osteoporosis – what’s next?
Start by scheduling an appointment with a bone health clinic, such as SIU HealthCare’s Bone Health Clinic, which is staffed by OB-GYNs, rheumatologists, orthopaedists and endocrinologists. Specialists can provide primary and secondary fracture prevention, as well as bone fragility treatment and care and education to at-risk patients.
Make an appointment with the SIU Bone Health Clinic by calling 217-545-8000.
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

Consider the corndog

CORNER TAB

Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine
If you’re going to the Illinois State Fair this year, chances are, you’ve planned out your route to your favorite sites and food vendors. Those tasty treats you might be going for, however, may mean you’re better off walking the grounds rather than taking the Sky Glide.

Consider the corndog: At 375 calories, it’s only the beginning of the downward spiral of high fat, high calorie options. SIU registered dietitian Sara Lopinski has some tips to keep your diet in check.

  • Eat a healthy, high-fiber snack before you go to take the edge off your appetite
  • Choose one high calorie food and balance it with healthier options
  • Share with fellow fair-goers so that you don’t feel you have to eat the entire portion
  • Do some sight-seeing after eating to work off the extra calories and get some exercise
  • Head over to the Illinois Specialty Growers’ Association in the Heartland area and grab some fresh fruit

If you’re trying your best to eat healthily at the fair, Lopinski suggests looking for these options:

  • Grilled chicken sandwich
  • Corn on the cob
  • Portabella mushroom sandwich with veggies
  • Shrimp on a stick
  • Fruit smoothies

If your plans to visit the fair are just for the food, then you will probably overeat. Instead take part in some of these activities to work off those extra calories:

  • Walk the acreage of Conservation World
  • Paddle out in the canoes in Conservation World
  • Take the kids fishing, rock climbing or head to the archery range
  • Gather up a team and head to Happy Hallow for heart-pumping entertainment, such as paintball

Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

Breastfeeding FAQ with SIU lactation counselor Melissa Nicol

breastfeeding

By Lauren Murphy, SIU School of Medicine
The month of August is marked by several significant events: the Illinois State Fair, kids returning to school and, of course, National Breastfeeding Month! In honor of one of the breast, er, best months of the year, we spoke with SIU School of Medicine certified lactation counselor Melissa Nicol, RD, to answer the most frequently asked questions about breastfeeding.

 What are the benefits of breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding has numerous benefits for mother and baby. Some of the benefits breast milk provides to babies include: antibodies to provide protection against common illnesses, ease in digestion, an increase in cognitive development in children through school age, a reduced risk for developing type 1 diabetes, less chance of developing some allergic diseases and a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome during the first year of life. Studies also show that overweight and obesity are less common among children who were breastfed.
Some benefits to mother include: a reduced risk for breast and cervical cancer, cardiovascular disease and other health conditions; emotional benefit in bonding with child and aid in weight loss postpartum. Breastfeeding is also much cheaper and takes less preparation than bottle-feeding.
What are the drawbacks to formula feeding?
Drawbacks to formula feeding include the high cost of formula, lack of antibodies in formula to fight off infection and preparation time— bottles of formula cannot be made more than 24 hours in advance. Also, no formula can exactly duplicate the ideal composition of breast milk.
For how long do you recommend women should breastfeed?
According to the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), an infant should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months. After the first six months, the infant should be provided with complementary foods in addition to breast milk at least until the child reaches one year of age.
If women choose to breastfeed, is any additional nutrition necessary for the baby or mother?
A typical woman who is breastfeeding will need an additional 500 calories per day. Some women may be encouraged to continue a prenatal vitamin while breastfeeding. This should be discussed with the patient’s doctor. Overall, there are no specific foods that you should consume or avoid while nursing.
Suggested breastfeeding needs:
FOOD GROUP                         # OF SERVINGS
Milk/milk products                     3-4
Meat/meat substitutes              2-3
Grains                                      6-12
Fruits/vegetables                      5-7
Fats, oils, sweets                      limited amounts
What can women do to promote successful breastfeeding?
If able, women should breastfeed within an hour after delivery. Also, nurse on demand and not by time, that is, when the baby shows signs of hunger rather than every 2-3 hours since last nursing session). Avoid pacifiers until nursing is well established, and use skin to skin contact with infant.
What if breastfeeding isn’t going well? Could it be an anatomically-related issue? Or do some babies just not want to breastfeed?
A few women may be unable to build a full milk supply due to anatomical issues or health conditions. If a mother is having difficulty with breastfeeding, she should contact a certified lactation counselor (CLC) to help guide her in the right direction. A common myth is that the size of the breast determines whether a mother will be successful with breastfeeding.
Can women combine breastfeeding and formula-feeding?
Generally this practice is not recommended. The more you nurse, the more your body will produce milk. Milk supply for breastfeeding is based on supply and demand. If you give a baby formula, your body will not be signaled to make more milk for the infant. If a mother is struggling with adequate supply, I would encourage her to try skin to skin contact with the infant, nurse often and frequently, stay hydrated, sleep when you can and don’t stress. The mother may benefit from meeting with the CLC just to ensure that the latch is correct and establish how much milk the infant is getting.
However, combination feeding rather than solely formula feeding is better than no breast milk at all.
I’ve heard that if a woman wants to breastfeed but is unable to, it can be a very emotional experience. What advice would you give to those women?
I would encourage these women to talk about her feelings and not try to deal with this alone. Just like delivery, sometimes things do not work out how they were planned. Do not blame yourself. Some women even need to allow time to mourn their inability to breastfeed.
Are there cases where breastfeeding isn’t the best option for the baby?
Yes, some medications used to treat HIV treatment, anxiety, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, etc. can be passed through breast milk. In these cases, a mother should not breastfed her child. In addition, mothers who have HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis should not breastfeed. Simply reviewing a mother’s medication list with the physician can determine the safety of nursing while taking medication.
In addition, an infant is screened for galactosemia at birth. If a baby has this condition he/she cannot digest breast milk properly and cannot be breastfed.
What recommendations do you have for women who are breastfeeding their babies and preparing to return to work after childbirth?
Breastfeeding can be continued after returning to work. There are some options for the breastfeeding mother: the child can come to her work or moms can stop by the daycare if is nearby for nursing sessions or they can use the aid of a breast pump. The U.S. has multiple laws protecting a breastfeeding mother. An employer must provide a place other than a bathroom and provide a reasonable break time for employees to express milk.
Any final thoughts?
I encourage each and every expecting mother to conduct her own research on breastfeeding. Of course, every mother wants to provide what is best for baby. Be prepared ahead of time with breastfeeding basics and resources. Many local CLC are available to aid in any issues with latch or supply.
To schedule an appointment with a certified lactation counselor at SIU HealthCare, call 545-8000 or visit https://siuhealthcare.org/Public/AppointmentRequest.aspx.

Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

 

See through the myths for healthy eyes

EVERYTHINGWritten by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine
Ever try to convince a child that if she eats her carrots or spinach she’ll never have to wear glasses? Truth be told, these veggies are high in Vitamin A, which is essential for healthy vision, but only a small amount is necessary for good vision.

Some other myths related to eyes:
Myth: Sitting too close to an electronic device or for too long can damage your eyes.
Fact: Children often hold their tablets or reading material closer to their face because they are able to focus on close object better than adults. As they grow, their eyesight changes, and they usually end the up-close-and-personal habit. Regular eye exams can check for myopia (nearsightedness) in children to be sure their eyes are developing properly.

Myth: Reading in low light will damage your eyesight.
Fact: It’s not the ideal circumstance for reading your newest bestseller, but dim light will cause eye fatigue rather than eye damage.

Myth: Not wearing proper prescription glasses will damage your eyes.
Fact: Some eye problems in children can be corrected with proper glasses. However, for most people using your eyes with or without glasses, even stronger than necessary glasses, will not cause further eye damage – but it might give you a headache.
Information from preventblindness.org
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois