U is for Unexpected Health Issues

People who don't think toothaches are a health issue haven't read much about them. I was one of them. I had no idea that a toothache could lead to abscess which could lead to an infection entering the brain and causing multiple problems up to and including death. Quite the wake-up call, I have to say.


My tooth began aching Friday night (on the weekend, of course). By Sunday, it was showing no signs of diminishing and I felt like the right side of my face was swollen. When I looked in the mirror, I could see it, but when I put my hands on my face, I could feel it. And, it was so tender to the touch. Any movement of my mouth and tongue practically made the top of my head explode. No pain I've experienced before matched this. 


Finally, I couldn't take it anymore, so after making my promised appearance at my friend's Tupperware party, I drove myself to the ER where I was examined by one of the ER physicians who diagnosed an abscess. When he told me to open my mouth so he could examine my tooth, I almost cried. I literally had to pull my chin down to make my mouth open wider for him to examine me. Holy cow, I was in pain.


While I was there, they gave me a shot for pain and a double dose of antibiotics to kick start healing. I also left with two prescriptions for the same. I only filled the antibiotic because I have no insurance and couldn't afford to pay full price for two prescriptions. But, the nurse had advised that I could get an OTC pain reliever and take the prescription dose of that as needed and that's what I did. I feel much better now.


My jaw still hurts and I still have limited movement (even eating a banana was hard to do!), but can finally chew things without wishing someone would punch my jaw and knock me (and my tooth) out. It was a seriously painful thing that I never EVER want to experience again.


So, I'd like to say to all, please don't ignore your teeth! They don't just make it easier to swallow and digest foods, but they also can transmit infection directly to your brain if they are not treated properly. I'm still enjoying the headache that this brought with it, but it's not as bad as it was the first couple of days. I don't wish this on anyone!

The Benefits of Whole Grains

By now, we should all be aware of the fact that whole grains are good for us. Because they are not refined to the same degree as other flours, they retain all the nutrition and fiber found in the hulls of each grain. However, not everything that says “whole grain” is necessarily wholly whole.

Various grains by Rainer Zenz over Thuresson on Wikimedia Commons

According to Dr. Oz, manufacturers often use phrases that sound suspiciously like what you’re looking for, but may not even be close.

• Made with whole grains
  It may have a pinch of whole grains, but unless it's 100 percent, you won't reap most of the potential benefits.
• Multigrain
  This tells you nothing about whether the grains are whole or refined. Even if you're getting 38 different grains, that isn't much good if they are all refined.
• Whole grain
  If the label doesn't say "100 percent whole grain," it may have many grain blends. Bad words to see paired with "flour" are: "enriched," "bleached," "unbleached," "semolina," "durum" and "rice." (http://www.oprah.com/health/Health-Benefits-of-Whole-Wheat-Bread)

So, if it doesn’t say 100% on the label, don’t buy it if it’s whole grains that you’re going for.  My opinion deviates slightly from this in that when a family is used to nothing but refined grain breads and other flour products, it might be best to wean them into the whole grains. Going straight from nice, soft, spongy white bread to nutty and heavier whole grain bread can be a shock. Maybe start with the new whole grain white and go from there which according to the Mayo Clinic provide identical benefits to regular brown whole grain breads. Once they realize they’re already eating whole grains, they may branch out to try other forms. I personally like some of the whole grain breads. In fact, I like whole grain breads better than whole wheat bread.

Another thing is that whole grains are better for diabetics. The way the body processes the whole grain carbs is much different than the refined carbs. Eating white bread is like eating a spoonful of sugar for me. I do buy it when the budget’s tight, but I can tell the difference. It speeds through my system like a jet plane and the next thing I know, I’m sleepy and wanting a nap. But, if I’m eating a whole grain product, the processing in my system takes longer and the body processes the carbs more efficiently, so I don’t get that sudden drop in energy (not to mention the rapid elevation of sugar). If you are diabetic and are eating a refined carb item, make sure you also eat an equal amount of protein. The protein will help reduce the rate at which your body processes those carbs. That doesn’t mean that it’s OK all the time, but try to balance it when you have no other choice.

Did you know that tortilla chips are whole grain? Boy, I like them with salsa! But, my sugar doesn’t spike and I don’t get that “can’t hold my eyes open” reaction to eating them. Of course, I use that fact to justify my addiction to that snack, but it really isn’t that horrific of a thing. The salsa is low carb and the chips are complex carbs. I had my sugar read at the ER about an hour and a half after making a meal of chips and salsa and it was actually normal! Of course, just eating chips and salsa isn’t very balanced, but I haven’t had a normal sugar mid-day in a long time. So, I can attest to the benefit of whole grains with regard to diabetes.

Are you dieting? Do you like rye bread? Then maybe you should eat more rye bread than wheat bread. Studies have shown that people who ate rye bread at breakfast were less hungry at lunch than those who ate wheat. Whether it’s because of rye’s high fiber content or rye’s interaction with the body’s insulin triggers, people who eat rye bread feel fuller longer. Rye-brand breads have an even better effect on hunger. (ibid.)

So, everyone should start trying to incorporate whole grain products into their daily diets. It doesn’t take much to start making the switch. Some of the choices out there are really delicious!

Health Foods vs. Healthy Foods

Because of an entry on a food blog I subscribe to, I decided to try something new tonight. The blog in question, Poor Girl Eats Well, offered a recipe for a version of tuna salad I'd never ever considered. I LOVED the idea because I LOVE dried cranberries. Yes, I said dried cranberries. Look at the photo on her blog. Tell me that doesn't look seriously delicious!! Her recipe, however, calls for almonds. I'm not overly enthusiastic about almonds. But, I knew we had some Cranberry Health Mix in the pantry that my daughter had bought for a recipe she'd never made. I also knew it didn't have any almonds or coconut in it, both of which would have kept me from trying this. It did have cranberries, raisins, peanuts, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. It was a go for me! I mixed the little bit that was left on hand with a can of tuna, fresh ground salt, fresh ground pepper and a dash of Mrs. Dash original and mayonnaise (no measurement - everyone has their desired amount). The only thing I didn't have on hand were greens to put on the sandwich - no lettuce or fresh spinach. I did have some whole wheat bread, though, and that sandwich was one of the most satisfying sandwiches I've eaten in a long time. Not only that, but it stretched the tuna to where I have more than enough left for another sandwich. And, other than the mayonnaise, it wasn't that bad for me to eat.

Tuna salad with red pepper, corn and capers. Not one I'd try. -Wikipedia Commons

That's when I realized I'd hit on the perfect "H" topic for my Saturday blog. I had used "health mix" in my tuna salad, but what's the difference between "health food" and "healthy food". I propose that while they are similar in some ways, that one overlaps the other; that while most health foods may be healthy, but not all healthy foods are health foods.


According to Wikipedia, "health food" is used to describe foods that are considered beneficial to one's health. It doesn't matter what diet you consume, vegetarian, vegan, carnivorous, macrobiotic or raw, there are foods that would be sold primarily in health food stores or sections of other stores. Often, you'll find organic foods among them.


In many cases, people who devote their diet lives to "health" food do so because they believe certain medicinal claims that have been made about certain foods or types of food. These claims may or may not be true. We all know that there are things that science considers more myth than fact. Occasionally, these myths turn out to have validity; chicken soup, for example, has been found to contain nutrients that boost the immune system and can inhibit neutrophils, the very things that cause the buildup of mucous during colds and flus. Yet, in and of itself, chicken soup is not a "health" food. It is DEFINITELY a healthy food, though. (source - Examiner.com)


What would make chicken soup a "health" food? Everything about the soup would have to have been produced organically and chemical-free. No preservatives, no artificial colors or flavors, and, generally speaking, whole, organic and natural. At that point, the soup would qualify as both healthy AND health food.


What is Health Food?


However, not everything natural is healthy. You can buy organic beef that is high in fat. It may be free of antibiotics and other chemicals, but it's still high fat, high cholesterol. You can buy natural raw sugar, but that doesn't mean you can eat it to your heart's content. As a diabetic, I still need to monitor my sugar/carb intake whether or not it's raw or processed. And, too much sugar invites obesity (another problem I so happily deal with). So, the simple declaration of organic or natural doesn't mean it's automatically healthy.


The Men's Health Big Book of Food & Nutrition


I love when someone says, "But it's natural - that means it's good for you!" Honey - arsenic is natural, too. It's an element of the earth. So is mercury. Would you feed either one to your children?


Now healthy - that's a different story. Healthy is more of a process of eating and food preparation than a specific food category. You can have a healthy diet with foods not considered health foods. But, moderation is the key (although I'm not a visible example of moderation, I do have to admit.)


#1538 - Food - Eating Healthy Foods


A healthy food would be one that is properly cooked, not over-consumed (whether through gluttonous eating or through faddish eating). Healthy eating would include a proper balance of fruits, vegetables, fats, carbs and proteins. If that takes place on a low-carb or low-fat diet, so be it. A NO fat or NO carb diet would probably not be a good idea except under a doctor's watchful eye or perhaps for a couple of days to shake your body up a bit while it readjusts its thinking (yes, your body's thinking.)


Encyclopedia of Diet Fads


A Macrobiotic diet is a type of vegetarian diet (it can include some fish) that focuses on natural, organic whole grains that also involves embracing certain spiritual aspects of Zen. Provided you are able to keep your proteins balanced (while meat is a complete protein, grains and legumes need to be combined to produce complete proteins), this can be a healthy diet. However, devoted followers are subject to more and more restrictions until they are only consuming brown rice and water. That's pretty extreme and definitely not healthy, despite brown rice being considered a health food. (source - WebMD)

Ingredients for a macrobiotic diet. -Wikimedia Commons.

All in all, the best diet to be on is balanced. Make sure what you're eating isn't too heavy in fats, sugars, overly processed grains, that you have the proper amount of fruits and vegetables even if you have to drink V8 to get them, keep your calcium up and your calories down and maintain a good relationship with your doctor. Now, if I'd just read my own blog!!


I totally forgot about CATURDAY!!

Do you see what I see?

The proper perspective according to Tiki.

Safely tucked away Chloe.