Cough it Up!
We’re heading into cold and flu season. This coupled with the fact that people with high thoracic and cervical injuries are at increased risk of pneumonia and respiratory infections means that we really need to support our immune system by eating foods rich in vitamins A, C and the mineral zinc. But what do you do if you get sick? People with quadriplegia for example experience varying degrees of paralysis of the respiratory muscles and this dysfunction can lead to difficult
Nutrition for Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain is unimaginable. It effects 29-79% of people with SCI and compares to no other pain. I learned this after a car accident 25 years ago. The collective pain of breaking my back, shattering my wrists, smashing my skull, puncturing my lungs and lacerating my internal organs didn’t rival the agony of the neuropathic pain I experienced from damaging the nerves in my spinal cord. My neuropathic pain is best described as an ice pick being stabbed into my bones every
Foods for the Winter Blues
Many people slip into the mid-winter blues this time of year and it can be a faster slide into this state for people with SCI. When you combine the increase in difficulty getting out and about and time spent indoors with the fact that people with SCI are 5x's more likely to experience depression than the general population, it’s no wonder that we can sometimes feel a little down when the snow starts falling. Deficiencies in B-vitamins, essential fats, complex carbohydrates a
Drink Your Way to Better Health!
With the brisk weather here it can be daunting to think about drinking 8 glasses of water everyday. Today's thirst-quenching beverage Kombucha will make this easier - while providing you with additional health benefits! This refreshing, fermented, naturally carbonated, mildly sweet ancient Chinese tea has multiple health and energy boosting benefits for people with SCI. Kombucha is rich in enzymes (enzymes breakdown food) so it helps to support our compromised digestive syste
Eating Right When the Budgets Tight!
People with SCI are at risk of developing a host of serious, debilitating and potentially life threatening secondary health complications. A nutritious diet can help prevent and/or manage many of these conditions, however with more than 60% of people with SCI unemployed, finding ways to eat well can be a challenge. Instead of a recipe this edition, I’m sharing 10 tips on how to get healthy foods into your diet and stay within your budget: 1. Make a weekly plan Plan meals for
Hemorrhoids: How to Prevent this Pain in the Butt!
Hemorrhoids, swollen veins around the anus and in the rectum, are more prevalent among the SCI population than the general population. It is believed that this higher incidence is due to several factors such as chronic constipation (which intensifies pressure and may weaken the veins in the rectal area), prolonged sitting, straining, irritation through repeated digital stimulation and/or use of suppositories or enemas. A major sign of hemorrhoids in individuals with SCI is bl
Healthful Weight Gain
The majority of people with SCI (60%) are overweight and often struggling with ways to rid themselves of their added pounds. However, there are many individuals with SCI that are underweight and struggle with trying to pack the pounds on. While this might not seem like such a dreadful problem to have, being too thin with a SCI has some serious health risks- namely pressure sores. People with SCI who are underweight have twice the risk of developing pressure sores than those w
Don't Neglect Your Gallbladder!
People rarely give their gallbladder much thought until they have a problem with it, however, those of us with SCI should be giving this little pear-shaped organ a lot of thought and care long before that. People with SCI have an increased prevalence of cholelithiasis, the formation of gallstones. Studies indicate that the risk of developing gallstones is three to six times higher compared to able-bodied individuals belonging to similar demographic groups. In fact, the risk i
Weight Loss: More is Less
Say what? Over 60% of people with SCI are overweight and this increase in weight is strongly correlated with the development of other health conditions such as, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. When most of us think about losing weight and unwanted fat, we think less is more: less calories, fewer meals and smaller portion sizes. While healthy weight loss is indeed about eating the right kinds of foods and in the right amounts, it’s also greatly affected by the balance and
How to Prevent a Pressure Sore with Nutrition!
Pressure sores are more than just a pain in the ass (or any other boney prominence). These severe skin breakdowns can significantly hinder your quality of life and in some cases be life-threatening. After a spinal cord injury your skin is much more susceptible to damage and breakdown due to loss of sensation, decreased muscle mass, altered blood circulation and chronic pressure exerted over areas such as your buttocks, elbows and heels. It’s estimated that 10-30% of us will d