How to Reduce Inflammation Quick!
Inflammation is part of the immune system’s first line of defense against the invasion of microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. Once microbes are detected as foreign to the body, immune cells such as macrophages (literally meaning “big eaters”) are rapidly activated to help defend the body. When these “big eaters” encounter an unwanted microorganism they engulf it and at the same time release substances into the space around them, which not only prevent the infection f
Eat Your Mosquito Repellant
Summer is great, just not the mosquitos that come with it. And if you have limited movement and dexterity, swatting these annoying blood suckers away can be a long lasting pain…or itch. Mosquitoes find their warm blooded victims by smell. Their sensory organs lead them to chemicals such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid that we exhale. While the most popular and effective bug repellant is DEET (which masks the chemical signals that mosquitos use to find their food sources), i
Give Peas a Chance!
A highly nutritious food we rarely hear about anymore is the green pea, but this wasn’t always the case. Once upon a time, about 10 000 years ago, green peas (often mistaken as a vegetable; they are in fact a legume) helped develop agricultural societies as they were one of the first cultivated crops. 5000 years later our Egyptian ancestors worshipped this valuable food source so much they buried them with Pharos to take with them into the afterlife. Rome’s first cookbook cel
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
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