Moving Beyond Cancer in NOLA

Julie Fortenberry, RD, LDN

Honey has been used as a natural sweetener for years. Today, local honey is still used to improve food and drinks, and many people also use it as a way to maintain good health. Raw, local honey contains many enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that your body needs — and it may even help prevent seasonal allergies. Plus, using local honey supports your neighborhood bee farmers. Just a couple tablespoons of honey are all that's needed to sweeten this yummy roasted winter squash recipe.

Organic Baked Butternut Squash with Herbs and Spices

Ingredients

4 to 5 pounds winter
squash (use at least 2 varieties, such as acorn and butternut), seeded
(but not peeled) and cut into 1-inch-thick slices or wedges
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
(use local honey, if possible)
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 to 3 tablespoons
chopped fresh herbs, such as sage, rosemary, thyme, and oregano
⅛ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon honey (use
local honey, if possible)

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Line two large shallow baking pans with foil; set aside. Place squash in a very large bowl; drizzle with oil and the 2 tablespoons honey. Using your fingertips, rub the oil and honey into the squash pieces to coat evenly. Sprinkle with the ¼ teaspoon sea salt and the pepper. Arrange the squash pieces in a single layer in the prepared baking pans.
Roast 30 to 45 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork or a small, sharp knife, turning the pieces once or twice during roasting.
Transfer squash to a serving platter. Sprinkle with fresh herbs and the ⅛ teaspoon sea salt. Drizzle with the 1 teaspoon honey. Serve warm with some lean protein and a salad for a complete holiday meal.

Julie Fortenberry is a registered dietitian at Touro Infirmary. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from
the University of Southern Mississippi. Julie believes that lifestyle
changes and wholesome nutrition are obtainable, and brings real-life
understanding to wellness and nutritional counseling.

touroinfirmary | December 11, 2018 at 5:14 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: https://wp.me/p3U9Kg-Az

Meredith Maxwell, M.D., M.H.A.

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Monday, December 3, 2018

Tips for Staying Healthy During the Holiday Season

New post on Living Well

Tips for Staying Healthy During the Holiday Season

by touroinfirmary

The holiday season is a great time for enjoying decadent meals and holiday cheer. Unfortunately, for many of us, it also becomes a time for over-eating and weight gain. In fact, the average American gains 5- 10 pounds during the holiday season. Here are a few tips on how to eat mindfully and not overindulge.

What are ways to be realistic this holidays season when it comes to being healthy?

Don’t try to lose pounds during the holidays, instead try to maintain your current weight.
Plan time for exercise. Exercise helps relieve holiday stress and prevent weight gain.
A moderate and daily increase in exercise can help partially offset increased holiday eating. Try 10- or 15-minute brisk walks twice a day.
Try to not put all of your focus on food – remember, the holidays are a great time to slow down and catch up with your family and friends.

What should you do before heading out to a holiday party?

Don’t skip meals or snacks earlier in the day to “save” calories for your large feast later on. If you arrive somewhere feeling hungry, you are more likely to overeat.
Before leaving, eat a light snack to help curb your appetite.

What are tips to not overindulge this holiday season?

Focus on your loved ones instead of food. Go hiking with your family, play board games, or go to the movies to watch the latest holiday movie.
Eat slowly and savor the foods that you would only have once or twice a year.
Make sure your portions are reasonable and try to resist going back for seconds.
Also, drink alcohol in moderation.

If you are bringing a dish, what are ways to prepare a healthy holiday meal?

When making desserts, substitute whole-wheat flour for regular flour in a recipe.
Substitute bananas and applesauce for fat. And use natural sweeteners such as shredded carrots, zucchini or beets to cut down on sugar.
Make small desserts to aid with portion control.

However, if there is a dish that you love so much around the holidays, such as a family recipe, make it! The original version will make you happy. However, enjoy a small serving to satisfy your craving.

What happens if you overindulge on a holiday party?

If you overindulge, it's okay! Don’t consider yourself a failure if you eat more food than you anticipated. Get back on track with your healthy eating habits the next day.

Meredith Maxwell, M.D., M.H.A., attended the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, where she completed her family medicine residency, before joining the Touro Infirmary Health System. She is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine Diplomate.

touroinfirmary | December 3, 2018 at 4:25 pm | Categories: General Health | URL: https://wp.me/p3U9Kg-An

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Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Recipe Spotlight: Roasted Winter Squash Soup

New post on Living Well

Recipe Spotlight: Roasted Winter Squash Soup

Ingredients

2 acorn squash
2 garlic cloves
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 small raw onions
1/2 cup white wine
8 cups low sodium vegetable broth
1/4 tsp. bay leaf, crumbled
Pepper
1/3 cup cider vinegar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut squash in half, remove seeds and roast cut side down with garlic and thyme inside. Roast squash for about 60 minutes or until soft.

Scoop out flesh and set aside, along with the garlic and thyme. Add olive oil to a pan set over medium-high heat; add onions and roasted garlic and sauté until soft. Add scooped squash to pan and stir, then add wine to deglaze. Reduce heat slightly and add broth and bay leaf, then simmer for 10 minutes.

Remove bay leaf and purée in a food processor; season with pepper and cider vinegar to taste. Serve immediately.

Serves four. Each serving contains about 220 calories, 7 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 280 mg sodium, 34 g carbohydrates, 6 g fiber, 6 g sugar, and 2 g protein.

touroinfirmary | November 20, 2018 at 4:06 pm | Categories: Healthy Recipes | URL: https://wp.me/p3U9Kg-A7

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Thursday, November 15, 2018

Be Antibiotics Aware-- NEW on LIVING WELL blog

Be Antibiotics Aware

Lonzie Beamon, Jr, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist, Touro Infirmary

Antibiotics are very powerful medicines that can cure and prevent infections. Unfortunately, their power has waned over the last few decades thanks to our overuse. Antimicrobial resistance is on the rise. Two million people are infected with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria each year and several thousand people die from them. While newer antibiotics are now available, bacteria can develop resistance to those as well. What’s worse is bacteria can spread this resistance to others, creating an infection with very few treatment options. Bacteria become resistant to antimicrobials by pumping them out, breaking them down with enzymes, or changing the antimicrobial’s target so it remains unaffected by the drug. Here are a few things you can do to be antibiotics aware and reduce the risk of creating resistant bacteria:

Wash your hands as often as possible, especially if you are sick! Proper handwashing can reduce your chances of getting an infection in the first place or of spreading infection if you already are. When washing your hands, use soap and warm water. Vigorously scrub your hands together. Be sure to scrub each finger and between them, the backs of your hands, the palms, and the wrists. Do this for at least 30 seconds. Afterward, dry your hands with a paper towel and turn your faucet off with that same towel (bacteria might be on its surface).
Use hand gel if there is no sink around! Alcohol-based gels are great for disinfecting your hands. For best results, use a gel that contains at least 60% alcohol to kill any bacteria that might be lurking on your hands. Keep in mind that some bacteria are resistant to alcohol-based gels so hand-washing if possible is always the better option. Sometimes hand gels may cause your skin to become dry and irritated. If this happens to you, try a hand gel that contains moisturizers to prevent dry skin.
If you are sick, see your doctor or healthcare provider as soon as you can! You primary care provider can tell you whether or not you have a contagious infection and should stay away from others to prevent the spread of infection. If you are coughing, sneezing, have a sore throat, or feel body aches all over, you should pay a visit to your primary care provider.
If you have a virus like the flu, DO NOT TAKE ANTIBIOTICS!!! This is one of the worst things you can do because the virus is unaffected by the antibiotic and the antibiotic can affect good bacteria in your body that keep the bad bacteria in check. Antibiotics, while they are very safe and effective at what they do, should only be used when needed. Some antibiotics can lead to harmful side effects and taking them too long may increase the risk of developing a Clostridium difficile This is especially true for nursing home and hospitalized patients.
If you DO have an infection, finish your antibiotics! You might be feeling better; but, that doesn’t mean the infection is gone. If you don’t finish your full course of antibiotics, resistant bacteria may not be caught by your immune system and could spread resistance genes to other bacteria, resulting in a drug-resistant infection.
Don’t share your antibiotics! Some antibiotics target bacteria that cause respiratory infections while others may target bacteria that cause urinary tract infections. Using the wrong type of antibiotic for the wrong infection may not treat the infection if one is present and could further lead to antimicrobial resistance. Antibiotics may also cause an allergic reaction in some people and someone may not know they are allergic to the type of antibiotic you had. So if someone asks you to share your antibiotics, just say no. That person should see a primary care provider.
Know the difference between a side effect and an allergy! A side effect is an expected reaction to a drug that is not caused by your body’s immune system. Nausea, vomiting, headache, and other effects like this are not signs of allergy; but they can be uncomfortable. Saying that you are allergic to an antibiotic might cause your primary care provider to use a different antibiotic that may not be the best choice and could lead to antimicrobial resistance. However, reactions like hives and swelling of the tongue, throat, or face are signs of an allergic reaction and you should seek immediate medical attention if you experience these while taking antibiotics. You should list drugs that cause allergic reactions so your primary care provider knows not to prescribe them to you.

touroinfirmary | November 15, 2018 at 10:00 am | Categories: General Health | URL: https://wp.me/p3U9Kg-A4

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Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Health Screenings to Help Women Prevent Disease- NEW Post on Living Well

New post on Living Well

Health Screenings to Help Women Prevent Disease

Don't let heart disease, stroke and other health conditions sneak up on you. Instead, prevent them by seeing your doctor for a yearly well-woman checkup. At your checkup, your doctor will likely suggest health screenings. These tests can help spot potentially deadly conditions before they become life-threatening. Here are six screenings that can help you stay healthy.

Blood pressure

Nearly half of all Americans older than age 20 have chronic high blood pressure— 130/80 mmHg or greater. Getting your blood pressure checked and changing your lifestyle or using medication, if necessary, can reduce your risk for stroke and heart disease.

Cholesterol

This simple blood test—after an overnight fast— measures levels of HDL, or “good,” cholesterol and LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol, as well as triglycerides. These fats iny our blood can affect your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Pap test

This test, as part of a pelvic exam, takes a sample of cells from the cervix to check for cervical cancer. Women ages 21 to 29 should get a Pap test every three years. Women ages 30 to 65 should get screened every three to five years. Cervical cancer and the beginning stages of the disease are treatable if caught early.

Mammogram

This breast X-ray can find breast cancer in its early, most treatable stages. Talk with your doctor about the schedule and imaging that are right for you.

Blood glucose

This simple blood test helps detect type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, which can increase the risk for heart disease and other complications. It’s recommended for adults ages 40 to 70 who are overweight.

Colonoscopy

The doctor will examine your colon, looking for signs of cancer and small growths that can become cancerous, which can be removed during the test. Experts recommend people at average risk should get a colonoscopy every 10 years, starting at age 45.

STAY HEALTHY ALL YEAR LONG

At Touro, our doctors go above and beyond to meet patients’ needs, because we know we’re not just treating an illness, we’re treating a person. Whether you have a bad cold or something more serious, a Touro doctor in your neighborhood is ready to listen to, comfort and care for you. Find your Touro doctor today at touro.com/findadoc or by calling 504-897-7777.

touroinfirmary | November 5, 2018 at 7:52 pm | Categories: General Health | URL: https://wp.me/p3U9Kg-zR

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Wednesday, October 31, 2018

What is inflammatory breast cancer? NEW on Living Well Blog

Inflammatory breast cancer is a type of breast cancer that is both rare and presents with different warning signs. This type of breast cancer accounts for about 1% to 5% of breast cancers in the United States. Inflammatory breast cancer, also called IBC, tends to be an aggressive and fast-paced cancer.

With IBC, it is important to know that the warning signs can be very different from the traditional breast cancer signs. It is less common with IBC that you will be able to feel a lump in the breast. Some of the warning signs include:

Swelling or enlargement
Change in the color of the breast, can be red, pink or purple tones
Dimpling of skin
Pulling in of the nipple

Additionally, these symptoms tend to arise quickly over the course of weeks or months. With other forms of breast cancer, symptoms tend to occur on a much less rapid timeline and can occur over the course of years.

Mammograms may not show IBC due to appearance as inflammation or skin thickening and due to the rapid onset of the cancer. Sometimes, IBC is mistaken as an infection, however any symptoms that last longer than a week should be discussed with your doctor. It is also important to remember to perform regular breast self-awareness and self-exams as this can lead to earlier detection.

There is a 30% rate of metastasis diagnosis with the initial diagnosis of IBC. With treatment, 65% of women who are diagnosed with IBC will live at least 5 years. Of these women, 35% will have no sign of breast cancer after 10 years from the initial diagnosis. Unfortunately these prognosis numbers are not as high as they are for women with other forms of cancer. However, clinical trials and improved rates of self-awareness testing can help lead to earlier detection and better treatment options.

Want to learn more about IBC? Click here.

Source: Susan G. Komen

touroinfirmary | October 30, 2018 at 5:00 am | Categories: 31 Days of Pink | URL: https://wp.me/p3U9Kg-zC