DON'T RUSH TO DETOX AFTER THE FESTIVES

                   

Hallo Everyone,
I trust your new year has kicked off well.
It has been a while since I updated this blog,
The new year is here,some people are still writing their resolution down while others are busy making their 2018 resolution work.
Ten Days down the line here in Kenya someone has just won 23 Million Ksh Mega Jackpot ,He just missed over 200million by a whisker.Am sure all his 2018 resolutions are complete . Lol

Off from football betting, January is here,a few days from when people had a feasting festive season, celebrating either Christmas or the new year. Some people are now busy cutting on certain foods as well as planning crush diets and detox as a compensation to the mistakes/overindulgence  done on December season. some have even heavily invested on doing cleansing using various method

Rushing for a detox or fasting  to clear the perceived damage could do more harm than good.
If you do feel the need to cut the weight or do a detox since you took more than you needed, always ensure you follow the right procedures.
The following tips will help you:
1. Stick to a healthy balance diet in the right portion: Don't fast ; Instead take small frequent meals
2. Cut on red meat alternate with plant base protein
3. Take more water : I call it the universal detox
4. Fruits and vegetables and high fiber food are your best bet
5.Cut on  soft drinks  and commercial juices
6.Avoid funny concoctions/juices perceived to cleanse your system that are not prescribed by your doctor or nutritionist
7. Cut on alcohol
8.Avoid Junk food at all cost
9.Hit the gym or stay active
10. Have enough rest/Sleep


These are just some of the best things that can not only help yo do a great cleansing but also prolong your life and keep you free from lifestyle diseases.

Hoping your 2018 will make you feel a winner too.
Have a healthy year ahead

For Details
Contact +254 724 793177

DO YOU KNOW YOUR NUMBERS?

Maybe you are wondering what numbers are this.
Many times when am doing a health talk or counseling a client I  love asking them when was the last time they had a medical check up.In most cases men will laugh at it since they will have taken years to have done it.Women are more likely to have checks regularly especially  during their child bearing age.

A lot of times we take care of our appliances,cars,and even our houses are swept daily and kept clean always,we fumigate our kitchen and stores to prevent rodent,we take our car for service checks occasionally if not often.But when it comes to health we don't give it priority as much.
One of the famous quote "your health is your wealth" if embraced by every one, the world will be a better place.

The trends in disease progression shows that lifestyle condition / noncommunicable diseases tops the least of major cause of death today.We have to fight this menace

Most of us know that conditions such as cancer, diabetes,  renal condition, cardiovascular conditions among others can be prevented or treated if detected early.It is therefore my major emphasis that when you are thinking about buying that next piece of land,your dream car or house ,always let your health be at the top of the list of the priority.This will make your production at work or school increase,you will be energetic and enthusiastic in anything that you do.

BASIC LIST OF  TEST YOU NEED TO TAKE AT-LEAST ONCE ANNUALLY
(KNOW YOUR NUMBERS )

• Cholesterol test
• Blood sugar test 
• Blood pressure
• Urinalysis
• Blood count
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Cancer test (PSA for men & Pap smear for women )
• Liver function test
• Kidney function test
• Dental Checks
• Optical test Among others

There are more test that you can do annually but the above good to ensure that your body is working normally further test could be requested by your doctor if he/she notices any anomaly.

If you are in Nairobi or its environs feel free to link up with me for further details.

Remember:

”A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise.”

― Winnie the Pooh

Have a healthy Day !
Kagumba Boniface
Dietitian

My worry on Mall introductions in Kenya

In the recent past there has been a lot of malls being introduced in Kenya. Nearly all major towns and highways  are flocked with sky scraping structures in the name of malls.A shopping centers with all under one roof.

The major worry for many Kenyans about the malls is perhaps the fear of  terrorism attack bearing in mind of the tragic west-gate terror.As a dietitian who is health conscious when I think about the malls I look at the continued massive introduction of  fast food restaurants.

This gives me worry in that if people will be flocking in these malls to feast on various fast food places chances are the trend for disease progression will be sky rocketing day in day out.Obesity will be the main thing and to see an Obese person in the street will not be of much shock since  most people  in the urban centers will be in that category.If not Obese-Overweight, CVDs, diabetes among other noncommunicable diseases

Its true the malls come with a lot of other goodies,fun places,One stop shopping for your home appliances,medicine,cosmetics,banks,among others but when it come to feasting.Healthy choices will always be the best guide. 

Let be a wake up call to you!!

Have A healthy choice.

Your Dietitian of Choice!

Where to find me:
http://caremaxhealthkenya.com/

BEST EXERCISE FOR WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Choosing the right exercise to lose weight is always a challege especially if you are in the severe obese class and have an underlying condition like Hypertention,Diabetes,CVDs or even athritistis among other conditions.

The trick is always Identifying what is comfortable for you and embarking on a weightloss mission with a goal.The major goal would always be to enhance health as you shed the kilos in plan.
It is always important to be realistic to the weight loss regimen and being disciplined to the rule set aside.
For Example loosing 20kg would require you a couple of months if done effectively ,loosing the 20kg in a span of 1  month is unrealistic.

When choosing the right form of exercise there are various things to consider, these  include;
1) Ideal weight
2) Diet changes  required alongside the choice of exercise
3)  The current readings on your body composition analysis/parameters: i.e BMI, Body fat percentage,muscle mass,cholesterol,waist-hip ratio,blood pressure,blood sugar,waist circumference among others
4) Target ranges to the above compositions
5) Age
6) Time frame to the exercise chosen

Having an exercise plan that is consistent and enjoyable is always a fast step to good health.
Your Nutritionist help you in determining the right diet that work to reaching your goals in a reasonable time and in a healthy way.He/she also help you identify some possible exercises that goes along with you as an individual.

Note: Starving yourself and missing meals to lose weight might leave you deficient of some nutrient and affect your immunity in the end.Some people who chose to miss specific meals may end up over indulging in the next meal.

Some simple exercise that could be beneficial to most individuals include:Walking Swimming, dancing,skipping ropes,jogging,yoga,cycling among others.


"A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Boniface Kagumba
Nutrition

Weight Management The Kenyan Way?
Boniface Kagumba

One of the greatest challenge in life today is to live a healthy  lifestyle that is free from illnesses. Every one wants to be productive in their businesses,career and family growth.
life has become like a competition where everyone has become a busy body.

In Kenya and across the Saharan Africa being overweight was previously associated with wealth and a sign of good health.However with the recent technological advances and education through media and awareness campaigns all over the country a reasonable fraction of people are now aware of Obesity as a disease.

There is still more  to be done to convince people to maintain a healthy lifestyle in as far as health is concerned and educate them on the dangers of overweight and obesity.

Eating Habits in Kenya and the Inactive nature of the Kenyans in the Urban area is a major contributor to this big menace.The Kenyan Cuisine is not complete without "Nyama Choma" roasted meat,or fried chicken which is a major cause of obesity to the Kenyan people.

Maize which is the Kenyan staple food on the other hand seem to be abused as well as part of high energy giving food.

With the Right kind of advice from a registered Dietitian/Nutritionist one is able to follow the right choices
hence preventing permanent damage.

Book an appointment with Mr.Dietitian for screening,nutrition counseling (individual or group) on
+254724793177

FOOD ALLEGY

Food allergy in children- Can I eat this Mummy?

By Boniface Kanyugo Kagumba

A sick child keeps her parents worried the whole day and affects the whole family as well, especially the mother or the care giver. In most cases when a child falls sick the blame falls on food, even when the cause has nothing to do with food. This at least explains that parents are aware of the effect of food on a child’s health. Food can affect both children and adults in a variety of ways one being Food allergy

What is it?

An allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder that affects the immune system. This over reaction is caused by a substance which is harmless to most people called an allergen found in environment and foods. When someone has an allergy the immune system treats the substance as an invader resulting to symptoms that can be anywhere from annoying to possibly harmful to the person.

In an attempt to protect the body, the immune systems of the allergic child produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE),these antibodies then causes mast cell and basophilis ( allergy cells in the body) to release chemicals including histamine into the blood streams to defend the allergen-the invader. It’s the release of these chemicals that causes the reaction affecting a persons, eye, throat, nose, skin, lung or gastrointestinal tract, as the body attempts to get rid of the invading allergen.

Allergic reactions can be very mild or may be life threatening and can cause a systemic shock (anaphylaxis)

Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the allergy. Most food allergies presents symptoms such as swelling, skin rash, runny nose, itchy nose or eye, itchy mouth with bumps,  vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, constipation and mucus filled stool. Skin symptoms are the most common (edema, hives or eczema)

Common food Allergy

There are no major research that estimates the prevalence of food allergy in Kenya, however few studies done shows it’s an issue of concern and allergies are becoming more common. In United States of America, it is estimated that upto 2 million or 8% of children are affected by food allergies, this is according to The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Eight foods accounts for most of those food allergy: Eggs, Fish, Milk, Peanut, Shellfish, Soy, Tree nuts and Wheat

Perhaps these should be a wakeup call to Kenyan parents. It is good to know what your child is allergic to and control it before it’s too late. Your pediatrician can perform a Skin prick test, blood test or a Food challenge to Identify whether your child is having an allergy or not.

·         Cow’s milk

This is the most common food allergy in infants. The highest allergic cause being protein found within it, average 3.4% protein in 100g.

To ensure your baby is not allergic to milk exclusive breastfeeding is encouraged, upto 6 months of breastfeeding. Thanks to Malezi Bora programme, a Ministry of Health and UNICEF programme that emphasis on the importance of breastfeeding here in Kenya.

Breast milk has a lot of health benefit and a little possibility of causing allergic reaction. Mothers who have reasons not to breastfeed are advised to seek counsel from their doctors or nutritionist.

·         Solid food

When weaning, it is advisable that solid food be introduced gradually, one at time. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that weaning starts from six months. Before this, a child's digestive system and kidneys are still developing and are not yet ready to deal with solid food.

It is good to give your child homemade food, this ensures total control of what is going in your baby’s diet the food should be free from preservatives and additives that your child tummy does not require.

Fighting the menace

Having known that your child has an allergy the next thing you are worried is how to get rid of it. Identifying the food causing the allergy makes it easier for you to watch out for foods within the same food groups/family. If your child is suffering from a peanut allergy for example, you want him to stay away from all the nuts until further test is done.

 Your nutritionist will help you identify the various food groups as well as the different names of the food/nutrient that your child is allergic to as they appear on the food labels. For Example an egg white may be called albumin.

The basic treatment for food allergies is strict avoidance of the allergen. Unlike the environmental allergens which can sometimes be effectively treated by daily courses of antihistamine or by taking allergy shots. In cases of accidental exposure to allergen it is important visit your pediatrician for further consultation.

Reference

Ø  Food allergy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ø  muslimahfitness.com/blog

Ø   Stefano Guandalini et al,(2005) cow’s milk allergy, Essential pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition , page 175

Ø  The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology,www.aaaa.org

Ø  WHO website 2010

Compiled By:

Boniface Kanyugo Kagumba,

Clinical Dietitian

Eye allergy in children

By: Boniface Kagumba, 
Consultant  Dietitian
(Submitted To Baby Love Magazine) 

If you have been following the articles in this column, by now you have got immense information on the many types of allergy that we have been discussing. You may also have some hints of the major causes of allergy of which most of them are related, by now the mention of the word allergen and histamine maybe familiar to you too.

Today we proceed to another allergy common in adults and children as well, the Eye allergy. The most common form of eye allergy is referred to allergic conjunctivitis. According to Dr. James Kinyajui, a General Practitioner, there are many non-allergic reactions that may affect your child’s eye with similar symptoms to those of an eye allergy. His advice is that it’s always wise to consider taking your child to an ophthalmologist or your pediatrician for proper diagnosis and treatment before treating any symptoms yourself.

What is eye allergy?

Eye allergy is a common condition that occurs when the eye reacts to something that irritates them (invader/allergen) just like in any other allergy the body releases substance called histamines to fight against these invaders as a result the eyelids and the conjunctiva (membrane that covers the inside of the eyelids and the white of the eye) itches, become red and swollen.

The above symptoms may be accompanied by a nasal allergy, though not always, with an itchy stuffy nose and sneezing

Major allergen

The most common allergens that may cause an eye allergy are dust, animal dander, perfumes, as well as pollen or even food. If the exposure is more the allergy can be more severe with significant burning and itching and even sensitivity to the eye

Children with a history of any other allergy are more likely to suffer from an eye allergy. However allergic conjunctivitis is not spread from one person to the other unlike other bacterial infections.

Diagnosis and treatment

In order to treat an eye allergy proper diagnosis is required to confirm that the reaction is an allergy. Your Doctor or ophthalmologist will examine your child’s eye and discuss the medical history including the child’s history and the family history. The doctor may also use a microscope to check for sign of allergies such as swollen blood vessels on the surface of the eye or if it’s not completely clear that your child has an allergy the doctor may choose to test specific type of white blood cells called eosinophil that shows up in the areas where there is an allergic reaction.

The key treatment to any allergy is to avoid the allergen that causes a reaction to occur. If necessary an allergist or ophthalmologist may perform a skin test to identify a specific allergen. The doctor may help you identify the allergen responsible for your child’s allergy thus making it easy to keep your child away from them as well as determining the best treatment for your baby.

For mild eye allergy, over the counter eye drops can be used to treat the reactions. However there are eye drops that will require prescription. These drugs may be sold as decongestant with or without an antihistamine which helps relieve the itchiness. These eye drops cannot be used for more than three days as long-term use may increase the irritating symptoms

The eye drop that may not necessarily require prescriptions are mainly the artificial tears which can be used any time they are needed they also help relieve eye allergies temporarily by washing allergen from the eye.

Eye drops with both antihistamine to relieve itchiness and a mast cell stabilizer to help prevent eye allergy may also be used.

 A home remedy for mild eye allergy can also be used, this involve washing off the allergen your baby’s face with warm water and a clean cloth.  Use a wet cloth to clean the eyelids and the surrounding face. Rinse the eyes using a small amount of warm water and tears will do the rest. Then apply a cold wash cloth to the itchy eye. Wash the hair every night as it collects a lot of allergens during the day

Steroid eye drops helps treat chronic and severe eye allergy symptoms such as itching, redness and swelling. Dr.Kinyajui suggests that these are among the eye drops that require prescription from your doctor as some children may react to the steroid.

Your child may also be given oral antihistamines such as cetirizine these however, can make the eye dry and worsen the eye allergy symptoms to some kids and therefore require prescription from a specialist as well

If the symptoms are not controlled by allergen avoidance, eye drops or oral medicine the doctor may decide to use immunotherapy (allergic shots) just like in any other severe allergy we have discussed previously.

Immunotherapy involve giving shots containing tiny amounts of the allergen thought to cause the allergic symptoms with the  dose gradually increasing over time helping the body to become immune to the allergen. 

Remember prevention is better than cure, as a parent when you realize what allergen triggers your child’s allergic reactions always make sure they are free from this allergen as much as possible. Always consider doctor advice before using the over the counter medicine