B12 Deficiency: The Slow Poison

Parentune - Food and Nutrition Tips

It may sound bizarre but it’s true, that 7 out of 10 diet and fitness patients for me suffer invariably from vitamin B12 deficiency. All I need to do in order to know is to look at their pale faces and ask them whether they feel listless and low on energy through the day. If the answer is an instant and a firm nod of the head, it’s perhaps the vitamin B12 that is giving them a tough chase! The point I am making here is that B12 is extremely common and rampant in our society today.                             

What is vitamin B12 and why do we need it?

Vitamin B12 or Cobalamin is an essential water-soluble vitamin that is commonly found in a variety of foods, such as eggs, fish, shellfish, meat and dairy products. B12 is responsible for formation and maturation of red blood cells. It also works with folate to make our body's genetic material. Like most vitamins, the body can’t make B12. Instead, it must be gotten from food or supplements.

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency
Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency may include:
• fatigue, lethargy, weakness or light-headedness
• memory loss, disorientation
• muscle weakness, stiffness & tightness of muscles
• incontinence
• low blood pressure
• vision problems
• dementia, psychoses
• mood disturbances and depression
• rapid heartbeat and breathing
• pale skin
• sore tongue
• easy bruising or bleeding, including bleeding gums
• stomach upset and weight loss
• diarrhea or constipation
• Tingling or numbness in fingers and toes, etc.
Anemia is the final stage of B12 deficiency.

Causes of vitamin B12 deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency typically occurs in people whose digestive systems do not adequately absorb the B12 from the food they eat. Causes of B12 malabsorption include:
• intestinal dysbiosis (microbial imbalances in digestive tract, etc)
• gut inflammation
• atrophic gastritis (inflammation of stomach mucosa)
• hypochlorhydria (lack of stomach acids)
• pernicious anemia (an autoimmune disease)
• medications (especially acid-suppressing drugs)
• exposure to nitrous oxide during surgery
• Conditions affecting the small intestine, like celiac disease and Crohn’s disease
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Long-term use of acid-reducing drugs.

Who is at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency?
Since it’s the only vitamin we can’t obtain from plants or sunlight, people at most risk for vitamin B12 deficiency are strict vegetarians and vegans. It occurs in vegetarians because the best food sources of the vitamin are animal products. Others at risk are elderly people aged over 60, breastfed infants and babies born to vegetarian mothers.

Preventing B12 deficiency through diet
Most people can prevent vitamin B12 deficiency by consuming certain foods rich in vitamin b12. These are:
a) Seafood like shellfish, clams, oysters, lobster, mackerel, tuna and salmon
b) Meats like chicken and mutton, especially liver
c) Eggs

Some vegetarian sources of vitamin B12 (though weak sources as compared to animal sources) are:
d) Dairy products like milk, yogurt, buttermilk and cheese
e) Yeast extract spreads (marmite)
f) Whey Powder
g) Fortified soy milk and tofu
h) Fortified cereals

Recommended Daily Allowance for vitamin B12

1. Children upto 8 years of age: 0.4 to 0.9 microgram per day.
2. Children above 8 years of age: 1.2 to 2.4 micrograms per day.
3. Adults over age of 19: 2.4 micrograms per day.
4. Pregnant women: 2.6 micrograms per day.
5. Lactating women: 2.8 micrograms per day.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can creep into the body very slowly giving no warning signals for a long time to come. It is also very easy to overlook the condition or confuse it with something else. So, when in doubt, the best idea would be to go for the relevant blood test. Remember, prevention of vitamin B12 deficiency related complications is easier than the treatment of the same.

Read More

Avoiding the Heat Stress this Summer

Parentune - Tips for avoiding Heat Stress
Summers are a welcome change after the bitter winter. The cold and sniffles of the winter season are replaced first by the awesome spring and soon after we face the wrath of the unmerciful sun.

The most common and deadly fallout of the summer season is the Heat wave and the related illnesses that are caused due to it. During a heat wave, it's important to know and be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of a heat Stress. There are different types of illnesses that fall under heat stress, ranging from those that cause temporary discomfort to the generally fatal condition known as heat stroke. Heat stress occurs when a body is not able to cool itself down to maintain a healthy temperature. Heat related illnesses include heat rash, cramps , dizzinesss  and in some cases fainting , heat exhaution and heat stroke. In all heat-related illnesses, the symptoms appear when a person is exposed to extreme temperatures.

What are some of the heat related illneses?

 The following checklist can help you recognize the symptoms of heat-related illnesses:

1.Heat Rash: Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather. It can occur at any age but is most common in young children. Heat rash looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters.

 2.Heat cramps: A person who has been exercising or participating in other types of strenuous activity( mostly true for children playing outdoors in the sun) in the heat may develop painful muscle spasms in the arms, legs, or abdomen referred to heat cramps. The body temperature is usually normal, and the skin will feel moist and cool, but sweaty.

3.Heat syncope: It is a clinical term given to fainting as a result of overheating with inadequate water or salt in the Body. The Basic symptom is a body temperature above 104F, fainting with or without Mental confusion.

4.Heat exhaustion: This is one of the serious conditions that could develop into a heat stroke. It primarlily happens when a person sweats excessively in a hot envoirnment leading up to the reductuon of the blood volume in the body. The symptoms to look out for in this case are sweating , elevated heart rate, muscle cramps, headache , nausea and vomiting.

5.Heat stroke: Heat stroke is a serious, life-threatening condition that occurs when the body loses its ability to control its temperature. Victims of a serious heat stroke almost always die, so immediate medical attention is essential when problems first begin. In heat stroke, a person develops a fever that rapidly rises to dangerous levels within minutes. A person with heat stroke usually has a body temperature above 104 F (40 C), but the temperature may rise even higher. Other symptoms and signs of heat stroke may include confusion, combativeness, bizarre behavior, feeling faint, staggering, strong rapid pulse, dry flushed skin, and lack of sweating. Delirium coma can also result from heat stroke.

While heat cramps, heat syncope, and heat exhaustion may all be present in mild degrees, you should always contact a doctor or seek emergency medical attention if the symptoms of these conditions are severe or worsen with time

What may be the actions one must take when the symptoms appear?

When one is suffering from a heat stroke or sees the symptoms on someone else; here are some of the quick tips to do at home before the medical help arrives

1. Remove the victim's clothes while waiting for emergency medical assistance to arrive. Spray water to cool him down. Stay with the victim. Put ice packs under his armpits and groins.

2. If you are outside, take the victim to a cool and shaded area. If there is a pool nearby, bring him to a shallow part of the pool.

3. If you have access to a thermometer, monitor the victim's body temperature. Continue to provide cooling his temperature drops to 101 to 102 degrees F.

4.Give him cool liquids such as cold water. Sport drinks are ok, too. Giving caffeine or any other caffeinated drink is NOT Advisable. Keep a container and damp cloth near in case he vomits.

5.If the person is unconscious, check his airway for breathing and listen for his heartbeat. Do CPR if he stops breathing. Have his mouth opened so air can enter his body. Roll him onto his left side. This helps prevent vomiting and allow fluids to drain from his mouth.

Once the medical professionals arrive, the patient should be left in their expert care.

How can one avoid a Heat Stroke ?

A few tips on how to dress to avoid the heat stroke:

1.Looking at the big picture and planning the wardrobe is beneficial. Evaluating what the activity is going to be in the heat and dressing appropriately for the environment may perhaps be the way to go this summer. If attending an outdoor event ditch the long-sleeved shirt and instead go with a short sleeve loose fitted kind of clothing.

2.Wearing a wide-brimmed hat or cap would keep a child/ person cool. Wearing clothes made of breathable material that is not too dark in color when outdoors may be a good choice. Be sure and put on a good sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more.

3. Layered clothing for exercising in the heat may be avoided. Layering the body with clothes may not leave enough room for your body to breathe and prespire You want to give your body room to perspire and not overheat it. Select light fabrics suited for activity. Buy mesh-accented workout gear. This can include tank tops, shorts, sports bras, light workout bottoms or quarter-length pants.

4.Dressing smart at work may be the way to handle the heat. If one works in an office where the temperature fluctuates, wearing an outfit that can accommodate this fluctuation is advisable. Selecting a light jacket or shirt, nice tank top or blouse that is appropriate for a business environment (or a short-sleeved dress shirt for a man) would be ideal.

5. Making sure that heavy clothing is not worn to sleep is recommended. One could get overheated during the night, too. Dressing the beds in light sheets and pillowcases for the summer months is also a good idea. This will help your skin and body stay cool.

6. Dressing infants and toddlers to avoid heat stroke and provide shading is most important. Selecting hats that protect your little one and block the strong sun is ideal. Providing cool, loose-fitted clothing such as thin, soft cotton keeps the bodyand skin breathing. Limit your child's sun exposure especially during the hot mid-day sun.

Hopefully the above mentioned information will be helpful and sufficient in tackling the summer illnesses effectively and one could enjoy all the fun that is in store this summer.

Read More