Flu Season; Pulse Oxygen; Pumpkin Spice Bread
Health Tip:
I’ve talked with several patients recently about a Pulse Oximeter (Pulse Ox for short). This is an inexpensive tool you can get online for $10-15. It measures your pulse and the oxygen in your finger. This is great for those with breathing issues or even fatigue. Take a reading at rest and see where you are. If your reading is lower than optimum, try doing some nice relaxing deep breaths and see if you can get your O2% to go higher (may take a minute or two). You can also use it as a “mini stress test” by taking a reading at rest and then monitoring O2% when walking, going up stairs, or anything else that causes you to feel fatigued or winded. If O2% goes down, it indicates you are not getting enough oxygen. Provide this information at your next appointment and we can use it to help determine other causes of fatigue or how to help oxygenation.
If you look up online, it will say the healthy adult range is 95%-100% but, as with so many other lab values, there is an optimal level. I personally want my patients at 98-100%. If your O2% is under 90% please seek help. If it is 88% or below, please go to the hospital! (We used this tool to convince a family member it was time to go to hospital…Diagnosis was Pneumonia)
Monthly Article:
Flu Season or Something Else??
Dr. Llana Call Smith
Welcome to Fall! (For those that have gotten my newsletter for years, you may be starting to notice a pattern for October) Weather is starting to cool, the trees are turning colors and dropping leaves, we get to think about ‘sweater weather’…but also with it can come attacks on our immune systems. We are often told that this is “flu season”. When I did a quick search online, I found that in the US flu season starts about October and goes through May. Peak flu activity is December to March. We are also often told that the “best” way to prevent flu is with the flu vaccine.
I’d like to challenge what you have been told. I don’t think “Flu Season” is the correct term. I think the flu is simply the effect and not the cause. Sure, we don’t get enough sunshine and therefore vitamin D since it is colder weather and we stay inside more and that could decrease our immune systems. I still don’t think that is the cause… I’ve even heard people say that it’s because we are in closer contact with other people so it spreads more and faster…. Nope, still don’t think that is the main cause.
Here is what I think is the cause and what we should be calling this time of year instead of “flu season”: it is Sugar Season! Follow me here while I give you a little story time-line…
October: Halloween is at the end of the month. We see the candy hit the shelves in vast quantities before the end of September. People often stock up on the candy they “plan to give out to the kids on Halloween night”. Many actually have to repurchase before that night since all the candy has already been consumed! (they may also not actually have any trick-or-treaters at all!)
November: Thanksgiving. Lots of food! Lots of dessert!! Need I say more??
December: Christmas! Parties…. often several of them. Family get-togethers, again, often several. Plenty of food and desserts to go around here, too!
January: Happy New Year! Let’s toast with some champagne and snacks, and treats, and some more alcohol! (Starting to get the picture?)
February: Valentine’s Day! Chocolate!!! Those strange candy hearts with phrases on them!
March/April (depending on the year): Easter! Bunny’s laying chocolate eggs…lots of baskets filled with sweet treats and hunts with treats as well.
May: Time to get outside and start having picnics in the sunshine. More about the grill and less about the sweets.
Get the picture? From October to March/April we are loaded with holidays that seem to focus on sugary desserts. Starting in about May through September we are more focused on being outside and grilling rather than quite as many sweets. I’m not saying there are none, but there seems to be less. Add in additional sunshine and movement and our immune systems are simply more likely to be stronger during the summer.
Here is what sugar does to your immune system: it decreases your immune system’s ability to detect and fight invaders by 50%!! And it does so for about 5 hours! See why I think it should be called “sugar season” instead of “flu season”?
Knowing this about sugar and your immune system, do we really need a flu shot? (There are risks with any medical treatment that goes in your body and the flu shot is no exception!) Instead, how about we be mindful of what we choose to consume this time of year. Let that Halloween candy stay on the shelves. If you want a sweet treat, try to pick a healthier option. This can sometimes just mean you make it at home with healthier ingredients rather than buying it already prepared. Stick to eating the things you REALLY like. Don’t just put anything in there! The more mindful you are of how much sugar you are consuming the more likely your immune system will be strong enough to fight off even the most stubborn viruses. Take care of your body and it will take care of you.
Recipe of the Month:
Pumpkin Spice Bread
Dry:
1 cup blanched almond flour
¼ teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
Spice Mix:
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground allspice
Wet:
½ cup roasted pumpkin or winter squash
3 eggs
2-3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon stevia drops (optional – this makes it slightly sweeter)
Instructions:
Mix dry ingredients and spices together in medium-large sized bowl.
Mix wet together in a smaller bowl.
Stir wet ingredients into dry and mix together until smooth.
Pour batter into 2 small greased loaf pans or 1 large greased loaf pan.
Bake in 350 degree oven for approximately 40-45 minutes. Bread is done when knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Remove from oven and cool on rack.
Variations: Pumpkin Walnut or Pecan Loaf – Add ½ cup raw walnuts or pecans.
Sweet Potato Loaf – substitute sweet potato instead of pumpkin.
Pumpkin muffins – makes 10 muffins – bakes for approximately 22 min.
Author: Amanda Love (Adapted from Elanaspantry.com)
Upcoming Activities and Announcements:
Roots to Health talk: Please sign up at the front desk. Bring a friend and write a question! This is a casual time to learn about the real Roots to Health!
Tuesday October 6 at 6:15pm
Saturday October 10 at 10 am
Tuesday November 3 at 6:15pm
Saturday November 14 at 10 am
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