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Volume 32, Number 9 June, 2005
TOMATOES
Via: Magnolia Ostomy News, Jackson, MS
Tomatoes are the most powerful source of lycopene, a nutrient that protects your health 10 times better than vitamin C.
Here’s how: We eat them green, red and yellow. We dice and puree them. Now the proof is incontrovertible; the humble tomato is one of nature’s most powerful medicines, thanks to its unique cocktail of disease-fighting compounds. Its benefits include:
Potent cancer protection: New research suggests that women who eat the most tomatoes have up to a 45% lower risk of breast cancer! Antioxident rich tomato products have also been shown to prevent colon, ovarian and uterine cancers. “Tomatoes are nature’s number one source of the antioxident lycopene, which appears to inhibit the rampant cell division that’s needed for tumors to grow and spread,” explains American Dieteric Association spokesperson Betty Nowlon, Rd.
Better cholesterol levels: Eating as little as one small tomato or one to two tablespoons of tomato paste daily can lower your risk of clogged arteries by 30%, cutting your chance of having a heart attack in half, studies show. Research suggests that same daily dose could cut your artery-clogging LDL cholesterol levels an amazing 23%. “Our best guess is that tomato products help slow the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines,” says University of Illinois pharmacologist Richard Van Breemen, PhD.
Healthier lungs: Drink a 12-ounce glass of tomato juice every day, and you’ll reduce your risk of DNA damage to lung tissues from cigarette smoke
smoke, car exhaust or other forms of air pollution by 20%, according to a recent University of North Carolina study. “The phytonutrients in tomatoes help nourish and protect delicate lung cells keeping them strong,” says Nowlin.
Radiant skin: German researchers say tomato sauce is a powerful sun block. In fact, eating as little as 1.3 ounces of tomato paste daily reduces sun-triggered skin damage by 40%. Not only will that lower your risk of skin cancer, it will help prevent collagen damage, so your skin stays firmer.
For best results: Open a jar. To get the biggest nutrient boost, opt for cooked tomato products, such as juice or spaghetti sauce. Cooking breaks down the tomatoes tough membranes, allowing up to 2 or 3 more antioxidants to be absorbed into your blood. If you love them fresh, let color be your guide: “the redder a tomato, the more antioxidants it contains, “ says Nowlin.
SUMMER LIVING WITH AN OSTOMY
Gwen B. Turnbull, RN, BS, ET
Summer is here. People flock to the beach, languish by the pool, or head out for vacation. However, summer with all its related activities, can be produce a great deal of anxiety for someone living with an ostomy.
One of the major concerns for a person with a stoma is body image and fear of public embarrassment (eg, noise from flatus, leakage, odor, or possible appearance of the pouch under clothing). Summer means wearing thinner clothing, bathing suits, and shorts, which can increase the level of unease surrounding these already angst-ridden circumstances. Selecting a bathing suit for a woman or man with an ostomy is somewhat easier than it was several years ago. Men’s swimming trunks tend to be patterned and knee-length. Flowered, patterned, or textured materials often serve as “camouflage” for a pouching system. Today, women have a variety of bathing suit styles from which to choose – many find a one-piece patterned suit appealing while others choose “boy short” bottom “tank-inis” or two-piece suits with a chemise-type top and/or a skirted bottom.
As temperatures rise and exercise increases, so does perspiration. Individuals with an ileostomy must be instructed to carefully monitor fluid intake and stomal output, especially during periods of exercise or extreme heat. Many senior citizens live in homes without air-conditioning. Water alone is not sufficient – it does not replace the extra sodium and potassium lost in sweat as well as what is normally lost in ileostomy or high-output effluent. Sports drinks, tea, or colas should replace plain water because they contain valuable electrolytes. Patients should be taught the signs and symptoms of dehydration as well as preventive measures. Should dehydration develop, patients need to contact their physician or report to an emergency room for re-hydration with IV fluids.
Higher environmental temperatures and increased perspiration also may decrease the wear time of solid skin barriers or skin barriers with a flange. Patients should anticipate this phenomenon, perhaps reducing wear time during the summer or switching to extended-wear skin barriers that are more resistant to meltdown (ie, erosion) from increased body temperature, high-volume liquid output, and increased perspiration. The need to change pouching systems before entering into physical activities should also be stressed, particularly if the individual is near the end of the usual wear-time.
Summer also produces a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables, such as corn on the cob, watermelon, peaches, green beans, cherries, okra, plums, tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and peppers — foods that potentially create more gas and/or difficulty with digestion, especially those foods with an abundance of seeds and skins. This is usually more of a problem for people with an ileostomy but an increased amount of fresh fruits and vegetables also can cause problems (eg, diarrhea, excess gas) for people with a colostomy. If gas and odor become a problem, patients should be familiarized regarding closed-end and drainable pouching systems with effective gas relief and odor-reducing filter systems.
Activities in the summer (or any other season, for that matter) may drive the individual’s pouching system choice. Some people with an ileostomy may chose to use a closed-end pouch under a bathing suit or switch from a drainable pouch to a closed-end pouch while on vacation (for convenient disposal “on the road”). One-piece pouching systems also may be appropriate during these times. Visiting friends and family can become problematic for people with an ostomy, especially with regards to emptying and/or disposing of soiled pouches. Sadly, many people choose to avoid situations (eg, visiting, sharing bathrooms, and the like) because of these issues. Clinicians should teach their clients to put the soiled pouch in a zip-lock bag or aluminum foil for sanitary and odor-proof disposal to avoid embarrassment. A sense of freedom can easily be restored if people with an ostomy are educated about various pouching options.
Some individuals choose to alternate pouch types depending on their activity, output, and the setting in which they find themselves. These are personal lifestyle decisions that can only be made if people with a stoma are shown a variety of pouching options. Something as simple as a different type of pouch can make a huge difference in someone’s life — and what better time to feel better about oneself than during the summer.
SUNSCREEN—FROM BUYING TO APPLYING
Via: Rosebud Review & GB News Review
As the days get warmer, you’ll likely spend more time outdoors. While you’re getting ready for a long walk or a day working in the garden, don’t forget to protect exposed skin from the sun. One of the easiest ways to do this is to use sunscreen.
To maximize skin protection, it’s important to know how to select and apply a good sunscreen for your skin type and daily activities..
The Burning Facts
About ninety percent of skin cancers are linked to sun exposure. There’s no such thing as a safe tan. Ultrviolet (UV) exposure intense enough to cause sunburn clearly increases your risk of skin cancer even without a sunburn. But UV exposure also contributes to premature aging of the skin, cataracts, and supression of the immune system.
Although people with light skin are more susceptible to sun damage, all skin types can be affected. Other risk factors include the presence of moles or freckles, a family history of skin cancer, certain medical conditions such as lupus, and some medications.
Screening your options
There are many brands making claims such as waterproof and all-day protection. How do you know what’s best for you? It’s important to read the label carefully.
Be sure the sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Both play a role in damaging your skin. Also check for a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15- - many dermatologists recommend an SPF of 30. SPF ratings are based on how much longer you may be protected from sunburn than you would be if no sunscreen were used. For example, if you normally burn after 10 minutes of sun, a sunscreen with SPF will allow you to be out in the sun 15 times longer before burning—– about two and a half hours if you’ve applied it properly.
Look for a sunscreen that’s personalized for your activities and skin. Use a waterproof brand if you’ll be sweating or swimming, and check the ingredients if your skin has special needs. Use a water-based sunscreen if you have oily skin or are prone to acne. If your skin reacts badly to the sunscreen you’re using, try one with different chemicals. Not all sunscreens contain the same ingredients. Those containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide tend to be the most effective at blocking UV rays.
How to apply
To maximize protection:
* Prepare in advance- - Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before going out. Use it even on cloudy or hazy days. UV rays can penetrate cloud cover.
* Cover all exposed areas—– Don’t forget your nose, lips, ears, feet, hands, bald spots, the back of your neck, and the part in your hair. Also apply to areas under bathing suit straps, necklaces, braceletsand sunglasses. Be careful when applying
sunscreen around eyes.
* Apply thick and thoroughly—– Most people use sunscreen too sparingly. A liberal application is one ounce— the amount in a shot glass—to cover all exposed skin.
* Reapply regularly—To maximize protection, reapply your sunscreen every two hours. Heavy perspiration, water, and towel drying can remove the protective layer, even from waterproof sun-screens.
* Use with other protective measures—Limit your time in the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Seek shade whenever possible. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and clothing made of tightly woven fabrics.
THOUGHTS FROM A COLOSTOMATE
Via: Metro MD & GB News Review
I have had a colostomy for more than seven years, but I can still remember that day when I thought my surgeon’s visit was only to “rescue me from that bowl of salt-less mushroom soup”. That was until he said something like, “I’d like to do some exploring”. Before I could get off my “Dr. Livingston, I presume” line, he explained the bad news/good news features.
Even though surgery was indicated, there was a possibility he might be able to cut out the cancer and put me back together pretty much like normal/ I am a person of faith and knew the best for me would happen, whatever that was. The surgeon proceeded with my surgery. Everything turned out great. My cancer was removed and I was expected to be able to live a long and healthy life, but I would have a “rosebud” for the rest of my life.
Now one of the mixed blessings about this scenario was that there was no time for a pre-op education about that brand new word to my vocabulary—colostomy. Then the good news came, my ostomy nurse and my ostomy visitor from the Metro Maryland Chapter, Margaret Proctor—bless her soul. My ostomy nurse undoubtedly labeled me her worst patient and with just cause, I might add. I was a slow learner, wallowed in all kinds of self-pity and psychologically felt as badly as was my comprehension of this completely new system.
But she did not give up on me, thank goodness. However, my role as host left a lot to be desired, my visitor from the Ostomy Association did not give up on me either. She tolerated me, sympathized with me and left me some very helpful literature. Now it took me a couple of years to feel comfortable talking with others about a colostomy. Finally, I felt quite good about visiting other patients, offering support, extending an open ear and sharing information I have gained from experience.
You know, there seems to be as many different colostomies—and how to handle them—as there are persons who have them. No two of us are the same, although we are so much alike that we can learn a great deal from sharing with each other. There is a perspective that only “one who’s been there” can convey. And sharing is caring.
For a few hours of my week, I volunteer to help in the local chapter office, which our Metro M Maryland volunteers are so dedicated to running well. There’s a large volume of administrative work-membership information; mailing lists; the many steps in preparing the newsletter for distribution; arranging speakers for meetings; etc. Many more details are necessary to the efficient operation and ultimate usefulness of the whole operation. It requires a lot of time from many people. Another helping hand is most welcome.
My message is, I suppose, that when you see a “Dr. Livingston type” approaching with a scalpel and magnifying glass in hand and exploration in his eyes, check out his back-up facilities. The ET nurse, the follow-up and the local ostomy association may help you as much as the surgery itself. Then, you in turn may want to seek the opportunity to serve other new ostomates through your local chapter. That is what the local ostomy association, and indeed life, is all about.
GOOD NEWS FOR GUYS!
Via:Hemet–San Jacinto , CA
Mentor has a new absorbent pouch for men which works well for minor incontinence. Made from a soft super absorbent material, the Mentor Absorbent Pouch fits comfortably and adheres firmly to undergarments.
Once in place, the pouch is virtually undetectable under clothing. The “standard cut” pouch can hold 4 ounces of liquid—almost a half cup and the “full cut” can hold 6 ounces. You may obtain free samples by calling Mentor at 1-800-328-3863.
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