DHA Supplementation Support for Reading Performance

In the November 2013 issue of the Natural Medicine Journal, author Sarah Bedell Cook discusses the impact of DHA (an omega 3 fatty acid) supplementation on UK children with below average reading ability (but no diagnosis of a significant learning disability).  The information in the article draws from the DOLAB (DHA Oxford Learning and Behaviour) study out of the UK.  The study examined 493 children between the ages  of 7 and 9.  The children's DHA blood levels were measured and lower DHA levels were associated with poorer reading ability, poorer working memory performance, and higher levels of parent rated oppositional behaviour and emotional fluctuations.   The children were then supplemented with 600 mg of DHA per day for 16 weeks.  The results found that the parent rated oppositional behavior and emotional fluctuations were significantly reduced and that children who were below the 20th and 10th percentiles, reading performance wise, received significant benefit.  This study helps to confirm the support that DHA supplements offer for overall emotional health and brain function and that it is worth considering integrating a DHA supplement for many children, even those who do not have a specific learning disability diagnosis, that find school/learning more difficult than some of their fellow students.

Delicious Butternut Squash Bowl

Tonight for supper, I had a simple supper that required a little bit more effort, but it was well worth it!  I had baked butternut squash (the squash was cut in half, the seeds were scooped out, chopped onion, garlic, and almonds were added to the scooped out spot, oil, basil and oregano were added over the entire squash, and the squash was baked at 350 degrees for 70 minutes).  I mixed the squash with forbidden rice (1:2 ratio of rice to water, cooked for 40 minutes).  Forbidden rice is black in color like wild rice, but has the texture of short grain brown rice - it is so yummy!  I also had pinto beans (soaked for 4 hours +, cooked for 60 minutes) and a stir fry (with onion, garlic, crimini mushrooms, zucchini, green beans, sugar snap peas, broccoli, and black kale).  Once all of the food was dished up, I topped it with a tahini sauce (1 1/2 lemons, freshly squeezed, 4 tbsp of tahini, 1 tbsp flax oil, 3/4 tsp sesame oil, 1/4 tsp sea salt).  This was a delicious (warm) winter day meal and was totally worth the extra time and work!

Environmental Impacts on our Health

In the December 2013 issue of the Natural Medicine Journal, author Kurt Beil discusses a recent study that looked at the reduction in Ash tree population due to the Emerald Ash Borer beetle and its relationship to death from lower respiratory tract disease and cardiovascular disease.  The study was originally published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine in 2013.  Emerald Ash Borer beetle infestation results in the death of the Ash tree that has been affected and has lead to a significant decline in Ash tree population in the Mid West region of the US.  The study looked at 2002 - 2007 mortality data from lower respiratory tract disease and cardiovascular disease in the states that were impacted by the Emerald Ash Borer beetle and found that compared to prior to the beetle infestation in 2002, an additional 6,113 lower respiratory tract disease deaths and an additional 15,080 cardiovascular disease deaths occurred!  This study further confirms how closely our overall health is connected to the health of our environment.  The increase in deaths may potentially be related to less trees leading to poorer air quality (because trees act as filters to improve overall air quality).  As well, because many people find connecting with nature offers them great stress release benefits,  a reduction in green space/number of trees may be perceived as less of an outlet for stress release.  Environmental changes can feel inevitable and the information from this study may feel quite overwhelming/disempowering, but I do think it brings to light the importance of still  ensuring that we aim to get outside and connect with nature on a daily basis even if it does feel like the quality of our environment is changing and that we may want to consider integrating an air purifier/filtration system in our home/office.  

The Impact of Melatonin on Sleep in Children with ASD Diagnosis

In the July 2013 issue of the Natural Medicine Journal, Jessica Mitchell discusses a study that looked at the impact of melatonin supplementation on sleep in children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  The study was published in the August 2012 issue of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.  The study looked at 24 children between the ages of 3-10 and the dose of melatonin used ranged from 1 mg - 6 mg.  The study found that all 24 children (through their parents' feedback/reporting) experienced an improvement in sleep difficulties, in the length of time it took to fall asleep, and in the number of hours of sleep per night.  The parents also reported an improvement in the children's mood and behaviours.  Most/All children with ASD diagnosis have some difficulty with their sleep.  This study provides a great insight into the importance of considering melatonin for children with ASD to support a more restful and balanced sleep.  

Simple Supper - Pasta and Chickpeas

Tonight I had another simple supper that was easy to make and was very tasty.  I made brown rice elbows - the brand of rice pasta I prefer is tinkyada because the pasta cooks up perfectly and it has a great texture and taste.  Once the brown rice pasta was done cooking (it took 15 minutes to cook) and was drained, I mixed it with 3 tbsp of olive oil, 1 tbsp of sesame oil, 1/4 cup water, 2 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbsp fresh chopped parsley, 1/4 tsp sea salt, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp basil/oregano mix, 1/4 tsp red chill flakes.  I also mixed in chickpeas (which took 60 minutes to cook after having been soaked for 8 hours)
and a stir fry with onions, garlic, ginger, white mushrooms, zucchini, cauliflower, and black kale.  This meal took approximately 1 hour to prepare (which also included making a salad and doing the dishes) and was a delicious mid week meal.

Dietary Choline Intake and Prostate Cancer

In the March 2013 issue of the Natural Medicine Journal, Jacob Schor discusses a study that looked at dietary choline intake and the risk of dying from prostate cancer.  The study was published in the October 2012 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and analyzed the diets of over 4000 men who had been diagnosed with non metastatic prostate cancer.  The study found that the men who had the highest intake of dietary choline had a 70% higher risk of dying from prostate cancer than the men with the lowest intake of dietary choline.  The top 5 choline rich foods in the diets of the men in study were whole eggs, beef, reduced fat milk, skim milk, and poultry with the skin.  This study provides a great dietary guideline for men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer - aiming to reduce/eliminate whole eggs, beef, reduced fat milk, skim milk, and poultry with the skin from their diets can provide their bodies with extra support moving forward from the prostate cancer diagnosis. 

Simple Supper - A Load of Kale!!

Tonight I had another simple supper and it consisted of lots and lots of kale!  I saw that there was a leaf in the green kale bunch that was starting to yellow, so I decided to use it all up!  In addition to the kale, the stir fry contained onions, garlic, shiitake mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, and sugar snap peas.  I mixed the veggies with short grain brown rice and black eyed peas.  I also added a simple tahini sauce that was made from tahini, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and flax oil.  This whole meal took under 1 hour to prepare (this also included making a salad and doing the dishes) and was a yummy and satisfying way to start off the week.