watercress words by Dr Aletha

In other posts I defined obesity and explained how it can harm our health.

What is obesity and why does it matter?

Some people who are overweight just want to lose the excess weight and are not that concerned about the health risk if they don’t. No wonder the weight loss business is a multi-million (billion?) industry. When patients ask me for weight loss help, I tell them if I knew a 100% successful method for losing weight, I would be wealthy, and probably not working anymore. I have patients who successfully lose weight, with and without my help, and unfortunately just as many who don’t. Most of the ones who lose weight do it simply-

They change what, how much, and how they cooked and ate.
They start,increase, and continue being physically active.

How one woman lost weight and regained her life

In the May 2015 issue of American Family Physician, a doctor shared the story of a woman whose life events made her feel sad and overwhelmed; she turned to food for comfort. Combined with a sedentary lifestyle, she gained weight. After a health scare, she took her doctor’s advice to see a nutritionist and begin exercising- 10 minutes daily.

For her emotional turmoil she turned to a counsellor, her rabbi and friends.

“I saw a counselor every week who let me cry and express my emotions.”

As her sadness lessened, her motivation to take better care of herself returned. Here is what she did and recommends to journey into fitness and weight loss.

Remove junk food from the house; replace with healthier choices.
Keep chopped up fruit and vegetables available in the refrigerator.
Bake, broil, poach, or steam meats and vegetables.
Eat from small plates.
Try different activities- walking, dancing, exercise videos,
Find a role model to inspire you.

“Do a good deed, no matter how small, every day. Nothing will taste as good as it feels to watch another person appreciate your mitzvah” ( mitzvah- a good deed)
A.G.

Close-ups: Losing Weight and Motivating Others

sharing the HEART of living healthy

Dr. Aletha

Anthrax- is a scary word due to its association with the threat of biological warfare. And not just in the plot of an apocalyptic movie.

In 2001, anthrax spores were used to contaminate U.S. mail, killing 5 people who were exposed. But the disease anthrax, caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis, is rare and not uniformly fatal.

When I attended medical school, we learned it was “woolsorter’s disease” since the spores can be released from processing wool or animal hides. The bacteria live in soil, so are spread wherever soil goes.

Anthrax is also known as woolsorter's disease. — Anthrax is also known as woolsorter’s disease.

Most humans who get infected develop skin lesions, the cutaneous form of anthrax and the most common. Breathing or eating the spores however, can lead to inhalation or gastrointestinal anthrax which are life-threatening.

Fortunately, antibiotics are effective against anthrax . There is also a vaccine that currently is only used in situations of possible exposure such as military service or work in a research lab.