We just returned from a GREAT trip to Europe a few weeks ago: France, then Italy. Specifically Paris, then southern Italy–the beautiful, sunny, gorgeous Amalfi Coast. Home to such great towns as Capri, Positano, Ravello, and many others.
Here is the view from our gorgeous resort in Ravello: the Palazzo Sasso.
While I could go on & on about the outstanding Palazzo Sasso, an incredible 12th century villa, and the breathtaking beauty of the town of Ravello which perches high above the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean, I need to talk about the food! Specifically, the Mediterranean diet which I’ve blogged about in the past.
Pete & I were in heaven with all the fresh food prepared with locally produced olive oil, freshly caught seafood and did I mention the wine???!!! Here’s a sample of one of the fabulous local wines we had:
Day after day, we had fresh seafood, pasta, pizza, salads made with the best tomatoes ever! In fact, to recap the components of the Mediterranean diet:
Olive oil
Fresh fruits & nuts
Fresh vegetables
Cheese & yogurt
Fish & poultry
Wine (moderate consumption such as a glass of wine per day) note: hard to do while in Italy!!
Moderate exercise (20-30 minutes a day)
While I’ve been a fan of the Mediterranean diet and way of life for years, it’s so much more fun to actually be on the ground where it originated. I’m already planning our next trip!
How about you? Are you living the Mediterranean way of life and cooking with some of the above? Mangia!
Recently, my 9-month old puppy Marin ate something outside in the backyard and was exhibiting frightening symptoms: profuse vomiting, uncontrollable shaking, and labored breathing. Alarmed, I rushed her to our vet, Dr. Mike Escobedo of Cornerstone Animal Clinic.
While I still don’t know what she consumed, Dr. Escobedo assured me I did the right thing given her symptoms. He had some pretty scary stories to tell me of things that dogs and cats have consumed and ended up in a very serious, sometimes fatal situation. He gave Marin an injection of meds to help with nausea & vomiting and gave us a prescription for her.
I found out that there are many everyday things in our kitchen that can be lethal to our pets. According to Dr. Escobedo, the top 10 toxins in the kitchen are:
Chocolate
Grapes, raisins & currants. “Just a few ingested grapes or raisins can cause kidney or liver failure,” he says.
Xylitol/sugar-free gum/candy. Xylitol is extremely toxic according to Dr. Escobedo. This one hit close to home at the Lyman house. We have packages of sugar-free gum all over the house. In the drawers they go from now on!
Fatty table scraps
Onions & garlic
Compost
Human medications. Our other dog, Mitchell, once swallowed a vial of insulin landing us in Dr. Escobedo’s clinic for observation. Luckily I spun into action right after he swallowed it, and fed him a ton of food to counteract a potential hypoglycemic episode. Of course, he loved all the extra food he got to eat that day!
Macadamia Nuts
Household cleaners
Unbaked bread dough/alcohol
What do you do if you think your pet has ingested something toxic? “Call your vet asap,” says Dr. Escobedo. “Most clinics can tell you if it’s something worrisome or walk you through what to do.” In many cases, they will induce vomiting to get the suspected toxin out of the body.
I have found it’s helpful to have knowledge of an after-hours emergency vet hospital in case you need it. Recently, we had to take our other dog Mitchell there when we thought he swallowed a nail!
Hope this helps! Has your pet ever ingested something scary? What did you do?
Thanks for all of the great comments regarding the healthy recipes featured this month! I’m glad you enjoyed them. Remember, it’s really easy to create great food without all the salt.
As I navigate the new world of finding help for my aging parents, I’ve been surprised at how many of my friends are also dealing with the same issues. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are prevalent, and while it’s all difficult, there is a lot to learn when you are faced with it.
I went straight to an expert to get information. Lue Taff, L.M.S.W. (Licensed Master’s degreed Social Worker) is the Director of the Elder Support Program at The Senior Source. Lue is a Certified Geriatric Care Manager and is also no stranger to the problem in her personal life. Her 87-year-old mother has dementia and lives in Lue’s hometown of Little Rock, AR, making it challenging for Lue who lives in Dallas.
What are signs to look for that an aging parent may have dementia?
“One of the first parts of the brain to be affected is the one that affects “executive functioning,” Lue says. “It controls the front part of the brain and affects your ability to take care of business. So, it is very important to determine if bills are being paid, and money is being managed.”
“Other signs to look for are hygiene, cleanliness of the home. Opening the refrigerator can tell you a lot. Is there food sitting in there from a year ago? Are they eating well or are they eating cereal three times a day?”
A good piece of advice she offers is to ask your parent a question that you know the answer to that involves short-term memory. Short term memory is the first thing to go. Ask them a question regarding a recent event.
Changes in behavior or mood are another symptom. Is there a loss of interest in life? A withdrawal from things they normally enjoy? Anger?
I always thought dementia and Alzheimer’s were basically the same symptoms and treated the same. Not so, says Lue.
“It is very important to get a proper medical diagnosis. There are many forms of dementia that require different medications. The wrong medication can have side effects and be harmful.”
There are also other causes of dementia: A deficiency in B12, or a head injury, for example.
When you decide to seek help, get an accurate diagnosis. If the primary care physician diagnoses dementia, then ask for a referral to a specialist such as a neuropsychologist or a neurologist. In the Dallas area, there are 3 excellent medical programs that specialize in dementia: University of Texas Southwestern; the Center for Brain Health; and Baylor University Medical Center.
Hope this helps. In the future, I will blog about types of caregiving situations from assisted living facilities to in-home healthcare. Are you going through this within your family? What has helped your loved one?
I know that you should watch how much your dog eats so he doesn’t become overweight, but did you know that our dogs can get skin allergies? And do you know what the #1 culprit is? Their diet!
I spoke to Dr. Debbie Schaffer, one of my favorite veterinarians who is with Animal Medical & Surgical Hospital of Frisco. She is one of Mitchell & Marin’s veterinarians–yes we have several. (We even drive a 40-mile roundtrip to take our dogs there.) According to Dr. Schaffer, she sees dogs very frequently in her office with skin allergies related to food. We are working hard for Mitchell and Marin to not have to experience this!
Marin lounging after a healthy meal & walk
“Some owners feed their dog everything! Dogs are not meant to process carbs, they can do fat, not carbs,” she says. Even if you are not feeding your dog table food, many of the tasty, chewy dog treats you find at pet stores are culprits too–Snausages, Pepperoni & liver treats for example.
“I had one dog whose owner fed him everything from bacon, eggs, & pancakes for breakfast, to spaghetti and garlic bread for dinner,” she says. This dog ended up with serious allergies.
Dr. Schaffer says the signs to look for if your dog has allergies is if he is scratching his body or his ears. “Then, the cheapest, easiest way to determine if they have an allergy is to put them on a controlled diet and see if the scratching stops.” A controlled diet means a reasonable amount of a good quality dog food daily.
So, stop the treats and table food to assess what is going on. Then put him or her on a controlled diet. Your little buddy will thank you!
The death of Michael Jackson is a horrific tragedy on so many levels. He had one of the most remarkable careers in the recording industry and paved the way for so many current artists. I was a huge fan of Michael’s music and am so saddened by how he died as it was so senseless. We all have heard this week that his physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, has been charged with the King of Pop’s death. Will it go to trial? Who knows… But I wanted to tackle the issue of the safety surrounding this commonly used drug that Michael died from.
The indisputable fact that Dr. Murray, a cardiologist, actually administered this drug in a household setting is simply unbelievable. Propofol is a commonly used drug, and a safe one. I’ve had Propofol administered when I received a steroid injection for some neck pain–let me tell you, it’s safe, and I assure you, I was in total la-la land, blissfully feeling no pain! I, however was in the safety of a clinical setting.
I spoke with Nathan Walters, M.D., Director of Pain Management for the Center for Spine Care. Dr. Walters is double Board Certified in Pain Management and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and specializes in conservative therapy for people with back pain. Often in his practice, he administers spinal injections requiring a fast-acting, safe anesthetic. He routinely uses Propofol.
According to Dr. Walters, “When used as intended–for surgical or diagnostic procedures conducted in an appropriate healthcare setting by a qualified anesthesia professional such as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) or physician anesthesiologist, Propofol is fast-acting, short-lived, and very safe. In fact, it is considered one of the safest anesthetics available. I routinely use Propofol to quickly sedate patients for several thousand pain procedures every year. It is metabolized very quickly, with the effect being that the patient is wide awake within minutes after a quick spinal injection. ”
Dr. Walters says that the drug is also routinely used with other quick outpatient procedures such as colonoscopy. He adds that when used for other purposes, in other settings, by anyone other than a CRNA or anesthesiologist, the risks can be significant.
“First, Propofol can be very addictive,” he says. “Abuse of the drug is becoming more common among anesthesia professionals and other healthcare providers who have easy access to it. Patients, however, should not worry about becoming addicted after receiving Propofol for a surgical or diagnostic procedure. The risk of this happening is minuscule. ”
“Second, the package insert for Propofol,which is approved by the FDA, requires that the drug be administered by healthcare professionals trained in the administration of general anesthesia–in other words CRNA’s or anesthesiologists. ”
Dr. Walters says that the AANA and the American Society of Anesthesiologists feel so strongly about this that the two organizations published a joint statement http://www.aana.com/jointstmt-propofol.aspx in 2004 stating that whenever Propofol is used for sedation/anesthesia, it should be administered only by persons trained in the administration of general anesthesia and who are not simultaneously involved in the surgical or diagnostic procedure.
The bottom line, according to Dr. Walters is that “Propofol is not a sleep aid and is not for recreational use. However, it is safely and routinely administered by anesthesia professionals for thousands of outpatient procedures every day.
I hope this helps anyone who may be a little uneasy about undergoing an outpatient procedure that requires Propofol. Have you had Propofol before? Was it an easy, comfortable experience?
We got our first dog, Mitchell, a year ago and just got our latest puppy, Marin, in early December. They are so much fun! As one of my friends said, it’s kind of like having two perpetual toddlers in the house–FOREVER! We love our dogs and want to keep them healthy and happy. There are so many things we all need to do to keep our wonderful pets healthy, right? Today, I’m focusing on vaccinations. I don’t know about you, but this is confusing–which ones to get, and how often. I can hardly remember which vaccines I’ve had, much less Mitchell & Marin!
The first thing to do is get a good, physical exam for your dog or cat. I spoke to veterinarian Mike Escobedo, D.V.M., of Cornerstone Animal Clinic in Dallas, (pictured here with our new baby, Marin!) who was a wealth of information. According to Dr. Escobedo, a new puppy should begin vaccinations at 6 weeks of age, and no earlier. Then, administer vaccines at 6, 9, 12 & 15 weeks until they are about 4 months old. The goal is to build up an immunity and maintain it.
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Here are the guidelines & timeline:
First set/6 weeks: Distemper, Parvo, Corona (yes, it’s a vaccine, not beer being injected!)
9 weeks: Boosters for Distemper, Parvo, & Corona;
12 weeks: Boosters again for the previous 3, plus they are old enough to get their first Rabies vaccine. Also, they are old enough for the Bordatella vaccine. Bordatella is the “kennel cough” that you hear about dogs catching when they are boarded in kennels, dog parks or any scenario where they are around a lot of other animals. While not required, many pet owners choose to get Bordatella boosters if their dog is going to be around a lot of other dogs.
16 weeks: Distemper, Parvo Boosters
Also, a heartworm prevention regimen should begin. This medication is administered by pill or liquid and is prescribed by your pet’s weight. I personally prefer giving this to my dogs in pill form rather than the liquid. I just wrap it in a piece of cheese and slyly give it to them as a “treat”! Dr. Escobedo says heartworms, which are carried by mosquitoes, are a problem in many states, including Texas. “We see a lot of cases in my practice. We often use a drug called Immidicide to treat heartworms and it is very effective,” he says.
For cats, the basic core vaccines include: Feline Distemper at 6, 9, 12 & 15 weeks; Rabies at 12 weeks; Leukemia at 9 & 12 weeks.
So, what about the controversy surrounding overvaccinating pets? Dr. Escobedo agrees that the push to do less is good, and that’s what he does. “The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has done a lot of research studies. These studies have helped shape the basic core guidelines of what vaccines to provide to your pet.”
Hope this helps. Let us hear from you–do you have a dog or cat? Do you believe in the “less” is more mentality of getting pet vaccines?
Paramount Communications is pleased to announce that Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten and his official charity, the SCORE Foundation, just completed a successful season with the Center for Spine Care, one of the nation’s premier institutions for treating back and neck pain, to help fight domestic violence.
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Witten’s SCORE Foundation, which has become one of the leading advocates for the fight against domestic violence in the state of Texas, teamed with the Center for Spine Care to raise awareness and funding for the issue. Just prior to the start of the 2009 regular season, Center for Spine Care made a pledge to donate money for each reception Witten made during the year. The all-pro tight end finished the season with 94 receptions, and Center for Spine Care recently donated $6,000 to the SCORE Foundation for its efforts against domestic violence.
The foundation, which operates the groundbreaking SCOREkeeper male mentoring program at six shelters across the state, is joining the Texas Council on Family Violence to start the brand new “Coaching Boys Into Men” domestic violence education program at high schools in Arlington this year. The program focuses on educating high school boys on appropriate behavior toward women.
The SCORE Foundation also works closely with The Family Place, the state’s largest women’s shelter, and will help keep vulnerable women and children from returning to violent homes where they are in grave danger. Violence has escalated with the suffering economy, resulting in more victims calling the agency’s hotline in need of shelter. Through the donation from the Center for Spine Care, women and children who desperately need a safe bed can find one at The Family Place.
“We are very proud to partner with Jason and his foundation in the fight against domestic violence,” said John Peloza, M.D., Medical Director of the CSC. “We take our work in the community very seriously, and Jason does as well. That’s why it makes perfect sense for us to work together on this cause we both care so deeply about. We congratulate Jason and the Dallas Cowboys for a successful season.”
Dr. Peloza and the Center for Spine Care attract patients from all over the country because of their expertise in Minimal Access Spinal Technology (MAST), which uses very small incisions and surgical instruments to get patients back on their feet and back to everyday life faster.
A happy, healthy new year to all! A new year signals a fresh approach to how we are living. What are your goals for 2010 to live a healthier life? It doesn’t have to be dramatic–even small steps to a healthier lifestyle can be easily attained.
We’ve put together a poll for you to answer–please do and feel free to comment on what you are doing to help continue or change your lifestyle to a more healthier one! Here’s to 2010!
Here we are–right in the middle of the holiday season… Parties, food, drink, and there’s a sneaky little culprit that makes its way into a lot of prepared foods, especially in restaurants: Salt!
I’m a firm believer that salt can actually be one of the more worrisome ingredients in food if used in excess. This is because oftentimes it is already abundantly present in food and then people add even more with the salt shaker, sending their sodium intake soaring! A recent large-scale study proves that eating high amounts of salt is linked to a significantly higher risk of strokes and cardiovascular disease.
The study, published in the British Medical Journal, was a joint effort reviewing 13 prospective studies from the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States, the Netherlands, Finland, and China. It included more than 170,000 participants followed up for 3.5 to 19 years. The study provides conclusive evidence of the direct link between high amounts of salt intake and increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.
The study also proved that reducing daily salt intake averted more than 1.25 million strokes and almost 3 million cardiovascular events worldwide each year. So, try not to use the salt or eliminate it altogether. A tip I use at my house when cooking is to use a lot of other spices in our food for flavor. I even order meals in restaurants specifically without salt. Pile on the pepper! Get creative with cumin! But pass on that salt! Your body will thank you!
Let’s hear your comments on how you reduce salt intake!
Mediterranean Garbanzo Salad
Cuban Chicken over Spanish Rice
Sicilian-Style Swordfish with Pasta & Capers
Summer Harvest Ratatouille
Swordfish with Zucchini & Orange
Grilled Pork Loin with Fire-Roasted Pineapple Salsa
Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken
Individual Grilled Veggie Pizzas
Pineapple-Raspberry Parfaits
Chocolate-Dipped Frozen Banana Bites
Raw Berry Crisp
Fruit Salad with Vanilla-Apple Syrup
Pomegranate-Pineapple Granita
Poached Rum Raisin Pears
Mixed Berries with Mascarpone-Limoncello Cream
Berry Tart with Ginger Cream
Grilled Avocado and Pesto Salad
Cucumber Cups
Spicy Pineapple-and-Mint Salsa
Watermelon, Lemonade, and Blueberry Ice Pops
