Don’t Eat Romaine Lettuce, CDC Warns

If you recently purchased romaine lettuce, you might want to think twice before eating it. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also known as the CDC, has issued a strong warning urging all Americans to avoid consumption of the leafy green vegetable, and instead says you should throw it out or take it back to your point of purchase for a refund due to fears of E. coli contamination.

This latest warning comes just three months after the initial outbreak that caused as many as 53 people to become ill, killing 2; and while there had been no new cases reported since December, and the risk of developing E. coli was considered to be quite low, some grocery stores and restaurant chains across North America decided to voluntarily pull romaine lettuce from their store shelves and off their menus out of an abundance of caution. However, following new information coming to light in recent days, the CDC now says the outbreak has expanded to at least 16 states and sickened at least 60 people, including 8 inmates from the same Alaskan jail. Hardest hit states in this most recent outbreak include Pennsylvania, with 12 reported cases, and Idaho, with 10.

While the exact source of the contamination has yet to be identified, health officials say the information they’ve received thus far suggests that the contaminated lettuce was most likely grown in Yuma, Arizona. However, if you’re unsure of the specific source of your lettuce, the CDC says consumers should avoid it all together – even if you’ve already eaten it and have had no ill effects – as it can take anywhere from 24 hours to 7 days until symptoms will present themselves. The most common symptoms associated with E. coli that you need to watch out for include abdominal pain and/or cramps, gas, severe or bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Other complications can also arise, such as decreased urine output or bloody urine, pale skin, fatigue, dehydration, and fever. If any of these symptoms develop, or if your symptoms worsen or persist, you should seek immediate medical attention, as failure to treat an E. coli infection could be fatal – though the chance of this happening is typically quite rare, and in most cases an E. coli infection will get better on its own as long as you make sure you’re getting plenty of rest and drinking plenty of water. If you’re not getting enough fluids, you may require them needing to be administered to you intravenously. You may also need to be prescribed antiemetic medication, such as Zofran, to help relieve the nausea and vomiting.

Now you’re probably wondering what this outbreak means for Canadians. Well, there’s some good news to share. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadians are free to consume romaine lettuce without worry. That being said, Dr. Ali Ghahary still recommends taking the appropriate measures to ensure that your lettuce is well washed prior to serving and consumption, and that you don’t store lettuce in your fridge any longer than 7 days.

The Role of a Dietitian

When it comes to healthy eating, making the right food choices isn’t always easy. You may need to change your eating habits due to being overweight, having high cholesterol, or because of food allergies or sensitivities. While family physicians like Dr. Ali Ghahary can certainly help steer patients in the right direction when it comes to making healthy food choices – such as recommending low-carb diets – you may need additional help from a dietitian.

Just as any other healthcare professionals – such as doctors, pharmacists and specialists – dietitians are just as important to your health and wellbeing. They not only work alongside patients, but also with general practitioners, in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and from time to time you may even find a dietitian in a grocery store providing customers with tips on healthy eating.

An RD (registered dietitian) is a professionally trained individual that is able to counsel patients on food and what it means to have good nutrition – and not only that, but the information in which they do provide is tailored specifically to the client whom they are helping. Meaning that the information in which a dietitian provides to you is given to you with your needs in mind and yours alone, as food that is good for one individual may not be right for another.

In addition to providing patients with counselling on nutrition, dietitians can also provide patients with information on how to combine their healthy eating with other lifestyle changes, such as fitness. Healthy eating and weight loss often go hand in hand. Following the advice of a dietitian or a nutritionist can also help to reduce the risk of diabetes as well as lower your cholesterol and blood pressure.

To find a dietitian in your area, visit the Dietitians of Canada website at dietitians.ca.

Skipping Meals Can Lead to Health Problems

Vancouver physician, Dr. Ali Ghahary, has always been a strong advocate of healthy eating – promoting healthy diets and weight management to all of his patients at Brentwood Medical Clinic.

In previous blogs, Dr. Ali Ghahary has written about the importance of healthy eating…but what about skipping meals all together?

Eating three meals per day is important and has many advantages – not only does it help you spread calories throughout the day, but you are more likely to feel satisfied and not as hungry. If you’re the type of person who snacks all day, you may find it more difficult to keep track of calories and you’re also less likely to make healthy food choices. By spreading out your meals, you allow your body time to digest and utilize all of the nutrients that it needs, making you feel more energized. If you eat large amounts of food in one sitting, your body is more likely to increase the speed of digestion, which can lead to stomach aches, diarrhea, and even fatigue.

By now we’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This is because the body fasts for up to 8 hours while sleeping. By eating breakfast, you help to get your brain functioning and body moving. When choosing your meals, it is important to pick foods from each of the different food groups: Fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy.

Skipping meals means you will be low on the nutrients your body requires, such as proteins, vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. You are also at an increased risk of developing certain diseases such as heart disease and type II diabetes. Individuals who skip meals are also more likely to snack on junk food and skip exercise.

In order to maintain nutrients and healthy levels of cholesterol, insulin, and have normal blood pressure, our bodies need to be fed healthy and fed regularly.

You can visit Dr. Ali Ghahary’s blog on Blogspot for more information on diets and exercise.