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This page is for dog lovers and those with a sense of humour !  Hi everyone. My name is Pumpkin. My friends call me ‘Pumps’ for short. I am the official mascot of BCNH and I can answer any basic questions you might have about nutrition and health. About Me: Maybe we will meet one day - that would be nice. (And don’t forget the chocolate!) I am a pretty 4 year old Bichon Frise Lady and I have a very healthy diet. Not that I have much choice, mind you. The only fresh meat I see are Grey squirrels I chase fruitlessly around the garden. Talking of fruit - I eat loads of it. My favourites are apples, pears, avocados, blueberries, beans, nuts, coconuts, tomatoes and stir-fried vegetables. However, I have been caught stealing chocolate bars from visiting students’ handbags and caused a little furore when I stupidly scoffed some nice tasting contraceptive pills from my favourite auntie Justine. Re: Qs & As below I will try my best to answer your questions within 5 days. If it is a difficult question, I will ask one of the qualified BCNH staff to help me. I will make an FAQ of the answers to the most popular questions. Kind regards,  Pumps PS: This is a sample of my menu:  Email: pumpkin@bcnh.co.uk Blog: www.veggiedog.blogspot.com TOP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (8 to 1) QUESTION No 8 Hi Pumpkin I have a friend whose 27 yr old Downs Syndrome son has an under active thyroid he has been away at college (residential ) and is being brought home because his health, skin and dietary needs do not appear to have been addressed properly. Are there healthy eating options we can put in place for him to help bring him back to where he was before his thyroid condition was diagnosed. As he visits friend when he has been home on holiday we are all involved in helping his Mum with his care. Thanks very much Susanne ANSWER His diet should be balanced and nutritious to include a variety of foods and nutrients, all vital for thyroid function. His food should be at least 50% fresh, and organically grown, as pesticides have been shown to interfere with thyroid function. Nutritious foods include sprouts, salads, steamed vegetables, nuts, seeds and wholegrains. He should have plenty of iodine rich foods such as seafood (shrimps, mussels, prawns), seaweed (kelp, dulse, hijike, nori, wakame, kombu) & fish, as iodine is most abundant in the sea. Seafood is also excellent source of zinc and selenium, both vital for thyroid function. Iodine is a constituent part of the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) and is therefore vital for normal thyroid function. T3, the physiologically active thyroid hormone, is converted from T4 hormone by deiodinases enzymes, which require several nutrient co-factors; the most important being selenium, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, vitamins A, E & C. He should have plenty of foods rich in vitamin A such as eggs, oily fish, organic livers, cheese, milk, etc. vitamin A is essential for proper function of the active T3 hormone function. He should consume foods rich in tyrosine, one of the main building blocks of the thyroid hormones, found in avocados, pumpkin seeds, cashew nuts, dairy products, beef, chicken, and fish. Zinc and copper are also important for optimum thyroid hormone function. Foods rich in zinc include: pumpkin seeds and other nuts and seeds (also good source of vitamin E), fish, seafood, chicken (preferably organic or free range) and beef. Foods rich in copper include: eggs, nuts, organ meats (range free), beans, peas, etc. He should restrict the intake of fruits and vegetables of the brassica family also called goitrogens (cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, turnips, kale, kohlrabi and cauliflower) they contain compounds which inhibit thyroid function when consumed in high amounts. Goitrogens are also Soybeans, peanuts, pine nuts, millet, strawberries, peaches, pears, spinach and cassava root. He should also avoid processed and refined foods, stimulants such as tea and coffee, sugars and fizzy drinks Pumps TOP QUESTION No 7 Hi Pumps My stepfather has been on proton pump inhibitors PPIs or similar drugs since his early 20s (he's now 72) due to acid reflux. Twelve months ago he was diagnosed with colon cancer and had to have a large proportion of his colon removed. I wonder if you had any recommendations? He is having check-ups every 3 months but is currently clear of cancer. However, from what I understand about PPIs they could have been the cause or at least contributed to it. I've mentioned this to him and he's quite keen to come off them but wonders what he could use as an alternative. Thanks, Elizabeth ANSWER First of all, you father should not come off any medication without consulting his GP first. Proton pump inhibitors reduce the production of acid by blocking the enzyme in the wall of the stomach that produces acid. Whether or not this medication may have contributed to colon cancer, I do not know, as there are many contributing factors that could be involved. Gastric acid (HCl) production is regulated by both the autonomic nervous system and several hormones and peptides such as histamine and acethylcholine. Nutritionally it is very difficult to control HCl secretion. However, I would advise low protein diet and reduction of high histamine foods and drinks – eg sausages, salami, ham, tinned fish, smoked, fish, red wine, yeast, etc….
Unfortunately such a diet can be quite restrictive. Your father may be lacking enzymes Diaminoxidase (DAO) and N-acetyltransferase involved in histamine metabolism. I would therefore recommend your stepfather visits a laboratory in London (MSML) that could check the activity of these enzymes. They will also advise on the course of actions, based on the test results:- http://www.nutritionlondon.net/phdi/p1.nsf/supppages/1012?opendocument&part=4 Pumps TOP QUESTION No 6 Hi Pumps, Have just found your website page and was wondering if u could give me some advice. I have read about adults following a high fruit and vegetable, seed, nut, whole grain etc diet, but I am wondering if this is also suitable for my 14 year old son. Is there other foods I should be feeding him? Look forward to hearing from you. Thanks. ANSWER My Mummy's college does not believe in any ‘extreme’ diets. A healthy, balanced diet for your 14-year old should include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and wholegrains as you have mentioned, but do not forget protein, especially as he is growing fast a this stage. I recommend you follow the Eat Well Plate as a guideline:- http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/eatwellplate/ I hope this helps. Warm regards. Pumps TOP QUESTION No 5 I suffer from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. I used to very thin and now I have put on quite a bit of weight. My periods don't come at all now even with contraception. I need to lose weight desperately and I need to know what is the correct food I should be eating to lose this weight and help my periods return. I know exercise is a factor and that I also need to increase my activity levels.
ANSWER You are right. You need to exercise more and eat a healthy, balanced diet. I suggest you avoid eating starches such as rice, bread, potatoes, pasta etc. in the evening and that you have your last meal at least 4 hours before bed (preferably not later than 6pm). Starches, when ingested in excess, are converted to fat. You also need to avoid sweet fruits such as grapes, bananas, papayas, etc. These fruits are high in sugar, which when ingested in excess, is also converted to fat. You can have low GI fruits such as apples, kiwis, berries, etc. It is also important that you have 3 meals a day. Skipping meals will send your body into a 'starvation' mode and your metabolism will slow down; you will burn fewer calories and find it difficult to lose weight. Having some protein (animal or plant) with each meal will help you balance your blood sugar levels and make you fee full longer (less cravings). Good sources of plant proteins are beans and pulses, nuts and seeds and tofu. Be careful with nuts though, as they can be fattening. Seeds, on the other hand, are excellent source of essential oils vital for hormonal balance, as well as fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals. To help you balance your hormones, I would recommend that you take 3 tablespoons of cold pressed flax seed oil daily. Flax seeds contain phytochemicals, lignans, which help to balance female hormones. I hope I have answered your question. Please let me know how you get on. Pumps TOP QUESTION No 4 I was travelling in Africa at the end of last year and got quite ill with gastric enteritis. I became severely dehydrated and my veins collapsed. Since then I have put on quite a bit of weight, despite eating very small quantities when travelling (sometimes just a small bowl of rice a day). I am now back at home on a healthy diet, eating a bowl of Dorset fruit and nut muesli with fat free yogurt for breakfast and just fruit, vegetables and maybe some brown rice or wholemeal pita bread a day. I run for 30 mins a day but I am still 11 stone (I am 5'11'). I have pins and needles nearly all the time in my legs and arms, get head rushes whenever I stand up and get really bad bloating. I am starting university in October but I feel really self conscious about my body so was wondering if you had any ideas why I can’t loose weight? I would be so grateful for any answers. ANSWER From your email it appears that you are not getting sufficient protein in your diet, as it appears very much carbohydrate dependent. You could have an increased gut permeability due to the infection you have had in the past and you could consequently have food sensitivities, which may be stopping you from losing weight. Naturally, there could be other reasons as well, which I cannot identify without having all the facts. Re: pins and needles - please see a medical doctor regarding this problem. Most probably there is a very simple explanation for these, but I do suggest that you get this investigated by your GP. With regard to other problems, I suggest you visit a BCNH qualified practitioner - please see the following link http://www.bcnh.co.uk/practitioners_list.htm Good luck with the Uni and please let me know if I can help you any further Pumps TOP QUESTION No 3 My question is: what are the best foods to eliminate free radicals and prevent reakdown of cells and sagging skin. In short, what food promote radiance? Also, would you be able to recommend a supplier of natural non-synthetic supplements? Thank you - I shall send you lots of cocoa! ANSWER
First of all, I wish to stress that beauty (and radiance) come from within. That means eating a healthy diet and leading a healthy lifestyle (generally anyway). The best foods to reduce (not eliminate) free radical damage are antioxidants. These are nutrients found in fresh fruits and vegetables, berries being my favourite, as they contain flavonoids such as proanthocyandins and resveratrol. A study published in Free Radicals in Biology and Medicine found that Proanthocyandins in grape seed can reduce skin damage caused by UV-radiation. Green tea polyphenols have also been shown to protect against UV damage. However, avoiding excessive exposure to the sun is indispensable. Grape skin, as well as other berries, contains another phytochemical - resveratrol, which is associated with anti-ageing and has other health benefits. Raw nuts and seeds are excellent source of essential fatty acids (EFAs) which are constituent parts of cell membranes and make skin soft and moist. They are also an excellent source of Vitamin E which protects cell membranes from oxidation (free radical damage). Suppliers of natural non-synthetic supplements, to my knowledge, are reputable companies such as BioCare, Nutri, Higher Nature, Allergy Research, Biotics, Cytoplan and maybe few others that I may have missed out. However, I’d like to stress out that I do not encourage self-supplementation and supplements can not substitute healthy eating. I hope I have answered your question. Pumps TOP QUESTION No 2 I am 38 and have really heavy periods and fibroids. I am too embarrassed to see the doctor about this but would like to know if changing my diet could help or if there are any supplements I could take which would ease the problem. ANSWERI assume your fibroids were diagnosed by your doctor. If not, you must see your GP. Fibroids are nothing to be ashamed of; my mummy has them and she keeps them under control nutritionally (and has regular medical check ups). You would definitely benefit from changing your diet - e.g. avoiding wheat, dairy, and inorganic products containing pesticides, which mimic oestrogen in the body (excess oestrogen promotes growth such as uterine fibroids). I cannot recommend any supplements as I need more information. You can always book a 1.5 hour consultation with one of our Year 3 students for £30. Please contact my 'PA' Greg in admin department (020 7372 5740) for further information. I hope I have answered your question. Pumps TOP QUESTION No 1 Is it “safe” to cook with sesame seed oil at a high temperature? ANSWER All oils are damaged by deep-frying. However, light sesame oil is less damaged by high temperatures and oxygen. This may be due to an antioxidant called sesamin, which gives it better oxidative stability. However, if the oil begins to burn and smoke, the temperature is too high and the oil will be damaged. Dark sesame oil (Asian) has a stronger flavour and should only be used in small quantities for flavouring foods - not cooking. The best oil considered for cooking is grapeseed oil. This oil has a higher smoke point and if not labeled "extra virgin" it will likely have fewer chemicals that could be damaged at high temperature cooking. I hope I've answered your question. Wishing you the best of health. Pumps TOP BCNH Prospectus (10-11) |
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