Matts Blog

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The UK's Stance On Preventing Elderly Malnutrition

Here is a link to an interesting article I found online about a program that is specifically designated to combat and prevent elderly malnutrition. In the UK it appears that health care professionals have taken a very proactive stance on fighting malnutrition through the creation of this prevention program, called The Malnutrition Task Force. Follow the link to their "About Us" page! Makes one wonder if the United States has a program that is specifically designed for prevention of elderly malnutrition? 

http://www.malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk/about/

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The Science Behind the Meal

Pictured here is the type of meal that is packed and sent around the world to combat childhood malnutrition. 

Note that there are only 4 ingredients: Vitamin powder, Dried Vegetables, Soy, and Rice. But these four simple ingredients pack a whole lot of nutritional value! I have copied to this post FMSC's nutritional information for the Manna-Pack rice meal. Its truly amazing that they can provide six meals worth per bag of all these essential nutrients to these children. All for about the cost of only about $1 per bag. Here is FMSC's nutritional information!

Our MannaPack Rice food formula was designed to meet the needs of the most severely malnourished children around the world. Here are some of the key nutrients each meal provides:

Vitamin B12 What it does – metabolizes protein and fat; helps in the formation of antibodies to fight infection and the formation of red blood cells. Deficiencies result in – anemia, smooth tongue, fatigue, and nerve degeneration that can lead to paralysis.

Vitamin C What it does – helps in wound healing; maintains bones and teeth; strengthens blood vessels; improves immunity and helps the body absorb iron. Deficiencies result in – scurvy, bleeding gums, tooth loss, and even death; anemia, arteriosclerosis (clogged blood vessels), depression, increased infections, muscle degeneration, rough skin, weakened bones, and poor wound healing.

Zinc What it does – is part of many proteins and present in the hormone insulin; helps in the production of proteins, boosts immunity; helps transport Vitamin A in the body; helps in wound healing, taste and normal fetal development. Deficiencies result in – poor wound healing.

Vitamin D What it does – bone and tooth formation; helps body absorb and use calcium and phosphorous that aids in bone formation. Deficiencies result in – soft bones, abnormal growth, joint pain, and poorly formed teeth.

Fats What it does – source of energy and stores energy; forms the major component of cell walls; nourishes skin and hair; insulates the body from heat and cold; and cushions the main organs of the body. Deficiencies result in – weakness, rough skin, brittle hair and intolerance to heat and cold.

Magnesium What it does – helps in bone formation, protein use by the body, enzyme action, muscle activity, and nerve function. Deficiencies result in – weakness, confusion, decreased function of the pancreas, growth failure, and muscle spasms.

Iron What it does – helps in the formation of hemoglobin (enables red blood cells to carry oxygen) and helps the body use energy from food. Deficiencies result in – anemia, weakness, increased risk of infections, and inability to concentrate. Vitamin A What it does – helps in vision, growth and repair of the body; improves immunity; and helps decrease the risk of cancer. Deficiencies result in – night blindness, rough skin, increased risk of infection, impaired bone and body growth, abnormal tooth and jaw alignment, eye problems that can lead to blindness.

Copper What it does – helps with iron absorption and is part of several enzymes. Deficiencies result in – anemia and bone changes.

Vitamin B6 What it does – helps in the release of energy from food; promotes healthy skin, nerves, and the digestive system. Deficiencies result in – nervous disorders, skin rashes, muscle weakness, anemia, seizures, and kidney stones.

Niacin What it does – maintains nerve cells; helps in red blood cell production; and helps in the production of genetic material. Deficiencies result in – skin rash on the body where exposed to the sun, loss of appetite, dizziness, weakness, irritability, fatigue, confusion, and indigestion.

Calcium What it does – strengthens bones and teeth; helps muscles work; and helps blood clot, nerves to function and blood pressure function. Deficiencies result in – stunted growth, tooth decay and bone loss in adults.

Biotin What it does – helps in energy metabolism, fat production, and storage of a form of sugar (glycogen) that is stored in the liver. Deficiencies result in – loss of appetite, nausea, depression, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, and skin rash.

Protein What it does – growth and repair of the body; helps transport nutrients throughout the body; helps body fight infection, regulates fluid in the body; is a source of protein. Deficiencies result in: Kwashiorkor: severe growth retardation, loss of hair color, wounds do not heal, anemia, weakness, increased risk of infection, and can result in death. Marasmus: similar to kwashiorkor systems and muscle wasting, weakened heart, and impaired brain development.

Carbohydrates What it does – provides the body with energy to perform all its functions; preferred source of energy for the brain and nervous system.  Deficiencies result in – weakness, fatigue, confusion, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

[mtmattschell]

Ending Childhood Malnutrition

My girlfriend, Kelly, and I at FMSC packing center preparing to pack nutritious meals for malnourished children worldwide!

I am taking a break from my normal topic of elderly malnutrition to share an experience I had the opportunity to take part in. My girlfriend and I volunteered at a non profit Christian organization called Feed My Starving Children. The organization aims to end childhood malnutrition in third world countries. It relies solely on volunteer donations and volunteer help to pack the meals that are boxed and sent all over the world! My girlfriend and I took part in this process in Chanhassen, MN. We were in charge of adding the vitamins, dried vegetables , soy and rice to the packages that were then sent on down the line to be weighed and sealed. The whole process was very fun and we met some really great people. Check my next post for more information on the science and nutritional aspects of the meals!

[sadieseidel]

In recent years, it has come to light that doctors receive little to no training in the area of nutrition. This is very different than those practicing holistic nutrition. It seems very backward that doctors in this day and age, or any day and age for that matter, are not trained in an area…

[fruitlessfridays]

I have always found it shocking how little training doctors get in nutrition, especially since we know how big an impact what we eat has on our health and well being. I just saw an article about another program in NYC where doctors are prescribing vegetables over pills. Check it out! 

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/12/01/prescribing-vegetables-not-pills/?ref=health&_r=0

[mtmattschell]

This is very backward indeed! You would think that knowledge of nutrition would be very beneficial for doctors. Also nice "confused doctor" picture haha

[fruitlessfridays]

Access to supermarkets and fruit and vegetable consumption were examined in a cross-sectional study in the Barnsley area of South Yorkshire in England. The study was based on the hypothesis that “food deserts”, or areas of lower-income where access to affordable healthy food is limited, contribute...

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This is really cool. I have always thought that there was a major effect on fruit and vegetable consumption and access to supermarkets 

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via NPR - Francis R. Malasig/EPA/Landov

Yesterday, Typhoon Hagupit ravaged the Eastern Samar Island in the Philippines. Today, it continues to move northwest to Manila. Despite killing twenty seven individuals, this storm was not nearly as devastating as last November’s Typhoon Haiyan,...

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Wow, this really sad. I knew about this Typhoon and that it was damaging large portions of the Philippines. This article is really interesting as are the different types of aid that are being provided and how its related to nutrition.

[sadieseidel]

One of the first cultures to cling to holistic medicine was China. Ancient Chinese medicine has become almost a poster child for holistic health. As I talked about in another post, one method of balancing health is examining yin and yang (or hot and cold) levels and balancing those with the...

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This is very interesting! And the title gave me a laugh too!

[sadieseidel]

College is stressful! There are exams, papers, quizes, readings, all while trying to keep a job and a social life. As nutrition students, we may have an advantage over other students. Stress management is tough when the stresses keep coming, but we can use food to cope with and avoid stress….

[fruitlessfridays]

Great information. I definitely could have used this yesterday when I consumed an entire bag of Swedish fish while studying for my Anatomy and Physiology lab practical!

[mtmattschell]

Here is an article I copied from the World Health Organization on factors that increase and potentially decrease elderly malnutrition. Read the full three page article here: http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/ageing/en/index1.html

Malnutrition and older persons

Many of the diseases suffered by older persons are the result of dietary factors, some of which have been operating since infancy. These factors are then compounded by changes that naturally occur with the ageing process.

Dietary fat seems to be associated with cancer of the colon, pancreas and prostate. Atherogenic risk factors such as increased blood pressure, blood lipids and glucose intolerance, all of which are significantly affected by dietary factors, play a significant role in the development of coronary heart disease.

Degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer, which are among the most common diseases affecting older persons, are all diet-affected. Increasingly in the diet/disease debate, the role that micronutrients play in promoting health and preventing noncommunicable disease is receiving considerable attention. Micronutrient deficiencies are often common in elderly people due to a number of factors such as their reduced food intake and a lack of variety in the foods they eat.

Another factor is the price of foods rich in micronutrients, which further discourages their consumption. Compounding this situation is the fact that the elderly often suffer from decreased immune function, which contributes to this group’s increased morbidity and mortality. Other significant age-related changes include the loss of cognitive function and deteriorating vision, all of which hinder good health and dietary habits in old age.

Elevated serum cholesterol, a risk factor for coronary heart disease in both men and women, is common in older people and this relationship persists into very old age. As with younger people, drug therapy should be considered only after serious attempts have been made to modify diet. Intervention trials have shown that reduction of blood pressure by 6 mm Hg reduces the risk of stroke by 40% and of heart attack by 15%, and that a 10% reduction in blood cholesterol concentration will reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 30%.

Dietary changes seem to affect risk-factor levels throughout life and may have an even greater impact in older people. Relatively modest reductions in saturated fat and salt intake, which would reduce blood pressure and cholesterol concentrations, could have a substantial effect on reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease. Increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables by one to two servings daily could cut cardiovascular risk by 30%.

[fruitlessfridays]

This week I’m taking a break from the topic of food deserts because I want to talk about the Gallatin Valley Farm to School (GVF2S) Program and their Farm to School Feastival they had on Saturday. This event was such a great experience to be a part of. Kasey (veganlife13.tumblr.com) and I got to lead a kid’s activity at the Feastival.  We had kids play a Jeopardy game with fun questions about Halloween, sustainability, Montana food products, fruits and vegetables.  We also had recipes with local ingredients, instructions to make your own hula hoops, and nutrition related coloring sheets to hand out.

There were tons of other fun activities.  The girls next to us had cream and jars to make your own butter and whipped cream, which were delicious. Another booth had kids identify vegetables, grains, and herbs by just touch or smell.  There were also cooking demonstrations by local chefs. Rocky Creek Farm, where the event took place, had hay rides, tons of pumpkins, a corn maze, and apple cider making.  It was such a beautiful place to hold the event.

Gallatin Valley Farm to School was such a fun organization to work with and I really love their mission of bringing local food producers together with schools.  Their goals to accomplish this mission include:

serving healthy, fresh, made from scratch, local meals in school cafeterias;

improving student nutrition;

providing health, nutrition and agriculture education;

enhancing local economies by supporting local farmers;

and instilling a sense of community citizenship in students.

I am excited to continue working and volunteering with them.  Coming up on October 24th, GVF2S is participating in Montana Crunch Time, where students across the state will be biting in to a locally or regionally grown apple to celebrate Food Day and National Farm to School Month. They are looking for volunteers to help with apple distribution at the local schools so check out their website (http://gvfarmtoschool.org/) and their VolunteerSpot page (http://vols.pt/zU9Mok) if you’d like to help out.

[mtmattschell]

This is so cool! What a great set of goals for this organisation to get out there and try to accomplish! The fact that this is a local program makes it that much more amazing! Thanks for sharing!

[fruitlessfridays]

What is a “food desert”? One of the earliest definitions of a food desert came from a 1995 study in Glasgow, Scotland and described them as “populated areas with little or no food retail provision”.1 Although there is no specific parameters to a food desert, most research has defined an...

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Quite a few of the darker colors in Montana, especially farther north. This doesn't really surprise me due to the sparsely populated communities there. What does surprise me is that the highest concentration of food deserts are in the densely populated south. I would think that there would be supermarkets everywhere because of such a larger population! This is very interesting!

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Elderly Malnutrition Effects

The problems associated with elderly malnutrition are many. This is a sparsely recognized issue. Malnutrition in the elderly has a wide range of effects but here I've listed a few of the most common. A weak immune system, which increases the risk of infections. Poor wound healing. Muscle weakness, which can lead to falls and fractures. It is important to the well being of our elderly community that we are proactive with our efforts to combat elderly malnutrition, because in such a delicate state of health, the damage done may be irreversible. 

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First Blog Post Ever

Widening my social media horizon thanks to #NUTR351.