health and wellness september 2009 21 For Goodness Sake... Promoting Health of the Mind, Body, Spirit and Community By Heather Lewis, LMT, CLT, NT Well, Bridgette, Lily and I just came in from the garden. This morning we will be kept busy enjoying and put- ting up our harvest. Bridgette’s favorite part is helping me pick raspberries and blueberries. Her job is to pick up all the fruit that I drop. Somehow the dropped fruit does not make it into the bucket. She has convinced herself it is best kept in her tummy. I was totally surprised to find that I still have a goodly amount of broc- coli coming on. It has lasted all through this hot summer weather and at this point I think it will carry into the fall. I tried a new variety this year, selecting an heirloom seed from Victory Seed Co. in Molalla. It is called Di Cicco, first intro- duced in 1890. I have been very pleased with all of the products that I have pur- chased from them. They are a local seed harvester of heirloom varieties, special- izing in plants that will grow well here in the Northwest. You can check out their website at: www.victoryseeds.com. I also tried something new this year and planted the broccoli on the west side of my pole beans. This allowed the broccoli to have full sun in the spring, but evidently has been quite successful at protecting it from the scorching hot sun we have had this summer. Broccoli is one of the “super- foods.” Ounce for ounce, it has more vi- tamin C than an orange, is a great source of folate, vitamin A, fiber, potassium and calcium. It also contains phytonu- trients (plant produced nutrients) that have been found to help prevent cancer and other diseases. It is one of the top recommended foods by the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. It can and should be eaten both cooked and raw. Studies have shown that by steaming or blanching, one group of phytonutrients called indoles, which helps to balance hormone levels, becomes bioavailable (easily absorbed). Cooking also increases availability of soluble fiber which helps balance insulin levels. Eating broccoli raw allows for a different set of nutrients called my- rosinase to be assimilated by our bodies, revving up the liver’s ability to detoxify carcinogens and promotes absorption of insoluble fiber which helps prevent can- cer by binding and absorbing carcino- gens. Cooking methods matter. Steaming or blanching helps to maintain water soluble vitamins, rather than boil- ing or microwaving out all of the nutri- ents. The food should look alive-- the color produces an enhanced vibrancy from the cooking. We are going to enjoy our well-deserved feast today, fresh greens, broccoli, turnips and a fruit salad with our own raspberries and blueberries. Mmmm…. I have already utilized most of the space in my yard for gardening. Now Bridgette and I are looking forward to the community garden cohort 3 which the Ford Family Leadership Group is co- ordinating with the city. What a great addition to our town! Here’s wishing you good health. Pharmacy Advice: Flu Season is Upon Us By Mark Sargeant, RPh, Vernonia Pharmacy There are few of us who have escaped a visit from the flu virus, myself included. Flu illness can include any or all of these symptoms: fever, muscle-aches, headache, lack of energy, dry cough, sore throat, and possibly runny nose. The fever and body aches can last 3-5 days and the cough and lack of energy may last for 2 or more weeks. While you may see flu cases reported as early as October, we find that the peak of the season is around February. With the flu season already upon us, and with the added fear of the H1N1 virus, (Swine Flu, as it is commonly known) our awareness this year is higher than ever. On average, over 36,000 people die from flu-related complications and over 200,000 are hospitalized from flu- related causes each year. Of those hospitalized, 20,000 are children younger than 5 years old. Over 90% of deaths and about 60 percent of hospitalizations occur in people older than 65. Some questions that have been asked which may prevent a patient or their loved one from getting vaccinated are: 1.) I received the flu shot one year and think I got the flu from it. Is this possible? ANSWER: You cannot get the flu from a flu shot. The vaccine in the shot has been killed and cannot reproduce. Side effects most likely to occur are soreness and redness at the injection site. The FluMist nasal spray, however, is not a dead virus, but a severely weakened one. There is a chance of continued from page 20 developing flu symptoms, you might have to remind them often for though low. Side effects most likely to occur are runny nose, the next twelve years depending on how headache, and sore throat. This old they are. vaccine is not to be given to any There was much that was not covered person 50 years old or older. about getting ready to go back to school. If you have questions or suggestions you 2.) I have heard that the would like to see written please e-mail me: preservative in the vaccine soniaspackman@msn.com. causes autism, is that true? ANSWER: No. The weight References: Steven George, Better of the evidence indicates that Homes and Gardens; Jerrie Dean, Ehow vaccines are not associated Community Members; Sarri Gilman, with autism. We, in the health Herald; Laolan Madden, Mom’s Home industry, are still aware of the Room, Smartpoodle.com concerns parents have about the issue, and the CDC is continuing to study the role of vaccines. Currently, the flu vaccine is supplied in a preservative-free form to address these concerns. Better Parenting: 14. GET EVERYONE TO AGREE TO BE PATIENT WITH EACH OTHER I recall the days when the back-to-school tension sometimes created negative attitudes in all of us. Remember, no one is perfect, there is no such thing as a perfect parent or a perfect child. Try to get everyone to agree to be patient with each other during the back to school preparations. I used to tell my kids, “These are ‘the good old days’ in the making.” Interesting, they had to grow up and have kids to really believe it. Tell this to your kids and see if they remember. But ANONYMOUS DONOR In support of Vernonia’s Voice! 3.) Will the seasonal flu vaccine protect me against the H1N1 virus? ANSWER: No. The seasonal flu vaccine is not expected to protect against the novel H1N1 flu. 4.) If I get immunized early, will I need a booster shot? ANSWER: No. It is found that even those with lowered immune systems (elderly included) will retain their immunization throughout the peak of the flu season. So immunize yourself as soon as possible. As we know, H1N1 virus “Swine Flu” has hit the United States. Already, there have been over 500 deaths due to various complications from the illness. The latest we have heard is that H1N1 vaccine (Swine flu) will become available starting in November in two separate shots, and will be given to those patients currently considered “at risk.” These are mainly children and young adults, 6 months through 24 years of age, pregnant women, caregivers, those with current medical complications, and health care workers. The elderly are not as susceptible to the H1N1 virus, it seems. The CDC has discovered that around 30 percent of the over-60 population has some antibodies against the virus. This does not mean that the elderly should not get vaccinated if it is available to them. Get immunized as soon as you can. This is the easiest way to keep ourselves, friends and family healthy. I look forward to my community becoming as healthy as it can be. So, ask your doctor or local pharmacist about immunizing yourself this month to protect yourself and the ones you love. Mark Sargent is a partner and pharmacist with Vernonia Pharmacy. If you have a question or concern related to pharmacology that you think might be of interest to others in our community, you can call the Vernonia Pharmacy at 503-429-0591 and talk to Phil Darrah or Mark Sargent, or email them at vernoniarx@yahoo.com. Questions may be answered in future editions of Vernonia’s Voice.