Author: Cindy

24 August 2023  | Article is written by Jesslyn Chua (Nutritionist, Lovy Pharmacy), Reviewed by Tan Jun Er (Dietician, Lovy Pharmacy)

Source: Freepik

You’re not quite finished eating for two yet. Here’s the way to get the proper nutrients to provide your child with healthy liquid meals!

Adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is crucial to clinch the growth, health, and development of your child to the best of one’s ability. Breastfeeding has been well recognised as the gold standard for both mother and child, as it is the best source of nutrition for an infant.

The Power of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding might take some patience and persistence to master, and it can be challenging initially. Yet, the rewards for both mother and child are significant. In the first days after birth, the body produces colostrum, a nutrient-dense initial milk.

Colostrum is richer in protein and has fewer fats and carbs than mature breast milk. It’s especially high in secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA), vital for boosting a baby’s defense against infections. This makes it the optimal nutrition for newborns. Around 3–4 days post-delivery, the milk transitions from colostrum to mature milk.

While formula milk tries to mimic breast milk, it lacks colostrum. This means it doesn’t have the same beneficial immunoglobulins and antioxidants found in colostrum.

Fueling Your Body and Your Baby

When you breastfeed, your baby relies on you for all their nutrition. It’s essential to maintain a balanced diet to ensure both you and your baby get the nutrients you need. There are no set guidelines for a breastfeeding diet, but whether a mother is nursing or not, she needs an additional 300 to 500 calories per day. This is because breastfeeding requires your body to burn up to 500 calories every day.

The easiest method to achieve this is to eat a diet rich in nutrients and well-balanced foods to meet the extra nutritional needs of lactation. Your goal is to include a variety of foods from every food group daily, as each provides unique nutrients.

Crucial Nutrients for Nursing Mothers

Are there any nutrients that nursing mothers need to take in more to meet their newborns’ nutritional needs? The answer is YES indeed! A breastfeeding mother should include a few crucial elements in her diet.

Proper nutrition is therefore necessary to create the foundation for long-term health during the first three years of your child’s life. Nutritional deficiency can harm physical growth, compromise cognitive function, weaken immunity, and increase the risk and susceptibility to serious illnesses like rickets, anemia, coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis.

Symptoms of poor nutrition in neonates and early children include halted growth, changed mood and behavior, low energy, or weight loss. These conditions may lead to poorer cognitive and educational outcomes. It is therefore important for mothers to pay attention to the intake of nutrients in order to support baby’s growth and development. Breastfeeding moms who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet are at higher risk for iron, calcium, choline, zinc, vitamin B6, B9 and B12 deficiencies.

Breastfeeding increases the needs for certain vitamins and minerals and having a sufficient amount of nutrients can help ensure the health of both you and your children. Besides increasing the intake of all the required foods, taking supplements has also been found to be a beneficial way to get sufficient nutrients for both mother and baby.

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Choosing Wisely: Foods to Limit or Avoid

Good news! Most of the meals you had to keep away from all through pregnancy are now allowed to be consumed! However, it is best to limit or avoid some foods when breastfeeding.

Caffeine

Stimulants can enter breast milk and alter an infant’s sleep cycles and general behavior. It is advisable to limit your daily caffeine consumption to between 200 and 300 mg. In order to give your body enough time to digest the caffeine before the next feeding, it’s also a good idea to drink your caffeinated beverages right after breastfeeding.

In addition to coffee (both regular and decaf), caffeine can also be found in non-herbal teas like black, green, oolong, matcha, chai, and, as well as in some energy drinks, chocolate, soda, and some herbal products and supplements.

High mercury fish

Can be detrimental to your baby’s growing neurological system. As they frequently have the greatest mercury levels, species including king mackerel, shark, tilefish, and swordfish should be avoided. Choose low-mercury fish instead, such as salmon, trout, cod, sardines, and others, which offer all the nutritional advantages without the possible hazards.

Alcohol

Alcohol enters your bloodstream and can be given to your baby through breast milk. Alcohol can have an impact on your baby’s sleeping habits, motor abilities, and general development. It is very crucial to abstain from alcohol consumption or hold off on nursing until the alcohol has entirely left your system.

Enhancing Your Breastfeeding Diet

One of the main parts of the diet that needs to be taken into consideration, is the calcium intake. Breastfeeding may take up a lot of calcium from the mothers. You may lose up to 400 mg of calcium on a daily basis. Generally, you need up to 1000 mg of calcium a day.

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Additionally, we are aiming for balance, moderation, and variety in foods during the nursing period. The key is to add up to 500 kcal of “snacks” on top of your usual main meals. Here’s an example of a day’s meal for breastfeeding moms.

Breast milk itself offers all the essential nutrients needed for the growth and development of infants for the first 6 months. You can gradually introduce solid foods until your baby is consuming a complete, balanced diet.

For the first year, breast milk remains a significant nutritional source for your baby. You can continue to breastfeed with appropriate additions of complementary foods, for as long as you and your baby desire. Talk to a medical professional today to understand more about breastfeeding nutrition.

And don’t forget to get a health screening 4 to 6 weeks after giving birth to monitor your recovery post-labor and birth. Empower your recovery with health screenings so you can have a stronger and healthier postpartum journey!

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What Should You Know About This Disease

26 July 2023  | Article is written by Scott David Hastie (nutritionist) and Tan Jun Er (dietician)

Source: Freepik/storyset

About World Hepatitis Day

Viral hepatitis is a major global health problem, resulting in more than one million deaths each year. World Hepatitis Day is observed annually on 28 July to raise awareness of the disease and to promote prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The date of 28 July was chosen in honor of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr. Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus.

What is hepatitis?

The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can cause hepatitis. However, hepatitis is often caused by a range of infectious viruses and non-infectious agents which can sometimes lead to cirrhosis and even cancer.

Types of hepatitis

There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. In particular, types B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and, together, are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer.

Infection route

Hepatitis A and E are typically caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water. Hepatitis B, C and D usually occur as a result of parenteral contact with infected body fluids. Common modes of transmission for these viruses include receipt of contaminated blood or blood products, invasive medical procedures using contaminated equipment. Common mode of transmission for hepatitis B would be from mother to baby at birth, from family member to child, and also by sexual contact.

Acute infection may occur with limited or no symptoms, or may include symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Symptoms of Hepatitis

Symptoms of hepatitis may include but are not limited to:

• Skin rash and joint pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever and chills
• Fatigue
• Body aches
• Pain at upper right side of abdomen
• Jaundice
• Dark urine
• Pale stool

Guidelines for hepatitis carriers

• Do not donate blood
• Do not share personal items which may breach the skin barrier. Ie: razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers, earrings, etc.
• Ensure your sexual partner is immunized, or use protection.
• Inform your doctors that you are a carrier, especially in cases of pregnancy or undergoing surgery.
• Regular blood screening every 6 – 12 months.

Importance of regular screening

Testing and diagnosis of hepatitis infection is the gateway for access to both prevention and treatment services. Early identification of persons with chronic hepatitis infection enables them to receive the necessary care and treatment to prevent or delay progression of liver disease.

Screening tests on Hepatitis A,B and C are provided by BP Healthcare as part of the Specialist Head2Toe health screening package. The test specifically involves analyzing blood samples to detect quantities of antibodies, indicating the presence of hepatitis virus.

Source: www.worldhepatitisday.org

In line with this year’s slogan “Hepatitis Can’t Wait” , it is critical to emphasise the significance of hepatitis screening for early detection and timely care in the fight against hepatitis.

Get Tested Today!

14 June 2023  | Article is written by Dietitian Tan Jun Er (BP Healthcare Diagnostics Center, Muar, Johor)

(Image credit: Freepik)

The World Blood Donor Day falls on 14th June every year. On this day, we express our gratitude to all the voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood. The global theme of the World Blood Donor Day changes each year and this time round, the slogan is “Give blood and keep the World beating”. It highlights the essential contribution that blood donors make in saving lives and improving each other’s health.

Why Are Bloods Important?

Apart from blood transfusions conducted during emergency encounters such as trauma accidents, individuals with illnesses such as anaemia, cancer and many others also require regular blood transfusions. Hence, being a blood donor could contribute to a stable supply of safe blood and blood products for those in need, and provide continuous support to our national healthcare system.

What Are the Benefits of Donating Blood?

In Malaysia, only 2.5% of Malaysians who are physically fit to donate blood are blood donors, well below the international average of 5%. In fact, blood donors in Malaysia are entitled to many medical privileges, such as free outpatient treatment and Hepatitis B vaccination, offered by the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Before every blood donation, blood donors also get a free screening that includes measuring blood pressure, pulse, and haemoglobin levels. Although they are not thorough tests, they may help in discovering underlying health concerns such as anaemia or hypertension. Moreover, the blood collected will be tested for diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis.

For a more comprehensive insight on your overall health, GET A FULL HEALTH CHECK by purchasing our Head2Toe health screening package.

Nutrition After a Blood Donation

After donating blood, individuals are encouraged to have enough rest and sufficient nutrients for blood cells regeneration.

A balanced, nutritious meal enriched with iron is essential for our body to replenish afterwards. Besides that, nutrients such as Vitamin B12 and Vitamin B9 are important too. A supplementation of iron & B vitamins may be needed for a speedy recovery especially if you are a vegetarian. These nutrients are often found in animal sources, especially Vitamin B12. You are highly encouraged to talk to your doctor or other healthcare professionals before donating blood.

A proper meal plan is vital as aftercare, which the principles applied to maximise iron absorption and blood cells regeneration. This meal plan is also widely applicable for those who have iron-deficiency or Vitamin B12-deficiency anaemia.

In addition to having a balanced and healthy meal, taking vitamin B12 supplements such as Nutridos B Combi Plus is also an easy and convenient way to ensure that you are getting enough vitamin B12.

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Happy World Blood Donor Day to all blood donors and the healthcare workers who work hard to improve others’ health, you all are real heroes!