A Letter To My Child

Dear daughter/son,
You are now at an age where it's normal to be curious, and this is usually the time during which most teenagers try new things. This is fine, I actually want you to experiment -that's how you learn! However, there are certain things you don't need to experience, and that's why I've written you this letter.
When I say experiencing, I mean things like getting drunk on alcohol and smoking tobacco. 
Of course I'm not saying you shouldn't ever do either of these things. This is completely up to you, but I just want to make sure you know all long- and short term  effects of your decision before you make up your mind. Smoking tobacco is definitely not good for you; tobacco is addicting, as well as it can cause serious health problems for you later in life, like lung cancer.  Though it does take time for some of these illnesses to kick in, you will notice right away that your body has changed. Breathing and playing sports become a lot more difficult. Alcohol is dangerous as well, and also happens to be illegal for teenagers under 21. Under the influence, people often lose control and tend to do things they normally wouldn't have. Imagine being dependent on these drugs to function properly. You wouldn't want that, would you? You see, becoming addicted to something means that it becomes a requirement for your body to have in order to feel good, though the drug doesn't necessarily have to be taken every day. When you stop taking the drug, your body will react negatively, as it has become so used to it, and you will feel sick and upset. These symptoms your body is sending out are called withdrawal-symptoms. Alcohol and tobacco aren't the only drugs I want you to look out for, though. Another drug commonly experimented with among teenagers is marijuana. Marijuana, or "weed" which is one of its most common street names, is mistaken as a drug that makes you feel good without actually harming you. I'm sure you will be offered it by a friend at some point during your teen years. I just want you to be careful, as marijuana is both a depressant and a stimulant, which means it either temporarily makes you feel awful or happy, depending on the conditions. If over consumed, it can actually also cause hallucinations, which means seeing things that aren't really there.
I don't want to tell you what to do, but I do think you should think about the consequences before risking your future just because you were curious.
Much love, Mom.

You Are What You Eat

    I am, in fact, what I eat, though only to a limited extent. My daily food/nutrient intake and my eating habits have turned me into the person I am today.


   If I lack vitamins, then that's because I don't eat enough vitamin rich foods. If my cholesterol levels are too high, it's because I have been eating too much junk. This concept is also reflected in people's weights. Ridiculously skinny people don't eat very much, and those who are overweight do. It is therefore important to make good choices when eating. Let's say, for instance, that you're standing in the cereal isle at your local supermarket, buying tomorrow's breakfast. In front of you, there are six different chocolate-flavored cereals alone. Previously when in that kind of situation, I would just pick the nearest one or the one with the coolest picture on the cover. Next time I go grocery shopping I will make sure I pick the healthiest one, the one with the most nutrients and vitamins (basically the one that contains the most stuff that's good for you) by reading the food labels. When choosing what to eat, it is also important to take the food's background into consideration before purchasing the product. Just because one brand looks nicer than the other doesn't mean that it's better. I would always choose the bigger, juicier strawberries when buying fruits, because I thought: "Hey, these are bigger than the other ones. They're probably tastier and healthier!" What I didn't realize at the time was that these strawberries had been pumped full of chemicals to make them appear as big and juicy as they did -they weren't natural. If I had know that these strawberries were practically grown in labs, I wouldn't even have touched them.


 You aren't necessarily always what you eat though. If you have a good exercise routine, weight won't be an issue. Even though you eat McDonald's daily, you probably won't gain weight, and the only changes you will experience will be internal, meaning you probably won't notice. Now of course you are still affected by what you eat, but you reduce the impact it has to your body. Another way to do this is to take vitamin supplements. I personally don't eat enough fish, so I take fish oil capsules every day to make up for it, though I don't count this as something I eat, because, well, I don't.


As you can see, I am what you eat, and so is everyone else, though only to a limited extent. I think it's more about how you let what you eat affect you, than how it actually affects you.

My Thoughts on Food Inc.

After watching the movie Food Inc., I feel like I should be cutting back on meat. Watching the slaughter of the chickens, cows and pigs will haunt me for a long time. The fact that none of the vegetables sold in markets are 100% real also bothers me. It makes me feel like I have been living a lie. I am lucky enough to say that I have spent most of my life eating real organic food, however, since I grew up near the countryside, where food came straight from the farms, even from farmers we knew. I was also shocked by the way factory workers are treated. What we saw were the kind of working conditions you'd expect in developing countries.

FitDay Results and Analysis

A typical week day

A typical Saturday/Sunday

Activities (weekend and every-day)

1. Nutrients (including fats) from the nutrients pie chart on FitDay


Normal Day:
Too much Riboflav, Vitamin B6, Niacin, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, Sodium and Thiamin


Weekend:
Too much Thiamin, Potassium, Vitamin B12, Selenium, Sodium, Pant. Acid and Riboflav


2. Daily allowance in relation to what you ate (largely from the food group recommendations on MyPyramid)








3. Identify three nutrients that you consumed close to 100% of RDA

• Vitamin A -> 92%
• Pant. Acid -> 87%
• Zinc -> 87%

4. Identify three nutrients that you either over-consumed (far above 100%) or under consumed (very low) irregularities you might have (too high or too low)

• Sodium -> 186%
• Selenium -> 164%
• Manganese -> 152%

5. Use the internet to research what the nutrients in #3 and #4 and identify the following:
a. What the nutrient does for the body (what is its function?)

• Vitamin A benefits your body, as it prevents eye problems, keeps your skin and immune system healthy.

• Pant. Acid, or Pantothenic Acid, helps the body maintain and repair cells and tissues, as well as the metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. 

• Zinc helps the human body in several ways. Firstly, the vitamin is needed to maintain the structure of cell membranes. Secondly, zinc helps the immune system, as it is the manufacturer and maintainer of the T-cells in the body, which help fight off infections.

• Sodium regulates the blood pressure and volume in the body, as well as the acid/base balance. 

• Selenium strengthens the immune system, and is even said to help prevent some forms of cancer, as it is considered an antioxidant, which means it can work with other antioxidants (such as Vitamin E and C) to protect the body from free radicals. These free radicals can develop heart diseases and cancer.

• Manganese helps the body form connective tissue, bones and enzymes. As it helps the body form bones, it can also help prevent bone fractures, as it strengthens them. It also helps the body with calcium absorption.  

b. What foods you can find the nutrient in?

• Vitamin A can be found in several vegetables, such as carrots, pumpkins and sweet potatoes, as well as in milk and eggs.

• Pantothenic Acid actually got its name from the Greek word "pantos", which means "everywhere". This acid can be found everywhere, throughout all living cells. Some rich sources of this vitamin include: milk, eggs, wholegrain cereals and vegetables.

• Zinc can be found in foods such as red meats, nuts, seeds and breakfast cereals.

• Sodium can be found in table salt, baking soda and in various other seasonings used in cooking, as well as in smoked meats, eggs and dairy foods.

• Some good sources of selenium include: Chicken, red meat, grains, eggs and garlic.

• Manganese can be found in leafy vegetables, seeds, nuts and wholegrain foods.

 
c. What are the long-term concerns of over or under consumption of this nutrient

• Vitamin A can be harmful if over-consumed for an extended period of time, because the excess will build up in your body which can cause skin changes (ironically enough), liver damage and headaches.

• Pant. Acid is not very harmful if over consumed, as it appears that the only reported negative side effect is diarrhea. However, under consumption of the vitamin is not good, but since it is found in almost everything this is rarely a problem. Symtoms can include vomiting, low blood sugar and insomnia. 

• Zinc deficiency can be harmful to your body. It can include a poor appetite, weight loss, delayed wound healing and frequent infections. In more extreme cases, it leads to cellular damage, hair loss, diarrhea and eye and skin problems.

• Sodium deficiency can result in hair loss, muscle cramps and fatigues. When too much is taken however, it can lead to high blood pressure and swelling.

• Selenium deficiency is rare, and over consuming too extremely is not very common either. If over-consumed, it may cause skin inflammation and hair loss.

• Over-consuming on manganese for an extended time period can lead to iron-deficiency anemia. Manganese deficiency can lead to fainting, hearing loss, and can also be the cause of diabetes.

d. What adjustments, if any, you will need to make to your diet in order to reach a health point of consumption for this nutrient
I eat a lot of eggs and chicken, and it is something that I should maybe consider cutting back on, as most of these nutrients that I am over-consuming are found in these foods. I could substitute the chicken I eat for dinner almost every night, and that way I can avoid the excess of these nutrients.


6. Identify long term concerns that you will need to be aware of (e.g. a high fat diet would result in higher risk of heart attack) and how you might alter your lifestyle and choices to be more healthy in the future.
There aren't very many serious long-term issues, as most of the symptoms are things such as nausea, headaches and cramps. However, I do feel encourage to eat more diverse meals.



7. Compare your food and exercise data to what is recommended for your age, weight, gender and exercise from MyPyramid.gov.I burn more calories than I eat, but it appears that I don't eat enough. I am therefore going to focus on eating a little more, and I plan on doing this by having snacks in between breaks at school. I think the reason why I don't eat as much as I should is because I don't have the time, not because I'm not hungry. I don't drink as much milk or eat as many fruits as I should either. I therefore intend to use fruits as my kind of snacks during breaks, and try to drink milk in the mornings instead of water with my breakfast.









8. In your analysis identify ways that your exercise and diet might affect you in the future. In particular, what "health concerns" do you have for your future? What changes would you have to make in your lifestyle to become more healthy? How easy/difficult would these changes be for you and why?
Since I intend on continuing doing the exercises I do now, as they include the sports I play, it might affect me negatively if I don't improve my eating habits. I am worried that my exercising will affect me negatively instead of positively, as I am trying to gain muscle. This will not be possible, however, if I burn more than I eat.  I don't think changing my eating habits in order to become more healthy will be too difficult. I am not a very picky eater, and eat basically anything that is available. I can talk to my parents and my housekeeper about them cooking more diverse, healthy meals, and I can also sometimes bring lunch from home instead of buying it at school.




9. Finally, identify any problem areas that you felt might have given a not-so-good idea of your actual diet and exercise patterns. What there a problem with the program's database in terms of information input? Was the diet and exercise indicative of your normal weekday lifestyle choices? Note any problems in your blog.


I don't feel like it was a 100% accurate, as my meals and the quantity varies each day, depending on how I am feeling. Also, getting accurate measurements for some of the foods, like the vegetables or the meat is difficult.   I think the diet and lifestyle charts are fairly accurate, however.






Sources:
http://www.nutrientfacts.com/AlmanacPages/Sodium_Toxicity_Signs.htm
http://www.nutristrategy.com/nutrition/sodium.htm
http://www.livestrong.com/article/444137-how-does-zinc-help-your-body/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/499136-zinc-deficiency-the-prostate/
http://kidshealth.org/teen/misc/vitamin_chart.html
http://caloriecount.about.com/pantothenic-acid-facts-nf410
http://www.nutrientfacts.com/AlmanacPages/Selenium_Functions_in_the_Body.htm
http://www.lifeclinic.com/focus/nutrition/selenium.asp
http://www.livestrong.com/article/482236-what-are-the-functions-of-manganese-in-the-body/
http://www.drkaslow.com/html/manganese.html

The Most Dangerous Drug

Though I know this is a controversial topic, I think that the most dangerous drug is alcohol. This is because alcohol is the most abused drug, and causes a ridiculous amount deaths, like for example in the U.S., where someone dies every 30 minutes due to an alcohol-related accident. Another reason why I think it is so dangerous, is because it is easy to access, and is the most common drug abused, making it appear less harmless than it actually is, since "everyone does it."

MDMA (Ecstasy) Research

What is the definition of this drug classification (characteristics)
MDMA (Ecstasy) is a synthetic drug that has stimulant and psychoactive properties. It istaken orally as a capsule or tablet. Under the category of synthetic drugs.

What are a few examples of drug that come under this classification
MDMA (Ecstasy) is a synthetic drug that has stimulant and psychoactive properties. It istaken orally as a capsule or tablet. Under the category of synthetic drugs.

Short-term effects of that drug.
Amphetamines, Cocaine, or any other drug made only in a laboratory with chemical reactions.
mental stimulation 
emotional warmth
enhanced sensory perception
increased physical energy
nausea, chills, sweating, teeth clenching, muscle cramping, blurred vision
these are all caused by the body not being able to regulate temperature due to the drug

Long-term effects of that drug. Be sure to include physiological effects on the body.
destroys a part of the brain used for high thought processing (serotonin system)

large depression and anxietyobssesive traitsparanoid thoughtsmemory damagedisturbed and troubled sleep
Street names for that drug.
Love drug, Hug, Beans, Adam, X, XTC
Pictures

How that drug is taken.
Ecstasy is usually taken as a capsule or tablet, orally, though it can be injected or inhaled as well.

Statistics related to that drug (example: % of teenagers using in 2008)
In 2009, 2.8 million Americans age 12 and older had abused MDMA at least once in the year prior to being surveyed (2008.)
An interesting/fun fact about the drug.
Ecstasy tablets are usually imprinted with a comercial logo, like a playboy bunny, Mcdonald's logo, smiley face, etc. 
Overall analysis
I think that this drug can harm you, even if you only try it once. When you are under the influence, you get very hyped up and you do things you normally wouldn't do. Under the influence you could harm yourself, as you are not thinking straight. Another thing is that it's very addicting, and through some research I found out that even after only having tried it a couple of times, you still feel the withdrawal symptoms, which can include depression. Thirdly, though the drug makes you feel amazing right after you've taken it, there are some serious side effects. Some of these effects include: psychological problems, sleep deprivation, paranoia, heart diseases, acne, rashes and liver damage. I think the reasons why a government would make this drug illegal is because of what it does to you. It appears to be a harmless, tiny pill with a cool imprint that can make you last longer on the dance floor. Problem is, there is so much more behind it than that, but people don't realize. I think that governments only want what is best for the societies they lead, and ecstasy is definitely not part of it. 
Other sources
http://www.drugfree.org/drug-guide/ecstasy
http://alcoholism.about.com/od/ecstasy/a/ecstasy.htm

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Cry For Help Reflection

I think that what is basically being discussed in the movie Cry For Help is that there are usually visible signs of depression, and that you can notice it early on if you know what to look for (either in others or yourself.) However, anyone can be depressed, and some are better at concealing their feelings than others. Random acts of kindness might not make a difference to you, but could actually be saving someone from taking their life. In the video, they showed a school that took action and held annual meetings where students and even teachers discussed personal matters, and where everything was confidential. This built a "community of trust" in a way, and there hadn't been anymore suicides since. Some of their teachers also had an open door policy, meaning that students could come in and talk to the teachers if they needed it. I think these kind of programs would be beneficial anywhere, so yes, I definitely think it's something ISKL would benefit from. I especially think this would be a good idea for the ISKL high school since we have very tough academic programs such as IB and AP courses, which usually leads to stress, which in turn can lead to depression. Though ISKL seems like a very open, caring community, it's like I said earlier: anyone can be depressed, we just might not notice it.