Health and Wellness Newsletter
Hippocrates
Let food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food. 
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IN THIS ISSUE
Salt
Risk and Reward
Recipe of the Week
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Free Thoughts 

 

Does it really have to be all or nothing? I think that grey is good from time to time. Medicine is full of grey and I accept the conundrum that is the ART of medicine.

 

Dr. M

 

 

PRIMETIME

For all teenagers and college students interested in a new medical experience, pay attention.
Salisbury Pediatrics has opened a new wing dedicated to you. In Primetime we are only focused on your needs as an emerging adult. 
From the music when you enter, to the autonomy of your visit, we are sure that you will love a new way to see your doctor.


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Fertility questions answered.


Please email me your favorite products.  I would like to share quality products with our readers. Think - car seats, toys, anything that a mother would love!
 
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Please reply with feedback or questions here.  I will try to answer as many questions via the newsletter as possible.  As always be well and love your children!

 

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Dr. Magryta
Chris
Go to www.salisburypediatrics.com,  if you would like to learn about Integrative Medicine or our practice

 

Issue: #12
March 11, 2013

Getting ready for spring!!!!!
Volume 3, Letter 12
 

March 11, 2013  

 

Salt - how we love salt in our food.  

 

In a recent study in the premier journal NATURE, Kuchroo et al. looked at salt intake and immune system function. Increasing salt intake in the diet is associated with an increase in a powerful immune cell called the TH 17 cell. These cells are up-regulated in the immune system and likely are a player in the immune dys-regulation that we call auto-immunity.

 

Auto-immunity is a form of disease where the immune system becomes disoriented and attacks us. There are many know triggers for this event to take place within us. Salt is the latest player in the game. We have known for some time that these are some other triggers for auto-immunity:

 

1) vitamin D deficiency

2) chemical exposure - i.e. smoking, BPA, etc...

3) some pharmaceutical drug use like valproic acid

4) viral infections - EBV, RSV

5) abnormal gut flora/microbes can trigger the immune system to overreact.  

 

Of this list #1 and 5 appear to be the most critical with 5 being heavily influenced by your mode of birth, maternal diet and health, antibiotic exposure, your diet and stress reactions.

 

Understanding this phenomena will help us prevent the onset of diseases like type 1 diabetes, lupus, celiac disease, crohn's, rheumatoid arthritis, and on and on.

 

Salt is worth reducing,

 

Dr. Magryta


Pertussis
 
I have been repeatedly asked about the issue regarding kids contracting pertussis even when 

they are vaccinated. Some parents have told me that they think that these children are getting it in equal frequency with non-vaccinated children.

 

In JAMA from November 2012, Misegades and colleagues looked at the incidence of pertussis infection in children aged 4 - 10 years old in California in 2010. They studied the data from 15 major counties and found that unvaccinated children were 9 times more likely to contract the illness than their vaccinated peers. 

 

"Provisional counts from our surveillance system indicate that more than 41,000 cases of pertussis were reported to CDC during 2012. 18 pertussis-related deaths during 2012 have been reported to CDC as of January 5, 2013. The majority of deaths continue to occur among infants younger than 3 months of age. The incidence rate of pertussis among infants exceeds that of all other age groups. The second highest rates of disease are observed among children 7 through 10 years old. Rates are also increased in adolescents 13 and 14 years of age." From www.cdc.gov 

 

Contrast this with the 2012/13 influenza season. 81 children expired due to influenza. Influenza is by far the worst player in the world of preventable disease, but even 18 deaths are a big deal when it is your child.

 

The bottom line is that the highest risk group is the less than 4 month old infant. For those who vaccinate against these illnesses your risk is very low. For those who do not vaccinate their children, consider at least vaccinating the associated adults to prevent transmission to your newborn. 

 

I know that this is always a touchy subject, therefore, I submit that I am only teaching and not judging.


Thank you.  
 
Dr. M

 

Recipe of the Week

 

Salad Heaven

 

Ingredients:

 

3 cups of fresh spinach

3 cups of fresh leaf lettuce

2 chopped carrots

5 diced kalamata olives

1 ripe pear sliced

1 handful of almonds and pepitas

Fleur de sel

EVOO

Balsamic vinaigrette

 

Directions:

 

Put the first 6 ingredients in a mixing bowl. Drizzle with EVOO and balsamic to desired coverage. Mix thoroughly. Sprinkle with a tiny amount of fleur de del.

 

Enjoy

 

Dr. M


Newsletter Photos
 
If you have any pictures of your family that you wish to share for the header of this newsletter -

please send them to:

 

 

 

The newsletter archive can be found in the links section.  New readers can now go back in time to learn about the future!

 

Copyright � 2010-2013 Christopher J. Magryta, MD. Readers, please note: The information provided in this newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for advice and treatment provided by your physician or other healthcare professional and is not to be used to diagnose or treat a health issue.


 


Chris Magryta
Salisbury Pediatric Associates
Touchstone Pediatrics