How to Diaper Your Baby

Diaper Changing, Step-by-Step

Whether you've never changed a diaper before or you're an old hand, don't worry -- you'll get plenty of practice with your new baby. Most parents have made common mistakes, like putting a diaper on backward or lopsided, or even getting an unexpected spray of urine from their baby boy. So, you're not alone. These step-by-step tips will help you master the art of diaper changing and fix any first-time mistakes fast.

Get Your Supplies Together

Have everything at hand, because you never want to leave your baby unattended. You'll need: a clean diaper or two, something to wipe baby with, and a flat surface. If you use cloth diapers, you'll need a clean diaper cover or waterproof pants (and pins). If your baby has diaper rash or is less than a month old, have cotton balls or squares, warm water, and a towel handy.

Always Keep One Hand on Your Baby

Wash your hands and place your baby on the changing table or a flat surface. Use the safety straps, or make sure to keep one hand on the baby so he doesn't roll off. Never leave your baby unattended, even for a minute. If he wiggles a lot, distract him with a mobile or a brightly colored toy. Undo the dirty diaper, hold your baby's legs with one hand and use the other hand to pull down the front of the diaper. Don't remove it just yet.

Wipe From Front to Back

First, use the front part of the diaper to help wipe your baby -- wiping from front to back to avoid a urinary tract infection. Then use a mild wipe or wet washcloth to clean baby -- again wiping from front to back. For a newborn or baby with diaper rash, use cotton balls or squares and warm water. Pat baby's bottom dry. If you have a boy, keep a clean diaper over his penis while you're changing him so he doesn't urinate on you.

Swap Dirty Diaper for Clean One

Lift baby's legs and slide the dirty diaper out. Hold your baby's legs to keep him from touching the messy diaper. Slide a clean diaper underneath your baby. On a disposable diaper, the adhesive tabs go in back and should be about belly-button level. Pull the front up between baby's legs. For a boy, make sure his penis is pointing down so he doesn't pee out of the top of his diaper.

Use Your Fingers to Test the Fit

Close the tabs on a disposable diaper or pin the corners of a cloth diaper together. Make the diaper snug, but be sure you can place two fingers between the diaper and baby's waist. With a newborn, fold the top of the diaper down so that the umbilical stump is exposed. Or use a newborn diaper with a cutout for the stump.

You May Want to Flush the Poop

What do you do with the old diaper? With cloth diapers, shake any solid waste into the toilet before tossing into the diaper pail. Some parents do this with disposables, too. With a disposable, tape it up and put it in the trash or diaper pail. Some parents put them in a plastic bag or zipper-top bag first. For cloth diapers, store in a dry or wet diaper pail until ready to wash.

Take Your Time & Enjoy

Many moms and dads find that diaper changes are a great time to connect with their babies. After all, you're leaning over your baby, touching, and talking or cooing to him or her. Your baby is looking up at you and listening to your voice. Take some time to sing a song or play peek-a-boo. Although some diaper changes will have to be done quickly, when you have a few minutes, try to enjoy the ritual.

The Truth About Omega-3, the Good Fat

Omega-3: The Good Fat

Doctors may tell you to cut the fat, but not all fats are unhealthy. Omega-3 fatty acids may have far-reaching health benefits. Studies suggest they help lower the risk of heart disease, the nation’s top killer. They may also protect against symptoms of depression, dementia, cancer, and arthritis. Omega-3s are found in salmon, nuts, leafy greens, and more – but the health benefits can differ greatly from one source to another.

The Omega-3 Alphabet

Omega-3 fatty acids come in more than one form. The types found in fish, called DHA and EPA, appear to have the strongest health benefits. Another form known as ALA is found in vegetable oils, flaxseed, walnuts, and dark leafy vegetables such as spinach. The body converts a small amount of ALA into EPA and DHA, and ALA also has some health benefits of its own.

How Omega-3 Fights Disease

Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to help fight disease by reducing inflammation in the blood vessels, joints, and elsewhere in the body. They also decrease the risk for an abnormal heart rhythm, reduce levels of unhealthy fats in the bloodstream, and slow the rate of plaque build-up in the blood vessels. Our bodies can’t make omega-3s, so we must get them from our diet.

 Omega-3 and Heart Deaths

If you’ve had a previous heart attack, omega-3 fatty acids may help lower the risk of death from heart disease. Studies show a reduction in heart attacks and sudden death among heart attack survivors who boost their levels of omega-3s. This includes people who take fish oil supplements and those who regularly eat fatty fish, such as salmon or lake trout.

Omega-3 and High Blood Pressure

There’s strong evidence that omega-3s lower blood pressure. The effect is small, though. If you have high blood pressure, eating fish could be helpful along with other dietary changes and medications, as recommended by your doctor. One strategy is to replace red meat with fish during some meals. But it’s best to avoid salty fish, such as smoked salmon.

Omega-3 and ADHD

Some studies suggest omega-3 supplements may ease the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We know omega-3 fatty acids are important in brain development and function. Although evidence isn’t conclusive and a diet supplement can’t offer a cure-all for ADHD, omega-3s may provide some added benefits to traditional treatment.

Omega-3: Catch of the Day

The best source of omega-3 fatty acids is fish, though some varieties deliver a higher dose than others. Top choices are salmon, mackerel, herring, lake trout, sardines, anchovies, and tuna. The American Heart Association recommends at least two servings a week of fish, which is 3.5 ounces of cooked fish or ¾ cup of flaked fish.

Omega-3 and Tuna

Tuna is an old-school staple in many people's pantries that can be a good source of omega-3. Albacore tuna (often labeled "white") has more omega-3 than canned light tuna, but it also has a higher concentration of mercury contamination. The amount of omega-3 in a fresh tuna steak varies, depending on the species.

Omega-3 for Vegetarians

If you don’t eat fish or fish oil, you can get a dose of DHA from algae supplements. Algae that is commercially grown is generally considered safe, though blue-green algae in the wild can contain toxins. Vegetarians also can get the ALA version of omega-3 from foods such as canola oil, flaxseed, walnuts, broccoli, and spinach – or products fortified with omega-3s.

 

 

 

What Eye Problems Look Like

Warning Signs of Eye Trouble

Blurry vision, spots, glare at night -- these are common eye complaints that can be harmless annoyances or an early sign of disease. In the slides ahead, we explore several eye problems and offer two quick eye tests. You'll see the world through eyes that have floaters, cataracts, myopia, and glaucoma. Be sure to see an eye doctor promptly for any concerns.

Color Blindness Test

Which number do you see in the far left? If it's "3," you probably have normal color vision. If it's a "5," you may be  colorblind. This view is simulated in the center panel and represents a mild color vision deficiency.  About 10% of men are born colorblind, but few women. Complete color blindness (very rare) is simulated at right. No number is visible. Tinted glasses may help the colorblind see better

Farsightedness (Hyperopia)

Most of us are born with mild farsightedness, but normal growth in childhood often corrects the problem. When it persists, you may see distant objects well, but books, knitting, and other close objects are a blur. Hyperopia runs in families. Symptoms include trouble with reading, blurry vision at night, eyestrain, and headaches. It can be treated with glasses, contacts, or surgery in some cases.

Presbyopia

Just like gray hair or  wrinkles, trouble reading fine print  is a sign of aging. Called presbyopia -- or "old eye" in Greek -- symptoms  appear in the 40s. The eyes' lenses  become less flexible and can't change shape to focus on objects at reading distance. The solution: Reading glasses or bifocals, which correct both near and distance vision. If you wear contacts, one eye can be corrected for reading and the other for distance.

Nearsightedness: What Happens

Typically, an eyeball that's too long causes myopia. But an abnormally shaped cornea or lens can also be to blame. Light rays focus just in front of the retina, instead of directly on it. This sensitive membrane lines the back of the eye (seen in yellow) and sends signals to the brain through the optic nerve. Nearsightedness often develops in school-age children and teens, who need to change glasses or contacts frequently as they grow.  It usually stabilizes by the early 20s.

Guide to Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding: It's Not Always Easy

Breastfeeding benefits you and your baby but it does take a bit of know-how. Don't feel guilty if your breastfeeding experience isn't perfect at first. A breastfeeding educator -- and these tips -- can help you over some of the more common breastfeeding hurdles.

Breastfeeding ABCs

• Awareness: Breastfeed whenever baby seems hungry. Watch for hunger signs like sucking noises, hands moving toward mouth, or baby turning toward your breast.
• Be patient: Babies usually feed for 10 or 20 minutes on each breast.
• Comfort: Prop up your feet, support your arms and head with pillows.

Soothing Sore Nipples

To soothe sore nipples, use warm moist compresses, rub a bit of fresh breast milk on your nipples and then let it dry, or dab on a bit of lanolin made for breastfeeding. A little pain and tenderness is normal at first. Pain usually goes away once you find a good breastfeeding position and baby latches on comfortably. Be sure to see your doctor if soreness increases or lasts several weeks.

Avoid Nipple Confusion

Nipple confusion occurs when a baby is bottle-fed too soon, and then forgets how to nurse on mom's nipple. It's not very common, but you can easily avoid it. If you're planning on introducing bottles or a pacifier, wait until baby is between 2 to 4 weeks old. But don't wait too long after that to introduce a bottle or you may have trouble getting baby to accept one.


How Often Do Babies Nurse?

Newborns should nurse every two to three hours, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. That's eight to 12 times in 24 hours.

Baby may feed from both breasts during one nursing session. And you can switch from side to side to avoid exhaustion. Baby is full when sucking has slowed or he turns away. After the first month, feedings may start decreasing to seven to nine times a day.

Should You Wake Baby to Nurse?

Yes, in the first weeks. Newborns need to nurse about eight times a day, with no more than four hours between feedings. To help baby wake, try removing blankets, changing baby's diaper, massaging baby softly, or placing your little one against your skin.

Should You Use Both Breasts?

After breastfeeding for a few weeks, start letting baby drain one breast before switching to the other. The reason? There are two types of milk during each feeding: the thinner, thirst-quenching fore milk, followed by the creamier, fat-rich hind milk. Your baby needs both. If baby finishes only the first breast during a feeding, offer the other breast at the next feeding.


Is Baby Drinking Enough?

So long as your baby is gaining about a pound a month, nursing every two to three hours, and has about six to eight wet diapers a day, you can feel sure your little one's eating all she needs. Good news: By the second month, some babies no longer need night feedings, and may even sleep through the night.


Suddenly You're Nursing More

Babies have growth spurts when it’ll seem like you're nursing 24/7. Don’t worry -- not only will your body produce more milk, but these super hungry periods are temporary. Growth spurts usually hit around baby's second week, then again at two, four, and six months. More good news: Most babies are ready to try solid food between four and six months.

  Does Your Diet Affect Baby?

What you eat affects your breast milk, but usually not as much as most new moms think. Generally you can eat and drink what you enjoy, so long as you strive for a healthy, balanced diet.  But steer clear of very spicy or gas-producing foods, and watch for allergy symptoms in baby -- which should appear in the first four to six weeks

.Bonding Without Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is just one way to bond with your baby. The connection between parent and child grows every time you hold and cuddle your infant, each time you talk and sing to him, and with every bath and playtime. If mom plans on pumping for use in bottles after two to four weeks, others can do baby feedings, too.

Treatment-Resistant Depression

When Depression Resists Treatment

It's hard not to feel hopeless when depression treatment doesn't work. But don't give up. As many as two-thirds of people with depression aren't helped by the first antidepressant they try. Work with your doctor to find the best treatments. Depression is highly treatable, and there are many options available. You might find that changing your medication, combining drugs, or consulting a psychiatrist helps your recovery and reduces relapses.

Talk Therapy for Focus and Insight

Talking with a mental health professional can help you set goals, tackle problems, and stay focused on medical treatment for your depression. Talk therapy is an important part of treatment for many people with chronic and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Ask your doctor to help you find a therapist you can afford who will work with you and your doctor. Talk therapy includes individual psychotherapy and support groups.

Therapy That Can Help

Some people may benefit from specific types of therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) attempts to break down ineffective or destructive patterns of thinking that may contribute to depression. Problem-solving therapy, a type of CBT, may help people with depression cope with negative or stressful life experiences. Interpersonal psychotherapy examines issues like grief, which may affect the relationships between people or cause depression.

Find the Right Medications

Most people who start taking an antidepressant don’t have a complete recovery and may need a change in treatment. You should see some improvement after six weeks. If your antidepressant isn't working, your doctor may change your prescription or increase your dosage, or prescribe other antidepressants or even other types of drugs to go with it. Continue to take it as prescribed, even if you start to feel better.

Which Antidepressant Is Right?

The most commonly prescribed antidepressants, known as SSRI or SNRI, affect the chemical serotonin. Your doctor considers side effects, safety, tolerability, and your history of depression when prescribing antidepressants. You may experience mild to severe side effects like dry mouth, nausea, insomnia, sexual problems, changes in blood pressure, or suicidal thoughts from antidepressants. Sometimes side effects go away. If severe side effects persist, talk to your doctor about changing medicines.

Other Treatments for Depression

If several courses of different antidepressants have failed, you and your doctor might consider other medical treatments that can help treatment-resistant depression. Electroconvulsive therapy uses small electrical currents to change brain chemistry. In vagus nerve stimulation, electrical pulses go to the brain via a nerve in the neck. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (shown) sends magnetic pulses to the brain to improve mood. A few other therapies await FDA approval for depression patients.

Pastoral and Spiritual Counseling

Make sure you have enough support from family and friends so you can cope with your depression. Many people find comfort from being part of a spiritual community. If you are religious, talk with your priest, rabbi, minister, or other religious advisor. These people often know you and your family as individuals. And they can help you articulate the things that are important to you. They'll also help you understand your role in the community.

Volunteer for a Sense of Worth

Depression feeds on isolation. When you separate yourself from the community, your sense of having no value grows stronger. Volunteering is a perfect antidote. It gives you something to do and turns your focus outside yourself. At the same time, it makes you feel good about who you are. Find something you value. Then offer to help.

Let Your Family Help

Depression is hard on you and your family. But remember, they can't help if you won't let them. If you share your feelings, you won't create a divide between you and those you love. Let them help when they can, and consider couples or family counseling. Let your family know they are important in your life.

Plan to Feel Better

You don't always do things that make you happy. But planning enjoyable activities for each day can help your treatment. Each afternoon, jot down a list of what you want to do for yourself the next day. Then add what you need to do for others. Review your plan at the end of each day. How did the things you accomplished make you feel?

Exercise, a Natural Medicine

You may not feel like exercising. But exercise is effective in easing depression. Your body's physical response to exercise actually improves your mood. That's because exercise causes the release of endorphins. These chemicals trigger a positive feeling. It doesn't matter what kind of exercise you do. Just find something you enjoy and start moving.

Support From Others Who Understand

A support group is made up of people who know what it feels like to be depressed. It helps to know others understand how you feel. Even more important, they can share coping techniques from their own experience. Plus you have the opportunity to share your successes with them. Ask your doctor to help you find a support group in your area.

Dry Skin

Skin Care for Dry Skin

Dry skin can be uncomfortable and unattractive. It often shows up as rough, red, and itchy patches in places of the body that show -- arms, hands, lower legs, ankles. But it’s also common on the soles of the feet, thighs, and the abdomen.

It can lead to cracks and fissures in the skin. And because cold air outside and heated air inside cause low humidity, it’s often worse in winter -- just in time for the holiday party season.

Some dry skin is hereditary. Some comes with aging, as natural skin oils diminish. Some is caused by or can accompany medical conditions such as asthma or thyroid disease. But daily skin care habits such as washing with harsh soaps, using sanitizing or harsh cleansing agents, and scrubbing can also cause or worsen dry skin.

Since most dry skin is due to external causes, it responds well to external skin care treatment. Just making a few adjustments to your daily skin care routine can help. No matter what the cause, there are many things you can do to make dry skin smooth and supple.

Dry Skin Care Strategies When You Wash

Treating dry skin is important because extensively dry skin can lead to dermatitis, a more severe inflammation of the skin. Try these tips for the bath or shower:

• Skip long, hot showers. Hot water strips oils from the skin faster than warm water. Long showers or baths actually result in dried  out skin. Try to limit yourself to a single 5- or 10-minute warm shower or bath a day.
• Use a gentle cleanser or shower gel with moisturizer. Go for unscented, soap-free, or mild soap cleansers instead of harsh cleansers.
• Moisturize while skin is moist. Pat your skin with a towel after you shower or wash your face or hands, leaving it damp. Apply a moisturizer within three to five minutes of washing to lock moisture in your skin.

Ingredients to Look for in a Moisturizer

It’s not necessary to pay a fortune for a good, rich moisturizer. Read the label. Ingredients that may be helpful for dry skin include:

• Ceramides. Ceramides help the skin hold water and soothe dry skin. Synthetic ceramides may mimic the natural substances in the outermost layer of skin that help keep moisture in.
• Hyaluronic acid. Like ceramides, hyaluronic acid helps skin hold water.
• Lanolin, mineral oil, and petroleum jelly. These keep water in the skin that has been absorbed during bathing.
• Dimethicone and glycerine. These draw water to the skin and retain it there.

Be sure to apply sunscreen to areas of your body that are exposed to the sun during the day.Look for a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more.

5 Lifestyle Tips for Relieving Dry Skin

These strategies can also help make your skin supple and smooth:

• Plug in a humidifier at home to help keep skin hydrated when indoor air is dry during winter months.
• Wear cotton and other natural fibers. Wool, synthetics, or other fabrics can be scratchy and irritating.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat omega-3 foods. Essential fatty acids can help fortify the skin’s natural oil-retaining barriers. Foods rich in omega-3 include cold-water fish (salmon, halibut, sardines), flax, walnuts, and safflower oil.
• For itching or inflammation, apply a cool compress or a hydrocortisone cream on the area for a week. If these don’t provide relief, talk to your doctor.

Dry Skin: Signs of Dermatitis

Some flaking along with redness may be a sign of an underlying dermatitis. This includes:

• Seborrheic dermatitis. This type involves a red, scaly, dry-appearing itchy rash on various areas of the body, particularly those areas that contain many oil glands. Seborrheic dermatitis can occur as scaling on the scalp, eyebrows, and sides of the nose.
• Allergic contact dermatitis. This occurs when the skin comes into contact with a substance that causes an immune reaction, such as poison ivy. Allergic contact dermatitis of the hands often causes scaling on the fingers.
• Atopic dermatitis. Also known as eczema, this is a long-lasting type of dermatitis that often runs in families. It also may cause excessively dry, itchy skin.
• Athlete's foot. In many cases, athlete's foot, a fungal infection, shows up as dry flaking on the soles of the feet. Untreated, it can progress to skin inflammation and redness typical of dermatitis. 

Skin

Skin Changes - Topic Overview
Most skin bumps, spots, growths, and moles are harmless. Colored skin spots, also called pigmented lesions (such as freckles, moles, or flesh-colored skin spots), or growths (such as warts or skin tags) may be present at birth or develop as the skin ages.

Most skin spots on babies will go away without treatment within a few months. Birthmarks are colored marks on the skin that are present at birth or develop shortly after birth. They can be many different sizes, shapes, and colors, including brown, tan, black, blue, pink, white, red, or purple. Some birthmarks appear on the surface of the skin, some are raised above the surface of the skin, and some occur under the skin. Most birthmarks are harmless and do not need treatment. Many birthmarks change, grow, shrink, or disappear. There are many types of birthmarks, and some are more common than others. For more information, see the topic Birthmarks.

Cause of skin changes
Acne is a common skin change that occurs during the teen years and may last into adulthood. Acne may be mild, with just a few blackheads (comedones), or severe, with large and painful pimples deep under the skin (cystic lesions). It may be present on the chest and back as well as on the face and neck. Boys often have more severe outbreaks of acne than girls. Many girls have acne before their periods that occurs because of changes in hormone levels. For more information, see the topic Acne.

During pregnancy, dark patches may develop on a woman's face. This is known as the "mask of pregnancy," or chloasma, and it usually fades after delivery. The cause of chloasma is not totally understood, although it is thought that increased levels of pregnancy hormones cause the pigment-producing cells in the skin (melanocytes) to produce more pigment. You can reduce skin pigment changes during pregnancy by using sunscreen and staying out of the sun.

Actinic keratosis and actinic lentigines are types of colored skin spot that is caused by too much sun exposure. Although these spots are not skin cancers, it may mean that you have an increased chance of getting skin cancer, such as squamous cell skin cancer or a type of melanoma.

You may have an allergic reaction to a medicine that causes a skin change, or develop a skin reaction when you are out in the sun while you are taking a medicine (this is called photosensitivity). Rashes, hives, and itching may develop, and in some cases may spread to areas of your skin that were not exposed to the sun (photoallergy). For more information, see the topic Allergic Reaction.

Skin changes can also be caused by:

• Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and scleroderma.
• Reactions to a bite, such as Lyme disease from a tick bite. For more information, see the topic Lyme Disease.
• Bacterial skin infections, such as impetigo and cellulitis.
• Viral infections, such as chickenpox, shingles, or fifth disease.
• Liver problems, such as hepatitis, which may cause your skin and the whites of your eye to turn yellow (jaundice).

Common skin changes
Some common skin growths include:

• Moles. Most people have between 10 and 40 moles. You may continue to form new moles until you are in your 40s. Moles may change over time. They can gradually get bigger, develop a hair, become more raised, get lighter in color, fade away, or fall off.
• Skin tags are harmless growths that appear in the skin folds on the neck, under the arms, under the breasts, or in the groin. They begin as small fleshy brown spots and may grow a small stalk. Skin tags never turn into skin cancer.
• Seborrheic keratoses are harmless skin growths that are found most often on the chest or back, occasionally on the scalp, face, or neck, and are less common below the waist. They begin as slightly raised tan spots that develop a crusty appearance like that of a wart. Seborrheic keratoses never turn into skin cancer. For more information, see the topic Seborrheic Keratosis.

Treatment of a skin change depends on what is causing the skin change and what other symptoms you are having. Moles, skin tags, and other growths can be removed if they become irritated, bleed, or cause embarrassment.

Skin cancer
While most skin changes are normal and occur with aging, some may be caused by cancer. Skin cancer may start as a growth or mole, a change in a growth or mole, a sore that does not heal, or irritation of the skin. It is the most common form of cancer in North America.

Skin cancer destroys skin cells and tissues and can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. The three most common types of skin cancer are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma. See a picture of the ABCDEs of melanoma.

Causes of skin cancer include:

• Overexposure to the sun, such as a severe, blistering sunburn during childhood.
• Years of overexposure to the sun as an adult.
• The use of tanning beds or sunlamps. UV rays from a tanning bed may actually be more harmful than the sun because they are more intense.
• Repeated exposure to X-rays, chemicals, and radioactive substances.
• Radiation treatments for conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, or acne.

Kaposi's sarcoma is a serious form of skin cancer. It is often found in people who have an impaired immune system, such as people with AIDS. Blue-red raised bumps (nodules) may appear on the face, arms, and trunk and inside the mouth.

Early detection and treatment of skin cancer can help prevent problems. Treatment depends on the type and location of the growth and how advanced it is when it is diagnosed. Surgery to remove the growth will help determine what treatment will be needed. For more information, see the topics Skin Cancer, Melanoma or Skin Cancer, Nonmelanoma.

Use the Check Your Symptoms section to decide if and when you should see a doctor.

Banana slices

Healthy Recipe Doctor

with Elaine Magee, MPH, RD

From low fat recipes, to recipes designed for diabetics, Elaine Magee RD, MPH shares recipes and advice to create healthy meals that are guaranteed to please.

Best Banana Bread Makeover

I don’t like bananas (it’s a texture thing) but I love banana bread — and I know I’m not the only banana bread fan. So I thought it would be fun to do a health makeover on the top-rated banana bread recipe on epicurious.com.

The top rated recipe was “Aunt Holly’s Banana Bread.”  It called for half a stick of butter, a cup of sugar, a cup and a half of white flour (and a few other ingredients), along with 3 ripe bananas. To give it a smart carb/smart fat makeover, I used 3 tablespoons canola oil and added a tablespoon of vanilla paste instead of the butter; reduced the sugar to 3/4 cup and switched to dark brown sugar (adds more flavor than white). And instead of the cup and a half of white flour, I used a cup of whole wheat flour and 1/2 cup of white.

The walnuts are optional but if you want to add chocolate chips, make it the 60% cacao bittersweet or semi sweet chocolate chips so you are getting the phytochemicals in dark chocolate.

Making these changes cuts the calories by 30 per serving, the saturated fat goes from 3.1 to .5 gram, omega-3s increase from zero to .4 gram, and the fiber doubles from 1.4 to 3 grams per serving.

Best Banana Bread

Ingredients:
3 to 4 ripe bananas, sliced
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon vanilla paste (vanilla extract can be substituted)
3/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup walnut pieces (optional)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Coat a loaf pan with canola cooking spray and dust with unbleached flour.
2. Add banana slices to large mixing bowl and beat until mashed. Add canola, vanilla paste, brown sugar, and the egg to the mixing bowl and beat until blended.
3. In separate bowl, combine whole wheat flour, white flour, baking soda and salt then add to banana mixture and beat until just blended. Stir in the walnut pieces if desired. Spread batter into prepared loaf pan and bake until toothpick inserted in the middle of bread comes out clean (about 55 minutes.)

Yield: 10 slices

Per slice: 198 calories, 3.5 g protein, 38 g carbohydrate, 5 g fat, .5 g saturated fat, 2.7 g monounsaturated fat, 1.3 g polyunsaturated fat, 21 mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 196 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 23 percent. Omega-3 fatty acids = .4 gram, Omega-6 fatty acids = .9 gram.

Colorectal Cancer Overview

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on August 03, 2009
Source: © 2009 WebMD

Colorectal Cancer: What Is It?

Colorectal cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer in men and women and the second highest cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Yet, when found early, it is highly curable. This type of cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow in the lining of the large intestine (colon) or rectum. Learn more about who gets colorectal cancer, how it is detected, and what the latest treatments can accomplish.

Colorectal Cancer: How It Starts
Colorectal cancers often begin as polyps – benign growths on the surface of the colon. The two most common types of intestinal polyps are adenomas and hyperplastic polyps. They develop when there are errors in the way cells grow and repair the lining of the colon. Most polyps remain benign, but some have the potential to turn cancerous. Removing them early prevents colorectal cancer.

Risk Factors You Can't Control
Your risk of colorectal cancer depends on genetics and lifestyle. Factors you can't control include:
-Age – most patients are older than 50
-Polyps or inflammatory bowel disease
-Family history of colorectal cancer
-History of ovarian or breast cancer

Risk Factors You Can Control
Some factors that raise the risk of colorectal cancer are within your control:
-Diet high in red, processed, or heavily cooked meats
-Being overweight (excess fat around the waist)
-Exercising too little
-Smoking or drinking alcohol

 Colorectal Cancer Warning Signs
There are usually no early warning signs for colorectal cancer. For this reason it's important to get screened. Detecting cancer early means it's more curable. As the disease progresses, patients may notice blood in the stool, abdominal pain, a change in bowel habits (such as constipation or diarrhea), unexplained weight loss, or fatigue. By the time these symptoms appear, tumors tend to be larger and more difficult to treat.



Colorectal Cancer Screening
Because colorectal cancer is stealthy, screenings are the key to early detection. Beginning at age 50, most people should have a colonoscopy every 10 years. This procedure uses a tiny camera to examine the entire colon and rectum. These tests not only find tumors early, but can actually prevent colorectal cancer by removing polyps (shown here).

Virtual Colonoscopy
There is now an alternative to colonoscopy that uses CT scan images to construct a 3-D model of your colon. Called virtual colonoscopy, the procedure can reveal polyps or other abnormalities without actually inserting a camera inside your body. The main disadvantage is that if polyps are found, a real colonoscopy will still be needed to remove and evaluate them.

X-Rays of the Colon (Lower GI)
X-Rays of the colon -- using a chalky liquid known as barium as a contrast agent -- allow your doctor a glimpse at the interior of the colon and rectum, offering another way to detect polyps, tumors, and changes in the intestinal tissue. Shown here is an "apple core" tumor constricting the colon. Like the virtual colonoscopy, any abnormalities that appear on the X-rays will need to be followed up with a conventional colonoscopy.

Diagnosing Colorectal Cancer
If testing reveals a possible tumor, the next step is a biopsy. During a colonoscopy, your doctor will remove polyps and take tissue samples from any parts of the colon that look unusual. This tissue is examined under a microscope to determine whether or not it is cancerous. Shown here is a color-enhanced, magnified view of colon cancer cells.

Taging Colorectal Cancer
If cancer is detected, it will be "staged," a process of finding out how far the cancer has spread. Tumor size may not correlate with the stage of cancer. Staging also enables your doctor to determine what type of treatment you will receive.
-Stage I – Cancer has not spread beyond the inside of the colon or rectum
-Stage II – Cancer has spread into the muscle layer of the colon or rectum
-Stage III - Cancer has spread to one or more lymph nodes in the area
-Stage IV – Cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, lung, or bones. This stage does NOT depend on how deep the tumor has penetrated or if the disease has spread to the lymph nodes near the tumor.

Colorectal Cancer Survival Rates
The outlook for your recovery depends on the stage of your cancer, with higher stages meaning more serious cancer. The five-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least five years after being diagnosed. Stage I has a 93% five-year survival rate while stage IV has a five-year survival rate of only 8%.

Colorectal Cancer Surgery
In all but the last stage of colorectal cancer, the usual treatment is surgery to remove the tumor and surrounding tissue. In the case of larger tumors, it may be necessary to take out an entire section of the colon and/or rectum. The good news is that surgery has a very high cure rate in the early stages. If the cancer has spread to the liver, lungs, or other organs, surgery is not likely to offer a cure -- but removing the additional tumors, when possible, may reduce symptoms.

Treating Advanced Colorectal Cancer
When colorectal cancer has spread to one or more lymph nodes (stage III), it can still be cured. Treatment typically involves a combination of surgery, radiation (being administered here), and chemotherapy. If the cancer comes back after initial treatment or spreads to other organs, it becomes much more difficult to cure. But radiation and chemotherapy can still relieve symptoms and help patients live longer.

Coping With Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy has come a long way from the days of turning people's stomachs. Newer drugs are less likely to cause this problem, and there are also medications to control nausea if it does occur. Clinical trials continue to search for chemotherapy drugs that are more effective and tolerable.

Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) uses intense heat to burn away tumors. Guided by a CT scan, a doctor inserts a needle-like device that delivers heat directly to a tumor and the surrounding area. This offers an alternative for destroying tumors that cannot be surgically removed. In patients with a limited number of liver metastases that cannot be removed by surgery, chemotherapy is sometimes combined with RFA for tumor destruction.

Preventing Colorectal Cancer: Diet
There are steps you can take to dramatically reduce your odds of developing colorectal cancer. Researchers estimate that eating a nutritious diet, getting enough exercise, and controlling body fat could prevent 45% of colorectal cancers. The National Cancer Institute recommends a low-fat diet that includes plenty of fiber and at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

Preventing Cancer With Exercise

Physical activity appears to be a powerful weapon in the defense against colorectal cancer. In one study, the most active participants were 24% less likely to have the cancer than the least active people. It didn't matter whether the activity was linked to work or play. The American Cancer Society recommends exercising for at least 30 minutes most days of the week.