chatwithketch

Q: Good evening doc. Please WHO said red meat is one of the key causes of the deadly cancer disease and I’d like to know if goat meat is also a red meat and if yes, what are your recommendations? Thanks so very much.

A: Thanks for writing in.

Goat meat is red meat, yes. For recommendations, I will let WHO tell you directly. The list of questions and answers below is from the WHO site and it answers your question and others you may have thought of.

1. What do you consider as red meat?

Red meat refers to all mammalian muscle meat, including, beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, horse, and goat.

2. What do you consider as processed meat?

Processed meat refers to meat that has been transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or other processes to enhance flavour or improve preservation. Most processed meats contain pork or beef, but processed meats may also contain other red meats, poultry, offal, or meat by-products such as blood.

Examples of processed meat include hot dogs (frankfurters), ham, sausages, corned beef, and biltong or beef jerky as well as canned meat and meat-based preparations and sauces.

3. Why did IARC choose to evaluate red meat and processed meat?

An international advisory committee that met in 2014 recommended red meat and processed meat as high priorities for evaluation by the IARC Monographs Programme. This recommendation was based on epidemiological studies suggesting that small increases in the risk of several cancers may be associated with high consumption of red meat or processed meat. Although these risks are small, they could be important for public health because many people worldwide eat meat and meat consumption is increasing in low- and middle-income countries. Although some health agencies already recommend limiting intake of meat, these recommendations are aimed mostly at reducing the risk of other diseases. With this in mind, it was important for IARC to provide authoritative scientific evidence on the cancer risks associated with eating red meat and processed meat.

4. Do methods of cooking meat change the risk?

High-temperature cooking methods generate compounds that may contribute to carcinogenic risk, but their role is not yet fully understood.

5. What are the safest methods of cooking meat (e.g. sautéing, boiling, broiling, or barbecuing)?

Cooking at high temperatures or with the food in direct contact with a flame or a hot surface, as in barbecuing or pan-frying, produces more of certain types of carcinogenic chemicals (such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic aromatic amines). However, there were not enough data for the IARC Working Group to reach a conclusion about whether the way meat is cooked affects the risk of cancer.

6. Is eating raw meat safer?

There were no data to address this question in relation to cancer risk. However, the separate question of risk of infection from consumption of raw meat needs to be kept in mind.

7. Red meat was classified as Group 2A, probably carcinogenic to humans. What does this mean exactly?

In the case of red meat, the classification is based on limited evidence from epidemiological studies showing positive associations between eating red meat and developing colorectal cancer as well as strong mechanistic evidence.

Limited evidence means that a positive association has been observed between exposure to the agent and cancer but that other explanations for the observations (technically termed chance, bias, or confounding) could not be ruled out.

8. Processed meat was classified as Group 1, carcinogenic to humans. What does this mean?

This category is used when there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans. In other words, there is convincing evidence that the agent causes cancer. The evaluation is usually based on epidemiological studies showing the development of cancer in exposed humans.

In the case of processed meat, this classification is based on sufficient evidence from epidemiological studies that eating processed meat causes colorectal cancer.

9. Processed meat was classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). Tobacco smoking and asbestos are also both classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). Does it mean that consumption of processed meat is as carcinogenic as tobacco smoking and asbestos?

No, processed meat has been classified in the same category as causes of cancer such as tobacco smoking and asbestos (IARC Group 1, carcinogenic to humans), but this does NOT mean that they are all equally dangerous. The IARC classifications describe the strength of the scientific evidence about an agent being a cause of cancer, rather than assessing the level of risk.

10. What types of cancers are linked or associated with eating red meat?

The strongest, but still limited, evidence for an association with eating red meat is for colorectal cancer. There is also evidence of links with pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer.

11. What types of cancers are linked or associated with eating processed meat?

The IARC Working Group concluded that eating processed meat causes colorectal cancer. An association with stomach cancer was also seen, but the evidence is not conclusive.

12. How many cancer cases every year can be attributed to consumption of processed meat and red meat?

According to the most recent estimates by the Global Burden of Disease Project, an independent academic research organization, about 34 000 cancer deaths per year worldwide are attributable to diets high in processed meat.

Eating red meat has not yet been established as a cause of cancer. However, if the reported associations were proven to be causal, the Global Burden of Disease Project has estimated that diets high in red meat could be responsible for 50 000 cancer deaths per year worldwide.

These numbers contrast with about 1 million cancer deaths per year globally due to tobacco smoking, 600 000 per year due to alcohol consumption, and more than 200 000 per year due to air pollution.

13. Could you quantify the risk of eating red meat and processed meat?

The consumption of processed meat was associated with small increases in the risk of cancer in the studies reviewed. In those studies, the risk generally increased with the amount of meat consumed. An analysis of data from 10 studies estimated that every 50 gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by about 18%.

The cancer risk related to the consumption of red meat is more difficult to estimate because the evidence that red meat causes cancer is not as strong. However, if the association of red meat and colorectal cancer were proven to be causal, data from the same studies suggest that the risk of colorectal cancer could increase by 17% for every 100 gram portion of red meat eaten daily.

14. Is the risk higher in children, in elderly people, in women, or in men? Are some people more at risk?

The available data did not allow conclusions about whether the risks differ in different groups of people.

15. What about people who have had colon cancer? Should they stop eating red meat?

The available data did not allow conclusions about risks to people who have already had cancer.

16. Should I stop eating meat?

Eating meat has known health benefits. Many national health recommendations advise people to limit intake of processed meat and red meat, which are linked to increased risks of death from heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses.

17. How much meat is it safe to eat?

The risk increases with the amount of meat consumed, but the data available for evaluation did not permit a conclusion about whether a safe level exists.

18. What makes red meat and processed meat increase the risk of cancer?

Meat consists of multiple components, such as haem iron. Meat can also contain chemicals that form during meat processing or cooking. For instance, carcinogenic chemicals that form during meat processing include N-nitroso compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Cooking of red meat or processed meat also produces heterocyclic aromatic amines as well as other chemicals including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are also found in other foods and in air pollution. Some of these chemicals are known or suspected carcinogens, but despite studies provided data on red meat and more than 400 epidemiological studies provided data on processed meat).

19. Can you compare the risk of eating red meat with the risk of eating processed meat?

Similar risks have been estimated for a typical portion, which is smaller on average for processed meat than for red meat. However, consumption of red meat has not been established as a cause of cancer.

20. What is WHO’s health recommendation to prevent cancer risk associated with eating red meat and processed meat?

IARC is a research organization that evaluates the evidence available on the causes of cancer but does not make health recommendations as such. National governments and WHO are responsible for developing nutritional guidelines. This evaluation by IARC reinforces a 2002 recommendation from WHO that people who eat meat should moderate the consumption of processed meat to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Some other dietary guidelines also recommend limiting consumption of red meat or processed meat, but these are focused mainly on reducing the intake of fat and sodium, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease and obesity. Individuals who are concerned about cancer could consider reducing their consumption of red meat or processed meat until updated guidelines related specifically to cancer have been developed.

21. Should we eat only poultry and fish?

The cancer risks associated with consumption of poultry and fish were not evaluated.

22. Should we be vegetarians?

Vegetarian diets and diets that include meat have different advantages and disadvantages for health. However, this evaluation did not directly compare health risks in vegetarians and people who eat meat. That type of comparison is difficult because these groups can be different in other ways besides their consumption of meat.

23. Is there a type of red meat that is safer?

A few studies have investigated the cancer risks associated with different types of red meat, such as beef and pork, and with different kinds of processed meats, like ham and hot dogs. However, there is not enough information to say whether higher or lower cancer risks are related to eating any particular type of red meat or processed meat.

24. Could the preservation method influence the risk (e.g. salting, deep-freezing, or irradiation)?

Different preservation methods could result in the formation of carcinogens (e.g. N-nitroso compounds), but whether and how much this contributes to the cancer risk is unknown.

25. How many studies were evaluated?

The IARC Working Group considered more than 800 different studies on cancer in humans (some studies provided data on both types of meat; in total more than 700 epidemiological studies provided data on red meat and more than 400 epidemiological studies provided data on processed meat).

26. How many experts were involved in the evaluation?

The IARC Working Group consisted of 22 experts from 10 countries.

27. What actions do you think governments should take based on your results?

IARC is a research organization that evaluates the evidence on the causes of cancer but does not make health recommendations as such. The IARC Monographs are, however, often used as a basis for making national and international policies, guidelines and recommendations to minimize cancer risks. Governments may decide to include this new information on the cancer hazards of processed meat in the context of other health risks and benefits in updating dietary recommendations.

Source:

WHO (2015) Q&A on the carcinogenicity of the consumption of red meat and processed meat. Available from http://www.who.int/features/qa/cancer-red-meat/en/ (Accessed:31 October, 2015)

Q: Hello Dr, thanks for the advice you always give. I really appreciate. I had a painful lump underneath my armpit and my breast was painful too. It disappeared after a week. I think it’s almost a month now. Could it be a symptom of breast cancer?

A: Thanks for writing in.

Breast lumps that are cancerous are not usually painful. The fact that this lump has also disappeared is great news 😀

The more common causes/triggers of painful lumps in the armpits, include:
• Deodorants: These can cause skin irritation which can lead to boils. The delicate and sensitive skin of the underarms and the sweat that can accumulate there making it a rich culture medium for germs are factors that have been implicated. Solution: You may have to try another one…find one without fragrance or perhaps, formulated for sensitive skin. Reading the labels will provide this information 🙂

• Shaving: A lot of people can identify with this…bumps in the underarm after shaving. This can happen if you do not shave properly. Try shaving after taking a bath when the hair is moist and the skin hydrated. If this does not suffice, you may have to find alternative means of removing underarm hair eg depilatory cream.
• Infection of the hair follicles from cuts or injuries to the underarm, or from friction caused by wearing tight clothing. So, be careful while shaving and try to wear clothes that are more loose fitting (especially under the arms) and/or focus on fabrics that can ‘breathe’ like cotton
• Dirt or debris from excessive sweating can clog up hair follicles leading to painful lumps. Personal hygiene is key. Don’t be miserly with bathing and be sure to ‘take care’ of the underarms and other areas like the groin that tend to accumulate sweat and raise a stink 😀

• Infections due to viruses or bacteria.

• Cancer of the breast may also present like this.
I hope this helps. Keep checking your breasts and if you notice anything suspicious, please see your doctor.

Have a great night, y’all 😀

It is the first of November! Oh wow! I’m so grateful to God for life and everything He has used me to accomplish this year! What a year it has been! I smell Christmas in the air already! The air is pregnant with great things….

Speaking of pregnancy….

Pregnancy is such a precious time. I will go so far as to say, it is an amazing time; the beginning of life. I can just see the faces of all of you who spent the entire nine months of pregnancy in hospital beds or vomiting or just feeling ‘horrible’ 😀 I get it! It also wasn’t all fun and games for me during any of my three ‘pilgrimages’ 😀  But this is one situation where the end justifies the means because the thought of how the situation would end, should make up for all the discomfort…I hope 😀

How many of us come prepared? None of us, really. We just roll with the punches and pray we come out tops 😀

I am a doctor, but even with all that medical information, I was not prepared for what my body threw up at me when I got pregnant. Over time, especially ever since our wellness show, ‘Tips For Healthy Living with Dr Ketch’ started, I have had more pregnant women ask questions that clearly show how ‘starved’ they are for information. And so, the idea for this book was born. It’s a collection of my recollections 😀 of my pregnancies, peppered with some of your questions, written in simple everyday language that we can all relate with…all of it valuable information that I believe is important for every new mum. I hope that by sharing my own experiences, you will feel equipped to handle yours by learning from some of my hilarious mistakes 😀

And so the story continues! 😀 If you want to follow my hilarious journey of pregnancy while picking up tips on parenting, immunizations, diapering, preventing childhood infections, feeding children right etc, get details from the book, Just For The Health Of It.

This book also makes an excellent gift for baby showers, bridal showers, new parents, people who wish to lose weight and to everyone who desires to embrace healthy living in all aspects.

You can get a copy via the shop now link on our facebook page. Or you can get it through:

1) Jumia.com. Just click on this link http://www.jumia.com.ng/jumia-books-just-for-the-health-of-it-with-dr-ketch-179486.html and get a copy. You have the option of paying when the book is delivered to you or paying online. This service is available all over Nigeria.

2) Another option for those in Lagos is Laterna Bookshop on 13, Oko-Awo Close, Off Adetokunbo Ademola Street,. Victoria Island.

3) If you’re outside the country, please visit Amazon through this link http://www.amazon.com/Just-Health-Ketch-Pregnancy-Parenting/dp/9789398026/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426246647&sr=1-1&keywords=just+for+the+health+of+it+with+dr+ketch+olalere+nkechi

Here’s to a healthier you!

It is the last day of October!!! Who would have thunk it! 😀 And just before y’all start judging me, that wasn’t an error. That’s my special brand of ‘thought’ 😀 😉

We can’t let the month of October pass by without celebrating the fact that the month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Breast cancer is abnormal growth of the cells of the breast. Though it is more common in women, it can also occur in men. It is important to examine your breast regularly and note if there are changes. Some changes that may signify cancer, to look out for include:
• A lump or thickening of breast tissue that feels different from surrounding breast tissue
• A lump in one or both armpits
• Change in the skin of the breast eg giving the appearance of orange peel/skin of an orange
• Change in the shape, size or general appearance of the breast
• Nipple discharge (especially if it’s bloody) or recent inversion of the nipple
• Scaly skin around the nipple

Breast cancer may be inherited and so having a family history of breast cancer puts one at greater risk of having this. Other risk factors for breast cancer include:
• Being female
• Starting period at an early age….earlier than 12 years
• Starting menopause at a later age
• Hormone therapy during menopause
• Obesity
• Having first baby at age older than 35 years
• Increasing age: The older one is, the more at risk of breast cancer one gets
• Exposure to radiation like X-rays. That’s why people who work in environments where these tests are done have to wear protective clothing when running the tests.
• Drinking alcohol

If breast cancer is caught early, one has a greater chance of survival. Treatment of breast cancer depends on the stage of the disease, type of breast cancer, grade, size and how sensitive the cancers cells are to hormones. Treatment options include surgery (removal of lump or removal of whole breast or removal of lymph nodes), chemotherapy (medications that destroy cancer cells) and radiotherapy (using irradiation like X-rays to destroy cancer cells).
• Prevention of breast cancer in people with average risks includes:
• Eating healthy
• Keeping a healthy weight within the BMI
• Exercising
• Stopping or limiting alcohol use
• Speaking to your doctor about screening options open to you. Mammograms used to advocated for women 40 years and over. The new recommendation from American Cancer Society earlier this month recommends annual mammogram for women at moderate risk of cancer from 45 to 54 years of age and then every two years from 55 years onwards. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force mammogram guidelines recommend screening from 50 to 74 years.

So, be sure to discuss with your doctor so he can advice on your best options based on your personal history.

For related topics, please click on the links below:

Daily Health Tips: Breast Lump In A Man

The halfway mark.

Pinkie Swear?

Have a great weekend everyone!

Q: Hi doctor, please what can I do or drink to make me slim down?

Q: Please what is the best way for losing weight and big tummy?

Q: Good morning Dr. Please, how does one get back a flat tummy after delivery?

A: The most popular question I receive on this facebook page and on my blog is ‘how do I lose weight generally’ or ‘how do I lose weight after a baby?’

I’ve answered this question often enough but it bears repeating for everyone who would like to know. I also have addressed this liberally in my book, Just For The Health Of It. You can get a copy by clicking on the ‘shop now’ button our facebook page.

So, here goes:
Okay, the most popular question from yesterday was how to lose the pregnancy belly. Honestly, I’ve got no easy answers. It’s diet and exercise….oh and breastfeeding. But breastfeeding is not very helpful if one is not exercising and watching their portions. Again, the dictum of feeding for two here doesn’t also count.
The diet to focus on is the very same one we talk about all the time: fruits, veggies and complex carbs with focus on healthier cooking methods (less frying etc). Exercise should focus, initially on pelvic floor exercises especially if you’re leaking urine when you cough or laugh. To locate your pelvic floor muscles, try holding your urine when you feel pressed. If you are successful, then you have located the muscles you need. Then empty your bladder and lie on the floor. Contract those same muscles and hold the contraction for about 5 seconds and then relax it for about 5 seconds. Gradually build this up to holding the contraction for 10 seconds. Repeat this about 3 times a day. Once you no longer leak, you’re ready for your exercises.

Have you noticed how it is usually easier to lose the baby weight after your first baby and harder afterwards? 😀 Focus on building up your stamina gradually especially if you were not very active in pregnancy or before. Please remember to always contact your doctor before starting any vigorous exercise program. As you get into the groove, get down with your aerobics, strength training and sit-ups et al.

This is where breast feeding comes in, if you’re exercising and eating right, breastfeeding can help lose weight…as much as 300 calories per day. Does tying a wrapper tightly round your waist help flatten tummy? Honestly, I’ve heard people who swear by that technique. So, what I’ll say is, if it works for you, why not? Just don’t tie so tight as to stop blood flow 😀

How soon to start exercise after having a baby? Well, it depends on how active you were before and during pregnancy. If you were very active, you can start some light stretches as soon as you feel able. However, generally, we advise 6 – 8 weeks after birth to allow for a post-natal check to have been done. Again, start small and allow your body to get into the groove.

And for all those who asked questions about breastfeeding, this should not be a problem as once you position the baby correctly to the breast, milk is ‘produced’ for the baby through a let-down reflex. So, it is almost a misnomer to say one doesn’t produce enough. It is not very common. So, nursing mothers should ensure that they drink copious amounts of water and put their babies to the breast. If beast feeding problems continue, see your doctor with your baby to ensure that the baby is latching on to the breast properly.

For more on this subject, please click on these links:

Daily Health Tips: How Do I Lose My Tummy Bulge After Having A C Section…Girdle vs Healthy Lifestyle.

Daily Health Tips: I’m Not Comfortable With How Fat My Fiancée Is. Any Magic Pill For Him?

Have a great evening 😀

Here’s to a healthier you!

Q: Please advice on what to do concerning beer intake every night. Is it possible for me to reduce the bottle intake to 1 or 2 or how can l really stop it?

A: Can you reduce your beer intake? Absolutely!

Let’s define some concepts first:

Alcoholism is a disease which is chronic and often progressive and includes problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol, continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems, having to drink more to get the same effect (physical dependence), or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking.

It is also possible to have a problem with alcohol, even when it has not progressed to the point of alcoholism.  Problem drinking means drinking too much at times, causing repeated problems in your life, although you’re not completely dependent on alcohol.
So, you have done the first thing which is make a decision that this has to reduce or stop. I wish I could tell you that that was your hardest decision….unfortunately, I can’t. It will get slightly tougher before it gets better…but you can very well do it.

You can stop gradually by reducing the number of times you drink in a day and then a week, month etc.

Or you can quit cold turkey by stopping all at once. If you choose this the under-listed may be helpful:
• First set a date by which you want to stop and stick with it.
• Discuss your decision with your family and friends and hopefully, they will support you through the process.
• Stay away from your usual hangouts where you’re usually tempted to take alcohol
• You may also want to reduce visits/interactions with your drinking buddies who may make you backslide 🙂
• Find new hobbies that keep your mind busy and help you maintain your resolve.
• If you drink more than two alcoholic drinks each day, drinking less will help to lower your blood pressure. A regular-sized bottle or can of beer or a regular-sized glass of wine are each equal to a single alcoholic drink.
• Remind yourself of the diseases associated with alcohol like hypertension, cancer, Diabetes Mellitus, diseases of the pancreas and liver, psychological and psychiatric problems, loss of libido etc

Have a good night, y’all 😀

Here’s to a healthier you!

Q: Hello Ma I’ve a pot belly and I want to trim it down. Please, advice on what to do. Thank you

A: I’ve been getting a lot of questions on pot bellies, big tummies after child birth or just big tummies…after nothing, full stop:D So, I’ll reproduce part of a post I’d written on this subject (the trio of diet, exercise and stress). Remember that you can always visit my bloghttp://www.chatwithdrketch.com and type in any subject you want to know about in the search box. You will be presented with all my posts on that subject. There’s a lot I’ve written on weight loss et al 😉

I hate to be the one to break it to you…but alcohol is not the only thing that gives you a pot belly!:D Pot belly is caused by consuming way too many calories and these can be from your chilled bottle of beer or from your huge bowl/basin of rice (especially polished white rice) or yam. It is important to know what to eat, how to eat it and how much of it to eat.

The bad thing about tummy fat, is that it is not on the outside. It is actually on the inside, around the organs. So, no amount of sit-ups can touch this fat…exercise can help tighten abdominal muscles (especially for those who just put to bed) but it won’t get to the fat around organs (visceral fat). This fat is associated with some disease conditions like Diabetes Mellitus etc.

A diet full of junk food (meat pies, doughnuts) is unhealthy on a lot of fronts. It contains empty calories which give you calories you don’t need and make you demand even more calories in a short while. They also cause your blood sugar to yo-yo (jumping up) jumping up and down in a way that doesn’t help blood sugar control. A diet that is also full of white carbs like white bread, polished rice etc is also not ideal for the same reason. So what should we eat? A balanced diet…a diet that contains all food groups in sufficient amounts for the body to use them efficiently.

I have had cause to describe the ideal plate of food several times: Half the plate should be filled with vegetables, a quarter with complex carbohydrates like beans, local rice (like Ofada/Abakaliki/brown/wild rice), sweet potatoes, oatmeal etc and the last quarter with protein (fish, chicken etc). Remember that carbs are necessary to provide the energy needed for our daily activities. So, do not ‘demonise’ (:D) them….however, not all carbs are created equal. Complex carbs are superior because they supply energy and fibre and some also supply minerals and vitamins.

Then remember portion control. Reduce the plate size you usually use, if you need to lose weight. This automatically reduces the quantity of food you can eat.

Remember also to make a conscious effort to chew your food properly and take your time. Don’t wolf it down…or inhale it 😀 Chew intentionally so as to give your brain sufficient time to process the signal from your brain which says that you are full. Have you observed that when you rush your food, you move from being very hungry to being completely stuffed! There’s no in-between, where you realize that you’re full before you get to the stuffed part. That’s because your brain didn’t have enough time to process that info before you became ‘over-full’.

Note that, even if a food is considered healthy, it doesn’t mean you should eat as much of it as you want. For instance, beans is healthy on so many levels but it also high in calories and so you still need to stick to the portion described. Moderation in everything!!

Exercise is critical because it makes your heart strong, improves your body’s ability to break down food, resist diseases and generally provides a feel-good attitude. It also helps you lose weight. Mathematically, exercise helps to burn what you have eaten such that, if you do enough and watch your portions, at the end of the day, there will be a food balance between what you have burnt and what you have taken in. If you have not been engaged in any exercise for a long time, please see your doctor before you start any vigorous regimen. A minimum of 150 minutes of exercise per week is essential for good health. Try to get this exercise anyway you can: walking, dancing, skipping, arm wrestling, pillow fights etc. All the activities count and help you keep you fit, trim and healthy. If you use the gym, that’s great. You can get the instructor to put you on a regimen that involves aerobics, strength training (training with weights) and then focus on troublesome spots like your tummy etc. (in that order) or suggest useful regimens that are helpful.

Finally, I will talk about stress because quite a number of us are stressed out. Stress causes the release of a hormone called Cortisol which, amongst other things, causes fat to be deposited around our tummy. So, reduce your stress consciously by figuring out how to better cope with your sources of stress or even eliminating the stresses that you have control over. It’s your life after all.

I suggest you also click on this link to read my post on low glycemic eatinghttps://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/02/16/daily-health-tips-low-glycemic-eating-whats-that/

Have a good night, y’all 😀

Q: Good day Dr. please, is there any side effect of cold water/drinks during pregnancy on labour and baby after birth? Thanks in advance

A: This question has been asked again and again in different ways. Can my baby get pneumonia if I drink cold water in pregnancy? Can the baby become asthmatic etc? The answer to all of these is a resounding no. There are so many stories and taboos surrounding pregnancy that we need to address, really. Some pregnant women are practically banned from drinking cold water during pregnancy for this and other unclear reasons. There’s no medical basis for any of these stories. If you have a cold and you’re staying off cold water and filling up on warm fluids, I get it! 😀 However, if it’s for any of the ‘traditional reasons’ kindly ask for an explanation if you’re uncertain. Your doctor is always a great and useful resource. For more on pregnancy myths and what my professional opinion of them are, please click on these links:

Our Take On Some Pregnancy Myths

Click to access excerpts-1-from-jfthoi.pdf

Whenever I am pregnant, I not only drink cold water but actually take a lot of ice cubes because I can’t just seem to get cool enough! I’m constantly sweating and generally feeling hot! 😀 And I can tell you for a fact that none of my children were born asthmatic or with pneumonia! Having said that, as with everything else, moderation is key!

What you may notice though when you drink cold water is that baby moves around. This is, theoretically because the uterus/womb is close to the digestive tract such that the cold water in the digestive tract stimulates the baby to move. Women who feel concerned about their baby’s movements are sometimes asked to do this and check for baby’s movement.

I hope this helps.

Have a good night 😀

Here’s to a healthier you!

Q: Hello Dr. What should I do to stop my baby from sucking on his thumb? Please!

A: Interesting question!
Children suck their thumbs at an early age as a means of soothing themselves or coping with stress/anxiety or even when bored. Usually, this habit would stop between the ages of 2 to 4 years old. If it continues longer than that your baby’s teeth start to give way to accommodate the thumb leading to a situation where your baby’s upper teeth no longer align properly with the lower teeth. It can also lead to speech problems.

How do you stop a child from sucking his thumb? Hmm, I’m sure that lots of people can share a lot from their personal experiences eg tying up the thumb, putting terrible tasting stuff on it like vinegar, mustard, bitter leaf, nail polish etc. In some instances, these harsh methods get children to stop this habit but they probably latch on to another habit, like bed wetting. So, we do not advocate any of these.

What can you do as a parent? Well, if the child is not 6 years yet, ignoring the thumb sucking is an option. Don’t go into a big fuss and fight about it. He’s more likely to stop because some children teased him about it that the fact that you screamed about it.
Talk to him about why sucking his thumb is a bad idea. Talk to him about germs that he’s giving free access into his body etc and be sure to praise him when he’s not sucking his fingers/thumb. In fact, you could go as far as providing a reward to re-enforce this good behavior.

Remember that before the age of 6 years, we still believe that your baby will kick this habit all by himself. He usually does about the age of 4-5 years.
A personal example that may help…my son didn’t suck his thumb or fingers but he always bit his finger nails. I tried several times to get him to stop with no luck. Then, one day, when I got back from work, I told him a story…a true life story. Interestingly, the intent of telling the story was not necessarily because it was an opportunity to get him to stop biting his nails. I feel I had told him worse stories with no impact 😀 But, I had a particularly nauseating encounter at work that day. So, I told him about a colleague I had who always bit his nails. I told him this guy (my colleague) always had a heavy scent of saliva around him and anytime he came close to me, I would feel like throwing up. That particular day, we had to work together for a prolonged period of time and so, it was torture for me!

And that was it! I noticed a few weeks later that I had not seen him bite his nails for a while and asked him about it…praised him, more-like 😀 That was when he reminded me of the story that I had told him! That story for him…was the deal breaker! So, if your son is still a baby, he’ll probably kick this habit himself. If he’s a little more grown, find the right deal breaker 😀

Have a good night, everyone 😀

Here’s to a healthier you!

Parenting! Not the easiest of jobs, aye? And we’re constantly learning! I tell my first daughter that she’ll always be my learning curve because I experienced motherhood for the first time through her and I pass through every stage of her life, learning what it feels like for the first time.

I remember her first day in nursery school. I was so excited. My daughter was going to proper school for the first time. This clearly set me apart from all the other mothers that still had their children in reception and/or crèches. Then she graduated…yes, graduated!!! From nursery school, no less 😀

The day she started attending Primary School, I thought my heart was going to burst with pride. I kept looking around to see if everyone had observed that my level had changed. I now had a child in Primary school and so after dropping the Nursery school crew, I moved on to the big school. My goodness, I had arrived 😀 I remember her first class party in primary school! I went to town. I bought her the prettiest dress I could find and decked her out in it with bows and ribbons et al. She looked like a bejeweled princess in school. Imagine my shock when we got to school and I saw other children very casually dressed in jeans and tees! It was now a case of ‘were they under-dressed?’ or ‘were we over-dressed?’ Well, the activities of the day were helpful in clearing this up. Class party days were fun days dedicated to bouncy castles and all manner of fun that involved jumping up and down. Definitely, not the sort of activities I had in mind when I was convinced that she had to be a bejeweled princess:D And so, I learnt, that class parties were fun, informal events. That was one of my first lessons but by no means the last I learnt with my first child. The other mummies already had other children (who they had probably had their schooling from) or perhaps friends who advised them better 😀

I’m sure you’re wondering what I did when it was time for Secondary School. I could not wait to tell everyone. This was not one of those instances where you wished and hoped that people noticed a change of status. Oh no! I told everyone who cared to listen and people who were also minding their business. I found a way of interjecting the gist into every conversation. I’m sure people found me an absolute bore! 😀 Lord help you all when we get into university. That will certainly inspire another book! 😀

And so the story continues! 😀 If you want to follow my hilarious journey of parenting while picking up tips on pregnancy, immunizations, diapering, preventing childhood infections, feeding children right etc, get details from the book, Just For The Health Of It. You can get a copy via the shop now link on our facebook page. Or you can get it through:

1) Jumia.com. Just click on this link http://www.jumia.com.ng/jumia-books-just-for-the-health-of-it-with-dr-ketch-179486.html and get a copy. You have the option of paying when the book is delivered to you or paying online. This service is available all over Nigeria.

2) Another option for those in Lagos is Laterna Bookshop on 13, Oko-Awo Close, Off Adetokunbo Ademola Street,. Victoria Island.

3) If you’re outside the country, please visit Amazon through this link http://www.amazon.com/Just-Health-Ketch-Pregnancy-Parenting/dp/9789398026/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426246647&sr=1-1&keywords=just+for+the+health+of+it+with+dr+ketch+olalere+nkechi