Transcript Teenage health2013

Teenage Health
Teenage Health
What are we going to cover?
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Puberty - What Is It?
Common Teenage Challenges
Acne
Hormonal Disturbance
The Toxins!
Dietary Support
So What is Puberty?
It all starts when the brain releases a hormone called
gonadotropin-releasing hormone,
otherwise known as GnRH for short. This hormone causes the pituitary gland to
release two more hormones, luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone
(FSH).
•The age at which puberty occurs continues to drop
•Between 1840 to 1950 there was an average drop of 4 months per
decade in age of female puberty
•In 1840 the UK the average age for start of menstruation was 16.5 years
now 11.5 years –
Puberty usually begins between the ages of 9 -13 years in girls,
and 10 -15 years in boys
Is there a link with Obesity and
Early Puberty?
• Yes, Phil McKenna (2007) linked obesity with
puberty onset - breast development before 9
years and menarche before 12 years
• Later onset of puberty associated with:
• Lower protein and higher fibre intake (typical
vegetarian diet)
• Calcium deficiency
• High levels of exercise
Menstruation:
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Mood swings
Painful periods
Common in teenagers and young adults
Linked to build-up of prostaglandins in the
lining of the uterus. Prostaglandins help
the uterus to contract to shed the
lining.Too many prostaglandins = too
strong contractions = PAIN
Menstruation
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Irregular
Heavy
Anaemia
Spots
PMS
PCOS
Ovulation pain
Skin Health/Acne:
• Sebaceous glands produce oil to lubricate the
skin
• Oil can become trapped, propiounus acne
bacteria multiply and skin becomes inflamed
• Blackheads – sebum combines with skin
pigments to plug the pores
• Whiteheads – scales below the surface of the
skin become filled with sebum
Causes
• Hormones
• Lifestyle and Junk Food
• Hygiene
Hormonal Imbalances
• Androgens stimulate production of keratin and
sebum: imbalance may lead to overproduction
• This overproduction has to be balanced by the
correct rate of cell growth and shedding
• Artificial skin exfoliation scrubs may worsen the
condition and trigger pore congestion,
inflammation and bacterial challenge
Hormonal
• Oestrogen dominance can trigger monthly skin
outbreaks, also links with acne and PCOS
• Prescription Drugs to rectify symptoms include
antibiotics, steroids and oral contraceptives
• Oral contraceptive – could be used either ways to correct
acne or generate it. Acne generated by the rebound of
coming off could last up to 1 year.
Lifestyle:
Eating Habits
• Hurried and irregular eating habits
• Too many refined carbohydrates and “junk food”
• Not enough fluid (of the right kind!)
Nutrient Robbers
• Two thirds of the average Western diet is
made up of “anti-nutrients” or “nutrient
robbers”.
• NRs can be defined as any foods or drinks
that require more nutrients for the body to
make use of it than the food itself
provides.
Teenage Diet
High in highly processed and refined foods –
(i.e. “starchy carbohydrates and white foods”)
Sugar
Caffeine
Wheat
Social poisons
Alcohol
Salt
Carbonated drinks
Environmental toxins
THE TEENAGE DIET
leads to reduced detoxification, poor gut health,
a leaky gut and often comes hand in hand with
symptoms including
mental and physical health issues (depression,
attention disorders, co-ordination issues, acne,
hormonal and menstruation issues and sleep
disorders to name a few)
Lets Talk Hygiene
• Can be too much or too little! Overwashing or repeated rubbing of skin
causes irritant to the skin
• Too little leads to poor detoxification
• Body pH too high – fosters breeding of
acne causing bacteria
Skin Care
• Skin Care: Often high in chemicals,
especially phthalates, which are used in
many cosmetics, toys, and plastic food
containers. They can bind and trigger
oestrogen receptors – mimicking role of
oestrogen
(Diana Zuckerman, 2001)
Additives to Products
Other names
Used as….
Research Indicates
Phthalates
Dibutyl phthalate
Di(2-ethylhexyl)
phthalate
Butyl benzyl phthalate
Plasticisers in moisturisers & skin
penetration enhancers.
Growing
evidence
that
phthalates can contribute to
allergic disease - linked to
asthma.
Interfere
with
reproductive development
BHT
Butylated
hydroxytoluene
An antioxidant preservative
Possible allergen
Linked to behavioural &
reproductive problems
Propylene
glycol
Propan-1,2-diol
A moisture retention agent
Can cause
dermatitis
Sodium
lauryl
sulphate
Sodium lauryl sulfate
A
degreaser,
soaping agent
emulsifying
&
contact
Skin, eye & respiratory
tract irritant
Skin Care
Alternatives:
• Hair removal: epilate, wax or suggest threading, rather
than hair removal creams.
• Epsom salts in baths to cleanse and detoxify
• Natural Skin and shower product brand names: Jason,
Oy! Lavera, A’kin, Simple, Liz Earle, Organic Pharmacy,
Neal’s Yard to name but a few!
• Haircare: Naturetint
• Makeup: Inica, Alva, mypure.co.uk
Dentistry
• Teenagers often suffer from cavities and
undergo cosmetic treatment i.e. “braces”
cause heavy metal and mercury issues
together with pain and poor food choices.
• To support this naturopathically Cranial
McTimoney treatments and regular visit to
the hygienist are ideal
More Lifestyle Issues
• Stress and peer pressure - exams and “want,
want,want, try, try, try!”
• Body image issues – false nails, crazy dieting,
anorexia, bulimia, obesity
• Recreational Drug and Smoking: High toxicity and
poisons. Addiction can present itself – together with
physical and mental poor health. Pharmaceutical
drugs - antidepressants, paracetamol, contraceptives,
steroids, antihistamines, antibiotics
• Alcohol: experimenting and binge drinking – affects
blood sugar control
Sleep
• According to the American Sleep Disorders
Association, the average teenager needs around
9.5 hours of sleep per night because hormones
that are critical to growth and sexual maturation
are released mostly during sleeping.
• However, most teenagers do not receive this
amount and their circidian rhythm is affected.
Sleep
• Some teenagers experience a delay in
the circadian timing system that results in
a tendency for them to stay up later and
sleep in later.
• Loss of sleep creates an overwhelming
and uncontrollable need to sleep and
affects virtually all physiological functions.
Sleep
• Sleep loss causes problems with memory
and attention, complex thought, motor
responses to stimuli, performance in
school, and controlling emotions. Sleep
loss may also alter thermoregulation and
increase the risk for various physical and
mental disorders.
Organs Systems Linked to Sleep
• Endocrine system. Most hormone secretion is
controlled by the circadian clock or in response
to physical events. Sleep is one of the events
that modify the timing of secretion for certain
hormones. Many hormones are secreted into the
blood during sleep. For example, scientists
believe that the release of growth hormone is
related in part to repair processes that occur
during sleep.
Endocrine System
• Follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing
hormone, which are involved in maturational
and reproductive processes, are among the
hormones released during sleep. In fact, the
sleep-dependent release of luteinizing hormone
is thought to be the event that initiates puberty.
Other hormones, such as thyroid-stimulating
hormone, are released prior to sleep.
Other systems
Renal system. Kidney filtration, plasma flow, and the excretion of
sodium, chloride, potassium, and calcium all are reduced during both NREM
and REM sleep. These changes cause urine to be more concentrated
during sleep.
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Alimentary activity. Gastric acid secretion is reduced during sleep. In
those with an active ulcer, gastric acid secretion is actually increased and
swallowing occurs less frequently.
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Circadian Rhythm is our internal ‘clock’
It drives rhythms of behaviour and physiology
Controlled by ‘clock genes’
Has a strong impact on energy metabolism (Landgraf D et al, 2011)
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Sex and Contraceptives
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STDs
Unexpected pregnancies and terminations
Condoms
The birth control pill, patch, implant,injection,
intra-uterine devices (the coil), the
cap/diaphragm
Contraceptive Implant
• Small flexible rod that is placed just under skin in
upper arm. It releases a progestogen hormone
and works for up to three years by stopping the
ovaries from releasing an egg each month
Contraceptive Patch
The contraceptive patch is approximately 5cm x 5cm in size.
It releases two hormones – oestrogen and progestogen.
You apply a new patch once a week, every week for three weeks (21 days). You then
stop using the patch for seven days (patch-free week).
•Increases risk of venous thrombosis
•Increases risk of arterial thrombosis is teenager smokes or is diabetic or has
hypertension, overweight, or suffer from migraines with aura.
Oral Contraceptives
• Not only given as a contraceptive but often
for skin issues – especially acne.
Naturopathic Disadvantages:
• Side effects - weight gain, headaches, breast tenderness, mood
changes, skin issues including acne.
• Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections
• All hormonal contraception appears to increase the risk of
developing cancer. (breast, cervical, liver, pancreatic)
• Affects hormonal cycle - menstruation may change (stop, irregular
or spotting, some heavier than before). If there is an underlying
hormonal issues this will remain undetected
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• Increases risk of devleoping venous thrombosis, arterial thrombosis,
heart attacks and strokes
Tattoos and piercings
• Very popular!
• Increases risk of Hepatitis, infection etc
Vaccines:
• These vaccinations are routinely available on the NHS
for teenagers: The information below should not be
construed as my opinion or recommendation.
Vaccines
• Teenage booster (Td/IPV)
Tetanus, diptheria and polio.
Given at: between ages 13 and 18.
Cervical cancer vaccination (HPV, or human
papillomavirus vaccination)
human papillomavirus which has been shown to cause cervical
cancer in women.
Given to girls aged 12-13 and presently 13 -18 as part of a catch-up
programme
Non Routine Vaccines
• Meningitis (MenC) vaccine
(meningococcal group C).
Given: before going to university, or as soon as possible
after starting.
MMR vaccine
Teenagers leaving home to go to college or university
should be vaccinated with MMR if they missed out on
this vaccination or didn’t complete the full course (two
doses of MMR)
Non Routine Vaccinations
• Flu vaccine: If one of the 'at-risk' categories. (diabetes, asthma that
requires inhaled steroids, any serious long-term condition, kidney, liver or
heart disease. Recommended for teenagers who take medication that
affects their immune system) Given: every year starting
from October/November.
Hepatitis B vaccine:
Teenagers who are injecting drug users,
using crack cocaine, smoking heroin or likely to progress to injecting drug
use; those living with injecting drug users; the sexual partners of injecting
drug users; teenagers who change sexual partner frequently; teenagers
travelling for extended periods to places where the disease is more
common.Also recommended for teenagers with long-term kidney or liver
conditions, or those receiving blood products.
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Given: before going to university or as soon as possible after starting (three doses of vaccine are
given initially over a short period, then a fourth dose after 12 months).
Support Mechanisms:
Vaccination is controversial. Become informed about its benefits and side
effects so you can act wisely.
Consider food choices – it does affect mind and mood!
Recommend condoms and educate your children on natural methods of
contraception
Choose a holistic dentist and utilise hygenists and chiropractors
Encourage children to exercise moderately and regularly
Encourage regular sleep patterns
Have a period of silence daily
Encourage A Balanced Diet
• Low Gi diet high in fibre, probiotics, Vit C and Zinc.
Regular portions of protein based from nuts, seeds,
pulses and beans, fish, seafood, lean meat and poultry
(organic) with some wholegrains. Include a variety of
fresh seasonal vegetables – raw or lightly
cooked.Include fresh fruit – ideally seasonal and locally
sourced
• Regular eating habits – eat together as a family
• Sit at a table and chew food properly.
• Encourage filtered water and herb teas.
A Balanced Diet
• Reduce junk food as much as possible.
Recommend they consider before eating or drinking:
does this eat, drink, move, breathe or grow?
• Keep a variety of fresh, healthy “snacks” in the house at
all times and filtered water
• Maintain a home low in xeno-oestrogens/synthetic
hormones and social poisons
Skin Foods
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Flaxseeds, alfafa and other fresh sprouted seeds, pumpkin, sunflower and
seed snacks
Water, herbal teas, beetroot juice, carrot and apple juice
Almonds, Hazlenuts, Brazils and Pecans, Walnuts, Macademia
Brown rice, chickpeas, lentils, beans,
Olive oil and coconut oil or coconut butter
Unsalted popcorn
Tofu – silken or firm
Seaweeds and sea vegetables,
Wheatgrass, barley grass, spirulina etc
Eggs
Acne and Skin Issues
• Detoxify - Toxins are eliminated via the skin
• Sluggish bowels – made worse through dehydration, low fibre, high
inflammatory meat diets, imbalanced veggie diets…
• Poor gut health – bad bacteria overgrowth
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A study on male volunteers with acne showed a greater improvement in total lesion
count with a low GI diet (Danby FW, 2008)
“Nutrition, particularly hyperglycaemic food and milk products, are directly involved in
the pathogenesis of acne” (Plewig G, 2010)
PMS and Hormonal issues–
• Hormone regulation through naturopathic methods
• Dietary - Balance blood sugar with balance of proteins
and fresh vegetables with wholegrains
• Exercise – 1 hour daily moderate exercise
• Regular sleep patterns
• Good intake of fish or essential fatty acids
• B vits, zinc, magnesium, calcium
The Essentials
• Diet high in B complex (important for healthy skin tone and nerves),
chromium to support blood sugar levels, vitamin A, beta carotene, E
(Strengthens membranes & improves capillary integrity, Anti oxidants - help
prevent scarring, magnesium as to calm and hormonal regulation, and zinc
(Required for synthesis of new DNA – new generation of cells, bacterial
suppressor, helps regulate oil glands)
• *Essential fatty acids -Allow fluidity of cell membranes, Anti•
inflammatory,
*After 2 months supplementation with fish oils there was a marked reduction
in “period pains.” Fish oil supplemented contained 1080mg EPA and
720mg DHA, (Harel Z et al, 1996). Include EPO or GLA oil – hormonal
balance and helps keep skin soft
The Essentials
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Probiotic: Essential for immunity and should contain lacto acidophilus
and bifido bacterium. 100,000 salmonella cells needed to cause illness
with good flora but only 10 salmonella cells can cause the same result if
this protection is lost!!
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Vitamin C plays an important role in collagen manufacture, is an
antibacterial, antioxidant and anti inflammatory
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Vitamin D ideally from sunshine and daylight
The Naturopathic Approach
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Educating all with a balanced approach which includes
Dietary health - natural foods and health remedies
Lifestyle
Exercise
Sleep
The importance of reflection and silence
Laughter, love and happiness
Finally
References;
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www.nhs.co.uk
http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih3/sleep/guide/infosleep.htm
mypure.co.uk, organicpharmacy.co.uk
http://www.mercurymadness.org/viewdata.aspx?sectionid=14&dataid=48
Justine Evans BSs.N Med is a Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist who is
available at The Conscious Health Centre. www.justineevans.co.uk