The Challenge of Aging

Do you have a will? Why is it important to make a will? What is a living will? What information is available online to create a will?

I do not personally have a will. A living will informs your healthcare providers and your family about your desires for medical treatment in the event you are not able to speak for yourself. There are programs that can be purchased to create your own will on a computer without a lawyer. For example: http://www.alllaw.com/articles/wills_and_trusts/online-will-software.htm
If you have a complicated situation it is recommended you see a lawyer! Here is comedic take on what could happen if you don't make a living will and your health takes a turn! http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s05e13-kenny-dies

In this episode of South Park, Kenny is diagnosed with muscular dystrophy making him unable to communicate with anyone regarding his health situation. Meanwhile his friends and guardians are split between keeping him alive or letting him pass away because they were unable to find his will (up until the end of the episode.)

Environmental Health

I studied the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and made this presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1rawK0VugtSoIs1l0VV4E-9bBUAJVHqCcwmeCzmablCg/edit?usp=sharing

I got my information from the following links:

General information-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pacific_garbage_patch

What people are actually doing about it-
 http://www.gyrecleanup.org/cleanup-plan/

Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life Movie Advertisement

Alternative Medicine Ad

"The hot-cold theory of disease ranks among the most popular systems of contemporary folk medicine in the United States. In health, the human body displays a balanced blending of hot and cold qualities. Sickness will ensue if an excess of hot or cold foodstuffs is ingested. The basic scheme was introduced into Latin America by the Spanish during the 16th century. Reinforced by native cultural values, it became firmly embedded in popular Latin healing traditions. The hot-cold scheme is applied to foods, diseases, and remedies. The terms hot and cold do not necessarily refer to the temperature of foods or remedies. Qualities are assigned on the basis of origin, color, nutritional value, physiological effects of the food or remedy, as well as therapeutical action. Among New York Puerto Ricans, for example, bananas, coconuts, and sugar cane are considered cold, whereas chocolate, garlic,alcoholic beverages, and corn meal are hot. Cold-classified illnesses such are arthritis, colds, and gastric complaints must be treated with hot foods and remedies. Their hot counterparts --constipation, diarrhea, and intestinal cramps--require treatment with cold substances." -Quoted from http://hogarhispano.homestead.com/hispanichealth.html

• Hot-Cold does not refer to actual temperature.
• Hot illnesses are treated with cold foods, cold illnesses are treated with hot foods.
• Foods are divided into hot and cold differently based on the culture. Main cultures that practice this are Chinese, Indian-Ayurvedic (traditional medicine system), and Latin American. 

The Immune System

How does stress effect the immune system?

Stress has many different impacts on the immune system. Stress can negatively impact the digestive system, slowing down digestion during stress and speeding it up afterwards, causing ulcers.

Stress can also raise blood pressure that in turn effects the immune system. Chronic depression can leave the body vulnerable to disease and infection. Many experiments have taken place that indicate people who are stressed, such as those taking care of Alzheimer patients and people who are lonely, have much lower immunity levels/infection fighting T-cells.

Works cited: http://web.ebscohost.com.prozy.palomar.edu/ehost/detail?vid=3&sid=de561a2b-b8ae-48f7-a4c0-9dcbc51de84b%40sessionmgr12&hid=22&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=aph&AN=80444909

and

http://www.apa.org/research/action/immune.aspx

The Science of Sex Appeal

      In the Science of Sex Appeal on Discovery Channel I learned some pretty interesting things. The first thing that that I learned was that women find the smells of their relatives as unsexy, subconsciously protecting them from incest. Another surprising and kind of depressing tidbit of information was learning that women married to good provider men may stray and seek more masculine men in an attempt to gain their genes, particularly when ovulating. As far as physical attraction men have a tendency to be drawn to hips and breasts. Women who sway their hips when walking also appear more attractive. For women, men with broad shoulders and a confident walk attracted them. When a woman is ovulating, her voice becomes more attractive to men. Men also put off a smell that is unattractive to women unless the woman is ovulating. Women in turn put off a smell that makes all women appear sexy. And one of the last things I learned was love and sex each trigger totally different parts of the brain.

Digital Communication Advertisement

(Artifact 11)

Reflection on "Bully" Documentary

     "Bully" is a documentary about bullying in US schools. The lives of several children and the bullying they face are documented in the film. Many of which commit suicide in response to constant bullying. The film can be found on Netflix and on Blueray/DVD. The film's main goal is to be an advocacy tool against bullying. http://www.thebullyproject.com/

      I was amazed and disturbed at how severe the bullying is in certain schools and how poorly the school administration handled it. The school administration did next to nothing to stop bullying and had a,"There's nothing we can do about it, it's just the way it is." attitude. There's definitely a huge negative health impact due to bullying in schools in both mental health and physical health. Mental health is most effected by bullying. http://www.makebeatsnotbeatdowns.org/facts_new.html Here are some statistics I've found. I can't bet my life on the accuracy on these statistics because none are cited. One disturbing statistic is that 1 in 20 students have seen another student with a gun at school and 71% of students have experienced being bullied.

     In order to combat bullying schools should promote and reward students for standing up to bullying and making friends with those who are at risk. Teachers and administration should also do a better job standing up to bullying when it is seen. I think awareness and promoting a positive environment is most important to stomping out bullying instead of a passive wait until something goes wrong and punish system.

(Artifact 10)

Stress and Psychological Health

What really motivates us? Are you motivated by money or more by intrinsic motivators?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rrkrvAUbU9Y

In this presentation Dan Pink challenges the notion that money motivates us at work. He goes over research that proves this is not true, when in fact money incentives can actually cause poorer performance. This seems to me to go more in line with psychological health. When presented with a higher cause as motivation rather than money people have better success. Also people were allowed to have their own time to work on their own projects at work. At Google this time is where 50% of their ideas/products are formed. I believe this can be attributed to self realization by feeling self worth.

Nutrition Journal

What I eat on an average day:

Morning - Food: 1 medium sized whole peach and 1 cup of black berry. Drink: Bottle of water.
Afternoon - Food: 6 inch spicy Italian sandwich from Subway. Drink: 50% Lemonade 50% Unsweetened Iced Tea. 12oz total.
Night - Food: 3 slices of pizza. 16in 1/8 slices. Drink: 1 12oz Pepsi.
Snack (throughout day) - Food : One 6oz can of Pringles. Because once you pop you just can't stop!

What I eat mostly depends on what's available, so my actual day to day diets vary greatly. Here is my report-o-nutrition on something I would likely eat during a day based on the list of food above:

-373g Carbohydrates consumed
-1492 Calories from Carbohydrates consumed
-45% of Calories in my diet contributed to Carbohydrates (recommended amount: 45% to 65%).

•  Foods containing complex carbohydrate    

           -Bread and vegetables on the Subway sandwich.
           -Dough and vegetables on the pizza.

•  Foods containing simple carbohydrate

           -Peach
           -Blackberry
           -Cheese on pizza
           -Cheese on Subway sandwich

•  Foods containing mostly concentrated simple carbohydrate 

           -Pepsi and lemonade.
           -Sugar in Pringles. 

Fat Intake: 

-157g total Fat.
-1416 Calories from total Fat.
-Fat contributes for 43% of total Calories.
-The pizza and Pringles could be replaced with healthier alternatives to remove up to 46g of saturated fat. Reducing total fat intake by about 30%

Protein Intake:

-104g Protein.
-416 Calories from Protein.
-Protein contributes for 13% of total Calories.
-Protein should account for 10-35% of total Calories.

Vitamin/Mineral Intake:

-5876mg Sodium = to 14.69g of Salt.
-All these foods come with sodium as is, no salt is added. Only way to lower sodium intake is to change what is eaten.

Conclusion:

      Based on the data I've collected it is clear there are many imbalances in my diet. Meaning there is too much and too little of certain nutrients in my diet. The main nutrients in my diet there are too much of include over all calories, sodium, and saturated fats. The nutrients I lack include linolenic acid, potassium, and vitamin A. The main changes I would make in my diet would be replacing the pringles, pizza, and soda with healthier alternatives. I am underweight and trying to gain weight so the alternatives would need to have high carbs and protein with low sugar, saturated fats, and sodium.

Food Label Comparison

                                                           

                                    

 My favorite filthy drink, cereal, and snack. Soda is definitely something I drink way too much of. The cereal and chips aren't consumed as often. All but the BBQ chips (surprisingly) contain lots of sugar. The chips are addictive thanks to their sweet delicious fats, salt, and spices.

Nutritional Facts:
Pepsi Wild Cherry: http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-sodas-soft-drinks-wild-cherry_f-ZmlkPTk1NDM4.html

Apple Jacks: http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-breakfast-cereals-ready-to-eat-apple-jacks_f-ZmlkPTgwMDM.html

Lays BBQ Chips: http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-potato-chips-barbecue_f-ZmlkPTE2NjYzNw.html

(Artifact 4)

Movie Advertisement

(Artifact 3)

My Exercise Program

                                Monday - Wednesday - Saturday 

                                               (Cardio and Strength/Endurance) 

                  Stretch every morning and before every work out! 

•      Begin with stretching all major joints 15-30 seconds on each joint. Stretch only to the point where the tension begins and never past!
•      Hike or run 1 mile (should take 5-20 minutes each hike/run) Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. (I'll be hiking up the P mountain after class Mondays and Wednesdays and jogging on a treadmill Saturdays)
•      On Monday and Wednesday the vertical hike will build calf, quad, hamstring, and gluteus muscles.  Add backpack when ready for added resistance. (On days without inclined hikes -for myself, Saturdays- do squats, lunges, and calf raises. Again, add weighted backpack for more resistance.)

• After hiking/jogging on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays:

          -4 sets of 15 push ups (Chest)
          -1 set of 40 sit ups and 1 set of 40 crunches (Abdominal)
          -2 sets of 15 bicep curls (Biceps)
          -2 sets of 15 triceps extensions (Triceps)
          -2 sets of 15 shoulder press (Deltoids)

• Before trying workouts you haven't done learn how to do it the right way here!

(Artifact 2)

       

Introduction

     Hey my name is John Lisenby,  but most people call me Johnny. I'm a Biotechnology major looking to transfer to CSUSM and I'm currently saving money by knocking out most of my lower division classes at Palomar. I'm taking this class and Chemistry at the moment so I've definitely got my work cut out for me this summer! I decided to take this class because it sounds like it will be useful to me in life and will help me get an associates degree in Math and Science on my way to my Biotechnology B.S. I am currently starting to grow my own food up in Valley Center which include blackberries, peaches, bell peppers, Serrano peppers, sweet banana peppers, strawberries, giant pumpkins, heirloom tomatoes, heirloom squash, sun flowers, dinosaur kale, cherry tomatoes, green beans, rainbow chard, red onions, blue berries, rosemary, oranges, limes, lemons, figs, avocados, and macadamia nuts. We also have Alpacas, goats, horses, dogs, cats, fish, and chickens. Other than gardening/farming and college I spend time with my family, friends, and my girlfriend Andrea. That's pretty much my life right now and I look forward to getting started!

(Artifact 1)