Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates

Developing a good understanding of healthy nutritional habits early in life can yield many rewards to your children over time. Proper nutrition beginning at a young age can help kids learn how to add nourishment to their bodies as they grow and minimize the likelihood of lasting health issues in the future. Moreover, it can also enhance how they feel at school, how they partake in after-school activities, and improve their quality of sleep.

The team at Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates knows that proper nutrition can positively affect children throughout their lifetime. Because September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, we have included information to help parents and caregivers discover more about ideal nutrition for little ones, balanced meals and snacks for children, and lunchbox ideas for school-aged kids. We welcome you to read the following tips and schedule an appointment with one of our gastrointestinal (GI) doctors in New Orleans, LA for further details.

How to build healthy eating habits for your child

Our digestive health experts suggest a few approaches to help promote good dietary habits for healthy children. These include:

• Involve your kids in the food shopping and cooking process. This provides the chance to talk with your little one about selecting nutritious foods and dietary labels while shopping or cooking. Such an opportunity can enable kids to have a fun time finding out about healthy eating while spending quality time with you. Furthermore, encouraging this form of involvement could reduce picky eating or food aversions given that your little one has a chance to learn more about the food you choose.
• Sit down to have meals as a family on a consistent basis. Throughout the meal, maintain positive conversation so your little one does not negatively associate food with stress. Eating associated with stress might result in other issues later on.
• Avoid treating food as a punishment or reward. Putting your child to sleep without eating to punish them or using sugary foods as a pat on the back for proper behavior could affect your child’s relationship with eating over time.
• Adhere to portion recommendations on food labels and review the ingredients. Educating your child about food ingredients and proper portions can help them learn how these factors affect their health.
• Control snack times and the choices of food. While taking time to snack is an important component of ideal nutrition, it is good to schedule a set time for snacking and preselect the types of food your little one can snack on. Furthermore, try to have your child not eat while watching TV. Doing so could foster the overconsumption of food.

What healthy foods for children are recommended?

Our New Orleans, LA pediatric gastrointestinal specialists recommend a balanced eating plan that includes fruits, veggies, protein, dairy, and grains. When possible, it is important to restrict sugar and trans fat when eating meals and snacks. By eating a diet that includes these wholesome food groups, you can help your family members feel more energetic and live healthier lives. For parents and caregivers who prefer to plan, we have provided some of our favorite lunchbox choices for kids below:

• https://www.superhealthykids.com/recipes/kid-lunchbox-photo-roundup-90-healthy-lunches/
• https://www.thepinningmama.com/no-sandwich-lunch-box-ideas/

Where can I locate additional information about healthy diets for kids?

On top of what we provided in our blog, our team members want to present a robust collection of resources for parents and caregivers, which can enable them to obtain the latest details concerning children’s nutrition. A number of the resources we recommend are listed here:

• https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/resources.html
• https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/default.aspx
• https://www.nutrition.gov/topics/nutrition-age/teens/parents-caregivers-and-teachers
• https://medlineplus.gov/childnutrition.html

At Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates, we believe in providing kids with healthy habits early on. Our pediatric gastrointestinal specialists frequently work with parents to create a proper nutrition plan for their children. Contact our New Orleans, LA gastrointestinal team to discover more about the positive effects of healthy diets or selecting appropriate meals and snacks for kids of all ages.

The liver is highly important to the body and performs a number of essential tasks in the intestinal system, including getting rid of toxic substances from the circulatory system, storing vitamins and minerals, and helping to metabolize glucose. Within the liver, a group of thin structures termed bile ducts take the bile to the small intestine to help with digesting food. In the event these tubes become blocked or damaged, liver function may be impaired. A health problem that can cause damage to the bile ducts is an autoimmune disease referred to as primary biliary cholangitis (PBC).

In large part, most people who develop primary biliary cholangitis are females between 40 – 60 years of age, though men and women younger than the age of 40 may also have the disease. Left untreated, the disease might result in the loss of liver function and create the need for a liver transplant. The early detection of the condition is central to the most favorable result.

Since September is known as Primary Biliary Cholangitis Awareness Month, we seek to educate the community about the dangers of this condition. A digestive health specialist can identify PBC and suggest treatment options that can help stall the advancement of the disease. If you or a loved one could have primary biliary cholangitis, partner with Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates for specialized assistance. Our New Orleans, LA gastrointestinal doctors can deliver personalized care and help you manage this concerning liver disorder.

Understanding primary biliary cholangitis

PBC is a rare autoimmune disorder that occurs when an individual’s hyperactive immune response damages otherwise healthy bile ducts. When this occurs, it creates enlargement of tissues that progressively destroys the bile ducts. If bile is unable to travel into the small bowel, it accumulates in the liver and results in damage to the liver. PBC was formerly known as primary biliary cirrhosis; however, the name was amended to avoid confusion with liver diseases resulting from alcohol and drug use. Although the precise causes of primary biliary cholangitis remain undetermined, healthcare experts believe a patient’s immune system response may be triggered by hereditary or environmental factors.

Symptoms of primary biliary cholangitis

The early stages of primary biliary cholangitis may carry no obvious symptoms, making it crucial to get periodic lab work that tracks the health and function of the liver. People who do have symptoms of PBC might present with:

• Itchy skin (pruritus)
• Tiredness
• Dry eyes
• Dry mouth (xerostomia)

Once the disorder progresses, the inflammation in the liver might bring about cirrhosis, a situation where advanced scarring builds up in the organ and hinders its ability to function properly. The clinical signs and symptoms of significant liver damage can include:

• Swollen ankles and feet or edema
• Lesions on the skin containing cholesterol and fat (called xanthomas)
• Discomfort in the abdominal region
• Unintentional weight loss
• Yellowing skin (jaundice)

Should you or a member of your family notice any of the above symptoms, we urge you to get specialized treatment as early as possible. You can connect with a gastrointestinal specialist near you by reaching out to Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates. Our team members provide treatment for patients in the New Orleans, LA community diagnosed with primary biliary cholangitis and additional liver disorders.

In what way is primary biliary cholangitis detected?

A GI doctor can screen people for primary biliary cholangitis by testing for specific substances in the blood or markers that provide information about liver function. Elevated quantities of the ALP (alkaline phosphatase), an enzyme, and the presence of AMAs (antimitochondrial antibodies) in the blood could indicate primary biliary cholangitis. Advanced imaging could also be carried out to visualize the bile ducts and liver to evaluate for signs of damaged tissue. These tests could help rule out other types of liver trouble. In patients where the exact condition remains undetermined, a liver biopsy could be conducted. During a biopsy procedure, a tiny amount of the patient’s liver tissue is excised and delivered to a medical lab to be investigated by a pathology specialist.

What are the treatment options for PBC?

Although there is no cure for primary biliary cholangitis, there are specific medications that can help slow the progression of the disease. Ursodiol, a naturally occurring bile acid, is frequently used to assist bile in moving from the liver into the small bowel. When given early on in the course of the disease, the medication can enhance liver function and possibly postpone the need to undergo liver transplantation. PBC symptoms, such as high cholesterol levels, pruritis, and dry eyes, can additionally be treated and managed by taking medication.

Get treatment for PBC in New Orleans, LA

Should you or someone you love receive a PBC diagnosis, please be aware that specialized care is available from Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates. Our skilled team of digestive health specialists utilizes innovative procedures and progressive research to treat digestive problems, such as primary biliary cholangitis. To learn more about PBC and the ideal options for care, get in touch with our office in New Orleans, LA today.

Article Reference Source: https://www.interceptpharma.com/our-focus/pbc/