Malaria Basics

Malaria Basics
We are working on our Imagine No Malaria commitment, and one of our first steps is to learn a bit about what we are fighting to eliminate. Malaria is actually a group of 4 illnesses, each caused by one of four parasites. About 300 to 500 million people are infected with malaria, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Malaria kills about 1 million people every year, most of them children younger than 5 years old.
How does a person become infected? Malaria is spread by a type of mosquito called Anopheles-they are active at night. The story begins when a mosquito bites a person who has malaria. The parasites are present within that person’s red blood cells, and the blood cells are the mosquito’s food. The parasites stay inside the mosquito until it bites another person, and then they enter the new victim’s bloodstream.
What are the symptoms of malaria? The symptoms usually appear about 12-17 days after the mosquito bite. They include cycles of fever followed by sweats, chills and fatigue. During the fevers, there are often headaches, nausea, dehydration, and a rapid heart rate. The cycles occur as the parasites infect and then destroy the red blood cells. As the infection progresses, the victim develops anemia, and enlargement of the liver and spleen (both are important organs located in the abdomen). Especially in young children, malaria can cause failure of the lungs, liver or kidneys as well as shock (all of which can kill).
Is malaria treatable? Yes, medicines are available to treat malaria. Many of these medicines are a bit unpleasant to take, but they are safe and inexpensive.
Does malaria occur in the US? Malaria is diagnosed every year in the U.S., basically because people travel abroad and bring the infection back with them. Travelers can prevent this from happening by taking anti-malaria medications when they travel to malaria infested areas. Malaria once was common in the southeastern U.S., but no longer. It’s a reason to be hopeful-if we did it here, we can eliminate malaria in other nations too.
How can we win against malaria? It’s a multi-step approach that includes prevention, education, treatment, and communication.
Prevention-provide bed nets and drain the wet spots where Anopheles lives. When we break the life cycle of the mosquito, we prevent malaria transmission.
Education-teach people how to fight malaria.
Communication-get the critical information to the people even in remote rural areas.
Treatment-improve access to health care for those who are infected.

My Plate-the new nutrition guidelines

In June, the USDA issued new guidelines for daily nutrition. The old familiar food pyramid is gone, replaced by a diagram that is easier to use. It’s called “my plate." Making food choices for a healthy lifestyle can be as simple as using the USDA Tips. Balance your calories, choosing healthy foods to eat more often, and cut back on unhealthy foods.
Find out how many calories YOU need for a day as a first step in managing your weight. Go to www.ChooseMyPlate.gov to find your calorie level. Take the time to fully enjoy your food as you eat it. Eating too fast or when your attention is elsewhere may lead to eating too many calories. Pay attention to hunger and fullness cues before, during, and after meals. Use them to recognize when to eat and when you’ve had enough.
Avoid oversized portions. Use a smaller plate, bowl, and glass. Portion out foods before you eat. When eating out, choose a smaller size option, share a dish, or take home part of your meal.
Eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fat-free or 1% milk and dairy products. These foods have the nutrients you need for health—including potassium, calcium, vitamin D, and fiber. Make them the basis for meals and snacks.
Make half your plate fruits and vegetables. Choose red, orange, and dark-green vegetables like tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and broccoli, along with other vegetables for your meals. Add fruit to meals as part of main or side dishes or as dessert.
Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk. Both have the same amount of calcium and other essential nutrients as whole milk, but fewer calories and less saturated fat.
Make half your grains whole grains. To eat more whole grains, substitute a whole-grain product for a refined product—such as eating whole-wheat bread instead of white bread or brown rice instead of white rice.
Foods to eat less often: Cut back on foods high in solid fats, added sugars, and salt. They include cakes, cookies, ice cream, candies, sweetened drinks, pizza, and fatty meats like ribs, sausages, bacon, and hot dogs. Use these foods as occasional treats, not everyday foods.
Compare sodium in foods. Use the Nutrition Facts label to choose lower sodium versions of foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals. Select canned foods labeled “low sodium,” ”reduced sodium,” or “no salt added.”
Drink water instead of sugary drinks. Cut calories by drinking water or unsweetened beverages. Soda, energy drinks, and sports drinks are a major source of added sugar, and calories, in American diets.

Empty calories are foods that contain calories but not nutrients. They include sugar and solid fats like margarine or butter. Here are examples of foods that contain empty calories:

Food with some empty calories
Food with few or no empty calories
Sweetened applesauce (contains added sugars)
Unsweetened applesauce
Regular ground beef (75% lean) (contains solid fats)
Extra lean ground beef (90% or more lean)
Fried chicken (contains solid fats from frying and skin)
Baked chicken breast without skin
Sugar-sweetened cereals (contain added sugars)
Unsweetened cereals
Whole milk (contains solid fats)
Fat-free milk

For more information about My Plate, see the kiosk at church or go to www.MyPlate.gov