cliff bars

         I was in Alpine Bakery the other day and the manager came up to me and was telling me about the long/late hours he had to work at his job. He said he could not do it without cliff bars and energy drinks. That got me thinking.  I eat cliff bars nearly every day at work and on my way to Shepherd Center. They are a great mid-morning snack because they are filling and taste good. So I decided to research them and here is what I found:

    I found that although they are high in calories they help fuel your muscles and replenish your glycogen! The  carbohydrates, healthy fats and fiber give you an energy boost.

           Cliff bars are created for those who need a quick energy fix. It usually works for me because I don’t usually need more than 6 hours of energy. If you’re just sitting on the couch a cliff bar is probably not the greatest idea. They are normally taken before or after workouts. It also works for me because EVERYTHING is difficult for me. Standing, walking, writing, getting dressed etc.

         So cliff bars are a  great idea for those who want/need to have energy for a short time!

           Nutrition is very important for not only me, but everyone! Now energy is something I definitely need. Unfortunately, I usually resort to  grab and go. So, for energy I might grab a quick container of cold coffee or a bag of chips. After reading I discovered ways of increasing energy may not stem from what you eat.

  Working out is probably the last thing you want to do when you’re tired, but it’s very important. Working out improves the heart, lungs, muscles and it also gives you self- confidence, drinking lots of water and not becoming dehydrated.

      Getting to bad early is extremely important for decreasing fatigue.  If you are feeling that you can’t get enough sleep try short naps.

        So working out, drinking water, and getting enough sleep are just a few ways you can stay awake. Along with the consumption of cliff bars.  

MS

                       Over at Shepherd Center there are many different patients that come in. For example there are, those who have experienced brain injury and spinal cord injury. A third group that comes to Shepherd are those who have MS, or multiple sclerosis.

MS is where the body’s immune system is directed against the body’s central nervous system. The central nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. The immune system then attacks the body’s myelin, which is the fatty substance surrounding the nerve fibers. The disease is thought to be triggered by environmental factors in MS susceptible patients.

                Fatigue is probably the number one problem for people who have this disease. There are other problems like balance, pain, swallowing problems, vision, speech, etc.  Remember that every wire in the brain or spinal cord has insulation.

                It’s a lot like brain injury in which every story or occurrence is very unique. The course of the disease may also be very different. With MS, the brain’s connections with other organs are lost .  

    It’s a disease that is just  terrifying to me. The exact cause of it is unknown and there is currently no cure.

Diabetes

     Recently I found out that Diabetes was considered a disability. I was surprised but here is why:

    There are numerous complications resulting from Diabetes. Several of those are eye complications, kidney disease, heart disease, dental disease and nerve damage. These can be reduced by proper management, but they still provide A LOT of work for the person with this disability.

     Disability is defined by the ADA, Americans with Disability Act, as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more life activities. In accordance with the ADA you must not discriminate against those who have Diabetes.

                Another reason why Diabetes is a disability is that it strongly affects those  in the workplace. An employer cannot fire someone because of their Diabetes. The employer must provide accessible accommodations, if requested, so that an individual can complete their work.

So although 29 million Americans have Diabetes it is still considereda disability. Some cases are worse than others