October 29 - November 4, 2011
Lifestyle... GARDENING
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
How does your garden grow
Scaevola – the ‘half flower’ BEACH naupaka or scaevola is a robust, bushy evergreen shrub which grows to about 10ft tall and about as wide. It forms a dense, multibranched mound of light green foliage. Branches root where they touch the ground. The leaves are three to six inches long and crowded at the tips of the twigs. Scaevola is a genus of flowering plants in the goodenia family goodeniaceae. It consists of more than 130 tropical species, with the centre of diversity being Australia and Polynesia, including Hawaii. Scaevola is sometimes called ‘half-flower’ because the flowers have petals on just one side, like a hand fan. The five petals are white to pale violet. It blooms most of the year with a peak in summer. The mature fruits are fleshy white drupes about half an inch long. Scaevola is similar to the native herbaceous shrub, inkberry or beachberry. The native species is smaller and less woody, has more succulent leaves that are just one to three inches long and has black fruits. Scaevola occurs naturally on beaches and atolls throughout the tropical Pacific and Indian oceans. It often forms dense thickets on seaside cliffs and sand dunes. Scaevola is highly invasive and has become a troublesome weed in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Here, scaevola has started to established itself on sand dunes and coastal hammocks, displacing native
NATURE SPLENDOR
For all your landscaping, installation or garden maintenance needs, please call or write for a free estimate: 332-3381 or naturesplendor@yahoo.com
YOUR DIET
ASK TAMIKA
BY TAMIKA HANDFIELD
Tamika graduated from Florida International University in Miami with a Masters degree in Dietetics & Nutrition. She is a registered dietitian with the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and licensed to practice medical nutrition therapy in the state of Florida. Email Tamika via tcweeklynews@gmail.com or tamikahandfield@yahoo. com with your healthy eating questions.
What is celiac disease? CELIAC disease is a genetically linked disease that affects the small intestines of millions of people worldwide. Yet, it often goes undiagnosed as persons quietly deal with the many symptoms. Celiac disease is usually present from birth but may lie dormant until it is triggered by either an environmental, emotional, physical or dietary stressor. Once it is triggered, it elicits an immune response, hence it is sometimes considered an auto-immune disease. The body’s defence system (known as antibodies) attacks the lining of the small intestines making it smooth and unable to absorb many nutrients from the food we eat. The damage to the small intestines is very slow to develop but there are many negative health implications. Some of the more common symptoms are listed below, however, the symptoms may vary from one person to another.
Scaevola is said to be disrupting native plant communities
species, and is quickly becoming one of the most common shrubs along the TCI. As evidenced by its ability to rapidly colonise much of the coastal environment, beach naupaka is an adaptable shrub and one that is easy to grow. It likes full sun, is drought tolerant and propagated from seed. The fruits float and the seeds remain viable for more than a year in sea water. However, they will germinate only with fresh water. No doubt the plant also could be propagated by division. Beach naupaka was formerly promoted as an easy growing plant and hedge barrier, but is no longer
recommended due to its aggressive tendency to invade and displace native species. In the TCI, it is defined as a plant that is invading and disrupting native plant communities. It is reported that beach naupaka may supplant native coastal vegetation, including some endangered and threatened species. The leaves are used for defogging face masks and goggles before skin diving. Leaves have been used medicinally and eaten, cooked as greens. The durable wood has been used for articles such as pegs for shipbuilding. The pith has been used for making Malayan rice paper. Symptoms • Abdominal cramping • Diarrhoea • Fatigue
health Tip
Cool cucumbers THANKS to God Almighty and to you my readers for finding my researched information helpful and healthful. Well, shall we hurry? I want to draw your attention to something that is familiar to us in our salad dish most of the time and that is the cucumber. Research tells us that even though fresh cucumbers are mostly composed of water, they still pack a lot of nutrition. The flesh of cucumbers is a very good source of vitamins A and C, and folic acid. The hard skin is rich in fibre and a variety of minerals including magnesium, silica, molybdenum, and potassium. Cucumber is an excellent source of silica, which is a trace mineral
17
that contributes to the strength of our connective tissues. Connective tissues hold our body together. Cucumbers are effective when used for various skin problems, including swelling under the eyes and sunburn. They also contain ascorbic and
By Phillip Simmons caffeic acids. These acids prevent water retention. That may explain why, when cucumbers are applied topically, they are often helpful for swollen eyes, burns and dermatitis.
Applied topically, cucumber can help ease sunburn and swollen eyes
Anemia • Constipation • Weight loss •
Dietary restrictions Persons who have celiac disease cannot tolerate a group of proteins known as gluten. Gluten is the name for a group of storage proteins in many grains, mainly wheat, rye, barley and oats. Well, it is clear how eating can be a major challenge for someone who has celiac disease because wheat is present in many types of foods. These dietary restrictions, coupled with decreased nutrient absorption, puts celiac patients at high risk for nutritional deficiencies. Nutrient deficiencies • Calcium • Iron • Potassium • Magnesium • Fat & water soluble Vitamins • Folic Acid There is no cure for celiac disease, but one of the best treatment options for this condition is strict dietary control. Restricting those foods that are causing discomfort can alleviate some of the symptoms. However, I must caution that restricting your food intake is not something you want to attempt without professional help. If you feel you may have this condition, check with your primary care doctor who may refer you to a gastroenterologist for further testing and diagnosis. Once diagnosed, a dietitian will help you design a food plan that will minimise your discomfort while ensuring you receive much needed nutrients. ‘Like’ my page, ACCU Medical Nutrition—Nutrition in Demand, on Facebook and receive up to date nutrition information. Reference: Celiac Sprue Organization
ACCU Medical Nutrition is based in Graceway IGA Plaza, Providenciales. Call 946 8308, 242 3978 or 442 3978.