MSWA Bulletin Magazine Winter 16

Swallowing: Everyone’s doing it.
But no one is talking about Swallowing it! Day
Jamaica Grantis, MSWA Speech Pathologist
Campaign Kit
Calcium,
Vitamin D and MS
Amber Rose, MSWA Volunteer & Student Dietitian
The average Australian swallows 900 times a day. That’s
around three times an hour during sleep, once per minute
while awake and even more during meals. It’s something every
Australian is doing. But very few of us are talking about it.
Most of us are unaware how difficulty with swallowing
can be frightening and even life threatening. So this year
on Wednesday, 11 May 2016, Speech Pathology Australia
launched Australia’s first Swallowing Awareness Day.
Swallowing Awareness Day 2016 was an opportunity to bring
attention to swallowing disorders and to connect people
with speech pathologists, the professionals who can help.
Speech pathologists assess and treat people with Dysphagia
(difficulty swallowing) – pronounced ‘dis-fay-juh’.
It is estimated around one million Australians have difficulty
with swallowing. Swallowing disorders remain largely
invisible, poorly understood by the general community, and
rarely addressed in government policy.
Swallowing problems can mean food, drinks or saliva gets
into the lungs (aspiration), and this can cause lung infections
(pneumonia). Severe swallowing complications can lead to
death, while other swallowing complications can lead to poor
nutrition, dehydration, health complications, and social isolation.
Australians with undiagnosed difficulties are frequently
referred to other health practitioners — often for expensive
and invasive investigations — when a speech pathologist
could readily manage the problem.
Thermomix Competition
For those with a Thermomix, it really stands out on its own
in terms of kitchen appliances. It is a multifunction kitchen
appliance that reduces cooking time, effort and cost. The
Thermomix performs the functions of 12 different appliances
from finely chopping onions and vegetables, to gently stirring
casseroles and curries, to whipping up a pavlova. It is ideal
for busy parents who are time poor, and for those who find
cooking and meal prep difficult due to other limitations.
Thermomix is running a raffle through their distribution
network. The raffle closes mid-June. They have offered all
proceeds to the MS Society for the purchase and gifting of a
Thermomix to a Member. Depending on the amount raised,
there may be more than one Thermomix to be gifted.
awareness day
Wednesday 11 May 2016
Jamaica Grantis, MSWA Speech Pathologist said,
“A swallowing problem can occur at any stage of life.
Swallowing is a skill developed from infancy.”
Around 15-30 percent of people aged 65 years and over
living in the community have a swallowing difficulty, with that
figure rising to over 50 percent for older Australians living in a
nursing home. And after falls, choking is the second biggest
killer of nursing home residents.
Almost half of everyone who has had a stroke will have a
swallowing problem, 69 percent of people with Parkinson’s
disease will have swallowing difficulties, as will 25 percent of
patients with multiple sclerosis.
Swallowing Awareness Day is an opportunity for all of us to
learn more about swallowing difficulties and how they impact
on the lives of our friends, neighbours and our wider community.
For more information or to discuss any concerns you can
ring Jamaica Grantis on (08) 9365 4888.
If you would like the chance
to win a Thermomix, please
write and tell us, in 50 words
or less, why you think you
should be a winner. If you
cannot write, please call OT
on 9365 4888 and tell us in
your own words, and we will
write it down for you.
Don’t forget to include your name and contact details.
Address your submission to Sandra Wallace or submit by
email to sandra.wallace@mswa.org.au
Entries close Firday, 26 August 2016.
What is calcium?
You probably already know that our bones and teeth are made
of a mineral called calcium. But did you know that calcium
is also classified as an earth metal? It’s pretty amazing to
think that our skeletons are made of metal! Our bones, though
we think of them as hard and rigid, are always turning over,
reshaping and rebuilding as we grow older – from birth through
to old age. This means that calcium is an essential nutrient for
humans and we need to consume it in our daily diet (in the
right amounts!) to keep ourselves in the best health.
Why is it extra important to me?
Not getting enough calcium can put you at risk of developing
osteoporosis. Osteoporosis makes our bones weak and
increases the risk of fractures and broken bones from
falls. Unfortunately, people with MS are at increased risk of
developing osteoporosis due to:
• side effects from medications, which can affect the
absorption of calcium;
• being unable to be physically active due to fatigue and/or
immobility, as our bones need to be subjected to regular
weight-bearing activities every day to stay as strong as
possible; and
• needing to avoid heat and the sun, because vitamin D is
also important for calcium absorption and bone health, and
most of the vitamin D our body needs is made by the action
of sunlight on our skin.
What foods contain calcium?
Dairy foods including milk, cheese and yoghurt are all good
sources of calcium. Non-dairy sources of calcium include fish
with edible bones such as tinned sardines and salmon, firm
tofu, legumes, almonds, brazil nuts, fortified soy products,
and leafy greens like broccoli, kale and bok choy.
How much do I need?
Osteoporosis Australia recommends that most people have
three to five serves of calcium-rich foods per day in order
to meet their body’s needs. Most people need 1,000 mg of
calcium per day, which increases to 1,300 mg of calcium per
day once you are over the age of 50. A serve of calcium-rich
food could be:
• One cup (250ml) of reduced fat milk = 520mg of calcium
• Two slices (40g) of reduced fat cheese = 418mg of calcium
• One tub (200g) of low-fat natural yoghurt = 488mg of calcium
• Half a cup of firm tofu = 416 mg of calcium
• Sardines canned in water, no added salt, drained = 486mg
of calcium
• One cup (250ml) of low fat fortified soy milk = 367mg
of calcium
If you think that you are not getting enough calcium through
your diet alone, it is best to speak to your doctor about your
concerns before taking supplements.
Cooking with calcium
Try it! Smoked Salmon, Rocket & Ricotta Linguine (Serves 4)
• 250g linguine pasta or spaghetti
• 250g Australian reduced-fat fresh ricotta, crumbled
• 100g smoked salmon, torn into bite sized pieces
• 100g rocket leaves
• ½ cup basil leaves, roughly chopped
• 2 spring onions, finely sliced
• ½ teaspoon finely grated lemon rind
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 /3 cup shaved Australian parmesan, for serving
1. Cook linguine according to packet directions or until
tender. Drain and return to pasta pot with a small amount
of pasta water.
2. Stir in ricotta, salmon, rocket, basil, spring onions, lemon
rind and juice, oil and pepper.
3. Divide between bowls and serve with shaved parmesan.
Tip: You could add 300g of sliced smoked chicken in place of
smoked salmon.
Nutrients per Serve:
Energy 1614 kJ (386 calories) Protein 23g
Total Fat 11.9g Saturated Fat 5.5g
Carbohydrate 45g
Sugars 2g
Dietary Fibre 3g
Sodium 647mg
Calcium 297mg
Iron 1mg
Recipe Credit:
Dairy Australia Good Health Recipe Book II (available online)
Article Text Credits:
Osteoporosis Australia
Dietitians Association of Australia
Croxton et al 2015. “Food and Nutrition Throughout Life”.
Allen & Unwin: NSW, Australia.
14 Winter 2016 The MS Society of Western Australia The MS Society of Western Australia Winter 2016 15