Rota Krape, RN

Latest Author Features

Self-Care and the Current Pandemic

Isolation • Fear • Uncertainty • Confusion These are symptoms from a pandemic that has cast the world in fear. A fear of getting sick, a fear of spreading the virus, even the fear of dying. Our social distancing directives are meant to slow the spread of the virus but come at a steep price. Isolation disconnects us from our routines, our environment, our friends, and even ourselves. With all the confusion about drugs, treatments, quarantine, and conflicting plans for return to school and jobs from a variety of professionals, it is important, now more than ever, to turn to self-care. We often refer to self-care as a huge part

Little Athletes Need Proper Hydration & Nutrition In Order To Perform Optimally

How are you hydrating and feeding your little (or not so little) athlete? Eating a healthy diet ensures that your athlete is getting all the nutrients his or her body needs to produce energy and create new muscle tissue, enzymes, and other cellular structures involved in energy metabolism. Proper nutrition can also help repair damage from training as well as everyday wear and tear, and it keeps the body’s muscles, bones, joints, tendons, and organs functioning optimally. You are taking your child to his or her sporting event. What have you provided for hydration and nutrition during and after the event? Sadly, Americans spend hundreds of millions of dollars on

Are Our Children Losing Enthusiasm?

The subject of “digital dementia” is getting a lot of buzz these days. Although some are quick to dismiss it, digital dementia is very real and could pose a threat to a substantial portion of the population. Overuse of screen time can lead to a host of physical and mental health issues, and notably, an increased risk of suicide and depression, for teens in particular. A 2017 study by a psychology professor at San Diego State University found that US teens who spend more than three hours a day using electronic devices such as phones, tablets, and laptops are 35% more likely to have a risk factor for suicide than

Flame Retardants— Helpful or Harmful?

Flame retardant and fire-resistant fabric are common features in clothing designed for the industrial sector. Firefighters may be the most frequent wearers of flame-retardant clothing; however, other professions including electricians and oil/gas drillers make use of it too. Although the idea of protecting textiles against fire has been around since roughly 400 BC, the notion of creating fireproof textiles did not gain prominence until the 17th century. Flame Retardants Produce More Toxic Smoke If an object doused in flame retardants catches fire — yes, they can still catch fire — it gives off higher levels of carbon monoxide, soot, and smoke than untreated objects. Ironically, these three things are more

Wellness For Our Youth | Why Are Our Children Sick?

According to the CDC: 3 million children are hospitalized every year 1 in 400 children has diabetes 1 in 40 has autism 1 in 20 has ADHD Half of all children have a chronic disease and more than 40,000 children are in cancer treatment every year. Why are so many children sick? What are we doing to cause this epidemic of poor health in our children? Many people think that diseases “just happen”. Functional medical practitioners know that there are two main causes of illness. On one hand, the body does not get enough of the nutrients it needs. On the other hand, the body gets too many bad things

The History of Medicine

Learning how our modern medical system originated and how it has changed can help you better understand how it functions today. Way back in 400 BC, medicine was called natural medicine. Hippocrates was the founder of natural medicine, based on the belief that the laws of nature induce cures. Our present day Doctors of Naturopathy hold this philosophy. Until the early 1900s, medical schools taught natural healing. These doctors learned the power of herbs and hydrotherapy, and they encouraged the consumption of fruits and vegetables. They were considered naturopaths. Yes, there were snake oil charlatans as well, and this period was considered the wild west of medicine. Anyone could do