Fluid and Electrolyte Metabolism

Writing this blog motivates me to regularly prune and update my collection of basic tools, and if they are in a book, see if there is a web-based version of the same or better quality.

Today as I was recording lab values for my tube feeding patients, I decided to look for online interpretation tools. I really like the Merck Manual's chapter on Fluid and Electrolyte Metabolism. The information is well-organized and explained clearly and concisely.

Here is the link to the Introduction. You can navigate to other pages by clicking on the topics (e.g., water and sodium balance)  listed at the top of each web page.

This guide on converting conventional units to Système International d'Unités (SI) or international units (IU) also would be useful to refer to when reading the literature.

Nutrition Podcasts

Today, when one of my colleagues asked me to define podcast, I began to wonder what food and nutrition podcasts are currently available, particularly for dietetics students and practicing dietitians who might want to design their own summer school curriculum. One of the benefits of a podcast is you can download the course or show to your iPod or other MP3 player and listen to it while you run, cycle, hike or just lie on a blanket under a shady tree.

 Here is a beginning list I put together after doing a quick selective Google search.

Introduction to Human Nutrition (UC Berkeley)

Food, Ethics and the Environment - This five-part conference held at Princeton University in 2006 featured Marion Nestle, Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser as speakers.

All You Can Eat, the podcast of journalist and foodie Don Genova, whom you may already know from his CBC Radio features.

Food Allergy Resource on "PEN"

 (This supplements yesterday's post on food allergy resources.)

Dietitians of Canada's PEN also has 3 full knowledge pathways on food allergies with up-to-date resources such as the May 2007 Current Issues article on Food Allergy in Adults.  Note: you need to be a subscriber to access PEN.

Food Allergy Resources

Today I'm posting some of the web resources on food allergy I consulted -- some familiar, others new to me -- while updating our hospital's menu-specific list of food allowed/not allowed on allergy diets.

Dial-A-Dietitian's food allergy links

Dietitians of Canada's Fact Sheet on Food Sensititivies

What is a food allergy? (concise factsheet from the Food Safety Network)

Health Canada Food Labeling

Canadian Food Inspection Agency's page on Food Allergens

Allergy/Asthma Information Association