4November 2010Hi Times Issue 2 Vol. 102

Healthy habits help

By Brittany BelkiewitzEditor-In-Chief

By Alex SaliwanchikStaff Writer

Photo by Brittany Belkiewitz

Freshman Chloe Owen brings a bag lunch containing fruit and other healthful snacks. Her fellow ninth-grader, Emily Barsic, is heartbroken that she only has greasy mini corndogs to eat.

Overweight children can fall victim to all kinds of bullying. From name-calling to play-ground confrontations, stud-ies show that larger children are more likely to be the target of bullying than children with smaller body sizes. “It is really sad how many over-weight children get picked on these days. Sometimes children can’t control their weight be-cause of what their parents feed them or how their metabolism is. Parents should control this situation and make sure their child isn’t getting picked on,” said junior Elizabeth Poreba. Reactions to a parent’s pres-sure can differ depending on the kid’s age. Some teenagers rebel and talk back to their parents. The pressure might not bear as much significance to younger

People don’t have to starve themselves to lose weight. When peo-ple don’t eat enough, it can slow down their metabolism and make it a lot harder to lose weight. Luckily, there are plenty of healthy yummy foods to aid in the weight-loss process. Sophomore Addie Boardman said, “People used to tell me all the time that they wouldn’t eat a lot to lose weight. I thought they were crazy, because I knew that wasn’t good for them. There are plenty of good ways to lose weight without having to starve yourself.” When dieting, tasty foods to eat are foods that contain a bit of fat. The body needs fat to function, and it helps people feel full longer. One suggested healthy meal is soup and salad. A serving of soup has about 100 calories, and one serving of lettuce only contains 10 calories. “Sometimes when I go out to eat, I just order soup and salad. It fills me up quick and it is very healthy for me to eat during cheerleading season,” said junior Emma Bonilla. Healthy foods that also taste good are: raw vegetables (such as carrot and celery sticks), cucumber, broccoli and slices of red and green peppers, along with a fat-free dip or fat-free ranch dressing. Popcorn is also a good snack, one cup of microwave popcorn is only about 20 calories, so people can eat as much as they want. A piece of fresh fruit or a piece of string cheese can be a good choice for a snack, as well. Sophomore Brad Lubiniecki said, “I love to snack on veggies when I am hungry. I eat lots of carrots and green peppers.”

What do sports like lacrosse, cheerleading and tennis all have in common? The answer is sim-ple, not to mention downright stinky: Sweat is the sacrificial glue that unites athletes world-wide, forging a mutual bond be-tween quarterbacks and goalies alike. Factors like workout length, temperature, and intensity af-fect the body’s athletic capabili-ties. For example, rigorous two-a-days in 90° temperatures can leave athletes feeling strained and drained. Unless special care is taken to consume extra liquids, students are in danger of dehydration. Tracey Pickford is a Regis-tered Dietician who resides in La Porte. She has worked in both clinical settings and as an employee of the Quaker Oats Company. Pickford said, “It’s absolutely essential to drink be-fore, during, and after exercise.” For workouts lasting only 30-45 minutes, a few sips of water will generally suffice. Junior Sarah Harrison, a var-sity member of the LPHS pom and dance team, said, “I don’t see a huge difference in my en-ergy level when I drink stuff like Gatorade, so I just stick with water.” Smart options for shorter workout intervals also include electrolyte tablets and low-cal-orie sports drinks to aid with retaining fluid.

Nutritious food energizes adolescents and promotes healthy teen weight loss

Weight watchers: Parents pressure children not to pack on the pounds

By Alex SaliwanchikStaff Writer

Pain relievers cause harmful addiction By Sarah FisherStaff Writer

The average student has home-work everyday, sports every night, a job on the weekend and they still have to fit in time with friends and family. All of these factors can place astronomical levels of stress on a student’s life. In a CNN survey, about 88% of randomly selected students admitted to being extremely stressed. One of the most common side effects is a headache. What do people go to for relief? Pain med-icine would be the most logical treatment. But according to the survey, many teens are stressed on a daily basis, which means that they are more likely to con-sume substantial amounts of

Containing almost zero calo-ries, water-soluble tablets like Nuun, CamelBak Elixir and Zym Endurance provide electrolytes (compounds such as sodium and potassium) with yummy flavors and few carbs. These can be pur-chased at drugstores for around $10. Athletes who excrete elec-trolyte-rich sweat, characterized by white flakes on the face, or who exercise in blazing tem-peratures should take advantage of these tablets. As a word of warning, weak stomachs might be upset by these sodium-rich

supplements. Low-calorie sports drinks, like G2, PowerAde Zero, Mo-tor Tabs, Nuun U, Crystal Light Hydration and Luna Sport Electrolyte Splash, are also op-tions for workouts that are not too lengthy or extreme. These lighter liquids allow players to indulge in a cool drink without consuming unnecessary calo-ries. However, for practices or games lasting longer than an hour, it is imperative that ath-letes choose to rehydrate with

a drink that contains just the right combination of water, car-bohydrates and electrolytes. “PowerAde and Gatorade have electrolytes. They taste better. Plus, there’s a big variety flavor-wise,” said sophomore runner Caitlin Anderson. After 60-90 minutes of con-tinuous physical activity, the body’s sugar stores are signifi-cantly depleted. At this point, high-carb sports drinks become necessary to replenish. Gato-rade, PowerAde, Gleukos, Cy-tomax and GU20 Sports Drink

are among the best sources for vital sugars. “The benefits of sports drinks, besides basic hydration, are car-bohydrates that are rapidly ab-sorbed and electrolytes. Sports drinks should be about 6-8% carbohydrate,” said Pickford. For agonizing training sessions exceeding two hours, endurance sports drinks are recommended. Gatorade Endurance Formula and PowerBar Endurance are two such thirst quenchers. Both contain extra electrolytes to offset substantial sweat losses and prevent cramps. Sports physicians have found that the more salty drinks an athlete consumes, the less urine they produce, resulting in the loss of fewer electrolytes. After a hard workout, nothing tastes better than a cool glass of…er…chocolate milk? Recent research on the body’s recovery methods shows that this bovine beverage is one of the most ef-fective ways to hydrate post-workout. Ultimately, however, athletes’ performance levels are a product of their skill and determination, not which type of sports drink they choose to consume. Never-theless, competitive individuals remain dedicated to the concept of attaining a magical sports elixir. Freshman Jake Lindsey pro-claimed, “If I could invent my own flavor of sports drink, it would taste like Victory. My drink would make me feel hap-

py and ready to play hard!”

Bottoms up! Athlete potential unlocked with appropriate fuel

pain medicine. Junior Emily Cizewski believes over-the-counter drugs are just as addicting as illegal drugs be-cause they are a cheap, easy fix for pain. “I believe they are addicting, and many people abuse pain pills and consume too many. I would recommend taking organic medi-cines, and stretching and exercis-ing weekly,” said Cizewski. The official Advil website pro-vides customers with these tips to enforce the safe consumption of pain medicine: “Make sure that you are not al-lergic to any of the ingredients, and consume the correct dosage, avoiding over dosage.” “Make sure you don’t chance the dosage of the pain medica-tion without the consent of a

doctor; consuming more than the recommended dose could in-crease the risk of side-effects. To maximize benefits, it is impor-tant to use OTC medicines in a responsible manner according to the label, and speak with a doc-tor or pharmacist if you have any questions.” The full list of side effects, safe-ty precautions and tips for find-ing the right pain medicine and dosages for you can be found at www.advil.com. “I agree that teenagers consume too many pain relievers in a small amount of time. I would advise drinking water, tea, or soda. An-other good tip for trying to relieve stress related pain is to massage your temples, and lie in a dark, quiet room. That always works!”

said junior Shelby Strebe.

children as it does to teens. In this early stage of life, younger children don’t really understand bullying and don’t take it in a pressuring way. Some parents are very hard on their children if they are consid-ered “overweight”. These pushy parents enforce dieting and exercising plans. Sometimes this doesn’t work out for the best. Oftentimes, families are torn apart by these harsh and extreme tactics. This makes it hard for the children to be con-fident in their appearance. As a result, children become very uncomfortable around other people and their friends. Senior James Snyder said, “It is terrible what some of these par-ents put their children through. Some kids just can’t help the way they eat and how it affects their body. Parents just need to sit down and talk with them in-stead of pressuring them to do

things they aren’t comfortable doing.” As the years pass, overweight children are being bullied more and more. Parents need to be assertive and take an action in their kid’s eating habits. No one wants their child to be picked on at school or in public. It is better for parents to encourage their child to eat healthily and keeping them in the average weight range. If they wait too long, it is harder on the child to be pressured about their weight as they mature. “Parents need to make sure that their children eat the right foods to control their weight. As children get older, they start actually caring what they look like. It will be harder to pressure their children to lose weight when they get older because they will feel embarrassed and offended,” said freshman Kylie

Harlow.

(Top left) Kelsey Gushrowski, Taylor Thomp-son, Whitney Neess, Dana Karnavas and Ma-ria Sobecki drink Gatorade during basketball practice. (Bottom left) Nicole Fasel, Cylver Hamblin and Sierra Mullican pose with their drink of choice. (Top right) Sports drinks like Gatorade quench Holly Buresh’s thirst during practice.

Hi Times Issue 2 Vol. 102November 20105

SPEAKWhich Thanksgiving dish makes your mouth water?

Interviews and pictures by Brittany Belkiewitz, Sky Shortt, and Courtney West

“Cranberry sauce...Mmmmm!”

-Courtney AustinJunior

“Pistachio salad--I love the marshmallows!”

-Maria SobeckiSophomore

“I like the mashed potatoes and gravy. It makes me smile.”

-Booney FortJunior

“My dad’s turkey. It tastes good.”- Javon Harris

Freshman

Slicers succeed daily

“A lot of times, people get tormented if they have really bad acne,

and I don’t think that’s right.”

~Kayla MowbraySenior

Photo by Courtney West

Senior Chase Freeland cringes as loud music blasts from his headphones. His warning to other teens: “Turn it down!”

Today’s society is undoubtedly stimulant based. However, this could cause permanent damage to some of our most important senses. Even using items such as hair dryers and iPods can result in hearing loss. According to miracle-ear.com, over 30 million people experi-ence some degree of hearing loss. That is every one in ten Americans. Hearing loss is become more prevalent to younger age groups. Ears have no natural defens-es. Loud noises affect the sen-sory receptors on the hair cells in the inner ear. Once injured, the receptors aren’t able to send electrical impulses along the au-ditory nerve to the brain. Hearing loss is irreversible. Once the damage is done, there is no way to regain what is al-ready lost. Ringing in the ears after jam-ming out to the stereo in a car or attending a concert is known as tinnitus. It usually lasts until ears readjust to normal volume levels. “I get patients at least once a month that come in with tinni-

By Courtney WestStaff Writer

Ear fears confirmed: “Normal” noise contributes to hearing loss in teens

By Lauren DipertStaff Writer

Serious acne leads to suicidal thoughts

By Courtney WestStaff Writer

Stress surrounds student life

tus,” said Dr. Webb who works at the La Porte Med Quick. Damage begins at 85 decibels. This is the equivalent of trucks, lawn mowers and shouting. “It’s strange to think that I can damage my hearing by simply mowing the lawn,” said sopho-more Sierra Conklin. Miracle-ear.com lists hearing loss as the third leading chronic health condition among Ameri-cans, only topped by arthritis and high blood pressure. Although hearing loss can be slight, it could be the determin-

ing factor of hearing aids later in life. White noise is also very dan-gerous. The constant level of sound is irritating to the recep-tors in the ear and can also re-sult in hearing loss. Taking the time to wear ear plugs to a loud concert or turn-ing down music players a few notches will be beneficial in the long run. It also helps to take a break from the constant him of everyday noises. “Once it’s gone, it’s gone,” said

Dr. Webb.

With demanding classes, blooming social lives and extra-curricular activities, adolescents are finding it harder to de-stress than ever. But when that big paper is turned in or the big game has already been played and the stress is still lingering, it isn’t healthy. Some individuals become so accustomed to feeling stressed that they develop anxiety without a no-ticeable reason. “There’s always a reason behind stress, so it’s important that teens identify the root of a problem,” said Mrs. Hunt. Signs of unnecessary stress include chronic lack of ability to focus, an overwhelming desire to main-tain routine, habitual procrastination and constant negativity. With so many activities and priorities to juggle, it’s hard to let oneself de-stress. “I have three AP classes right now, AP English, Calculus and AP Chemistry, and they are right in a row. On top of that, I still manage to play soccer. It’s very hard to adapt to such a stressful schedule,” said senior Kelsey Tuholski. Excess stress can cause sleep disturbances, fatigue and muscle tension. It also creates a nervous stat-ure, changes in eating habits and energy and mood changes. The reason that people remain stressed even after the original stressor has already occurred is due to hundreds of receptors on the external membrane of the brain’s surface. Each receptor is designed to attach to a specific peptide, like a lock and key. The peptides, once at-tached, provide the cell with an emotion of an incentive to take an action. Stress occurs when these cells start to have habitual emotions. If stress becomes the predominant emotion, the cells will tend to have more receptors for this feeling than any of the others.

“People need to find their limits and put their own well-being first sometimes,” said Mrs. Hunt.

Teens and acne, the two seem to go together. Everyone has had acne, and everyone at some time has felt insecure about it. But can acne be leading teens to thoughts of suicide? A new study has shown that acne, or a negative skin complexion, has led teens to depression and thoughts of suicide. Bryan Mi-chaels, a junior, said, “It’s something everyone has to go through, it happens to everyone and I don’t think that other people should have the right to make fun of others for it. We all go through it, and it’s a part of life.” According to a survey pub-lished by the Institute of Public Health, nearly 4,000 high school and college students with se-vere acne are twice more likely to have mental health problems than teens with clear skin. One out of every four teenagers who

reported having a bad complex-ion admitted to considering sui-cide as a means of escape. When someone has acne se-verely enough, medication can be an option, but some medica-tions can cause in even more de-

pression, which d i s c o u r a g e s people not to take them. One particular drug, i s o t r e t i n o i n , which is an ac-tive ingredient in medication for the most se-rious and stub-born forms of acne, can cause

depression, suicidal thoughts and suicide itself. Senior Kayla Mowbray said, “I think everyone gets self-con-scious one time or another about acne, but it’s something we all have to live with. It’s life. A lot of times, people get tormented if they have really bad acne, and I don’t think that’s right. I can see how some may consider sui-cide a way out.” One of the prescription drugs that contains isotretinoin is the drug Accutane. Accutane raises

new questions about a poten-tial link between the powerful acne drugs and depression. The drug’s manufacturer, Roche Pharmaceuticals, released a statement that said, “There is no scientific evidence linking Ac-cutane with depression or sui-cide.” However, they declined further comment. Interestingly, Roche has listed one of the possible side effects of Accutane as “depression and thoughts of suicide.” In order to take the drug, a patient must sign an informed consent statement verifying that they are aware of these side ef-fects. Roche maintains that the new consent forms are causing parents and doctors to pay more attention to these problems. “Severe acne,” said dermatolo-gist Dr. Jerry Tan, “can be psy-chologically devastating at a critical point in life where self image and confidence are being established.” Acne is the product of a vi-cious cycle. As more acne ap-pears, stress levels begin to rise even more. But next time a new pimple appears, just keep this in mind: Acne is a normal part of teenage existence.