We hope that you are having a good week! This week, we want to discuss Lyme disease including the causes, symptoms, and treatment options. As always, check out our tasty recipes and current office happenings. 
 

Causes

Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii bacteria and is carried primarily by blacklegged or deer ticks. These ticks are no bigger than a poppy seed in their young, nymph stage. According to the CDC, to contract Lyme disease, an infected tick must bite you. The bacteria will enter your skin through the bite and make their way into your bloodstream. Typically, a deer tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours for the host to contract Lyme disease. This is assuming that the host has a healthy immune system. If you find an attached tick which looks swollen, it may have fed long enough to transmit the bacteria.

Most humans are infected by young nymph ticks because they are difficult to see. Bites from nymph ticks are most common in the spring and summer months. Adult ticks can also transmit Lyme disease bacteria, but they are more likely to be discovered and removed before they have had time to transmit the bacteria because they are easier to spot. Lyme disease cases are most common in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Upper Midwest of the U.S.
 

There is mixed evidence stating that there are other means of transmission of Lyme disease. According to the CDC, Lyme disease is only transmitted through tick bites. They state that you can not contract Lyme disease through sexual transmission, from an infected pet, or through blood exposure. However, they have found that the Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii bacteria can live in blood stored for donation. 

Some sources have found that if pregnant women are infected, they are capable of passing on Lyme disease to their unborn children. We found an article posted on Caudwell LymeCo Charity stating that there have been 46 cases of congenital Lyme disease to date. 
https://caudwelllyme.com/2016/04/22/congenital-lyme-disease/

Again, the CDC states that Lyme disease can not be sexually transmitted. We did find a study published in the January 2014 issue of the Journal of Investigative Medicine, which found that Lyme disease may be sexually transmitted. 
https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-sexual-transmission-2/
 

Protect Yourself

• Know where to expect ticks. Blacklegged ticks live in moist and humid environments, particularly in and near wooded or grassy areas. To avoid ticks, walk in the center of trails and avoid walking through tall bushes or other vegetation.
• If you have been outdoors, especially if you are on the East Coast, check yourself for ticks. Focus on areas under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, back of the knees, in and around all head and body hair, between the legs, and around the waist.
• If you do find a tick and remove it within 24 hours, your risk of Lyme disease are low. Remove it gently with a pair of needle nose pliers. Make sure that head of the tick as it may be buried in the skin. 

• Be aware if you have an unexpected fever or odd rash. Either of these may be the first signs of Lyme disease, particularly if you’ve been in tick habitat. 
• If you live in an area that is a known tick habitat, a tick collar on your pets will prevent them from carrying the tick into your home. 

Symptoms

A rash shaped like a bull’s-eye is considered characteristic of Lyme disease. This rash is called erythema migrans, and will not occur in all patients. The CDC estimates that the erythema migrans rash occurs in 70-80% of cases. This rash will spread in the days and weeks following the initial infection. We've included an example of a bull's-eye rash below. 

Treatment

Recipes

Taco-Stuffed Avocado

Recipe Credit: Paleoleap.com

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb. ground beef
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 4 avocados, sliced in half and pitted
• 1 bell pepper, thinly diced
• 1 tomato, diced
• 2 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp. onion powder
• 1/4 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
• 2 green onions, sliced
• Fresh salsa
• Cooking fat
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400 F.
2. In a bowl combine, chili powder, paprika, garlic, onion, oregano, cumin, sea salt, and black pepper.
3. Melt cooking fat in a skillet, over high heat, add the onion, and the ground beef.
4. Cook until the beef is browned, sprinkle with the spices, and cook stirring until well mixed.
5. Place halved avocado on a baking dish.
6. Fill each avocado with ground beef, and top with bell pepper, and tomatoes.
7. Place the stuffed avocado in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes.
8. Serve the avocado topped with green onions, and fresh homemade salsa.

Sweet Potato Breakfast Waffle Sandwich

Recipe Credit: www.fitmittenkitchen.com

• 2 large eggs, divided
• 1 small/medium sweet potato, grated
• ¼ tsp cumin
• ⅛ tsp paprika
• ⅛ tsp garlic salt
• 1 tsp oil, plus more for waffle iron and frying pan
• 1 cup kale, chopped
• ½ medium avocado, sliced
• salt & pepper, to taste

1. Heat waffle iron and grease well. Set aside.
2. In a medium mixing bowl whisk 1 egg (or egg whites). Add in grated sweet potato–should be around a heaping cup–plus seasonings and 1 tsp oil. Mix well until thoroughly combined. Once waffle iron has fully heated, pack in sweet potato hash mixture into iron, covering all of the quadrants. Press waffle iron down gently and allow sweet potato to cook about 4-5 minutes, until lightly golden.
3. While the waffle is cooking saute kale in pan with oil on medium heat until slightly crispy, about 3-4 minutes. Fry or scramble egg in same pan (remove kale or keep in, your choice) to personal preference.
4. Once sweet potato waffle is ready gently remove with butter knife and transfer to plate. Layer on kale, fried egg, and avocado slices. Finish with salt and pepper if you wish and enjoy!