Social Media- the Pros Outweighs the Cons?

Winter semester is beginning to wrap up and so are my blogs for ALES 204. I may continue to blog about new and interesting information I learn throughout my life, or different recipes and workouts, so I can educate others who share my interest. Throughout this course, I've learned a lot about social media and technology that I would have never learned or used elsewhere. I personally believe that social media will be the basis of our future because we continuously see more companies using Facebook and twitter to communicate with their employees and customers. One thing I couldn't find myself was doctors and dietitians using it to blog, but after looking at Carmen Prion-Frank'sblog I realize they are out there and their blogs are very interesting and informative, especially Marion Nestles.

From all the different technologies I've learned to use this year, I would still have to say that Facebook remains my favorite. It's easy to navigate, and it makes it so I am able to read my friends and families updates and pictures to see what's happening in their lives when life becomes hectic. However, one thing I really liked about twitter is that you were able to connect with your favorite sports teams or celebrities; be up to date with the current news seconds after it happens. On twitter I love following JillianMichaels, she's been an inspiration to me because she's worked hard to get to where she is now which makes me want to push myself and follow in her footsteps.

It was very helpful when we learned how to write proper e mails, resumes, and CVs’, however I would have liked to have gone into more details on writing good resumes and covering letters. I also would have liked to have learned more on how to use LinkedIn because it's geared more towards the professional aspect of social media. Since I believe social media is going to be something used on a consistent basis in society, this is one that I'm sure many more professionals would use to post job opportunities, and write blogs and/or status updates related to their field of study.

References:

Facebook. (2012). Facebook. Retrieved April 12, 2012, from Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/

LinkedIn. (2012). LinkedIn. Retrieved April 11, 2012, from LinkedIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/

Michaels, J. (n.d.). Jillian Michaels. Retrieved April 11, 2012, from Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/JillianMichaels

Nestle, M. (2012, April). Food Politics. Retrieved April 12, 2012, from Food Politics: http://www.foodpolitics.com/

Prion-Frank, C. (2012, January 16). An Apple For Your Thought. Retrieved April 12, 2012, from Ales 204: http://ales204nutritionstudent.blogspot.ca/

Twitter. (2012). Twitter. Retrieved April 12, 2012, from Twitter: https://twitter.com/

Blogs I have commented on:

Angela Zimmerman, Carmen Prion-Frank, Cassandra H, Lindsay Gervais, Kandice

Plant-Based Diet May Be the Key to Improving Overall Health

Even after all these years of learning proper nutrition and eating a well-balanced diet, I still wonder how good this way they teach us to eat really is. Over 100 years ago we didn't have all this dairy and meat readily available to us, as well as all this processes food. Yes, it might be quick and convenient to just grab and go with our busy lifestyles but isn't the whole point of food to be something that fuels our body and something that we can actually enjoy rather than wolfing it down to rush off somewhere. With this changing lifestyle, the prevalence of diabetes, heart disease, strokes and cancer is continuously on the rise, and a good majority of this issue is related to our eating habits.

I recently had to opportunity to watch a documentary that discusses how meats, dairy and processed foods is the main reason the world is becoming obese. It shows how following a plant-based diet can reverse the damage that has been done to our body and decrease the risk of these health problems. This film really opened my eyes, they pulled statistics from all around the world and had the doctors who did the documentary actually follow this lifestyle and have been for years. They even have their own website with diet plans and recipes for people to follow. You can follow them on twitter and read people's personal testimonies from trying this lifestyle and how it has changed their overall health.

I only watched the documentary about 2 weeks ago and the next day cut out all dairy, chicken (I don't eat red meat) and processed foods including anything with sugar and anything enriched or white. It wasn't a very drastic change for me, as I have always tried to maintain a healthy diet. However, when my boyfriend, who is an avid meat and cheese eater, decided he didn't want to suffer from any of these health complications and changed his eating habits, he's constantly commenting on how good he feels and how much more energy he has. Another student in my class, Kandice has also talked about the many health benefits a plant based diet has on our body, focusing primarily on the health benefits of beans and legumes.

After learning how detrimental to your health eating meat, dairy and processed foods really is and all the negative influences it has on my body, I don't think I will ever go back, especially after how spectacular I feel without that junk in my body.

References:

Forks Over Knives. (2011). Retrieved April 10, 2012, from Forks Over Knives: http://www.forksoverknives.com/

Farms 2 Forks. (2012). Retrieved April 10, 2012, from Farms 2 Forks: http://www.farms2forks.com

Churilov, V. (2010, June 10). Plant-Based Diet for Beginners: How to Get Started. Retrieved April 10, 2012, from Mind Body Green: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-952/PlantBased-Diet-for-Beginners-How-to-Get-Started.html

Forks Over Knives. (n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2012, from Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/forksoverknives

Kandice. (2012, April 10). Ales 204 Blog. Retrieved April 11, 2012, from Blogspot: http://eat-beans.blogspot.ca/

Wikipedia

I knew when wikipedia was first created that anyone was able to edit the pages and add information on different topic but I thought they had changed it for only specified people to be able to edit it. Now after taking ALES 204, I realized that any one is able to edit a wiki on wikipedia as long as you have an account created.
I used a wikipedia stub on science, then it took me to a section on food, which is my field of interest. After looking over some of the stubs, one caught my interest because it was related to a topic I have been learning about in another course on food chemistry. It was about foams, a field that many people don't know about so I decided to add some of the new information I have learned that took my interest.













Another stub that one of the student in the class found was on childhood arthritis which is an area that I though would have a lot of information because arthritis is a major disease that begins with children and moves into their adulthood.
Now that I know we're able to edit the pages, it makes me sometimes question whether or not to trust wikipedia and make me more aware to look at the references they've used to ensure what I am reading is actually factual.

Professional Social Media

We are in a changing world, with computers and new technology being a major part of our life. When we hand in our resumes to a new company, there's a good chance that they will find information on us before we are even called in for an interview. Employers will typically Google our name or since many of us have Facebook they will look over our profile. Since this is the case, you want to ensure that when they do try finding you, you have a good professional background. Another student in my Ales 204 class, Shannon Fox, gave three reasons why a professional page is essential for your future careers. This could be useful for many trying to create a professional background via the internet.

 I have decided to create my own professional Facebook page to be able to let people know a little about myself and the accomplishments that I have made (see below for page). Currently I only have information that would typically be found on my resume with some of my personal interests and information; however, I plan to build on my page. It will be a good way to let people know what my interests are and the direction I want to go in life, help me build my clients for my future and educate those on some of the knowledge I have on nutrition and fitness. By educating individuals on health related information, I can begin increasing confidence in people that I have a good strong knowledge base on these topics. Once they have confidence and know I provide reliable information, when I do decide to open up my own clinic I will already have good cliental.

Using social networking such as Facebook is also a beneficial way for you to retrieve information on your specific field of study. I came across a social media site that gives you the option of signing into their website through your Facebook account; from looking through that website I found information on Nutrition which I found interesting and could be of benefit for my field of practice in the future. Social media is a becoming very good way for us to grow both academically and in our lives.

Ales 204 Lab 1

My name is Jacqueline Baker and I am in my second year studying at the University of Alberta and my third year of studies. I transferred here after my first year at Grant MacEwan University to pursue my aspiration of becoming a Dietitian. I grew up in a small town called Beaumont just south of the city. Going from a very small learning environment of approximately twenty students to a University with about two hundred students was quite a shock to me and has taken time to adjust. From approximately grade nine onwards I knew I wanted to work with people to better their health. I decided I wanted to educate individuals about how to eat healthy and follow a healthy lifestyle because in my eyes that is an essential part of life. I have struggled with weight issues for my entire life and learning how to eat properly has helped me get to where I am now; therefore teaching others around me to do the same and seeing them achieve their results and get back their overall health would bring me a lot of joy. An example of educating people on now proper nutrition can bring positively to their lives is through the diagram below:

Once I finish my degree and internship to become a Dietitian I hope to start out working at the University of Alberta hospital to get a wide variety of different experience because I would be dealing with a many unusual issues of patients relating to their health problems. Once I have a few years there, I would like to open up my own office and do consultations a few days a week from home and stay as a casual worker at the University of Alberta. That way I can spend more time with my kids but still maintain the my dream career that I have worked so hard to achieve.

Though school and work takes up the majority of my time, when I have some time to spare I love spending it with my friends and family, as well as spending a lot of time outdoors. I love camping, hiking, playing sports and being physically active. At first when I meet people I tend to be a little quiet but once you get to know me, my true personality comes out which is mostly always very happy and outgoing.

Before starting this class I had never used twitter or had even thought to read blogs to get scientific information on topics that may interest me, but after only a few days I realize it is not only a form of quick communication between individuals, it is also a way to discover new information on topics that may be of interest to you, as well as discuss new information that you have found out about a specific topic. When you write blogs they don't always have to be strictly serious and informative even though they're scientific, you can write in different styles which will attract more people to read them. One blog I read that does this was on the scientopia.org website called "Word of the Week: Briffit", which mentions how the author doesn't like to dumb down his knowledge just so everyone can understand him as some websites do, instead he will be incorporating new words each week to educate people to broaden their learning curve.

Since the world is becoming more and more reliable on computers, internet and social media before we know it that will be our entire future. I did recently start a new side job selling a product called Vi-Salus which is a protein drink with many of the essential nutrients our bodies need to maintain good health. I never really thought of my website as a blog or social media site, but once learning more about blogging I realize how much this company relies on social media and the web to have their name know and sell their product. I just read today on facebook that the company has grown 7 folds in the last year which is incredible, and most of the sales were done through promoting the product on facebook and twitter. Once you become a member you have everyone else with you to work as a team to better everyone’s health, as well as their financial goals. You're able to interact with to everyone to get new information about the product or the business. As Jessica Laccetti had presented in class using interactive videos on how to use twitter and write/receive feedback through blogging (such as the NeuroTribes for scientific blogs) this company does the same. There are different videos you can watch to learn what is in the product and what it does for your body but also on ways of selling it and promoting your business. Before beginning this class I never would have thought about this but now I realize my website has helped me build my business. This type of online interaction, blogging regarding some of the science of food and nutrition, or showing videos on different ways of preparing meals would be a good way to promote my home business; then I can also get feedback and answer questions that any of my clients may have through their journey into a new and healthy lifestyle.