The Origins of the Paleo Diet

A graduate of the University of Southern California, Tammy Olson launched her career at Marsh & McLennan and went on to head sales at the company's subsidiary, Mercer. Now the vice president of client services at Hixme, Tammy Olson enjoys cooking in her leisure time and prepares a variety of paleo foods.

Although the “Paleo Diet” has become trendy in recent years, its origins lie with Paleolithic-era humans, who had no access to many food items popular today, including processed sugar, dairy products, beans, and grains. Instead, our early ancestors ate only what they could obtain by hunting and by harvesting from their environment.

The diet’s recent rise to popularity began with a study conducted by Walter Voegtlin, who wrote the Stone Age Diet in 1975 from his research on the benefits of consuming higher amounts of protein. A decade later, Melvin Konner and Stanley Boyd Eaton published an article on paleolithic nutrition in the New England Journal of Medicine.

After American nutritionist Dr. Loren Cordain discovered these writings, he published a book titled The Paleo Diet in 2002. He trademarked the name of the new diet and set it on its path to popularity.

What is Swimmer's Itch?

A graduate of the University of Southern California with a bachelors in business, Tammy Olson has almost two decades of corporate management experience. Currently serving at Hixme as a strategic healthcare reform consultant, Tammy Olson advises large corporate clients regarding specific employee benefits with the goal of increasing employee satisfaction. Active during her free time, Ms. Olson enjoys swimming.

Swimming is an excellent way to keep physically fit. However, freshwater, and sometimes oceans and saltwater ponds and lakes may contain parasites and microorganisms that can cause allergic reactions such as swimmer’s itch. Swimmer’s itch is the common term for a rash caused by larvae and parasites.

Although not contagious and unable to survive in humans for more than a week, parasites found in water that burrow under the skin cause this reaction. Symptoms of swimmer’s itch include, but are not limited to, redness of the skin, an itching or burning sensation, and pimples or blisters. Diagnosis of the condition can easily be made through visual examination by a clinician.

In-home treatment of swimmer’s itch can include administering cool compresses, over the counter analgesic antihistamine creams, calamine lotion, or bathing with the addition of a handful of powdered oatmeal to the bath. If at all possible refrain from scratching the rash, as this will help prevent infection or more serious conditions.

Seek medical attention if the rash lasts longer than one week, pain or swelling increases, pus exudes from the rash, or fever develops.

Mary Duque Juniors - Helping Children in the Los Angeles Community

Currently serving as vice president of client services at Hixme, Tammy Olson assists clients with the establishment and implementation of strategic employee benefit goals by leveraging her over 20 years of experience. Outside of work, Tammy Olson has previously served as treasurer for Mary Duque Juniors at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

An associate charitable group of the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the Mary Duque Juniors support the pediatric healthcare facility through contributive service and monetary donations. Established in 1980, the organization invited past guild members, daughters, and daughters-in-law to the inaugural meeting and agreed to name the group in honor of Mary Duque, a longtime altruist and board member at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

In the years since the inception of Mary Duque Juniors of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the team of dedicated females has raised more than $1.3 million for the pediatric facility. Proudly supporting the hospital, the Mary Duque Juniors are currently raising charitable donations to fund projects such as The Associates Rehabilitation Center Caregiver Wing and The Associates Sarcoma Program Chair.