Author: Abdul-Qadir

  • Pregnancy and Nutrition

    You are besides yourself with joy as you see that your pregnancy test is postive.  You find yourself already caressing your stomach in hopes that your little one can feel you.  The next nine months are going to be an exciting time for you and your baby.  You are going to have a human life grow inside of you and feel them move as they get bigger. Your baby is going to go from a single sperm and egg into pounds of adorable flesh that you can’t help but kiss over and over again.  It truly is a miracle.

    In order to help this miracle along, it is essential for you to eat as good as you can through out most of your pregnancy.  The first three months might be a little difficult to eat balanced meals when you are dealing with food aversions and morning sickness.  If you are one of the rare lucky ones whose stomach doesn’t so much as move during your first trimester, then you can take full advantage of eating healthy right out of the gate.

    Making sure you eat balanced nutritious meals is laying down the foundation for your baby.  A diet of junk food is not going to help your baby with bone development and organ formation.  Potato chips will not help with brain development.  Your baby and your body need calcium and vitamins to achieve all of this.

    Eating well during pregnancy is going to help your baby eat well after it is born and on solid foods.   As your pregnancy progresses, some of what you eat will cross the placenta and the taste will be in your baby’s amniotic fluid.  Babies swallow this fluid and their taste buds are so develop that even in the womb they are able to taste the flavors.  Doctors believe that babies who are exposed to a wide variety of fruit and vegetables while in utero have less of a chance of being a fussy eater later in life.   They believe that these are the babies who will eat their fruit and vegetables without putting up any fight.

    Doctors also believe that moms who drink their milk through out their pregnancy have an easier time weaning their babies from formula or breast milk to regular milk.   This however is only one benefit, the other benefit of drinking milk throughout your pregnancy is all the calcium you will be giving your baby’s bones.  Many doctors recommend that you drink at least one eight oz glass of milk, usually fat free a day.  Calcium is a must have your baby’s bones and his teeth, even though you won’t see his teeth for at least a few months.

    This isn’t to say that you have to stay away from all sweets all the time.  You can indulge every now and then and thanks to cravings you may find yourself wanting sweets more often than not.  You do have to keep it in moderation.  Being pregnant should not be looked at as an excuse to eat whatever you want for nine months.  Both you and your baby could pay a dear price.

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  • How do antioxidants work in the body

     

    Antioxidants Videos

     

    DermTV - Why You Should Only Apply Antioxidants at Night [DermTV.com Episode #138]
    Antioxidant Dietary Supplement Aging? Sure, it’s a fact of life. But what if there was a way to slow down the process, perhaps even cure it, what would you say? The aging process brings with it not only wrinkly skin or tired joints and muscles. Those can be tolerated. After all, they are part of the natural cycle of life.
    Antioxidant power of plant foods versus animal foods
    Hence, this aspect of antioxidant antiaging therapy focuses more on extrinsic aging, which is the aging process compounded by externally caused factors. On the other hand, the programmed theories are primarily concerned with the genetics of how long and how efficient our cells can maintain optimum health.
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    Antioxidant Content of 300 Foods
    Antioxidant Vitamins Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for African-American men and women? The disease claims the lives of over 100,000 annually. Perhaps due to this alarming number, much of scientific researches conducted in the US today have recently been focused on how antioxidant vitamins may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
    Antioxidants and Depression
    Because these substances work on oxygen by-products called free radicals, they have since come to be known as natural antioxidants. A natural antioxidant protects the body against free radicals. One of the many functions of natural antioxidants is to work against the formation of cellular damage caused by free radicals.
    What do Antioxidants do?
    Beta-carotene antioxidant supplements generally come from orange, yellow, and green leafy vegetables and fruit. It has been observed that people who eat a lot of foods rich in beta-carotene are not generally prone to cancer. However, the beta-carotene antioxidant supplements didn’t last that long in the industry.
    Food Antioxidants, Stroke, and Heart Disease
    When the free radicals steel electrons from a stable molecule, that molecule will become a free radical itself, beginning a chain reaction. Once the process of free radicals formation is started, it can cascade, finally resulting in the disruption of a living cell. Antioxidants: Natural Enemies of Free Radicals Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E are thought to protect the body against the destructive effects of free radicals.
    Antioxidants, Free Radicals and Oxidative Stress
    Because atoms seek to reach a state of maximum stability, an atom will try to fill its shell with electrons by: Gaining or losing electrons to either fill or empty its outer shell Sharing its electrons by bonding together with other atoms in order to complete its outer shell Free Radicals: The Formation The free radicals are formed when weak bonds between atoms are split.
    Antioxidant Supplement - pHion Berry Superfuit - 8000 ORAC - Juicy Antioxidants
    According to their findings, the overall best sources of antioxidant fruits under the berry category are dog rose, sour cherry, blackberry, strawberry, raspberry, crowberry, blueberry, and black currant. Under the antioxidant fruits category are pomegranates, grape, orange, plum, pineapple, lemon, dates, kiwi, Clementine, and grapefruit.
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    What is an antioxidant?
    With antioxidant supplements still far from the high expectations of the scientific community, you can in the meantime turn to the more reliable source of these helpful compounds, which are antioxidant foods. Below are some examples of antioxidant foods which you can include in your daily diet: Berries The provocative allure, the fragile charm, the rich concentration of nutrients.
    Most People Have An Antioxidant Deficiency. Do You?
    If you answered yes, then look out, because that answer’s now! Today’s medical science has led to several wondrous discoveries about our health and the food we eat. You might be familiar with the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” And it’s true because recent studies show that there are certain substances found in fresh fruits and vegetables that can be very beneficial to our health.
    Antioxidants For Your Skin | Skin Saviour
    A new study shows that antioxidant juice from pomegranate fruits may help fight the hardening of the arteries. Researchers have found that the antioxidant juice does this by reducing the damage in blood vessels caused by free radicals. Free Radicals – What are they? Now, I’m sure you know what free radicals are.
    DermTV - Can You Use Retin-A and Antioxidants [DermTV.com Epi #180]
    Plants are where we get most of our foods and our medicines, relying on them almost entirely for developing our bodies to their full potential and at the same time reducing the causes of degenerative diseases. Recently, scientists have discovered the substance responsible for many of the health benefits we’ve been receiving from plants.
    Which Food Has Most Antioxidants? You Won't Believe The Answer!
    Antioxidant Support Free radicals are a natural consequence of oxidation – that vital process that allows our body to function normally. Free radicals actually play an important role in a number of biological processes, some of which are necessary for life, such as intracellular killing of bacteria by neutrophil granulocytes.
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    Foods Rich in Antioxidants - 5 Superfoods with Antioxidants
    The Top 20 list of antioxidants published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry shows the ranks of the capacity of berry foods, fruits, and vegetables to interfere with or prevent oxidative processes where free radicals are formed. Ronald L. Prior, a USDA nutritionist and research chemist based in Little Rock, Ark explains that berry antioxidants were ranked according to their total antioxidant capacity.
    Skin Care Routine - How To Apply Antioxidant Serum & Sunscreen | SkinCeuticals
    The group of researchers who conducted the study say that a compound extracted from the seeds of red grapes called Activin ™ is that substance with powerful antioxidant red grapes properties. Because of its apparent powerful benefits, Activin was dubbed as the “super” antioxidant red grapes.
    Burn Carbohydrates with Antioxidants: Alpha Lipoic Acid- Thomas DeLauer
    If they are healthy molecules, well that’s a different story all together. When free radicals start stealing electrons from healthy cells, that process causes many disorders to occur in the body. The cells will grow weak until they are eventually destroyed. Hence, diseases such as cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, senility, and cancer are often attributed to the contributing factor of free radicals.
    Best Foods to Cure Schizophrenia | Including Vitamin B3, Antioxidants & Omega 3 Rich Foods
    Beta-carotene antioxidant supplements generally come from orange, yellow, and green leafy vegetables and fruit. It has been observed that people who eat a lot of foods rich in beta-carotene are not generally prone to cancer. However, the beta-carotene antioxidant supplements didn’t last that long in the industry.
    Vitamin D: One of the World's Most Potent Antioxidants
    A recent food Olympics has been conducted and out of the 100 different varieties of foods, vegetables, and nuts, 20 antioxidant rich foods came out at the top. This list of foods contained most of the very rich antioxidant foods as ranked by nutrition scientists at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and reported by the University of Alabama website on November 1, 2004.
    Astaxanthin - Natures Most Powerful Antioxidant! Benefits & Clinical Study Reviews
    Chain-breaking is also called Stabilization. The other aspect is more on the preventive side. Antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase prevent oxidation by reducing the rate of chain initiation. This time, instead of waiting for the free radicals to make a long chain of free radicals, antioxidants scavenge initiating radicals and destroy them before oxidation is set in motion.
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    Why Do You Need Antioxidants? | Kris Gethin Quick Tips
    Antioxidant Vitamins Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for African-American men and women? The disease claims the lives of over 100,000 annually. Perhaps due to this alarming number, much of scientific researches conducted in the US today have recently been focused on how antioxidant vitamins may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
    Antioxidants in Kyani Sunrise able to neutralize Chlorine in Tap water!
    There is growing evidence that the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including free radicals, is behind the aging process and initiation of age-related disease. The reason free radicals are highly unstable is that they have an unpaired electron which they try to recompense by stealing an electron from a stable molecule.
    Astaxanthin is the strongest antioxidant
    The Benefits of Super Antioxidants The job of super antioxidants is to hunt down free radicals but not to eliminate them. No. But to neutralize them so they’ll stop their disease-causing rampaging. Literary tools aside, super antioxidants do indeed react against the harmful effects of free radicals by stopping them from reacting with the molecules in the first place.
    What are antioxidants?
    Flax seed have been used long before as an herbal remedy that is good for digestion. But flax has certainly more benefits in store for us. Flax oil is said to contain a high amount of lignans, protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Lignans especially is that substance in flax oil that has antioxidant properties.
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    Reverse hair fall with green tea antioxidants
    Free radicals are still necessary for life, but in order to prevent yourself from developing these diseases, you need to take action in keeping free radicals at a minimum. Fortunately for us, the body has a number of mechanisms to minimize free radical induced damage and to repair the

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  • Plus Size and Pregnant

    A majority of plus sized women who are pregnant will experience a healthy pregnancy, but they are at a risk of having a more bumpy ride than someone who is not overweight.

    Women who are overweight, or have a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more are at a greater risk of certain pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.  No knows for sure why weight matters so much, as far as most doctors are concerned it is just one piece of the puzzle.  The truth is most plus size women go on to have completely uneventful pregnancies and deliver perfect healthy babies as long as they eat well, exercise and watch their weight throughout pregnancy.  The biggest problem with being plus sized and pregnant is that you are at a greater for some of the following.

    Studies have shown that overweight women have a higher rate of neural tube defects which are problems with how your baby’s brain and spinal cord develop.  These studies are unable to pin point exactly why overweight women are at a higher risk and have a higher rate.  Some studies have shown that overweight women have lower blood folate levels than a woman who is of normal weight.  Folate is needed especially in the early stages of pregnancy to help avoid neaural tube defects.  Because of this, if you are overweight your doctor may prescribe you a prenatal vitamin with 1000 micrograms of folic acid.  In fact, if you are overweight and planning on becoming pregnant, you may want to start taking folic acid before you even conceive.

    Gestational diabetes is another complication that overweight women are at a greater risk of developing.  Gestational diabetes is elevated blood-sugar level during pregnancy.  The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development estimate that women with normal BMI which is between 19 and 24 have a 2% chance of developing gestational diabetes.  Overweight women have a 6% chance of developing this condition and obese women or women who have a BMI of 30 or more have a 9% chance of being diagnosed with gestational diabetes.  Remember though that if you are diagnosed with this, you can still go on and have a healthy pregnancy with a modified eating plan.

    Almost 10% of obese and overweight women develop a condition called gestational hypertension.  This is when your blood pressure becomes high with a reading of 140 over 90 or higher after your 20th week of pregnancy but you do not have any protein in your urine.

    Gestational hypertension is usually a small concern but can put you at a higher risk for preeclampsia (which is indicated by high blood pressure AND protein in your urine), intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth, placental abruption and still birth.  If you do go on to develop preeclampsia, your weight is probably not that big of a factor.  In fact if you are under 35 and overweight you have LESS of a chance of developing preeclampsia that a woman over 35 and a healthy weight.

    Perhaps the most common complication for overweight women is longer labors and the possible risk of a cesarean section.  Nearly 26-35% of deliveries are cesarean delivery.    You are at a bigger risk if you have been diagnosed with preeclampsia or gestational hypertension or have a large baby.
    Eating healthy throughout your pregnancy and working with your doctor to manage your weight will help reduce these risks and increase your already high chances of having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

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  • How to Eat for A Healthy Pregnancy

    You found out you are pregnant.  Never has it been more crucial to eat well.  Not eating well during your pregnancy can increase your risk of complications.  Eating well has never been easier during pregnancy than it is now.

    First, remember that once you hit the second trimester, you should be eating about 300 more calories a day.  Calories provide you with the extra energy that  your body needs to grow your baby.  Now these extra calories should not give you the right to chow down on every food in your line of site.  After all, it is only 300 calories that your are getting.  A glass of milk or one banana equals 100 calories and a slice of whole wheat bread, and ounce of cheese and a half of cup of grapes equal 200 calories.  See how much more you are eating than if you decide to eat a donut instead.

    Remember that you need at least three servings of protein each day.  Protein contains amino acid which is one of the most important building block for your baby’s tissue.  Protein is very easy to come by and your options are endless.  You can drink 3 glasses of milk,  and  you can have 2 cups of yogurt along with 3 ounces of cheese.

    Next, you need at least four servings of calcium every day.  Calcium is going to help grow your baby’s bones and help protect yours.  Milk is the best way to get your fill of calcium, but you can also get your fill of calcium from cheeses,  yogurt and even ice cream.

    Aim for at least three servings of vitamin C.  Your body does not store vitamin C so you need a fresh supply of it every day.  You can eat fruit or almost any vegetable to get your vitamin C in.  You also want to make sure you get three to four servings of green leafy and  yellow vegetables and fruits.  Most of these veggies and fruits will also count toward your vitamin C intake, so that is double the benefit.

    You should get in one to two servings of all other fruit and vegetables that are not known for their vitamin A and C value, but are still good for you all the same.  Apples,  banana, and onions are just a few that are in this category.   Eat six or more servings of whole grains and legumes.  These are filled with vitamins E and B and they help you battle constipation.   Try eating brown rice, whole wheat breads and even air popped corn to get  your servings of whole grains and legumes in.

    Perhaps one of the most important nutrients you and your body need is iron.  Your body’s demand for iron will never be greater than it is while you are pregnant.   You want to make sure you are able to keep up with it.  Not enough iron could lead to anemia so you want to make sure you are getting enough iron.  If you feel that you are not, talk to your doctor and he might be able to prescribe you a iron supplement.

    It is always a good idea to eat well every day.  However when you are pregnant it is essential that you eat well every day.

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  • Planning Ahead While Pregnant

    Planning ahead when it comes to food could mean the difference between making wise choices and making irrational choices.  It helps us learn how to undo our bad habits and being pregnant is a great time to try and change any bad habits you may have.  The best way to break bad habits and to form new ones is to constantly plan ahead.

    You want to plan for snack attacks especially if you are not going to be home.  You want to make sure you take some healthy food with you, so that you can resist the temptation of going to the vending machine and taking out that candy bar.  Throw some nuts into your pocketbook or some cheese sticks in case of any hunger that might hit you through out the day.

    Plan your food shopping list.  Some people find that when they go to the supermarket with just a rough idea of what they need they usually wind up forgetting something important or they wind up buying half of the food store.   Take a few minutes to plan your meals for the week and buy what you need to go with it.

    Speaking of planning meals, that is a excellent idea.  Plan for meals you can realistically prepare.  Do not plan for meals that you do not have the time to prepare.  You are only going to stress yourself out.  Look for recipes that are easy and quick to make.  Do not try to make something where you can’t pronounce half of the ingredients and need to shop at a gourmet cooking store.  Chances are you are still working and the last thing you want to do is come home after a long day and then slave over a complicated recipe.

    Also, planning your meals out for the week tends to help you be a little more organized for the week.  It is no secret that pregnant women tend to forget things and this is due to their changing hormone level. By taking out the time to sit and plan your meals for the week will help you stay a little organized and save you a lot of time.  If you already know what you are making for dinner, you do not have to worry about coming home after a long day and standing in front of the fridge trying to decide what to make.

    You also want to make sure that get yourself in the habit of using vegetables are your main dish.  Instead of doing chicken breast with a side salad, make your salad your main dish and the chicken breast a side one.   You also want to buy your vegetables as fresh as possible, even if that means making two trips to the grocery store through out the week.  The fresher the vegetable, the better they are for you and your baby.  The same holds true for fruit also.  Keep plenty of fruit on hand, especially if you tend to crave sweet stuff through out your pregnancy.  Instead of reaching for a candy bar, you can reach for a piece of fruit dipped in cool whip

    By planning ahead for the week or even month to come will help you stay on track with your eating and decrease the risk of you making the wrong choice if a craving should hit you.

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  • Peanuts and Pregnancy

    Ask any parent who has a child who is allegeric to peanuts how difficult their live has become.  Food shopping can take hours because every food label must be read it and studied to make sure it contains no traces of peanuts.  Arrangements for peanut free foods must be made with the child’s school ahead of time and other children’s birthdays parties can be a parent’s worse nightmare.  Peanut allergies although common can be one of the most fatal allergies a child could suffer from.  Some children are so sensitive to their peanut allergy that if they come into contact with peanuts just from someone else’s skin, their life can be at risk.  Peanut allergies can lead to anaphylactic shock which is a sever allergic reaction that can be fatal.

    Peanut allergies are usually not diagnosed until a child reaches the age of 2 or even three years old.  The American Academy of Pediatrics states that parents who have a peanut allergy in the family should wait until their child is at least three years old before giving them peanuts or anything containing peanuts.  There are even some conservative obgyns who advise their pregnant patients not to eat peanuts especially if when they are in their third trimester regardless of if there is a history of peanut allergy in the family or not.

    The reason for this is because in order for a peanut allergy to develop, the child has to come into contact with small traces of a peanut.  This contact sensitizes the child so that they later have a severe allergic reaction.  Some experts believe that this first sensitization can occur during pregnancy.  It is believed that a tiny amount of peanut protein can cross the placenta.   In fact a recent study showed that if a women ate peanuts or peanut butter while pregnant their baby could be four times more likely to develop a peanut allergy than a child whose mother didn’t eat any peanuts during her pregnancy.

    This isn’t to say though that if you have a no history of nut allergies you should avoid peanuts at all costs.  In fact,  peanuts and peanut butter are very beneficial to you and your baby.  Peanuts are a useful source of folic acid and protein, both which are very important to your and your growing baby.  Peanuts and peanut butter has been said to help some women get through the first trimester morning sickness.  Keep in mind however that there have been some instances when women who had no history of peanut allegeries in their family and ate a over whelming amount of peanuts or even peanut butter through out their pregnancies wound up with children who had a peanut allergy.

    Before you decide to throw out all your peanuts and say good bye to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, talk to your doctor.  Give your doctor a detailed family history and let him know if there are any peanut allergies in your family.  With your doctors help you will be able to create a healthy peanut eating plan for your pregnancy.   If you do not feel comfortable at all eating peanuts due to the risk do not let anyone change your mind.  It is your body and your child and you have the right to make that decision.

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  • How to Cope With Food Aversions

    Do you find yourself suddenly feeling queasy at the thought of the left over pasta that you could not get enough of the other night?  Food aversions are a normal part of pregnancy and the flip side to food cravings.  Nearly eighty five percent of all pregnant women suffer from food aversions.  Food aversion is when food your normally are able to look at, smell and even taste suddenly send you running in the opposite direction.  They appear in the first trimester and usually trigger that fun part of pregnancy we call morning sickness.  Some women find that they disappear by the start of their second trimester right around the same time morning sickness disappears.  Other women find that their food aversions stay with them their whole pregnancy and a few women find that foods they developed aversions to through out the pregnancy stay with them even after they deliver.

    Just like with food cravings, your hormones are more than likely to blame for your food aversions.  Some experts believe that just as food cravings are your body’s way of telling you that you need a certain food, food aversions are your body’s way of protecting you from eating anything that can harm your baby.  This might be why a lot of women report that they experience aversions to alcohol and coffee.  The theory is still under debate though because so many pregnant women are turned off by food that is healthy for them and their babies.

    Try not to fight a healthy aversion.  Consider it a blessing if the mere thought of your normal morning cup of joe turns your stomach upside down.  Cutting back caffeine will be a walk in the park for you.  The same goes for cigarette smoke.  Many women have said that the first clue they had that they were pregnant was the fact that the smell of smoke sent them running.  Others say that their first clue they were pregnant was when they had actually felt sick when thinking about having a glass of wine with dinner.

    If you find that you have aversions to healthy food, try to work around it as best as possible.  Do not force yourself to eat food that you have aversions too.  It is not a pleasant experience; instead try to look for alternatives.  Some women find the thought of salad or anything green revolting.  If you are one of them, you might be wondering how you are going to get the nutrients and vitamins you need.  One alternative is to try and drink some vegetable juice.

    While drinking vegetable juice is not the same as eating vegetables it has its benefits when you can’t look at your veggies.  You should also try eating different color veggies like peppers or carrots.  If it is protein like fish and chicken that make you sick, get your protein in other forms.  Cheese, yogurt, eggs and nuts are fantastic protein alternatives.  Or you can try and hide your meat in dishes.  Stir chicken into a casserole or mix some seafood into a pasta dish.  This way you can still get your protein in, and with less of a risk of getting sick.

    Just like with morning sickness, do not beat yourself up if you can not eat as healthy as you would like while you are dealing with food aversions.  Chances are once you enter your second trimester, they will disappear and you can eat more of a variety of foods.

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  • How to Avoid Constipation During Pregnancy

    It is Murphy’s law that just when you are able to get food into your body without having it come back up, that you suddenly find you can not get the food out of your body.  Nearly half of all the women who are pregnant suffer from constipation during pregnancy.

    As with all symptoms of pregnancy there is a reason for constipation.  When you are pregnant your body creates progesterone which in turns relaxes the muscles of the bowels and causes your digestive tracks to work much slower.  Your digestive track works slower to make sure your body absorbs the nutrients from your food for your baby.  This can create constipation, which if it not kept under control, can lead to hemorrhoids.

    There are some ways you can help avoid constipation throughout your pregnancy.  Make sure you included plenty of fiber in your diet.  Fiber absorbs water and can help to soften your stools and speed their passage.  Eat plenty of high fiber foods like whole grain cereal and oatmeal.  Instead of eating white bread with your sandwiches, eat whole grain breads.  Add some oat bran to your cereals or yogurt.

    Fresh fruits are also an excellent way to get your fiber in.  Melons and plums have a high amount of fiber in them as wells as dried fruits like figs, raisins, apricots and of course the well known favorite prunes.  Prunes and prune juice have a like laxative effect and will help keep things moving properly in your body.  Aim to eat at least 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day.  You can tell you are getting enough fiber if your stools are large and soft and you aren’t straining to pass them.  Keep in mind though that too much fiber can lead to diarrhea which can lead to dehydration so do not over do the fiber in your diet.

    Also, drinking plenty of fluid will help you combat constipation.  Fluids help keep digestive products moving through your system so it is very important for you to drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day.   Keeping up with your fluids is important especially if you are increasing your intake of fiber.   Your body needs to water to soak up the fiber otherwise it can cause more constipation.

    Also, make sure you are eating your yogurt if you can.  Yogurt has a bacteria called acidophilus that helps stimulate the intestinal bacteria to break down food better.  Look at your prenatal.  Some of the prenatal that women take contain a lot of iron and iron can play a big part in constipation.  Talk to your doctor to see if you can switch for a while to a different prenatal that contains less iron or at least stay off of the prenatal for a while until your constipation is under control.

    Avoid foods that can lead to constipation.  White bread and some cereals such as corn flakes can lead to constipation as well as white rice and bananas.  If all this fails, give your doctor a call to see if there is something you can take to help keep you regulated.  Most doctors will allow you to take Metamucil to help keep things moving.

    Constipation is never pleasant but during pregnancy it can be even extra uncomfortable.  Make sure you take the steps to avoid constipation.  It will help make your pregnancy that much more enjoyable.

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  • How Eating Well Can Help During Pregnancy

    There are a number of aches and pains that come with pregnancy.  While back in the day many doctors just brushed them aside and said that is part of pregnancy, now a days more and more doctors are recommending a well balanced diet to help.  Here are just a few pregnancy aliments that a good diet can help.

    A common complaint during pregnancy is tooth and gum problems.  To help keep your teeth healthy and your baby’s teeth healthy, make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin C.  Always keep some sugarless gum near you or chew on some nuts and cheese.

    It is also not uncommon for many women to feel dizzy or lightheaded during pregnancy especially if they have gone to long without eating. This is why it is so important to eat through out the day and snack also.  Keep your snacks as healthy as you can and stay away from junk food whenever you can.  These foods will give you a quick rush of energy but ultimately leave you feeling worse than you did before you ate them.  Keep yourself hydrated also.  Snacking and drinking will help boost your blood sugar and keep you hydrated which can help you fight dizziness.

    Sometime during your second trimester, you may find yourself awakening in the middle of the night to leg cramps.   Leg cramps can come from not getting enough calcium.  Some say that the leg cramps implicate a shortage of magnesium while some say that dehydration can be the cause.  Either way makes sure you are getting enough calcium and magnesium.   If you suffer from leg cramps you might find it helpful to drink a glass of milk, or have a piece of cheese before you go to turn in to bed at night.  Make sure you drink at least 8 glasses of water throughout the day to keep yourself hydrated also.

    Swelling is another pain in pregnancy.  While severe swelling could be a sign of preeclampsia, there is a certain amount of swelling that is normal and healthy during pregnancy.  In fact more than seventy five percent of all pregnant women experience some sort of swelling.   The most common cause is too much water retention.  Staying away from salty foods and drinking extra water will help you keep the swelling to a bare minimum.

    Pregnancy is also a time where you skin might taken on the appearance of a teenager getting ready to hit puberty.    Some women suffer from dry skin, which can be cured by making sure you drink plenty of fluids to increase moisture.  If you have flakey skin, eat more omega-3 rich foods or seeds and nuts.  There are some people who suffer from some skin discoloration and too much blotchiness could be a folic-acid deficiency.  This is another reason why it is so important to make sure you are taking your prenatal vitamin.

    Lastly, we have all heard about the great head of hair some women are blessed with during pregnancy since hormones prevent hair from falling out at its normal rate.  There are some women though who find that their hair is less than stellar during pregnancy.  This could be due to the lack of vitamins that you might be getting.  Through out pregnancy it is important that you get enough vitamin A, B and C.  Vitamin A will keep your hair and scalp healthy.  Vitamin B will help with your hair growth and vitamin C is needed for strength.  Make sure you are getting enough of this in your diet.

    Eating healthy throughout pregnancy does not only ensure your chances of a healthy pregnancy but it will also help you avoid some of the more uncomfortable aspects of pregnancy too.

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  • Healthy weight gain for pregnancy

    Most doctors will tell you that you should gain anywhere between 25-30 pounds through out your pregnancy.  You should aim to gain about 3.5 pounds during your first trimester, although more often than not most women find that they lose weight their first trimester.  The culprit to this is morning sickness.  Some women suffer from such a severe case of morning sickness they can not keep anything down.  Chances are your doctor will not be too concerned if you lose a few pounds that first trimester as long as you gain steady throughout the next two trimesters.

    Your second trimester is where you will probably put on most of your weight.  Most women put on about a pound a week, so roughly four or five pounds a month which brings their second trimester weight gain to about 12-15 pounds.  Some women put on more while others put on less.  Do not be surprised if you put on a lot of weight one month and not so much your next.

    For the 7th and 8th month you will should probably continue about a pound each week or so.  Look to gain between 8 and 10 pounds those months.  Most women find that their weight gain slows down in the 9th month.  You might find your weight gain coming to a end as your due date draws nearer.  This can be a sign that labor is on the horizon.  Or, you may find that your weight gain continues especially if you are retaining a lot of water.

    So where does all this weight go? It doesn’t really make sense that you should gain between 25-30 pounds if your baby is only going to weigh between 7 and 8 pounds.  Let’s break down where the extra weight goes.

    First, you have your baby.  A average baby weights about 7 1/2 pounds.  Some can weigh more and some weigh less.  That amniotic fluid that your baby has been swimming in for the past nine months weighs about 2 pounds.  Figure in about 2 pounds for your breast enlargement and 1 1/2 pounds for your placenta.  Your uterus, which started off about the size of a golf ball has grown to weigh about 2 pounds.  Your body should be producing about 4 pounds of extra blood by the end of your pregnancy and about 7 extra pounds of fat.  Let’s not forget the extra fluid of about 4 pounds that your body might be holding on to.  All this equals to the grand total of about 30 pounds.

    Now keep in mind this is just a estimate and not a guarantee of how your weight will fall.  There are women who wind up having a 10 pound baby and others who have a 5 pound baby.  The key is to maintain a healthy weight gain throughout your pregnancy.  Your body needs extra calories and it is best for you and your baby if those extra calories come from food that has a lot of nutritional value such as fruits, vegetables or protein.  Staying away from junk for will help you curb your weight gain.

    When it comes to taking the weight off, do not be surprise if your body hangs on to it especially those first days after delivery.  Once you are home keep this in mind that it took nine months to gain that weight so gives yourself at least a good nine months to take it off.

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