Health and Diet

Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

When preparing to welcome your newborn into the world, one of the most important things to do is to avoid specific foods while pregnant. As you mark off the days and weeks on your pregnancy calendar, your attention may be devoted to numerous things, such as preparing the baby’s room and making adjustments to your life. Eating the right foods and avoiding the wrong ones will equip your baby with the right nutrients to enter the world with a healthy body.

Avoid Caffeine

Caffeine causes potential problems such as decreasing the flow of blood to the baby. It can also increase the heart rate of the baby and increase miscarriage risks. Limit your caffeine intake to 200 mg per day. Be watchful of caffeine in coffee, sodas and both dark and milk chocolate. Keep track of your caffeine intake on your pregnancy calendar.

Limit Mercury Intake

While fish is generally a healthy food for the average person, you want to avoid specific types of fish while pregnant. Fish such as tuna, swordfish and shark have higher mercury content, which can be potentially damaging to a baby’s underdeveloped nervous system. Choose safer fish options such as shrimp, salmon and catfish.

Avoid Listeria

Pregnant women are particularly prone to illnesses resulting from listeria, a bacteria found in animal products, soil and water. Miscarriage and infections are caused by listeria. Foods that contain listeria are soft cheeses, hot dogs, lunchmeats, raw milk, smoked seafood and unpasteurized juice. Avoid all foods with a long shelf life. Cook foods thoroughly to avoid a bacterial infection.

Filed Under: Health and Diet Tagged With: Food, Miscarriage, Pregnancy

Curing a Head Cold Naturally

One of the best ways to get rid of a head cold is to do it naturally. When a person gets a head cold, the first thing they do is get over the counter medication. That’s all well and good, but your body still needs to purge out the infection over time.

When you feel a head cold coming on try an inhalant treatment. This is recommended by many doctors for those who are unable to breathe properly. This method gives relief fast and helps to clear out the nasal passage. Plan steaming water is good, but to maximize the relief add some eucalyptus essence to the steaming water. This should be done two to four times a day to clear out mucus.

Another method is to gargle with good old fashion salt water. You should boil at least two glasses of water and add a table spoon of salt. You can always reduce this to half of tablespoon if that is too much salt to handle. Let the water cool for a few minutes before hand. Gargle with the water and spit it out after a few seconds. Repeat this two to four times in one dose. This will help to clear the nasal passage and any infection in the throat.

The importance of rest plays a major factor. When the body is resting, it can use the energy to fight off the bug that is causing the infection. In turn, this will help to build the immune system to fight off future attacks.

Drink plenty of hot liquids to heal yourself from the head cold. Aside from drinking herbal tea, hot soups and warm water assist as well. The key is you want to steer away from cold liquids as possible. This can cause your nasal passage and throat muscles to constrict.

So before you reach for the over the counter drugs, try letting your body naturally do the process of healing. It knows best!

Filed Under: Health and Diet Tagged With: Common cold, Sinus ostium, Water

Fighting the Good Fight of Food

Did you know the best way to lose weight and staying healthy is by eating properly? People who struggle with weight tend to think that diets are the way to go. Even if they are successful with a diet plan, weight gain is a common setback. Changing your eating habits is a guaranteed way of keeping weight off and staying healthy for the long term.

The best way to eat healthy is by making fresh meals at home. Nine times out of ten, there is nothing good to consume in fast food restaurants. This way you have control of what you’re eating. Think about what it is you want to prepare and shop for it. If you are not able to do this three times a day once a day can make a difference in the long run.

If you have to eat out or at home, stay away from foods that are loaded in fat, such as fried foods or heavy batter items. For the best results prepare meals that will lower your fat intake like baking fish or chicken. When making veggies, stay away from cooking them in heavy butter. Think about sautéing veggies in olive oil or steaming them.

Remember there is nothing wrong with having that slice of pizza on occasion, but have a balanced meal to compensate for it. If you are to consume over 700 calories in fast food, you have to consider taking in low calorie foods throughout the rest of the day. This should include plenty of fruits and veggies with high fiber items, such as multi-grain breads. Other foods to include for healthier living are; lean meats, fish, flaxseed, honey, herbal tea, oats, nuts, low fat milk and whey protein to name a few. The more you set out to consume the right foods, the more you train yourself into better eating habits.

Filed Under: Health and Diet Tagged With: diets, Eating, Weight loss

Why Have a Pain in the Neck?

Millions of people suffer from having stiff neck pain. This can be caused by the muscles in the neck having spasms and becoming tight at different moments in the day. What triggers these spasms can come from working long hours at a computer, sleeping incorrectly on a pillow or stressful times in a person’s life. When neck pain occurs, there are ways to treat it so you can live an active life.

On way is to try heat therapy. This causes the blood to flow freely after the blood vessels are no longer constricted. You should take a hot shower for about 15 minutes and then apply a heating pad to the area for another 10 minutes. The opposite end of this would be cold therapy. Place some ice cubes in a plastic bag and wrap it in a towel. Apply the cold compact on the neck for 10 to 20 minutes. This will help to sooth the inflamed area of the neck relaxing the muscles. For the best results, this should be on at least three times a day.

Other suggestions would be to look into massage therapy. A deep tissue massage is an excellent way to rid yourself of your pain. It’s best to let a professional do this for they are trained in this area. If too much pressure is applied to the region of the neck, it can cause more harm than good. A few sessions should do the trick. Some people resort to taking medication over the counter to relax away the pain. Remember, medications are temporary fix and you should consult your doctor before consumption.

Throughout the day consider doing stretching exercises for your neck. This will keep your muscles loose and keep blood flow normal. The neck can get stiff if it is locked in a position for a long period of time. Try to reduce stress as much as possible. Our thoughts can cause our bodies to react by tensing up. Breathing exercises and hobbies are excellent ways to get your mind off the cares of the world.

Filed Under: Health and Diet Tagged With: Massage, Neck pain, Pain

A Cause for Food to Attack

Food poisoning is a condition that is common among those who consume food that has not been handled properly in preparation. Food poisoning can be mild in some cases, but fatal if gone untreated.

Bacteria, such as Salmonella is common when food is not cleaned properly or failure to keep it at a certain temperature. This bacterium is found in foods such as sea food and beans. Other food items that can carry the bacteria are chicken, milk, cheese and other process foods.

Parasite poising can develop in children as well in adults. These can come in the form of tapeworm or roundworm that lives in the digestive tract. Although it’s hard to see it with the naked eye, it can develop rapidly when it is consumed. These parasites can live in meat and other process frozen foods such as prepackaged veggies or TV dinners. Fortunately, this type of food poising is uncommon these days due to careful package handling in factories.

Other ways that are common to transfer bacteria into food are:

Eating foods that are pass the expiration date
Cooking meat or seafood that are from unknown slaughter houses
Using water that is contaminated to cook food
People with unhealthy hygiene habits can pass along bacteria
Animals or rodents that come into contact with food

The signs that a child or adult is suffering from food poising are headaches, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. Sometime these causes can be mistaking for the flu! In most cases, the symptoms are light and can be treated with medication found at a drug store. However, if the symptoms get worst it can lead to a person passing out from exhaustion due to a bad case of dehydration. It is very important to caught these symptoms early and purge the bacteria out of the body.

To prevent food poising make sure that your food is cleaned properly and always cook meats and sea food at the recommended temperatures.

Filed Under: Health and Diet Tagged With: Bacteria, Foodborne illness, Salmonella

Apple Cider Secrets for a New You

Did you know that there are a number of uses for apple cider vinegar when it comes to your health? Most people under estimate the power of it, but there are tips that can help improve your overall health.

You can use apple cider vinegar for the face. The acid helps to level out the pH balance in your skin. The best way to use this is to mix a teaspoon with a cup of water. Leave it on your skin overnight and rinse it off in the morning. Never apply the vinegar it to your face directly for it may damage your skin. Over time, this will help your complexion and erase ache.

Another way is to make a cup of herbal tea and let it cool. Then mix a 1 to 3 ratio of tea and apple cider. Store the solution in a container and when you wash your face, either splash or rub the solution on your skin with a cotton ball. Again, this helps with future breakouts and minimizes pimples. Remember that you must be consistent for results to occur.

If you have more time on your hands, you might consider a face mask! Use a plan mud pack for a local store and mix approximately 2 tablespoons of vinegar. When it is combined, spread it over the face and leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes. Then wash it off with cold water and this will leave the skin feeling fresh and healthy. Never leave the mud pack on until it is completely dry!

Apple cider vinegar can work form the inside out as well. If you mix 2 tablespoons with a cup of water, along with a tablespoon of honey for taste, this helps to detox the body’s organs. It gets rid of unwanted toxins and purges the face from bacteria.

So instead of spending money on pricy facial products, try these remedies for a cleaner complexion that you deserve.

Filed Under: Health and Diet Tagged With: Apple cider vinegar, Cider, Vinegar

The RIGHT Way to Ice

It’s amazing that many do not know how to utilize ice properly to treat an injury or to prevent a potential injury. There are certain times when you want to use ice as opposed to heat. If you can get to the ice before inflammation occurs, that is always to best way to reduce the potential for injury and pain.

But, the trick is that you must get to the injury quickly, and you will need 15 minutes to complete one treatment. Icing is most effective in the period immediately following an injury. The positive effects of ice will diminish as time goes on and will become non-existent after 48 hours.

It’s best to use an “ice massage” method—moving the ice frequently so it does not sit in one spot for too long. This ensures that the effects of the ice are comprehensive and will treat the entire area and not just one tiny spot.

During treatment, keep the injured body part elevated above the heart to reduce the chance for inflammation and swelling.

Don’t do it for too long. 15 – 20 minutes is the limit. If you keep the ice on any longer than that, you open yourself up to further tissue damage and frostbite.

Ice and Repeat. Just like shampoo, this treatment works best when it’s repeated. But you need to let the area warm for about an hour—then begin the routine again.

Repeat as often as you feel necessary as long as the area is warm to the touch before you do so. Ice is free so utilize it to reduce the effects of your injury. You will be glad that you did.

Filed Under: Health and Diet Tagged With: Ice, Inflammation, Trauma (medicine)

The Power of Breath

Did you know that we all have the power within us to achieve great feats? What’s holding us back? What is going on in each of our lives that is keeping us from living up to our true potential? Well…where do we begin? Stress; fear; exhaustion; lack of personal awareness; feeling isolated…

Here’s the kicker…we all have the power within us to change all of that. Each and every one of us can reclaim our lives; get a grip on stress and emotions; expand our personal awareness; and connect with others. All we have to do is BREATHE.

Yoga teaches us that there IS a right and wrong way to breathe. The right way pulls in fresh oxygen and replenishes our red blood cells while expelling the stale air from our lungs. The wrong way (the habitual way for most of us) is involves shallow breaths, struggling for a deep breath, breathing primarily through your mouth, and holding our breath—often without even realizing it.

It’s time to take control of your body and your life again.

1) Sit comfortably (feet flat on the floor; back straight)

2) With your hands resting on your belly, take a deep breath in through your nose (your belly should rise)

3) Hold for a moment and release entirely pulling the navel toward the spine

4) Repeat 5 – 10 times

Remember, proper breathing takes place through our bodies natural filters—our nostrils. So teach yourself the right way to breathe and take your life back. Breath is more powerful than you think.

Filed Under: Health and Diet Tagged With: breath, Health and Diet, Shopping

Balanced Nutrition Basis for Good Health

Balanced nutrition forms the basis for good health. A balanced nutrition or diet should include adequate amount of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. Carbohydrates provide the necessary energy for the body. Protein helps in muscle building. Vitamins and minerals helps in the proper functioning of the body. Many people have this misconception that fat is bad for health. But fat is essential in our diet to provide energy. Balanced diet varies for different people according to their age group. And men usually need more carbohydrates than women. Growing children also need more carbohydrate, fat and protein.

Balanced nutrition also varies for pregnant women and lactating mothers, as they need more protein, iron and folic acid. Nutrition will also vary for people with health disorders. For example for a person with liver or kidney disorder requires a modified diet plan. Health disorders such as hypertension, low blood pressure, obesity and diabetes also requires a different diet plan. A nutritionist can help them to chart out a balanced diet. People who want to reduce weight should not go on a crash diet. They should not drastically cut down on their carbohydrates either. Such diets will weaken the body and will lead to health problems. Here again a nutritionist can help out plan a balanced nutrition which has adequate calories, proteins and essential vitamins and minerals.

But they would definitely suggest increasing the fiber content in their diet. People who want to reduce their weight should include fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet. Avoid fried and junk foods. Take 8 to 10 glasses of water and exercise regularly. Special care should be taken for patients who have undergone surgery. Their nutrition requirement would be entirely different from the regular diet. In such cases in consultation with their doctor, the nutritionist or a dietician prepares a meal plan. This diet should be strictly followed to avoid further complication. Ageing people also requires different diet plan. Balanced nutrition is required for everyone whether the person is rich or poor to lead a healthy life.

Filed Under: Health and Diet Tagged With: Dieting, Health and Diet, Nutrition