Health News

Eating During Pregnancy: The Last Two Trimesters

October 25, 2022

Your concerns about eating during pregnancy will change slightly as your baby grows and develops throughout the next nine months. During the first three months, most expectant mothers must make sweeping lifestyle changes to accommodate the new baby. This may include weaning off a caffeine habit, no longer eating junk food, and switching to whole foods and all-natural foods in lieu of processed food products.
In this article, we will examine the changes in your diet during the last two trimesters. During the last six months of pregnancy, after you have kicked your bad habits and implemented healthy ones in their places, you should focus on eating the right foods to give your baby everything she needs to develop.
Second Trimester Needs and Concerns
Second trimester nutrition is focused upon giving your baby the nutrients she needs to develop her brain, spinal cord, and nervous system properly. This is why it’s so essential to increase the amount of protein you eat during this trimester.
In fact, experts agree that you should aim for a serving of lean protein with every meal, including snacks, during months three to six. In addition, you may begin experiencing cravings during this time.
If your cravings are for unhealthy foods, try to limit your consumption to keep your weight gain on an even keel. If you have cravings for healthy foods, indulge them as you see fit.
If you are concerned that your cravings may be caused by a nutritional deficit, consult with your healthcare professional. She may be able to determine if your cravings are being caused by a lack of certain nutrients in your diet.
The second trimester is also one in which you gain the most amount of weight in the quickest amount of time. By carefully monitoring your diet, you can help keep this gain to a healthy minimum. Most experts agree that a gain of 20-30 pounds throughout the course of your pregnancy is ideal.
During the second trimester, you may gain between 10 and 20 of those pounds. By monitoring your weight gain and keeping it within these parameters, you can be assured of an easier delivery as well as a swifter return to your pre-baby weight after you give birth.
Third Trimester Needs and Concerns
Third trimester nutrition is focused on alleviating many of the common discomforts of pregnancy. Unfortunately, many women experience heartburn during this last trimester.
This is due to hormonal changes that relax your muscles for delivery; these hormones also relax the muscle between your esophagus and stomach. This allows stomach acid to creep back up your throat, causing the pain and burning associated with indigestion and heartburn.
You may need to limit your consumption of spicy, citrus, and vinegar-laden foods, and may try eating papaya, which neutralizes stomach acid. You may also choose to sleep sitting in a propped-up position, which can help slow the flow of stomach acid up your esophagus.
Another common problem during this third trimester is the issue of water retention. This is also caused by hormonal changes along with the increasing weight of your baby, which presses on your veins, slowing the flow of blood through your body. This allows fluids to accumulate, particularly in your lower legs and feet. You can ease water retention by increasing your consumption of water and by cutting back on your sodium intake.
Avoid processed foods. You should also avoid or severely any foods that are naturally high in sodium, such as cheeses, salted nuts, and so forth. Nutritional changes aside, you might also need to wear compression socks and rest with your feet elevated to get the blood flowing again. Exercise is another great way to keep your blood flowing and stay healthy during this last stage of pregnancy.…

Mens Health and Nutrition Is a Different Animal to the Health and Nutrition of Our Other Half, Women

September 26, 2022

Men’s pot bellies usually has to do with the wrong food diet and lack of exercise, and that can turn on you quickly, producing too much excess insulin (from to much sugar in the diet and not enough exercise) depositing FAT into your GUT! Abdominal fat is different and more dangerous than fat elsewhere. Unlike fat under the skin, Belly Fat adheres to Organs and is associated with ( CRP) C reactive protein, just one of the markers of inflammation. Even worse, would be when your pancreas burns out over the years of producing excess insulin, that will begin to build up in your arteries resulting in possible heart attack and strokes.
These are some of the steps people can take to overcome this problem!
Drink at least 16oz of water when you rise in the morning as that will help flush toxins out. Drink at least a gallon of water throughout the day. Eat in reverse! a LARGE hearty healthy breakfast, eat a MEDIUM Lunch, and then eat a small Dinner, unlike most people who normally eat ( light breakfast- medium lunch -heavy dinner late at night.)
When you eat a healthy breakfast of whole grains, cereal, proteins, fruit, (not bacon-home fries-sausage-burgers-pancakes etc)it will get you energized for the start of day and sustain you until lunch time. People who eat a protein rich breakfast of around 600 or more calories lose more weight than those that consume less than 300 for breakfast. Don’t be tempted to snack on Junk food in between. There’s no nutritive value, just calories and that will increase your sugar level.
Lunch! Try a peanut-butter sandwich with maybe some Honey, even one at around 3pm will give you the necessary whole grains and muscle building protein to give you the energy to work out in the afternoon or evening, and of course you won’t need that big dinner.
Dinner! The thing about dinner is people tend to eat too much and too late in the evening resulting in food turning to sugar, turning too fat while lying motionless for 8 or more hours. It’s beneficial to eat something light for dinner. Eating a small colorful salad with some virgin olive oil and vinegar will help slow the absorption of carbohydrates into the bloodstream. This prevents spikes in blood sugar and insulin which signals the body to store fat. Maybe add some tuna for protein and a piece of fruit. Set a goal to not to eat after 7 -7-30pm and drink water before bed.…

Cosmetic Dental Treatment

May 4, 2022

Teeth can discolour with time as the outer layer of enamel wears away allowing the darker inner layer of dentine to show through. Teeth can also appear discoloured due to developmental blemishes. Fortunately, stained or discoloured teeth can usually be treated with tooth whitening procedures. Tooth whitening is a safe procedure when done by a qualified dentist and typically involves a custom made tray being made to hold the bleaching gel in contact with your teeth. Instructions regarding the wearing of the tray will be provided by your dentist who will also review your progress. Results are usually seen within two weeks. Tooth whitening procedures may also be carried out in the chair by dentists. For advice on the best method for you, it is important to talk to a qualified dentist. Tooth Whitening may not be appropriate for all people.
Veneers are another way to create a beautiful smile and are one of the most preferred cosmetic dental treatments. Veneers are made from thin tooth coloured materials which are carefully bonded to the front of your tooth. Veneers can be used to alter the appearance of teeth which are chipped or worn, slightly misaligned/gappy, discoloured or simply not quite the right shape (often used where a tooth is too small). Veneers can be made from a ceramic material like porcelain) which requires an impression and a couple of dental visits, or they can be applied directly to the tooth surface in a single visit using composite resin. Once complete they look very natural. Whilst veneers are not suitable for all teeth, your dentist can advise you on your individual circumstances.
Crowns are another cosmetic dental treatments option. Crowns are a custom made restoration which fits over the prepared existing natural tooth. Crowns can be an effective option for addressing concerns such as broken, chipped, discoloured or weakened teeth. As well as improving the appearance of a tooth, crowns add durability and stability to your bite and assist in strengthening a weak or compromised tooth. Crowns are typically made from porcelain (or an alternative ceramic) or a precious metal. Because they are created uniquely for your mouth, they can be designed to blend with your existing teeth and enhance your overall smile.…

The Scoop – What Causes Acne?

January 29, 2022

Acne is not your fault. It is not caused by the food you eat or how often you wash your face; it is caused by a complex combination of factors.
Genetic disposition to acne
There’s absolutely nothing you can do about your genetic makeup. If you are wondering if you’re genetically prone to develop acne, interview your blood relatives. If there is a family history of moderate-to-severe acne, you are at the greatest risk for having a genetic disposition for acne, with onset most often in the early teen years.
Your genetic makeup may make it is easier for the P. acnes bacteria to proliferate on your skin. Your body may be more inclined to produce a swelling response to the bacteria. You may produce more oil. Your pores may plug more easily. Your skin cells may turn over at a slower rate for your age. These contributing factors to acne are all determined by your genetic makeup. In addition, if both your parents have had significant acne, your risks for developing acne is also very high.
Acne and hormones
Hormones are another genetic factor affecting the development of acne. For women, hormones regulate changes throughout her lifetime. Fluctuations in estrogen levels (and androgen levels) can cause acne. As a result, many women experience outbreaks in conjunction with their menstrual cycles. The flood of hormones released by the body during and after pregnancy can also cause acne. And, just when you thought you were too old for acne, you find that the erratic estrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause can cause yet more acne, once again.
During puberty, everyone begins to produce androgenic hormones. One of the things these hormones do is cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge. The rate at which the body produces sebum, or oil, is affected by hormone levels. Too much oil stimulation, causing sticky oil and too little shedding of dead skin cells – and the next thing you know, your face is populated with a new acne outbreak. These hormones fluctuate during puberty, which is why almost all teens suffer from some form of acne.
Other factors that cause acne
One of the most important contributing factors to acne is stress. If I remember my years of puberty accurately, they were loaded with stress – some of it caused by the acne itself, an ironic catch-22. The reason for this is that stress hormones are released by the body to deal with stress, triggering increased oil production by the sebaceous glands. In addition, stress delays wound healing, so the breakouts last longer.
Environment is another factor in acne outbreaks. Pollution, exposure to oil or grease, dry air, and high humidity all have an effect on your skin and play a part in acne outbreaks. Put a teen in front of a fryer for a couple of hours after school every day and you can pretty much take bets on the next outbreak of acne.
A variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications may have side effects that affect your body’s chemistry, leading to changes in hormones that instigate acne. These include any drugs regulating or stimulating androgenic hormones (which is why athletes using corticosteroids, legal of otherwise, typically have a lot of acne), phenobarbital and some other anti-epileptic drugs.
If your mother keeps telling you to keep your hands off your face, she has a good reason – excessive rubbing or irritation to the skin can lead to acne. Holding the telephone too close to your face, sweating in a football or bicycle helmet, a backwards baseball cap with the strap pressing on your forehead – all these can lead to acne outbreaks. If you hold a cell phone to one side of your face, you may notice you break out more on that side. Even the strap of a purse can cause an outbreak on your shoulder.
If you are having problems with acne, use cosmetics, sunscreens and moisturizers that are noncomedogenic. This means they have been specifically formulated so they don’t contain ingredients known to cause acne. Otherwise, they may irritate your skin and clog your pores.
With careful attention to the causes of acne that you CAN control, you can reduce the problems caused by the factors you CANNOT control.…

Nutrition College Teaches You About Healthy Food Choices

February 14, 2021

In today’s hurried life, many of our food choices are less than optimal. This is not only leading to the increase in the number of overweight and obese individuals it is also leaving a number of other people feeling sluggish and fighting health concerns like high cholesterol or abnormal blood sugars. Due to this rising concern in the general population, a career in nutrition will secure one with a long lasting marketable skill. There are a number of job options available to one who attends nutrition college. Dietitians and nutritionists only scratch the surface of the available options when one graduates with a degree in nutrition.
While food science programs focus on foods and their ingredients and how they affect our bodies, at nutrition college one will also study the effects of food and its chemical breakdown and how it affects our economy and culture. Individuals with degrees in nutrition can work closely with large companies studying how food breaks down, what causes it to spoil and ways to eliminate this creating longer shelf life for the company. Moreover, they can research ways to store foods or help market a certain product.
Because of the diverse employment options, nutrition schools will cover a wide scope of study revolving around food, its ingredients, nutrients and its biological structures. In addition, the student will engage in classes that better their communication skills both verbal and written. There are classes based around management, organizational skills, self-discipline and of course math to compute weights and measurements.
Once you decide that nutrition is the path for you, research your options carefully. Choosing the school and degree that is right for you is imperative. A reputable nutrition college will offer a variety of degrees related to nutrition.
Certificates are a great option for those that already hold another degree and are just looking for a way to specialize in particular area or the newcomer who is not completely sure that nutrition is for them. A certificate may be a great choice for the RN that wants to specialize in pediatric nutrition, for example.
However, if one decides this is the career for them, there are bachelor’s degrees as well as master’s programs to pursue opening a wide variety of options for one graduates with a degree in nutrition.…

Relationship Between Gum Disease and Life – Threatening Illnesses

February 7, 2021

Research has found that the bacteria associated with periodontal (gum) disease may be one of the key contributors behind the systemic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, respiratory problems, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, rheumatoid arthritis, and premature births. Because of this discovery, researchers are now trying to determine how gum disease and the bacterium from gum disease affects these systemic diseases and conditions.
Discovering the links between periodontal disease and systemic diseases could hold the key to preventing these life-threatening afflictions. There are several theories that indicate just how gum disease is linked to overall health.
Most research suggests that bacteria associated with gum disease travels throughout the body using the body’s veins and arteries like a highway to other parts of the body. Once this bacterium enters the circulatory system, any number of ill repercussions can occur.
Research
A consensus paper on the relationship between heart disease and gum disease was recently published concurrently in two leading health science publications. Developed jointly by cardiologists (physicians specialized in treating diseases of the heart) and periodontists (dentists with advanced training in the treatment and prevention of periodontal disease), the paper contains clinical recommendations for both medical and dental professionals to use in managing patients living with or who are at risk for either disease.
As a result of the paper, cardiologists are now examining patients’ mouths, and dentists are asking questions about heart health and family history of heart disease.
The whole practice of dentistry, as well as other health-related fields, are shifting from the philosophy of ‘fixing something wrong’ to ‘prevention’ of disease.
Inflammation
Just like bacteria in the air or on objects, bacteria in the mouth can exit the mouth and infiltrate the body, causing any number of effects including inflammation and infection to other areas of the body. Furthermore, scientists now understand that inflammation causes or complicates many diseases, including pancreatic cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and arthritis.
In the case of arthritis, many scientists believe that inflammation is responsible for the development of rheumatoid arthritis in some of the estimated 2.1 million people suffering from the condition. Today, the level of inflammation in your body can be evaluated with a C-reactive protein test from a blood sample.
People often brush off a simple condition like inflammation as a non-threatening ailment. But prevention is all about timing. The body is finely tuned, and when something like inflammation pops up, it is best to listen to your body and have it checked out.
Cardiovascular Disease
Researchers continually work to discover the causes and cures for heart disease and have found promising leads in prevention through periodontal treatment.
There is no guarantee that preventing gum disease prevents heart disease. But research has shown a link between the two diseases. In the cases where patients have a high risk for heart disease, it is advised by doctors and dentists to have regular periodontal exams and treatment.
Diabetes
Diabetes, another life-threatening illness, has also been linked to gum disease. Gum disease may make it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar. Though more research is needed, what we do know is that severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, putting diabetics at increased risk for complications.
For years we’ve known that people with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people without diabetes. But recently, research has emerged suggesting that the relationship goes both ways.
Periodontal Exams
Periodontal exams are fast, accurate, and painless. During the exam, dentists review medical history to determine if the patient is at high risk of periodontal disease. Then the dentist will look for bleeding or inflamed gums in a physical examination. These are symptoms of gingivitis, a lesser form of periodontal disease.
Also, dentists will check for pockets around the gums in a periodontal screening and recording (PSR) test. During this procedure, dentists will probe various areas to test tooth movement and the stability of the connective tissue of the gums. If needed, X-rays of the mouth will be taken to assess bone loss.…

Tips On How You Can Build A Support System For Your Depression

October 3, 2019

Depression is a serious type of disease and can negatively affect your functioning. Depression has a negative impact on all aspects of life, from arising in the morning to keeping yourself well fed. This article can help you with some guidelines to follow so you can rid yourself and other people of depression.

If you are depressed, you should try to work on something productive for at least 30-60 minutes per day. Doing absolutely nothing all day can cause a vicious cycle where you not only have your “base” depression symptoms, but also depression because you are unable to get anything done.

If your income is low and you are suffering from depression, try and find free or low-cost social services that can help you. Local governments offer community counseling services to those with low incomes, especially those people who qualify for Medicaid. These community counseling centers can also provide free samples of medication for those who can’t afford to fill a prescription.

If you are dealing with depression, slowly work on trying to fix some of the problems in your life. Many times, a difficult situation in your life is the reason for the depression in the first. Even if your depression wasn’t caused by the issues in your personal life, an easier life will make it simpler to deal with the depression.

It is important to remember that no one is perfect. Many people who suffer from depression started the downward spiral because of thinking that just because they do not always do or say the right thing, there is something wrong with them. Focus on the qualities about yourself that you and everyone else admires. Yes, focus on your good points and use these to form a positive opinion of your overall self. This simple step can help you on the road to recovery.

Consider taking a dietary supplement. Studies have shown that vitamin deficiencies can affect brain function, leading to disorders such as depression. Especially implicated are B vitamins, including folic acid and B-12. A chromium supplement, while not fixing a deficiency, will also help boost energy levels and reduce junk food cravings.

Getting an appropriate amount of sleep is also another great way to battle depression. Clinical studies have very reliably shown that both those who over sleep and those that under sleep are more prone to experience clinical depression. If you can, you should have a set sleep schedule which allows for seven or eight hours of sleep.

Fitness

An effective way to resolve and overcome depression is to create some realistic goals that you can achieve. These goals can be anything from learning to play an instrument or setting a fitness goal. By living a more goal oriented life, you will be able to focus more of your thoughts on things that are making your life better rather than the issues causing your depression. Accomplishing your goals will also serve as a vital source for the self esteem and self confidence that you will need to overcome depression.

This article has given you a lot of useful advice about depression. Remember that this won’t be something that will take care of itself right away, you have to work hard at it. You can beat your depression; it’s not impossible. Surround yourself with support so that you can get through this.…

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