Friday, February 28, 2014

Knowing what your baby wants from his cries

What to do when your child has fever

10 Important Nutrients Every Woman Needs


Everyone’s nutrient needs are not exactly the same. While most people benefit from the same vitamins and minerals, a woman’s needs can be a little different because her body goes through different things throughout life. Here are 10 nutrients that are important for women to get.
 
1. Iron


Iron is important for growth and development. Deficiency of iron can result in fatigue, insomnia, and lack of concentration. Iron stores and carries oxygen around the body. Women lose blood on a monthly basis during menstruation, which results in iron loss because iron travels through the blood. It’s important that woman make sure they get enough iron during this time to replenish what is lost. Good sources of iron include red meat, broccoli, kidney beans, and liver.
 
2. Folic acid


Folic acid is especially important for women of child-bearing age, but all women benefit from this vitamin. For women of child-bearing age it’s an important vitamin because it promotes healthy pregnancy. Lack of folic acid can result in neural tube defects that lead to cerebral palsy. In addition to taking a prenatal vitamin for folic acid, you can get folic acid from leafy green vegetables, avocado, and liver.
 
3. Calcium


Calcium is an important mineral for keeping bones and teeth healthy and strong. It’s needed throughout life and even more so as we age because around age 35 we begin to lose calcium. Calcium is also a factor in staying slim and reducing PMS symptoms. Good sources of calcium include milk, cheese, spinach, kale, almonds, and black beans.
 
4. Vitamin D


Vitamin D is an important vitamin that many people don’t get enough of. If you want to know if you’re getting enough, you can ask your doctor to check your levels. Most people get vitamin D from the sun, but it’s not always as easy as that. A supplement is a good idea if you avoid the sun or live in a place that doesn’t get sun for months on end. Vitamin D is beneficial for mood, breast health, and the absorption of calcium, which is important for bones and teeth.
 
5. Magnesium


Magnesium is involved in many of the chemical reactions that happen in the body. It is an important nutrient for nerves, muscle tone and keeps bones strong. It also helps keep osteoporosis at bay. Magnesium can help to prevent cardiovascular disease and regulate blood pressure. Sources of magnesium include pumpkin seeds, spinach, black beans, halibut, and almonds.

6. Vitamin E



Vitamin E, which is found mainly in fatty foods like oils, nuts, and seeds, is a powerful antioxidant. It fights free radicals, the unstable oxygen molecules that are formed as a result of normal metabolism and exposure to strong ultraviolet rays, air pollution, and cigarette smoke. Vitamin E is key for strong immune system and healthy eyes and skin.

A woman over age 19 needs 15 milligrams of Vitamin E each day, so make sure you snack on almonds or sunflower seeds and add them to cooked whole grains, salads, and steamed veggies. A nut butter sandwich on whole wheat or whole grain bread is also a perfect snack.

7. Omega-3 Fatty Acids


One of the good fats, omega-3 fatty acids are another essential nutrient every woman needs. Omega 3’s help reduce blood pressure, inflammation and lower your risk of numerous chronic diseases including heart disease and cancer. Every woman needs 1.1g of these good fats per day. Wild salmon, non-white tuna, halibut, herring and sardines are all excellent sources of omega 3 fatty acids.

8. Potassium


Potassium plays a significant role in transmission of nerve impulses, normal muscle contraction, and fluid balance. It also serves to promote healthy and strong bones, and it’s essential for energy production. Many foods are rich in potassium. All meats, chicken and red meat, and fish like cod, salmon, sardines, and flounder are great sources of potassium. Some other sources include fat-free yogurt, sweet potato, spinach and broccoli. Potassium-rich foods can reduce your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. A woman over age 19 needs 4,700 mg of potassium each day.

9. Vitamin C


Vitamin C is an important nutrient for maintaining a healthy immune system. It is a powerful antioxidant that can help ward off cell damage. Vitamin C is also crucial for the production of collagen, the essential part of the connective tissue that helps keep skin, muscles, and other tissues healthy. Women 19 and older need 75 mg of Vitamin C per day. Sweet red pepper, oranges, kiwi, strawberries, cantaloupe are some of the best sources of Vitamin C.

10. Fiber


Fiber helps promote normal bowel movements and prevent other intestinal problems, including diverticular disease. Women 19-50 years need 25 grams of fiber per day, and women 51 and older need 21 grams each day. Some of the best sources are fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals, and whole grains like millet, quinoa, barley, wild rice and cracked wheat. Fiber-rich foods help reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

Vitamins and minerals are needed by everyone, but women need to be sure to get certain ones because they go through pregnancies, menstruation, and even dieting that can deplete the nutrients that are needed the most. It’s important to get vitamins and minerals from food sources whenever you can. Don’t rely on supplements alone to give you what you need. A supplement is an addition to what you’re already getting as kind of a safeguard.

Learn the benefits of massage

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Your Guide to Urinary Tract Infection

5 Super Food

A huge proponent of our health relies on the food we eat.

Here are 5 Super Food that you may want to consider in your diet.

 

Food Synergy

Certain foods, when eaten together, don't just tickle the tastebuds, they pack a healthy one-two punch!

Why Onions Make You Cry and How To Avoid It


We often end up in tears when chopping onions. Have you ever wondered why onions make you cry when you chop them? Of-course they contain some pungent juice which makes you cry but do you know what is in that juice? Here is the process of how and why onions make you cry:

1. As you cut an onion you break the cells which are full of amino acid sulfoxides from sulfenic acids and allinase enzymes. These enzymes are now free to mix with sulfenic acids.

2.The sulfenic acid rearranges itself into thiosulfinates when mixed with the enzymes which produces a pungent odor. Then the acids convert to a gas, syn-propanethial-S-oxide by the LF-synthase enzyme. Syn-propanethial-S-oxide is also known as Lachrymatory which is responsible for tears.

3. The lachrymatory reaches your eyes through air and strikes the cornea which contains autonomic motor fibers that result in lachrymal glands. When syn-propanethial-S-oxide is detected, it makes all the fibers present in the cornea start firing away and directs the lachrymal glands to wash away the irritant.

4. All these reactions make us blink our eyes and produce tears. As we shed tears, it chucks out the irritant substance.

When we cry, we tend to rub our eyes with hands which makes things worse as our hands also contain some syn-propanethial-S-oxide from holding the onion. Stop rubbing your eyes with your hands. Here are some tricks you can try to avoid crying while chopping onions:
1. Chop under a vent

Place your chopping board on the stove and switch on the overhead vent or microwave ventilation fan, this will help redirect the irritating gas produced by onions. This will help you have a painless and tearless experience.

2. Chew gum

Chewing gum while chopping onions really helps, it helps you breathe through your mouth which helps keep fumes away from your eyes. Don’t look down at the onion or towards the chopping board as this will bring you into contact with fumes again.

3. Wear goggles

There are special goggles designed for chopping onions that protect your eyes from the irritating fumes and vapors. They are available in many stores and online.

4. Cool it

Keep onions in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before chopping. This will cause a chemical reaction and reduce fumes that cause tears.

5. Soak it

Soak your onion in a bowl of water for about 15 minutes. This will help in eliminating the sulfuric compounds from the onion in the water. This is a great and simple trick which really works. This will also result into milder-tasting onions.

6. Cut under running water

If you are in hurry and you don’t have time to soak the onions in water, you can simply cut your onions under running water. The water will help keep the fumes away from your eyes. It will make your onion a bit slippery, but it really works.

7 Julienne

This trick involves learning the proper process to julienne an onion like a professional. You have to chop your onion quickly which requires practice. This trick can also improve your knife skills and make you a great chopper.

Notes:
• Its important to use a sharp knife, this will enable you to chop your onion quickly before you are exposed to those irritating fumes.
• You can use green onions as they contain fewer LF-synthase enzymes and don’t produce syn-propanethial-S-oxide.

Sources1Source2Source3

Causes and Symptoms of Abdominal Pain

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

What you need to know about psychotic disorders

Eye Twitching

If you have eye twitching, you may have an involuntary movement that recurs every several seconds for a minute or two.

All Natural Pain Relief



There is nothing worse than being in pain. Not everyone tolerates pain medicine well, and some people just do not care for medicine at all, so sharing a few with you that are all natural, homeopathic medicine and supplements. That being said, if you have chronic pain, or an acute episode like a broken or sprained limb, please do not be afraid of taking needed pain medicine, keeping your pain under control helps your body to heal faster and decreases stress.

Chiropractors, or osteopaths, can frequently make adjustments and provide a large measure of pain relief. Massage therapy is often helpful, if you cannot afford a regular massage there are several good home options, including chair pads with heat, massage, and car plug-in options. Many people find relief in the regular practice of yoga and/or pilates. Also, increase foods that have natural anti-inflammatory properties, like fresh fruits and vegetables, and decrease trans fats, highly processed foods, sugar, and smoking. Regular exercise is highly beneficial, as tolerated, do not push. Many people find relief from consumption of lactic acid before, during, or after a workout, the proteins help repair the tissues faster. Relaxation and/or meditation work very well for some people as well.

 
Capsaicin is helpful for pain from arthritis, shingles, and neuropathy. This is available in a topical solution and is better for acute pain than for every day pain and stiffness. Wear gloves to apply, wash your hands very well also.
InflaThera or Zyflamend can be very helpful for arthritis pain. This is a combination of ginger, turmeric, and holy basil which have anti-inflammatory properties. InflaThera is a prescription and is a stronger blend, and somewhat cheaper than Zyflamend. You can also try the ingredients separately, or 500 mg of curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, 4 times daily with fish oil and a low-fat diet, very effective for arthritis pain.

Arnica has been shown to be helpful in pain reduction for acute injury or post-surgery swelling. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory, can use as an ointment on strained muscles, or available in pellet form which goes under the tongue, use as an adjunct with ice, herbs, or conventional pain medications.

 
Aquamin has been shown to be helpful with osteoarthritis pain, it’s made from red seaweed, naturally high in calcium and magnesium, this may reduce inflammation and help build bone, it’s available in capsule form.

SAM-e, or S adenosylmethionine is also helpful with osteoarthritis. It reduces inflammation as well as increasing production of serotonin and dopamine, feel-good chemicals from your brain. Recommended dosage is 400-1600 mg daily, make sure it has a USP or GMP quality seal, it should contain a stabilizing salt, have a far-off exp. date, and comes in a foil blister pack, it degrades rapidly in direct light.


Fish oil has been shown to be helpful with joint pain from arthritis or autoimmune diseases. For osteoarthritis the recommended dosage is 2000-4000 mg a day, compared to 1000 mg for heart health, for autoimmune diseases the dosage is 8000 mg daily, please talk to your doctor before taking this amount, especially if you already take heart or blood pressure medication. In a study of those with back and neck pain 2/3 stopped taking NSAID’s after 10 weeks.

MSM or methylsulfonyl-methane is another natural medication helpful with osteoarthritis pain, may prevent joint damage and cartilage degeneration, studies have shown 25% reduction in pain and 30% increase in joint function on a dose of 1.5-3 g daily after 3 month trial.

With getting a shot you can count backwards from 100 and often not recall any pain, according to researchers pain relief depends on your level of concentration, so if that is too easy concentrate on saying the alphabet backwards. This is only effective for short term pain such as a needlestick.
 
Boswaillia is an Indian herb that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, can try with other natural pain relievers like turmeric and holy basil, some people put these herbs in a green smoothie.

Pain hurts, help your body to ease it with what works best for you. Also don’t forget application of ice and heat, old standbys because they work, apply for 20 minutes, use a towel to protect your skin, ice for 72 hours after an injury, then heat, for chronic pain you can try alternating them for optimal pain relief.

For more information please see source:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26136767/ns/health-alternative_medicine/t/youre-pain-you-want-relief-naturally/

More Than Two Drinks a Day Could Speed Memory Loss: Study

 
Men who consume more than two alcoholic drinks per day while in middle age may speed up their memory loss in later life by up to six years, said a study Wednesday.
 
alcohol2

However, there were no differences in memory or mental function between non-drinkers and those who drank less than two drinks, or 20 grams per day, said the findings in the journal Neurology.
For the study, more than 5,000 middle-aged men were interviewed about their drinking habits three times over 10 years.

Then, they underwent memory and other cognitive tests beginning at an average age of 56. These tests were repeated twice over the next 10 years.

“Our study focused on middle-aged participants and suggests that heavy drinking is associated with faster decline in all areas of cognitive function in men,” said study author Severine Sabia of the University College London.

The mental abilities of heavy drinkers declined between one-and-a-half to six years faster than those who had fewer drinks per day.

Men who drank 36 grams of alcohol or more per day saw the steepest declines in their memory and brain function.

Some 2,000 women were also included in the study, but there were not enough heavy drinkers among them to analyze their rates of mental decline compared to moderate or non-drinkers.
Neurology is the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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Your toothbrush can be loaded with as many as 10 million germs and bacteria.

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