Reviews Tips Opinions

10 tips for staying healthy naturally during pregnancy

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

1) Pregnancy and herbs. Okay, so you’re pregnant. Fantastic!! The most important 9 months of your life .The most important 9 months for staying healthy and feeling relaxed. But you need to stay healthy without pumping your system full of artificially created drugs . Drugs should only be used in cases of emergency but lots of times during your pregnancy you will feel under the weather, below par both physically and mentally. If you don’t turn to drugs what do you turn to ?

Actually there are lots of ways to stay healthy during pregnancy. All of them are based on natural medicine . All of them can be effective in helping you look great and feel great for the most important 9 months of your life. Herbs are the first area to look at.

So what are they ? What are the main ways of keeping healthy during pregnancy ?

This article is the first in a series of 10 which will look at feeling fantastic and looking great when you’re pregnant.

The first area I’m going to look at is pregnancy and herbs. Herbs are natural . Herbs have been used in the treatment of illness for hundredds of years and they can be used to help you feel great and deal with some common pregnancy ailments.

Today most of us neglect them but they can help.

You need to know, however, which herbs are safe to use during pregnancy and which are better to avoid.. You need to know what risks may be involved in using herbs. And do n’t forget you shoulsd always check with a medical practitioner before use.

The risks:

a)Herbs can lead to miscarriage, injury to the foetus or premature birth.

b)Whereas prescribed drugs are subject to scrutiny for safety by the FDA vitamins and natural herbs do not go through this safety validation process.

c)A few herbal products for sale may possibly contain ingredients that are contraindicated in pregnancy.

d)Professional advice underwritten by the FDA is that if you are pregnant you should not take any herb without first consulting an experienced herbalist, your midwife and doctor. This does, of course, make sense .It would be foolish to take anything even a natural herb without first checking on its safety.

Herbs you should not take during pregnancy;

a)Blue Cohosh- can induce labor b)Goldenseal- this could cross the placenta. c)Dong Quai d)Ephedra e)Yohimbe f)Passionflower g)Pennyroyal.

Herbs which are safe to take during pregnancy:

a)Ginger root- ginger has been used for years in the treatment of sickness and nausea. b)Oats and Oat Straw- these are fantastic sources of calcium and magnesium and will help you to control anxiety ,restlessness and sore skin. c)Peppermint leaf- again useful in helping to control morning sickness and flatulence. d)Red Raspberry leaf- this contains abundant amounts of iron so can help increase the production of milk, reduce nausea and even help control and reduce labor pains. e)Slippery Elm bark- use the inner bark. This can help with vaginal irritation.

Additionally garlic, dandelion, and chamomile are noted for their healing properties. Chamomile is relaxing and can help you sleep, whilst garlic is great for the blood, and dandelion can help relieve mild edema.

In conclusion herbs, if taken properly and sensibly and in consultation with your midwife and professional herbalist, can help you to continue to feel healthy and look good during pregnancy. As with anything else some have tremendous benefits but others could do you harm. Be sure to take care.

A reminder this is the first of 10 articles about the use of complementary medicine in pregnancy. Look out for number 2 in the series :

‘Pregnancy and Aromatherapy.’

10 Ways to Make Your Illness Support Group Uplifting

If you live with chronic pain or an illness, odds are that you have attended a support group at least once since you were diagnosed. Did it feel something like this?

You felt awful the entire day but you decided to get in the car and go to the support group anyway. You thought it would be good for you. It took forever to find the building at the hospital and then you ended up parking what seemed like a mile from the suite number. You found a chair that smelled like old sweat and smoke and hoped somehow you would find some encouragement. But an hour later you’re ready to make dash for the door. Everyone seems to be so depressed! And too many people want to either sell you a juicer that is sure to cure your problems, or tell you about every surgery they’ve had since 1977.

Aren’t support groups supposed to be valuable in learning how to cope with illness and encourage one another?

The answer is yes! Studies completed by Dr. David Spiegel have concluded that support groups do in fact improve the quality of life of those who are willing to attend. Recent studies (CANCER, Sept 2007) have show that support groups do not actually increase the lifespan of one who lives with cancer. But regardless, by having one’s feelings about her illness validated, her skills of coping with chronic illness are definitely more improved.

You may have attended a support group in the past or perhaps you are looking for leadership ideas for one you are starting. Regardless of how long you have (or have not) participated in one, it’s likely that you’ve seen how quickly the groups can move from being an honest and sharing place to a session of complaints and even quarreling. Would you like some fresh icebreaker games for small groups to perk people up?

Here are 10 ideas to help create some humor and joy in your support group. You can evade some of those bitter moments that can so easily come out in conversation about illness. Some simple planning can make you feel enthused about your next get together. These ideas will work for any groups, from a Rhode Island support group for CFS to a diabetes support group for those in Marion County, Florida. And they a great tool to have when you are creating a proposal for starting up a support group.

1. Make faces on sticks. It may sound silly, but sometimes getting back to basics works best. Cut out smiley faces and sad faces and glue them on each side of a stick or plastic knife. As people take turns sharing about their week, make sure they can show both sides of the faces. For example, Kim may hold up the sad face while she says “getting ready for surgery and all the therapy afterwards has been stressful.” (Then she can flip the face over to a smiley face) “But I’ve really appreciated how many family members has volunteered to help with childcare.”

2. Redefine your conception of what counts as indoor games for small groups. For example, start a JOY box and ask everyone to bring an item for it that someone else can take home with them. Have each person choose an item at the end of the meeting. It could be a silly toy, a cartoon, a rubber fish, or great book, a poem, a note someone sent that encouraged you, or even a funny DVD. Ask everyone to return them at the next meeting and exchange it for another item. Refresh the box up now and then.

3. Be goofy together with ice breakers for small groups. Make up a fun, corny theme song to start each meeting, or pick a tune everyone knows and make up new lyrics. Check out comedian Anita Renfroe’s website for some terrific examples that will leave you in stitches.

4. Find some goofy props to bring to your meeting. Don’t make anyone feel they must use or wear them. (Forcing someone to wear bug antennas may scare them away for good.) But make sure they are available to encourage light-hearted moments before discussing the depressing reasons you are there. You can find hundreds of items for a reasonable price at Oriental Trading Supply.

5. Don’t allow the group to turn into a platform for any one member who talks incessantly about her illness, the treatment, the alternative treatments or even her complaints. If you have someone dominating the conversation, tell the group you are implementing a timer and set your own guidelines. (For example, can people vent for 60 seconds about anything they want? Can they share about an alternative treatment they want the group to try? Give them a time limit.)

6. Have everyone bring something to put into a basket of encouragement for someone else. It may be someone who is having surgery from your group or a friend of someone in the group who has just been diagnosed. Brainstorm together about what items people would like, and be sure to remember sometimes the personal notes mean the most. If it’s appropriate consider including family members.

7. Go out for one evening just for fun. If everyone want to act their age you may consider a sit down restaurant, or you can head on over to Chuck E. Cheese’s or Build-A-Bear. It’s a terrific icebreaker for small groups since people who haven’t opened up in the group may find this is a more relaxed environment. Consider including family members to participate.

8. Provide handouts or items that encourage people to thrive with illness. For example, National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week always has fun items like bumper stickers, static clings, stickers, pins, mugs, etc. with the different themes like, “My illness is invisible but my hope shines through!”

9. When you schedule guest speakers, remind them that you want to provide the most positive outlook as possible, while still being practical. Invite them to pass out props, encouraging articles. Listen to your speakers before scheduling them. Some illness speakers are quite depressing.

10. Sit down with your group and discuss what kinds of things you could do to create change. Illness often robs people of feeling useful. Even though your group may not be able to physically walk for a charity event, you could work at a registration table, or distribute water. Teens with chronic illness are often a great inspiration in getting a support groups involved in a higher calling. Remind people they can be part of something positive.

Support groups can be one of the most vital tickets to living successfully with chronic illness, but the atmosphere of the group can make or break its effectiveness. With these few simple steps, your group can be a place of refuge and relaxation, creating an environment for people to live their best lives, despite the existence of an illness.

12 Simple Approaches To Prevent High Blood Pressure?

Even the medical community who have been doing research on blood pressure for decades say that about 95% of high blood pressure problems have unknown causes, and you can have it without even knowing it, even if you feel healthy. For this reason, you must be on guard and monitor your blood pressure, and have it checked on a regular basis.

Smoking and coffee raises your blood pressure temporarily, so if you are having your blood pressure taken, avoid drinking coffee or smoking at least 30 minutes before the reading. If you are a smoker, you should know this puts you at greater risk for developing high blood pressure than a non-smoker.

Other factors that increase your risk include high cholesterol, diabetes, stroke, heart disease or another medical condition or if you’re over the age of 60 or of menopausal age. When you check your blood pressure, be aware that fluctuations are normal, and a one time high reading doesn’t necessarily mean you have hypertension. It’s when those readings are consistently elevated that a diagnosis is usually made. Sometimes other medications you may be taking can contribute to raising your blood pressure.

There are changes you can make in your diet and in your lifestyle that can help reduce the risk and possibly even prevent high blood pressure. These are listed below. The more you can adopt into your life, the more you lower your risk for developing hypertension.

> Limit alcohol to two drinks per day or even less

> Maintain a healthy weight and lose weight if needed

> Cut your fat intake to less than 30%

> Limit added salt and be mindful of sodium content in prepared foods

> Exercise regularly at a moderate level of intensity several times a week

> Stop smoking

> Be sure you get at least 1000 mg (milligrams) of calcium every day. Good sources are dairy products, broccoli, canned salmon, figs, tofu and kale

> You also need 2500-3000 mg of potassium daily. Get that from fresh veggies and fruit, nuts and dairy products. Look for low fat brands of dairy products.

> Get 350-400 mg of magnesium daily. You’ll find it in dark green veggies, whole grains, seafood, legumes, nuts, and soybeans.

> Get a good night’s sleep. Inadequate sleep can actually raise your blood pressure even higher if you already have hypertension.

> Relax more. Reduce the stress in your life, particularly if you have risk factors for high blood pressure. Consider taking up yoga or meditation to learn how to relax.

> If you drink a lot of coffee (more than 2-4 cups) every day, consider cutting back or eliminating it altogether. It can help lower your blood pressure, but only slightly.

Another thing that you can do to lower your blood pressure is by using the Natural High Blood Pressure Program I developed. The program helps lower your readings in a natural way.

All it takes are a few simple exercises that you do daily, and requires only a few minutes of your time. Hundreds of people have already successfully lowered their blood pressure in a safe and natural way by using the program.

2 Tips To Determine If You Have An Infertility Problem

The clinical definition of an infertility problem is actually the inability of couples to conceive and carry out a child to the full term along with a pregnancy. You may have been suffered through an infertility problem if you have unprotected sexual intercourse for a year or aged over 35 and if you are unable to conceive a child.

In fact, At least 15 percent of entire people undergo infertility problem during certain points of the journey of their life and there are plenty of reason behind having infertility. However, it is not a tough job for diagnosing and treating maximum infertility problem these days and you can conceive a child by the help of these treatments. If you’re facing some sort of problem for conceiving in company of your partner then you can take some treatment steps in that instance.

If you are having problems conceiving with your partner you can take some treatment steps and this can be done by a knowledgeable infertility doctor. The best doctor to go to is called a reproductive endocrinologist. This type of doctor has taken additional years of educational programs with infertility.

How to resolve ethical or religious concerns?

If you have a bit anxiety concerned to those ethical practices that you have to undergo during the process of treatment program then you can feel free and consult to your physician about this subject. In addition to this, if you obtain any religious anxieties, then you can also consult with your physician in this case. If you’ll consult with your physician then they will offer you the entire best options for dealing and treating your problem.

These methods are usually highly effective and extremely simple in nature. In fact, only 3% of entire infertile patients who are undergoing any sort of infertility treatments ever needed to go through the sophisticated treatments. These are the numerous treatments which can be explored out in laboratories.

2 simple tips to determine if you are having an infertility problem

#1 When it comes to treatment of infertility problem, your doctor often desire to know in detail about the history of your life and he will also desire to pursue the history up with some kind of physical examination. After the examination is totally finished, you will then go through some diagnostic and the development of the best treatment plan is done considering the infertility problem of your type.

#2 The woman’s age is going to play an important part in determining the possibility for a successful pregnancy. As a woman ages their fertility abilities will decline and if you are over 35 years of age you should seek an infertility specialist as soon as possible. If the woman is the person in your relationship who has the infertility problem the doctor will begin by measuring the fertility potential of the eggs with a simple blood test.

After once these entire steps are taken properly, you’ll be able to figure out your exact problem. You’ll know in detail about the options that are available to deal with your sort of problem after once you gain knowledge about your problem in depth.

24 Hour Insulin

Diabetes is a disease that is growing rapidly among individuals over 20. Speculations as to the cause of the disease are great in number, but not specific. What is known is that diabetes can be directly linked to the pancreas. Insulin, which is produced in the pancreas, acts to regulate blood sugar levels in healthy individuals. As a secondary function, insulin assists the body in using fat and protein. When this metabolic process is tampered with, problems arise.

Other than that, the disease is greatly individualized. How a person cares for themselves prior to the onset, as well as management of the disease determines what quality of life he or she will experience.

Diabetes has warning signs that are often overlooked. They include the following: Frequent urination (in large quantities) Excessive thirst

When the sugar level in your blood is too high, you have diabetes. In Type I diabetes, the level of sugar is not only high, it is out of control. The reason being the body has stopped production of the required quantity of insulin. As a result, type I diabetes patient needs two to five insulin shots per day, to keep the blood sugar levels under control.

Insulin is categorized by its onset, peak and duration. There are four categories of insulin: rapid acting, regular or short-acting, intermediate and long acting. The onset refers to how soon the insulin reaches the bloodstream. Peak is the point at which the insulin is most effective in reducing blood sugar levels and duration explains how long it will continue to work. There are more than 20 different kinds of insulin. They are either manufactured in a lab or derived from animals.

Among the manufactured insulin types, there is synthetic human insulin made from recombinant technology. This is produced by inserting portions of DNA into lab-cultivated yeasts and bacteria. Recombinant insulin tends to act more quickly to reduce blood sugar levels, but with shorter duration than animal derived insulin. Over the past twenty years, synthetic has been replacing pork or beef derived insulin.

Irritability and mood changes

Once acquired, Type I is life altering. There are many complications that can accompany diabetes if not cared for properly. These can include kidney disease, heart disease, skin and eye complications. Difficulty healing can occur. In extreme cases, kidney, pancreas or islet cell transplants are needed.

Prevention is the best line of defense against developing diabetes.

So, what is to be done? Nothing precisely can cure this problem. But something that can not be cured must be endured. If you take proper diet, and exercise regularly, you can still live happily, even in the company of diabetes.

Ultimately it is left to the person to make healthy choices for his or her future.

3 Speedy Relief SECRETS for Yeast Infection

Yeast infection is a problem that is caused by a number of different elements, and which can be triggered by many combinations. External symptoms might be alleviated by different means, but it takes a really effective treatment to really free you from this problem. Nevertheless, thousands of patients suffering from moderate or mild yeast infections have been able to rid themselves of their symptoms by solutions that provide simple alternatives to classical medicine. Could you also benefit from speedy relief from yeast infection? The idea is uppermost in many patients’ minds, as they search for a safe remedy that works to banish the symptoms of yeast infection that cause them discomfort and anxiety.

Candidiasis or Candida infection, to give yeast infection its other names, is a mycosis (fungal infection) that is the product of over multiplication of Candida species in the human organism. A number of factors stimulate candidiasis. Among them are an immune system that can no longer control Candida in the correct way, over-ingestion of refined carbohydrates and other nutrients that feed Candida, and the stocking of toxins that make digestion sluggish and debilitate yet further the immune system. The Candida microbes are normally held in equilibrium in relatively minute amounts in the human organism, but can grow almost exponentially to generate the notorious symptoms of candidiasis.

Many techniques exist which can bring relief quickly by acting on various factors among those mentioned above. Alternative medicine provides a choice for victims of candidiasis. Here are three easy to implement techniques for quick relief for yeast infection:

1) The soothing and cooling effect to alleviate infected regions can be considerable for a simple and easy to obtain treatment using yogurt. The effect can be explained by the friendly bacteria inside yogurt (for example Lactobacillus acidophilus) that help the internal flora in the intestine to bring Candida back down to the right levels and remove candidiasis symptoms. Use plain yogurt, externally for penile or vaginal yeast infection. The yogurt should be unheated and without sugar, Spread or squirt the yogurt onto the infected region and leave it there for sixty minutes. You can also use a suppository for this, as appropriate.

2) Incorrect diet plans, stress and inappropriate medications all figure in the list of reasons that contribute to this impairment. The increased blood and intestinal acidity is a sign to Candida to start exponential growth. It is here that organic apple cider vinegar can help counter this overgrowth by its strong alkalizer characteristics. An organic apple cider vinegar solution can be applied to douche the genital area, or it can be added to a bath (one half cup quantity). This specific type of vinegar is the one kind that is effective in regaining the optimal acid alkaline balance in the human organism and dispersing the excess acidity that come about for a variety of reasons.

3) For a food that has strong antiseptic properties as well as the ability to combat bacteria and fungi, garlic eaten or applied externally every day can also help significantly. It is also alkaline forming.

For more serious or chronic Candida infections, a more complete, holistic program is necessary. It is crucial to realize that perhaps only mild cases of candidiasis will be positively affected by the rapid relief techniques mentioned for yeast infection.

By using a fully, holistic approach, you can speedily alleviate symptoms connected with yeast infection and also halt any other Candida infection safely and forever. Did you realize that a program adhering to holistic and all natural principles is the sole possibility for treating the hidden and fundamental reasons for candidiasis?

3 Tips For Coping With Anxiety

If you have been suffering from anxiety for long a time and frustrated a lot, here are 3 tips for coping with anxiety. These tips will surely help you feel relaxed.

Let’s know the 3 tips for coping with anxiety…

Exercise Daily

Doing exercise is most important. Despite your busy schedule, you should do some exercise. Aerobic exercise is excellent to reduce your anxiety. With this exercise, you will have good blood flow to your brain. This helps you reduce most of your anxiety.

The better you feel about your life, the less anxious you are!

Do practice breathing exercises. These can help you relax and relieve anxiety. Proper breathing should be slow and deep. Whenever you are anxious, get your total attention onto your breathing. Inhale as slow and deep as you can. And exhale slowly.

Coping with anxiety is simple if you do these exercises regularly.

Yoga And Meditation

Yoga brings great harmony into your being. It unites body, mind and soul. Do yoga do relax your total body and mind. And do meditation to know how your mind operates and to go beyond it. If you practice yoga and meditation every day, you will cope with your anxiety easily. You can probably end it too for ever!

Make Changes To Your Diet

What you eat is also important. Because some food substances increase your anxiety. So do these changes to your diet…

*Have more carbohydrates so that your body produces more serotonin in your brain. This is vital in calming your brain.

*Take soy, nuts, cheese, peanuts, milk, oats, poultry and sesame seeds. All these contain tryptophan. It’s an amino acid that is converted to serotonin.

Stop taking coffee, tea and alcohol. They quickly stimulate the nervous system and create more anxiety.

Finally, if you practice these three tips strictly, coping with anxiety is so easy.

3 Types Of Exercises That Cure Anxiety

If you have anxiety, doing exercises greatly helps you cure your anxiety. Even a little exercise will help! Spare 30 minutes a day for 3 to 5 days a week. This will significantly improve your symptoms.

You can relax your muscle tension, reduce your stress hormone cortisol level, increase your neurotransmitters and boost the feel-good endorphins with certain exercises.

So here are some useful exercises which cure anxiety and put you at ease…

Aerobic Exercise

Curing anxiety or reducing the symptoms is possible with Aerobic exercises. While doing these exercises, you will breathe faster and more deeply. This maximizes the amount of oxygen in your blood. By the way, you can also have a positive mental attitude.

Aerobic exercises successfully relax your tense muscles. So it’s the best thing you can do for curing your anxiety.

Breathing Exercises

Breathing exercises will help you a lot curing anxiety. Learn proper breathing techniques at any expert. If you are taking shallow breaths, it means you need more oxygen. So Diaphragmatic breathing (breathing from abdomen) will help you. Learn and practice it in sitting a chair or lying on your back.

At first, practice this exercise for five to ten minutes for about 3-4 times per day. And gradually increase the amount of time you spend doing this exercise. So breathe right and cure your anxiety.

Imagery Exercises

Positive Mental Visualization also plays very important role in curing your anxiety. For instance, imazine for some time of a scenic place you have enjoyed.

And you can also try other images like a twisted rope that unwinds slowly, wax melting and any other images that you think works.

To do these imagery exercises, all you need is about ten to fifteen minutes and a quite place where you will not be disturbed.

So exercises will improve your mental, emotional, and physical health. Your resistance to stress will increase and this will cure anxiety.

5 Common Myths About Acne

In spite the fact that the scientific knowledge about acne and its causes has progressed in the last few years, there are still many myths that continue to be held as truth.

Here are the top 5 myths about acne:

1. Poor Hygiene Causes Acne

Acne and skin infections are often related, which could be part of the reason for this myth. However, because the combination of dead skin cells and sebum which leads to acne breakouts occur under the surface of the skin, they can’t simply be washed away.

2. Acne is caused by certain foods

Eating greasy foods and chocolate have long been believed to lead to acne, however there’s absolutely no proof of this fact. These foods aren’t healthy though, and they can lead to other health issues which can further aggravate an existing acne problem.

There are other foods that can aggravate acne problems as well, including milk and foods with high levels of iodine such as seafood. If you’re suffering from acne, you should avoid milk and seafood as often as possible.

3. You will have to let acne run its course

It’s commonly thought the only way to deal with acne is to let it run its course. This is no longer the case - there are many treatments available to deal with acne. If you’re suffering with it, talk to a dermatologist to see if any treatments are available that could help.

4. Acne is a teenage problem

It’s certainly true that many, if not most, teenagers deal with acne at some point in their teen years, it’s hardly limited to them. Most people’s acne is gone by their early 20’s but plenty of people continue to deal with it into their adult years. In fact, some people experience it for the first time as late as their 40’s.

5. Sunshine can help acne

Increased exposure to the sun is not a good way to deal with acne. It can cause excess oils in the skin to dry out so it may have short-term benefits, but your skin quickly adapts to the change, negating any benefit. Plus, the sun can cause serious long-term skin damage and possibly lead to skin cancer, so the risks far outweigh the benefits.

5 Easy Quick Ways to Lose Weight and Keep If Off

If you want easy quick ways to lose weight - then be prepared to make some changes to the way you eat and live. Unfortunately, like most things there are no quick fixes - it requires self determination, planning, knowing what you need to do to make it happen and taking action. Fact is fat loss is not easy - but if you are armed with the right steps and be willing to make lifestyle changes - you will lose weight easily. Below are 5 easy quick ways to lose weight-

1. Don’t skip meals - eating stimulates hunger. Once your breakfast has been digested, after2-3 hours, hunger will be triggered again. When you don’t eat, the metabolic rate slows down to preserve fat stores, and so you don’t feel hungry. Hunger is a sign that you’re digesting food properly.

2. People overeat will gain weight. This is simply a bad habit but can be usually be corrected fairly quickly. If you start paying attention to your food and eat in moderation, you will shed the pounds quite easily. Unfortunately you have got into the habit of eating poor foods like fast foods, but given new dietary suggestions like eating more fresh, wholesome foods - you can change your eating habits over time. Your bad eating habits are simply a result of bad food choices which can be improved.

3. When you focus on just one kind of workout - cardio or strength training - in one session, you get limited results. Instead alternate between a resistance and cardio exercise in one session. Training this way is great for upping the intensity and burning more calories.

4. Swap a gym session for sport - many sports give you a cardio workout and use your whole body, so they can complement your weights training and stretching. Consider swapping one gym session per week for a sport. The competitive edge also means you work harder.

5. Don’t Super-Size the food. It may sound like a great deal to get fries for an extra dollar, or the jumbo smoothie for a quarter more - but switching from a large order of fries to a medium, for example, can save you 100 calories! And when at home serving dinner, put away those jumbo dinner plates, instead go for salad sized plates, and no more.

The 5 tips above are just some of the steps you can do now to lose weight - the key here is, these 5 tips are manageable and sustainable for years to come. It’s up to you to take action and live a healthy sensible lifestyle.