Enjoying a Healthier Pregnancy

While sometimes pregnancy is just difficult, it is possible to have a less stressful pregnancy by following healthy practices. Even though you may not completely get rid of some of the inconveniences (like morning sickness), you can feel better about yourself and your situation if you are careful to indulge in practices that help you feel good. Some of these include exercise, diet, and rest.

Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. However, it is important not to strain your body too much when you are pregnant. Consult with your physician before beginning or continuing any exercise regimen. Walking is usually fine, and if you have been jogging before the pregnancy, it is usually okay to continue. But you should ask your doctor first. Additionally, there are special yoga workouts designed for pregnant women. Many of the moves in more conventional yoga are stressful to the fetus and can cause problems. Avoiding strenuous aerobic activity may be recommended if you do not already do aerobic exercises. And swimming is one of the best exercises you can do for yourself while pregnant. But make sure that you find out from your doctor what is allowed in your condition.

Eating well is another important aspect of pregnancy. It is healthy to gain up to about 20 pounds over the course of your pregnancy. However, this does not mean that eating junk food all the time is a good idea, although everyone needs their fix of it every now and again. Healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, and lean meat and poultry are good ideas. Try to avoid fish, as the mercury content can be dangerous to your developing baby. Ask your doctor or a nutritionist whether some types of fish, on occasion, might be acceptable. Avoiding alcohol is important, as is limiting caffeine. The problems associated with alcohol are well known, but many people don't realize that caffeine can restrict blood flow, making it more difficult for the fetus to receive nutrients from your blood. And be sure to take your prenatal vitamins. This will ensure that your developing baby gets all of the nutrients she or he needs.

Rest is very important during pregnancy. You want to make sure that you get adequate sleep each night. Sometimes this can mean as many as 10 hours. But it is important to give your body and the fetus adequate time to recover from the strains of the day. If something seems too much for you, say no. When you are pregnant, you have other demands on you. You will have a much better pregnancy if you can get rest. If sleeping at night is difficult (as it can be especially in the third trimester), make sure you take some time during the day to lay restfully on the couch with a book or to sit quietly with some other activity that you enjoy.

Taking good care of yourself can contribute to a healthier, happier pregnancy, and one that is a little easier.

Pregnancy Nutrition

Hello New Mom! It’s you and Baby now, so you’ll want to eat what’s best for both of you. Keep in mind that while you are eating for two, only one of you is a full grown adult so you will probably only need to take in an extra 200-300 calories per day while pregnant. The bottom line? Do eat for two, but don’t overeat.

In general, you should eat a healthy, well-balanced diet full of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, protein, foods rich in vitamin C, iron and calcium plus plenty of water. While you don’t need to eliminate salt and fat from your diet, you should take care to eat salty foods and high-fat foods only sparingly.

Also, as an expectant mom, you’ll want to make sure to take the prenatal vitamins prescribed by your physician and pay attention to your intake of folic acid in particular. Folic acid is a member of the B vitamin family and occurs naturally in orange juice, green leafy vegetables, beans and lentils. The synthetic form of folic acid, which is more easily absorbed by your body, can be found in fortified breakfast cereals, enriched grain products and vitamins. Folic acid helps prevent and decrease the risk of several common birth defects and supports rapid growth of the placenta and fetus.

There are several things you should avoid during your pregnancy due to the possibilities of bacterial contamination, birth defects, decreased attention and decreased memory. While pregnant, you should steer clear of:

1. alcohol

2. caffeine and artificial coloring

3. cigarette smoke

4. over-the-counter meds and herbal remedies ( unless otherwise directed by your physician)

5. raw meat

6. raw eggs and food containing raw eggs

7. soft cheese

8. fish with accumulated mercury levels or high levels of an industrial pollutant called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

As you avoid what’s bad and consume adequate amounts of what’s good, you will increase your baby’s chances of being born at a normal birth weight and having good fetal brain development. You will also decrease your risk of having pregnancy complications and severe mood swings and you will help ensure a good post-pregnancy recovery. So eat up!

Source:

Jacqueline Courtiol

Colon Flush

Many factors work harmoniously in order to create optimal balance of every system within the human body. Many issues in our modern world negatively affect and alter the human body’s normal functioning, weakening it and creating a compromised internal environment struggling to fend off invaders, such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Some of these factors are environmental. Daily, our bodies are subjected to electromagnetic stress from computers and electronics, emotional stress from all variety of relationships, sedentary lifestyles, and a high intake of processed and refined foods. Each of these issues places a toxic burden on the human body, and in our fast-paced world, an increasing number of individuals consume vast quantities of over-the-counter and prescription drugs, all of which places an enormous strain on the body over time.

Effects of an Unclean Colon

The organs working to reduce the toxic load on the body include the liver and several parts of the digestive systems. The colon is the chief organ in actually eliminating waste and creating an internal environment where nutrients can be easily absorbed into the bloodstream but with toxins being eliminated. When stress, poor nutrition, and environmental toxins overwhelm our bodies, disease may occur as the end result.

The colon in particular is a vital organ because it comprises much of the immune system and clears out hostile organisms not belonging in a healthy body. When the colon’s health is compromised, the cleansing process is slowed down or halted altogether. This is a dangerous situation because it can be the start of a number of debilitating diseases. This occurs because the body’s natural ability to heal itself, the immune system, has been hindered. In some cases, autointoxication may occur wherein toxins from the waste residing in the colon (for days and weeks) begin to be reabsorbed back into the bloodstream. Some signs a colon flush, or colon cleanse, is needed may include chronic constipation, diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, or a hindered immune system.

Methods for Cleansing the Colon

Many ways exist for remedying a colon that is not functioning properly. Colon cleanses and colon flushes are a necessary measure for removing impacted fecal matter and pathogens as well as built up mucous. In many cases, a colon flush will clean the colon and will also enable the bowel to begin healing itself and functioning properly again. There are different ways to flush out the colon. For example, herbal remedies offer help by stimulating the bowel to expel wastes and by killing harmful bacteria and other pathogens. Oxy-Powder® is the best choice as it is a safe, non-habit forming formula that safely eliminates accumulated waste matter from the intestinal walls, while naturally stimulating the body to induce regular bowel movements.

Another type of colon flush includes colonic hydrotherapy. Colonic hydrotherapy consists of an internal bath of warm, filtered water that is pushed into the colon for cleansing out waste. This helps to eliminate unhealthy substances within the organ itself and helps to create an environment suited for self-healing. Colonic hydrotherapy should be performed by a professional health care practitioner trained in this specific procedure.

Another type of colon flush is an enema. An enema involves flushing out the colon by the forceful insertion of a liquid, usually combined with water, in order to stimulate a bowel movement. Different herbs and chemicals are used in different enemas. Coffee enemas are becoming more common as the coffee stimulates a cleansing and healing effect within the colon, and is a natural stimulant for elimination. Enemas containing enzymes are also used as a type of colon flush, as natural enzymes safely consume and break down built up waste material and expel it. Enzyme therapy as taken orally is also a method of flushing the colon. Enzymes naturally break down food particles that are difficult to digest and help remove them from the body.

Results of Colon Cleansing

Colon flushes serve the purpose of promoting healing and cleansing of the body’s vital elimination organ. After healing the colon, other bodily systems can also work more efficiently. A colon flush is a healthy measure to take if the colon’s functioning has been compromised lately. In order to help secure long-term health, exercise, a nutritious diet, and reducing stress from your life should also be practiced. Although you should seek a health care practitioner trained in the field before initiating these colon cleansing methods, you can begin to implement an improved diet and other positive lifestyle changes on your own. Take care of your colon and you will begin to notice the change in how you feel in practically no time at all!

Source: Unkwon

Keywords: Flush, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Colonic, Celiac Disease, Ibs, Diverticulosis, Diverticulitis, Spastic, Colon, Colonoscopy