Power Foods for Pregnant and Nursing Women

These foods are great for pregnant and lactating women, along with their families. When it's important to make every bite count, depend on these nutritional powerhouses. In case any of these don't suit your taste buds or your dietary choices, we've included alternative sources of key nutrients as well.

Yogurt

Why? Calcium needs increase during pregnancy and yogurt is an excellent calcium source. The need for calcium increases to approximately 1300 milligrams a day during pregnancy. If you are not obtaining this quantity from your diet or vitamin supplement, your body will meet your baby's calcium needs by pulling from your own supply, which makes calcium-rich foods like yogurt, dark leafy greens, sardines with bones, and calcium-fortified orange juice important at this time.

Did you know? In addition to calcium, yogurt is a beneficial fermented food that provides probiotic bacteria, which promotes intestinal and immune health for baby and mom. Probiotic bacteria are cultures of beneficial bacteria found in healthy gut microflora. Yogurt, probiotics and fermented foods help us to keep our intestinal ecosystems healthy.

How? There are many varieties of yogurt and fermented dairy. Yogurt can be eaten as a convenient snack or meal, as an ingredient in smoothies or dips, or as a healthy dessert. If presweetened yogurt is too sweet, mix together half plain and half sweetened, or sweeten plain yogurt with berries and a little sweetener of choice. Probiotic supplements are also available.


Dark Leafy Greens

Why? Dark leafy greens, such as kale and collards, are nutrient powerhouses, containing calcium, fiber, and vitamins A and C, and also rate high on the antioxidant scale. Dark leafy greens are also an important source of folic acid. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that all women in their childbearing years consume 400 micrograms (or 0.4 mg) of folic acid every day to help prevent neural tube defects in their children. Other foods high in folic acid include oranges, beans, asparagus, avocado, and berries. Many vitamin supplements contain folic acid as well.

Did you know? Dark leafy greens are an easy-to-absorb source of non-dairy calcium. This is because they contain the optimal phosphorus to calcium ratio to enhance calcium absorption. Important exceptions to note are spinach and Swiss chard, which contain compounds called oxalates that interfere with calcium absorption. Although spinach and Swiss chard are nourishing foods, do not think of them as a significant source of minerals.

How? Eat with a little fat for better absorption of nutrients. Add a little vinegar for optimum availability of minerals. Dark leafy greens are easily added to other dishes including soup, meatloaf or quiche, adding nutrients without excessive flavor.

Other Non-Dairy Sources of Calcium: Fortified orange juice, sesame seeds, almonds, dried fruit, corn tortillas, tofu, sardines with bones, legumes, fortified foods and supplements.


Eggs

Why? When it comes to value and high quality nutrition, eggs are a good choice since they contain important nutrients for pregnant women, including vitamin A, iron, and protein. Protein needs increase by 10 grams daily for pregnant women, and an adequate protein intake often helps to temper sugar cravings. Note that most of the nutrition in eggs is found in the yolk.

Did you know? For extra nutrition, look for DHA-enriched eggs. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid important for brain development. The chickens that produce these eggs have been given a special fed containing marine algae, which increases DHA levels in the egg.

How? The simplest way to prepare eggs is hard-boiled. Other easy dishes include omelets and quiches.


Fatty Fish

Why? Fatty fish, such as salmon, sardines, black cod, anchovies, herring and trout, provide omega-3 fatty acids, which are the primary components of brain tissue and are vital for brain and visual development. Studies have shown women who eat fish during pregnancy have children with better visual acuity, higher IQ, better in language and communication skills, and decreased rates of allergies and asthma.

Did you know? The FDA recommends that pregnant and lactating women have no more than 12 ounces (2 servings) of low mercury fish a week. Pregnant and nursing mothers are also advised to avoid larger, long-lived fish with more dark meat - particularly tuna, shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish - as they contain high mercury levels which may harm a baby's developing nervous system. As an alternative to eating fatty fish, fish oil supplements that have been processed to remove contaminants are available. See our Methylmercury Fact Sheet for additional information.

How? Look to our seafood department for a source of fresh fish as well as for frozen fish and soups to have on hand for busy evenings. For a quick meal or snack, top a green salad with canned salmon or heat up a frozen salmon burger or fish cakes. Vegetarian Sources of DHA: Microalgae DHA supplements, DHA-enriched eggs.

Lamb

Why? An excellent source of vitamin B12 and a good source of highly accessible iron and zinc, lamb provides important nutrients for pregnant women. Zinc, in particular, is vitally important for growth and development, because it is required for cell division, DNA/RNA synthesis, and protein synthesis. Adequate zinc levels also ensure optimal bone growth in developing babies and are necessary for immunity. Because zinc is difficult to absorb from plant foods, you may consider supplementing if following a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Did you know? Minerals compete with each other for absorption in the small intestine. It is best to eat calcium-rich foods and zinc-rich foods at different times for optimal absorption of these important nutrients.

How? A tender, flavorful and nourishing meat, lamb is easily prepared on the grill or in the crock-pot.

Vegetarian sources of zinc: legumes (especially adzuki, navy beans, and split peas), nuts and seeds (especially pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and cashews), whole grains (fortified cereal and wheat germ), fortified soy foods, supplements.
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Stretch Marks

Stretch Marks are a form of scarring which occurs as a result of rapid stretching of the skin. They initially appear as red or purple lines, and then eventually fade to a light pink or white hue. The affected area is usually very soft to the touch.

While stretch marks can appear anywhere on the body, they usually appear in locations where the body stores more fat. Common places therefore include the stomach area, breasts, arms and armpits, thighs, hips, and buttocks. In most cases, stretch marks do not pose any health risk and are mainly an annoyance.

Stretch marks are caused by rapid stretching and tearing of the skin, usually as a result of rapid growth. Common reasons include:
Puberty
Pregnancy
Rapid weight gain or obesity
Fast muscle growth due to exercise.

While the scarring is permanent, a stretch mark can diminish slightly over time. Some home remedies can also be used to reduce the visual appearance of affected skin areas.

Home Remedies and Natural Cures for Stretch Marks Treatment

While it is not known why, many people have found that massaging cocoa butter into skin areas affected by stretch marks can help reduce the appearance of the scars. This works particularly well for individuals with darker skin tones. A suggested remedy is to massage cocoa butter over the stretch marks once a day. The stretch marks should begin to appear lighter in about a month.

Researchers speculate that the massaging of scarred areas helps stimulate blood flow and distributes collagen evenly in the affected areas. Collagen is a protein responsible for skin strength and elasticity.



Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps reduce scar tissue on both the inside and the outside of your body. Therefore, a simple home remedy is to massage Vitamin E oil onto the stretch marks each day after showering. Many women have found this treatment to work well on stretch marks after a pregnancy, although results vary significantly.

For Happiness, Seek Family, Not Fortune

Money might buy happiness for some, but for most people having strong family ties is a much bigger predictor of contentment than income, a new study shows.

When researchers analyzed data tracking married people over a decade, they found that while income did contribute to happiness up to a point, the quality of family relationships was much more important.

The study is one of the first to examine the impact of economic and family changes over time.

"Much of the research on money and happiness has shown a strong association up to the point where basic needs are met, and that is what we found," researcher Rebecca J. North tells WebMD. "But after this point income has a diminishing impact on happiness."

Money, Family, and Happiness
North and colleagues from the University of Texas at Austin analyzed data from a study involving 274 married adults living in the San Francisco Bay area who were followed from 1981 to 1991.

Each of the participants completed surveys at four different time periods over the decade-long study designed to measure changes in family income, family support, and happiness.

The surveys indicated that while happiness was strongly tied to changes in the quality of family relationships over time, it was much less strongly tied to changes in income.

"If you ask people about this, I think most would say that family relationships are more important than family income for happiness," North says. "But if you look at the way people allocate their time, you might get a different idea."

The findings may also have implications for how we measure our well-being at a national level, North and colleagues write in the June issue of the Journal of Family Psychology.

"Implicit in conventional policy making is an assumption that a strong economy can be equated with a society's well-being," they note. "Our findings underscore the importance of additional policy indicators that can tap the well-being of individuals and families at the psychosocial level to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a nation's well-being."

Different Perspective on Happiness and Money
The study adds to a growing body of happiness research, but it is far from the last word on the topic.

In a paper presented in April at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., economists Betsey Stevenson, PhD, and Justin Wolfers, PhD, concluded that income does seem to be directly related to happiness, within societies and in personal terms.

Using polling data from both rich and poor countries, the researchers found personal satisfaction to be highest among people living in the richest countries. Within the countries, people with higher incomes tended to be happier than those with less money.

In the U.S., for example, 90% of people in households making at least $250,000 considered themselves "very happy," compared to just 42% of people in households with incomes below $30,000.
"We looked at 35 years' worth of data and found the relationship between income and happiness to be very strong," Stevenson tells WebMD.

The findings seem to contradict the idea that money is only related to happiness up to the point where basic needs are met.

The research by Stevenson and Wolfers shows that people living in households with annual incomes of $250,000 tended to report higher levels of personal satisfaction than people living in households with annual earnings of $120,000.

"We didn't look at the super-rich, so we can't really say if Bill Gates is that much happier than the rest of us," Stevenson says.

About 1% of American families have annual incomes of $250,000 or more, while just 5% earn $120,000 or more.

Massage

Massage therapy is the systematized manipulation of soft tissues for the purpose of normalizing them. Practitioners use a variety of physical methods including applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, or causing movement to the body. Therapists primarily use their hands, but may also use their forearms, elbows, or feet.
The basic goal of massage therapy is to help the body heal itself and to increase health and well-being.

Touch is the core ingredient of massage therapy and also combines science and art. Practitioners learn specific techniques for massage and use their sense of touch to determine the right amount of pressure to apply to each person and locate areas of tension and other soft-tissue problems. Touch also conveys a sense of caring, an important component in the healing relationship.

When muscles are overworked, waste products such as lactic acid can accumulate in the muscle, causing soreness, stiffness, and even muscle spasm.

Massage improves circulation, which increases blood flow, bringing fresh oxygen to body tissues. This can assist the elimination of waste products, speed healing after injury, and enhance recovery from disease.
Therapeutic massage can be used to promote general well-being and enhance self-esteem, while boosting the circulatory and immune systems to benefit blood pressure, circulation, muscle tone, digestion, and skin tone. It has been incorporated into many health systems, and different massage techniques have been developed and integrated into various complementary therapies.

Cochrane Review Shows Preventive Effects of Cranberry against Urinary Tract Infections

Reviewed: Jepson RG, Craig JC. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2008;DOI:10.1002/14651858. CD001321.pub.4.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are diagnosed when a threshold of bacteria in the urine is exceeded (generally greater than 100,000 cells/mL). UTIs consist of cystitis (bacteria in the bladder), urethral syndrome, and polynephritis (infection of the kidney). Symptoms associated with UTIs include pain during urination, cloudy urine, blood in the urine, back pain, and fever. Infants, pregnant women, the elderly, patients with spinal cord injuries, and immunocompromised patients are at increased risk of UTIs. Although UTIs occur in both males and females, they are 50 times more common in females than in males, likely because females have a shorter urethra, which allows easier passage of bacteria into the bladder.

Generally, UTIs are easily treated with antibiotics. Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpum, Ericaceae) have been used widely for many years, usually in the form of cranberry juice, to prevent and treat UTIs. The preventive mechanism has not been definitively established; however, the functioning theory is that constituents of cranberries (fructose and proanthocyanidins) prevent bacteria (particularly Esch-erichia coli) from sticking to the uroepithelial cells that line the wall of the bladder. The objective of this review was to evaluate the effec-tiveness of cranberries in preventing UTIs in high-risk populations.

The following 2 hypotheses were tested: (1) cranberry juice and other cranberry-containing products are more effective than placebo or no treatment in preventing UTIs in susceptible populations, and (2) cranberry juice and other cranberry-containing products are more effective than other treatments in preventing UTIs in susceptible populations. A literature review of several databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) and the Internet was conducted. The purpose was to identify randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of studies that evaluated the effectiveness of cranberry products in preventing UTIs relative to placebo, no treatment, or other treatment. Studies of the treatment of asymptomatic or symptomatic UTIs and of UTIs not caused by bacterial infection were excluded. The primary outcome measure was the number of UTIs in each study group confirmed by a catheter or mid-stream specimen of urine or a "clean-catch" specimen. Secondary outcome measures were compliance with therapy and adverse side effects. The 2 authors of this review independently assessed the studies identified to determine eligibility for this review, and they inde-pendently extracted pertinent information (methods, participants, study design, interventions, and outcomes) from those studies that were deemed eligible. The quality of the studies was assessed on the basis of the Cochrane criteria.

Ten studies (n = 1049 subjects) were included in the review: 5 crossover studies and 5 parallel-group studies. Detailed tabular material is provided in this review for each of the 10 studies. In seven of the studies, cranberry or cranberry-lingonberry juice was compared with water, juice, or placebo. In the remaining studies, cranberry tablets were compared with placebo. Five of the studies were conducted in the United States, two in Canada, one in the Netherlands, one in Finland, and one in Scotland. Details of the studies follow:

1 study lasted 1 month (30 mL cranberry juice/day)

1 study lasted 9 weeks (400 mg cranberry in capsule form)

2 studies lasted 3 months (400 mg cranberry in capsule form or 300 mL cranberry juice/day)

5 studies lasted 6 months (300 mL cranberry juice/day, 50 mL cranberry-lingonberry juice 5 days/week, 2 g cranberry juice concen-trate, or 15 mL cranberry juice/kg/day)

1 study lasted 12 months (250 mL cranberry juice 3 times/day or one concentrated juice tablet 2 times/day).

The methodologic quality of all the trials was satisfactory. Four of the studies were included in a meta-analysis, and all of these studies showed that cranberry consumption significantly reduced the incidence of UTIs at 12 months (relative risk: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.92) compared with placebo or control. Only one of the 6 studies not included in the meta-analysis showed a significant effect of cranberry consumption on reducing the incidence of UTIs. Side effects (bad taste being the most common) were common in most of the studies, and the dropout rate was high in many of the studies. The authors of this review conclude that "evidence from four RCTs indicates that cranberry products can be effective in reducing UTIs. However, it may only be effective in certain sub-populations." Some evidence indi-cates that cranberry juice may be effective in women with symptomatic UTIs, but the evidence is inconclusive for the elderly. Moreover, the evidence is unclear as to the amount and concentration of cranberry that needs to be consumed and the duration of consumption for the intervention to be effective. A major challenge in comparison of these types of studies are the lack of measurements of the total proanthocyanidins (PAC) in the clinical materials used in each study, as these components are the presumed clinically active ingredients. Additional "properly designed studies" with PAC-standardized materials are needed to clarify these uncertainties.

Homeopathic Remedies for Pregnancy and Delivery

Pregnancy is an absorbing and interesting time for most women, and also involves a lot of stress. Many emotional, hormonal, and physical changes take place as the baby grows and the woman prepares for motherhood. Homeopathic remedies can help a woman’s body deal with various stresses, and help to maintain its balance as the pregnancy proceeds. Care and guidance from a competent, sympathetic physician or midwife are important during pregnancy—both for general support and to watch for complications.

Arnica: This remedy is often indicated for relief of soreness that comes from physical exertion and muscle strain. It is also useful for soreness after labor and delivery, and for hemorrhoids that follow childbirth.

Calcarea phosphorica: This remedy can help to strengthen a woman who tends toward easy tiredness, poor digestion, cold hands and feet, and poor absorption of nutrients. Some women who need this remedy find only “junk food” appealing during pregnancy, or have cravings for smoked and salty food. A history of easy tooth decay and aching bones and joints can also suggest a need for this remedy. A person who needs Calc phos is often irritable because of tiredness, and may long for travel or a change of circumstances.

Caulophyllum: This remedy may be helpful to women with weak muscle tone in the uterus. A history of irregular periods, slow and difficult labor with previous deliveries, or weakness of the cervix may bring this remedy to mind. The woman may feel erratic pains like sticking needles, or episodes of contracting pain. She typically feels nervous, shaky, and trembling (sometimes irritable, as well).

Carbo vegetabilis: This remedy can be helpful to a woman who feels weak and faint during pregnancy, with poor circulation, a general feeling of coldness, and a craving for fresh or moving air. She may also have frequent digestive upsets with burning pain and a tendency to belch. A woman who is deeply tired from overwork, many pregnancies close together, or a previous illness may regain some strength with Carbo vegetabilis.

Cimicifuga (also called Actaea racemosa): This remedy can be helpful to women who are nervous and talkative, with a tendency to feel fearful and gloomy during pregnancy. They may become overagitated and fear a miscarriage — sometimes having pains that feel like labor pains too early, or pains that shoot from hip to hip and down the thighs.

Ferrum metallicum: A woman who has a sturdy build, but looks very pale and weary—flushing red from any exertion or emotion—may respond to this remedy. Ferrum is often helpful in correcting anemic tendencies.

Ferrum phosphoricum: This remedy can be helpful for nervous, sensitive women who often feel weak or tired, with easy flushing of the face and a tendency toward anemia. A woman who needs this remedy often has a slender build and may develop frequent neck and shoulder stiffness.

Nux vomica: This remedy may be useful for indigestion, heartburn, stomach pain, and constipation during pregnancy. A woman needs this remedy usually is impatient, irritable, and chilly.

Pulsatilla: This remedy is often helpful at times of strong hormonal changes, especially to women who are moody and emotional, and want a lot of affection and attention. They often crave desserts or butter and may overeat, which can lead to indigestion and nausea, or excessive weight-gain. Pregnant women who need this remedy feel uncomfortable in hot weather and in stuffy rooms, improving from gentle exercise in open air.

Sepia: Women who are tired, dragged out, and irritable during pregnancy (feeling overburdened by demands of family members, or with little enthusiasm for the pregnancy) may benefit from this remedy. Poor circulation, nausea, constipation, a tendency toward accidental urine loss, and a feeling of sagging or weakness in the pelvic floor, and an energy-boost from exercise are other indications for Sepia.



Homeopathy Dosage Directions
Select the remedy that most closely matches the symptoms. In conditions where self-treatment is appropriate, unless otherwise directed by a physician, a lower potency (6X, 6C, 12X, 12C, 30X, or 30C) should be used. In addition, instructions for use are usually printed on the label.

Many homeopathic physicians suggest that remedies be used as follows: Take one dose and wait for a response. If improvement is seen, continue to wait and let the remedy work. If improvement lags significantly or has clearly stopped, another dose may be taken. The frequency of dosage varies with the condition and the individual. Sometimes a dose may be required several times an hour; other times a dose may be indicated several times a day; and in some situations, one dose per day (or less) can be sufficient.

If no response is seen within a reasonable amount of time, select a different remedy.


P.S.The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications.

Ginkgo Extract May Improve Cognition and Decrease Stress for Computer Users

Reviewed: Kaschel R, Hoerr R, Kresimon J, Rychlik R. The influence of ginkgo special extract EGb 761� on the performance of healthy subjects at computer workstations�open-label clinical study in pre-post design with a control group. Translation from J Pharmako u Ther. 2007;Jan:3-9.
Clinical studies have shown that ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba, Ginkgoaceae) can improve cognitive performance and stress tolerance in healthy people and in elderly people with dementia. Studies using the special ginkgo extract EGb 761� have demonstrated improvements in brain function, emotional stability, mental capacity, attention, and coping with stress in healthy people. People who work at computer workstations for much of the day may suffer from health disorders such as fatigue, lack of concentration, irritability, and mental stress. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of EGb 761 on the performance of healthy people at computer workstations and to identify suitable tests to evaluate those effects.

The study was an open-label pilot study involving healthy people who were 45 years of age or older and who spent at least 50% of their workday in front of a computer. The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Osnabruck in Germany. Following a 2-week run-in period in which the subjects were trained on specific computer tests, the subjects completed baseline measurements of reaction capacity, sustained attention, eyesight sensitivity, stress perception, and quality of life. After the baseline measurements, subjects were allowed to choose if they wanted to be in the control group receiving no ginkgo or in the treatment group receiving 120 mg of ginkgo extract EGb 761 twice daily for 8 weeks (Tebonin�; Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co., Karlsruhe, Germany). All subjects repeated the baseline tests after the 8-week treatment period ended, and the tolerability of EGb 761 was assessed.

The study enrolled 104 subjects, 84 of which completed the study according to the protocol. In the sustained attention test (a measure of long-term concentration) the number of errors made by subjects in the ginkgo group decreased significantly after 8 weeks compared to the control group (P = 0.035). Perceived stress scores improved significantly in the ginkgo group (P = 0.007), and the �vitality� portion of the quality of life evaluation improved significantly in the ginkgo group (P = 0.004) compared to the control group. No significant differences were found between the 2 groups for reaction capacity after the 8-week treatment period. No serious adverse events were reported for either group, and the tolerability of EGb 761 was judged to be good.

The authors conclude that EGb 761 treatment produced clear objective and subjective improvements in concentration, perceived stress, and quality of life in people working at computer workstations much of the day. The authors assess the results to be particularly significant for people over 45 years of age, because that population group is more likely to perceive computer work as more stressful than a younger population. The authors recommend that a more extensive double-blind trial should be conducted using the tests identified in this study.

The results of this study are consistent with previous studies showing improvements in cognitive performance and stress tolerance. However, the authors provide results for only one of the eight �domains� of the quality of life evaluation (the SF-36 Health Survey). It is not known if ginkgo supplementation had any effect on the remaining seven domains, and this would be of interest to other researchers and readers.

The authors state that the results show that improvements relevant to everyday functioning at work may be attained with EGb 761 treatment, in conjunction with an increase in stress reduction and quality of life.

Since the participants could choose which group they wanted to be in, there is a high likelihood that those entering the ginkgo group had a strong bias towards the efficacy of ginkgo. The control group is not only a control for ginkgo but also a control for a placebo effect. There is no way to know if the improvements were due to ginkgo or placebo effect. This study was financed by the ginkgo manufacturer and supported by an insurance association.

Go Organic

Many parents prefer to eat certified organic foods during pregnancy and lactation since they feel this is a more wholesome choice for themselves and their developing and growing children. Organic food products are produced using:

Agricultural management practices that promote and enhance agro- and eco-system health and use no genetically engineered seeds or crops, sewage sludge, long-lasting pesticides, herbicides or fungicides.

Livestock management practices that promote healthy, humanely treated animals by providing organically-grown feed, fresh air and outdoor access while using no antibiotics or growth hormones.

Food processing practices that protect the integrity of the organic product and disallow irradiation, genetically modified ingredients (GMOs) or synthetic preservatives.

Organic foods may be best for children and infants because:

Infants and children are much smaller than adults, and often eat more food on a per pound basis than do adults. For this reason, any pesticide residue remaining on conventional foods may have the potential to affect children more significantly than adults.

Children, in particular infants, do not have the same defenses, like established blood brain barriers, immune systems or liver detoxification enzymes, as adults and are more vulnerable when it comes to potentially toxic compounds.

Children and infants are in a stage of rapid growth and development. Exposure to harmful compounds at this time could have a more deleterious effect than for adults.

Breastfeeding

Breast milk is nature's baby food and is perfectly designed for your baby's physical and mental development. The composition of breast milk is constantly changing to meet the needs of your baby at each feeding - it is dynamic and alive. Breast milk can help boost an infant's immunity and has been shown to positively affect both the infant's and mom's future health.

Breastfeeding Pointers
A well-balanced, high quality and nourishing diet is vitally important not only to you, as you rebuild your nutrient stores, but also to your nursing newborn. To get the most from dietary choices while nursing, always include fresh, wholesome foods in your daily diet, including the Power Foods for Pregnant and Lactating Women. Despite the desire to lose weight, do not limit nutrient-rich foods during breastfeeding — your growing baby needs the nutrients.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that breastfeeding should begin immediately after birth and that babies be breastfed for at least one year, with exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.

Challenges and obstacles can most often be alleviated with information and support. The first week can be difficult for first time parents, so it could be helpful to meet with a lactation consultant or expert even before birth.

Many herbs promote the secretion and flow of breast milk. Look for herb teas specific for nursing mothers. Special creams are also available to help sooth sore nipples.

Certain foods eaten by mom can disagree with some breast-fed babies. Keep a food journal to determine what, if anything, in your diet may cause discomfort or reaction from your breastfeeding baby. If you are experiencing problems, experiment by eliminating: broccoli family vegetables (such as cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli), eggs, milk, soy, peanuts, citrus fruits, gluten-containing grains, spicy foods, or chocolate. Mom can also try drinking soothing teas made from chamomile, fennel or lemon balm or taking probiotic supplements to help baby's digestion.

Babies will develop a taste for whatever Mom eats, during lactation and even during pregnancy. It is known that breast milk and amniotic fluid provide flavor exposure to the baby. These exposures influence taste preferences and food choices after weaning and are critical in determining food preferences later in life.

Garlic: An Immunity-Boosting Superstar

For thousands of years, people all over the world have hailed garlic as an elixir of health. Its cloves are said to help treat the common cold, keep the plague at bay, and even ward off vampires. Despite its notorious odor, this veggie is the bulb of a plant in the sweet-smelling lily family. Ancient writings show that garlic was used as an aphrodisiac in India and as currency in Egypt.

Today, at just 4 calories per clove, it’s a low-cal immunity-boosting superstar. One clove contains 5 mg of calcium, 12 mg of potassium, and more than 100 sulfuric compounds -- powerful enough to wipe out bacteria and infection (it was used to prevent gangrene in both world wars). Raw garlic, not cooked or dried, is most beneficial for health, since heat and water inactivate sulfur enzymes, which can diminish garlic’s antibiotic effects. In clinical trials, the toxin-fighting staple seems to lower blood pressure and cholesterol and kill parasites in the body.

Other Immunity Boosters

Sulfuric compounds are also in brussels sprouts, cabbage, chives, kale, leeks, onions, and shallots.

Recipe

Roasted Garlic and Garlic Oil

Makes 2 2/3 cups garlic oil and 2/3 cup garlic mash

4 large heads garlic

3 cups olive oil

4 sprigs fresh rosemary or thyme

2 teaspoons black peppercorns

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
Break the garlic heads into quarters with skins intact. Do not peel the cloves.
Place quarters in a small ovenproof casserole dish. Pour olive oil over garlic to cover. Add herbs and pepper. Cover.
Bake slowly for about one hour until the cloves are soft.
Cool. Strain the garlic oil into a bottle and store at room temperature.
Squeeze the garlic from the skins and mash. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three weeks.
Use garlic mash in soups, stews, egg dishes, or pizza. Spread on baguette slices for garlic bruschetta, and on grilled chicken or roasted meats. You can substitute garlic oil, which has a subtle hint of garlic plus rosemary or thyme, in any dish that calls for olive oil. You can also use garlic oil to roast tomatoes, drizzle on grilled vegetables, or moisten cooked pasta.

Per serving (1 teaspoon plus 1 teaspoon garlic mash): 45 calories, 0.2 g protein, 1 g carbohydrate, 4.5 g fat, 0.6 g saturated fat, 3.3 g monounsaturated fat, 0.4 g polyunsaturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 0 g fiber, 0.5 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 90%.

Maintain Strength and Balance with Yoga

Falls are the most common trauma that sends folks over 65 to hospitals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, about 33% of older adults will fall during any given year.

At Temple University, researchers designed an Iyengar yoga program for senior women lasting nine weeks. Iyengar yoga uses props like straps, blankets, bolsters, chairs and blocks to ease people into stretches and strengthening poses at their own pace.

After nine weeks, the women had a faster stride, increased flexibility in their legs, and were able to balance better on one leg, which helps to reduce the probability of falls. They also learned how to distribute pressure on the bottom of their feet more evenly, which also aids stability. An added benefit: Some women who had back or knee pain when the study began were pain-free by the time the study ended.

Yoga classes can be too aggressive if you’re not already flexible or strong. If you’re looking for a class, try to find a teacher who specializes in teaching people at your age and fitness level. To locate yoga teachers in your area, try the Yoga Alliance, the only national certifying body for all types of yoga teachers.

Suza Francina, an Iygengar teacher in California, has authored several books about yoga for oldsters, including The New Yoga for People Over 50 and The New Yoga for Healthy Aging: Living Longer and Stronger and Loving Every Day.

Her books are filled with delightful stories about people who started yoga late in life, with specific instructions and photographs that show ways to approach yoga poses with props so that you can get the benefits of many poses that would otherwise be too difficult.

The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Yoga is an ancient tradition with a lot of modern relevance for healing and strengthening the mind, body and spirit. Yoga is unique in that its practice can be individualized to accomodate the needs of anyone who seeks to improve his or her health. In addition to enhancing strength and flexibility and decreasing the likelihood of falls, you may find that your yoga practice brings a new feeling of overall balance into your life.

Five Things Happy People Do

There just may be a hidden formula for joy! Experts reveal the secrets of happy women.
Sages going back to Socrates have offered advice on how to be happy, but only now are scientists beginning to address this question with systematic, controlled research. Although many of the new studies reaffirm time-honored wisdom ("Do what you love," "To thine own self be true"), they also add a number of fresh twists and insights. We canvassed the leading experts on what happy people have in common -- and why it's worth trying to become one of them:

They find their most golden self.
Picture happiness. What do you see? A peaceful soul sitting in a field of daisies appreciating the moment? That kind of passive, pleasure-oriented -- hedonic -- contentment is definitely a component of overall happiness. But researchers now believe that eudaimonic well-being may be more important. Cobbled from the Greek eu ("good") and daimon ("spirit" or "deity"), eudaimonia means striving toward excellence based on one's unique talents and potential -- Aristotle considered it to be the noblest goal in life. In his time, the Greeks believed that each child was blessed at birth with a personal daimon embodying the highest possible expression of his or her nature. One way they envisioned the daimon was as a golden figurine that would be revealed by cracking away an outer layer of cheap pottery (the person's base exterior). The effort to know and realize one's most golden self -- "personal growth," in today's lingo -- is now the central concept of eudaimonia, which has also come to include continually taking on new challenges and fulfilling one's sense of purpose in life.

"Eudaimonic well-being is much more robust and satisfying than hedonic happiness, and it engages different parts of the brain," says Richard J. Davidson, PhD, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "The positive emotion accompanying thoughts that are directed toward meaningful goals is one of the most enduring components of well-being." Eudaimonia is also good for the body. Women who scored high on psychological tests for it (they were purposefully engaged in life, pursued self-development) weighed less, slept better, and had fewer stress hormones and markers for heart disease than others -- including those reporting hedonic happiness -- according to a study led by Carol Ryff, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.


They design their lives to bring in joy.
It may seem obvious, but "people don't devote enough time to thinking seriously about how they spend their life and how much of it they actually enjoy," says David Schkade, PhD, a psychologist and professor of management at the University of California, San Diego. In a recent study, Schkade and colleagues asked more than 900 working women to write down everything they'd done the day before. Afterward, they reviewed their diaries and evaluated how they felt at each point. When the women saw how much time they spent on activities tAnalyzing one's life isn't necessarily easy and may require questioning long-held assumptions. A high-powered career might, in fact, turn out to be unfulfilling; a committed relationship once longed for could end up being irritating with all the compromising that comes with having a partner. Dreams can be hard to abandon, even when they've turned sour.

Fortunately, changes don't have to be big ones to tip the joy in your favor. Schkade says that if you transfer even an hour of your day from an activity you hate (commuting, scrubbing the bathroom) to one you like (reading, spending time with friends), you should see a significant improvement in your overall happiness. Taking action is key. Another recent study, at the University of Missouri, compared college students who made intentional changes (joining a club, upgrading their study habits) with others who passively experienced positive turns in their circumstances (receiving a scholarship, being relieved of a bad roommate). All the students were happier in the short term, but only the group who made deliberate changes stayed that way.

They avoid "if only" fantasies.
If only I get a better job -- find a man -- lose the weight -- life will be perfect. Happy people don't buy into this kind of thinking.

The latest research shows that we're surprisingly bad at predicting what will make us happy. People also tend to misjudge their contentment when zeroing in on a single aspect of their lives -- it's called the focusing illusion. In one study, single subjects were asked, "How happy are you with your life in general?" and "How many dates did you have last month?" When the dating question was asked first, their romantic lives weighed more heavily into how they rated their overall happiness than when the questions were reversed.

The other argument against "if only" fantasies has to do with "hedonic adaptation” -- the brain's natural dimming effect, which guarantees that a new house won't generate the same pleasure a year after its purchase and the thrill of having a boyfriend will ebb as you get used to being part of a couple. Happy people are wise to this, which is why they keep their lives full of novelty, even if it's just trying a new activity (diving, yoga) or putting a new spin on an old favorite (kundalini instead of vinyasa).

They put best friends first.
It's no surprise that social engagement is one of the most important contributors to happiness. What's news is that the nature of the relationship counts. Compared with dashing around chatting with acquaintances, you get more joy from spending longer periods of time with a close friend, according to research by Meliksah Demir, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at Northern Arizona University. And the best-friend benefit doesn't necessarily come from delving into heavy discussions. One of the most essential pleasures of close friendship, Demir found, is simple companionship, "just hanging out," as he says, hitting the mall or going to the movies together and eating popcorn in the dark.
They didn't like, "some people had tears in their eyes," Schkade says. "They didn't realize their happiness was something they could design and have control over."
They allow themselves to be happy.
As much as we all think we want it, many of us are convinced, deep down, that it's wrong to be happy (or too happy). Whether the belief comes from religion, culture, or the family you were raised in, it usually leaves you feeling guilty if you're having fun.

"Some people would say you shouldn't strive for personal happiness until you've taken care of everyone in the world who is starving or doesn't have adequate medical care," says Howard Cutler, MD, who co-authored The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World with the Dalai Lama. "The Dalai Lama believes you should pursue both simultaneously. For one thing, there is clear research showing that happy people tend to be more open to helping others. They also make better spouses and parents." And in one famous study, nuns whose autobiographies expressed positive emotions (such as gratitude and optimism) lived seven to 10-and-a-half years longer than other nuns. So, for any die-hard pessimist who still needs persuading, just think of how much more you can help the world if you allow a little happiness into your life. Gabrielle LeBlanc is a writer and neuroscientist in Washington, D.C.

Mother's Laughter makes Breast Milk Healthier for Babies

Nursing mom's may want to watch the hilarious I Love Lucy sitcoms before feeding time. New research has found that a mother who laughs a couple of hours before breastfeeding her baby will pass on greater health benefits to her young.

The study determined that laughing mothers' breast milk contained higher levels of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin compared to those who did not laugh. In addition to bolstering relaxation, the increased levels of melatonin was found to alleviate symptoms of eczema and allergies in babies who suffered from these ailments.

However, laughter isn't just good for babies. As modern medicine has proven and the Bible makes clear, a merry heart is good medicine. It has numerous health benefits for everyone, including:


protecting the heart
reducing stress
lowering blood pressure
elevating mood
boosting immune system
improving brain functioning
protecting the heart
connecting you to others
fostering instant relaxation
decreasing stress
strengthening the immune system
making you feel good

Sources:
Journal of Psychosomatic Research June 2007;62(6):699-702
NewScientist.com June 16, 2007
Healthguide.org

Natural Mood Elevators

Ads for antidepressants make it seem as though the most logical solution for a case of the blues is to seek a prescription. Pharmaceutical drugs may be helpful -- even necessary -- for people with severe depression, but for others, there are natural solutions that may work even better, with less risk of adverse side effects. Dietary supplements and lifestyle changes can be used to naturally lift your spirits.

NATURE CAN HEAL

"I think that a lot of our modern-day fatigue and depression has to do with the fact that we're totally separated from nature," said Eric Yarnell, ND, assistant professor of botanical medicine at Bastyr University and author of Clinical Botanical Medicine. "People don't eat well, they watch huge amounts of television and don't spend much time relating to people or the outdoors." He believes that eating plenty of whole, unprocessed foods and getting regular exercise are the first steps to take in attempting to boost your mood and energy level. "Also, I tell people to turn off their televisions," he said, noting that replacing TV with even 15 minutes of daily outdoor activity and sunlight will help, as will getting enough sleep.

According to Jonny Bowden, CNS, author of The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth, many foods that are commonly thought to give us energy actually don't. "Foods that are processed and contain lots of sugar or white flour raise blood sugar temporarily, which feels good, but then set us up for a crash of energy and mood," he said. "Foods higher in protein (like grass-fed beef, chicken or fish) and higher in healthy fats (like nuts) will raise and sustain energy better."

But it is, as always, a matter of balance. Daily Health News contributing medical editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND, points out that an extreme low-carb diet can actually kick off fatigue: "Often, if people go overboard on an Atkins-esque high-protein regimen, they end up feeling lethargic, which in turn affects mood."

SUPPLEMENTS THAT HELP

Eating whole foods with little or no added sugar, exercising (even a bit) and getting some moderate sun exposure are all highly effective ways to beat the blues and lift the spirits. Some people, however, still feel like there are times when they need a more controllable lift -- and for them, Dr. Yarnell says there are natural supplements that really do help. Research supports three, in particular -- St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), goldenroot (Rhodiola rosea) and eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus).

St. John's wort

A meta-analysis published in the British Medical Journal in 1996 reviewed 23 trials on St. John's wort involving more than 1,700 patients, with researchers reporting it was more effective than a placebo at treating mild to moderately severe cases of depression. "The evidence is very strong that St. John's wort is an effective natural antidepressant for people whose depression is mild," said Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of the nonprofit American Botanical Council. This distinction is an important one, he notes -- you might recall that the reputation of St. John's wort was sullied by a 2001 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, calling it ineffective. Blumenthal explained that this particular study had examined a group of patients that included those who'd already been unresponsive to treatment with a conventional antidepressant drug, so their depression was quite severe.

The two caveats for people interested in using St. John's wort to elevate their mood are as follows: Those with severe depression should seek medical advice to ensure proper treatment and monitoring. Also, cautions Blumenthal, "St. John's wort interacts with a whole suite of conventional pharmaceutical drugs so you must check with your health care provider about any possible interactions before taking it." Your prescriber will quite likely recommend preparations standardized to contain 0.3% hypericin, a naturally occurring compound in St. John's wort to which manufacturers standardize their extracts for quality control purposes. And, if you are scheduled to have elective surgery, make sure you discontinue this supplement ahead of time.

Rhodiola rosea/Goldenroot

In Europe, Rhodiola rosea or R. rosea, the best known and most studied of different species of Rhodiola (also called goldenroot), has a long history of being used to treat chronic fatigue, especially in Sweden and Russia. One interesting study tested the effect of 170 mg of R. rosea root extract on 56 physicians who were on stressful night-call duty. R. rosea brought about a statistically significant reduction in general fatigue for the first two weeks -- but the positive effect seemed to fade by six weeks, suggesting it might be a good short-term solution that is helpful for acute stressful conditions but not for chronic stress. An experienced naturopath can provide advice on what's the best dosage in your case.

As for depression, last year a clinical trial found that R. rosea can also work as an antidepressant and mood elevator. In this Swedish study, R. rosea extract was found to not only help reduce symptoms of depression in patients with mild to moderate depression, but also to enhance their cognitive and sexual function, as well as mental and physical performance under stress.

Eleuthero

There is some debate about eleuthero, also known as Siberian ginseng (although it is no longer marketed under that name in the US). Blumenthal is not enthusiastic about eleuthero, calling it "not great" for fatigue, but Dr. Yarnell believes it's effective, doesn't have significant adverse effects and works "to balance people's systems." One clinical study evaluated 96 adults who had complained of fatigue for at least six months. They were given four capsules per day of eleuthero. While some reported their fatigue lessened considerably, the results were not statistically significant... though two sub-groups in the population -- those with longstanding fatigue and those with less severe fatigue -- experienced some effect from the treatment after two months.

ASK YOUR DOCTOR...

It probably goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway. Natural supplements aren't necessarily risk-free and so it is vitally important to seek supervision by a physician experienced in their use, advice that rings as true when we're talking about moods as with physical ailments. You may find these products can be very beneficial and produce less adverse effects than pharmaceutical products... but use them responsibly.

Source(s):

Mark Blumenthal is the founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council and editor of the publication HerbalGram.

Eric Yarnell, ND, is assistant professor of botanical medicine at Bastyr University and is in private practice. He is author of Clinical Botanical Medicine (Mary Ann Liebert).

Green Tea Fights cold and Flu

The reasons for consuming green tea continue to pile up. In addition to preventing cancer and cardiovascular disease, lowering bad cholesterol, and aiding with weight loss, a new study has found that it can help prevent the common cold and flu.

The research, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, specifically studied a decaffeinated green tea extract, containing standardized amounts of two immune-activating plant components--L-theanine and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

The study found that when compared to a placebo group, 32 percent fewer participants taking the green tea extract experienced any cold and flu symptoms. The green tea users also reported almost 23 percent fewer illnesses lasting two or more days.

The green tea extract given to the study participants is equivalent to 10 cups of green tea per day. Those hoping to benefit from drinking lots of this tonic should note that green tea contains about 30 - 60 mg. of caffeine per cup. To avoid insomnia, drink decaffeinated green tea or take it in supplement form.

Active Ingredients in Sunscreens

You've Got Sun Damage on a Cloudy Day...
Ninety percent (90%) of wrinkles are caused by UV damage. UV rays also increase the risk of skin cancer. Use sunscreen every time you go outside — even on cloudy days — as UV rays find their way through the clouds. Our selection of sunscreens and sunblocks includes PABA-free, oil-free, family-safe formulas, unscented and water-resistant products.

Year-round protection of the skin, hair and eyes from damaging effects of UV radiation has gained acceptance with American consumers. As more and more products are being formulated to protect against UV radiation, the array of sunscreen ingredients can be confusing to consumers. Listed below are the main sunscreen ingredients allowed in sunscreen products in the United States.

PABA
Para aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and its derivatives have been used in sunscreen preparations since the 1950's. Although PABA is quite effective at filtering out harmful UV rays, several of its characteristics have earned it a negative reputation among both manufacturers and consumers. First, its molecular structure makes it prone to oxidation and discoloration in products. Second, it can revert to a crystalline form and therefore be difficult to use in some types of products. Finally, safety and irritancy concerns have caused many manufacturers to find alternatives such as PABA/glycerine combinations or completely PABA-free UV filters.

Benzophenones
Benzophenones are unique molecules that occur as solids that absorb high levels of UV light ( beyond 320 nm). However, as solids, they can be difficult to successfully incorporate into products.

Cinnamates
Cinnamates such as benzyl and octyl methylcinnamate have molecular structures that absorb UV light up to 305 nm. Octymethylcinnamate is insoluable in water and is commonly found in waterproof sunscreen products.



Salicylates
Salicylates were the first group of chemicals used in commercial sunscreen products. Examples include benzyl salicylate, octyl salicylate and homomenthyl salicylate. They do not absorb UV light as effectively as some other newer compounds, but they remain popular because of their ease of use in products and their good safety record.

Physical UV Blockers
Rather than absorbing UV rays, these compounds reflect them. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are the best known of this group. Because they prevent UV rays from ever reaching the skin, these physical UV blockers offer the most effective protection. However, they also leave behind an opaque white film. New technological advances have led to the development of UV blockers made of particles so small that the human eye does not perceive them and yet they still reflect UV light.

Colorful Health

Health has a color and it's not the shade of your complexion or the rainbow of pharmaceuticals. It's the color of the fruits and vegetables on your plate. The deeper the color, the healthier it is. The intense bluish purple of blueberries, the rich green of kale, the earthy crimson of beets and the fiery orange of, well, oranges are all indicators of high levels of phytochemicals that are vital to good health. While color isn't the only indicator of phytochemicals, it certainly is a simple guide.

Plants create phytochemicals to protect themselves from the damage caused by their own photosynthesis, from pests and from UV radiation. This damage is similar to that done to our own bodies by free radicals — a by-product generated through the essential interaction of oxygen with our cells. Because this damage is oxidative — caused by reactions with oxygen — the phytochemicals in plants that protect us from free radicals are called antioxidants.

Antioxidants are like a miniature anti-missile defense system, intercepting and harmlessly reacting with free radicals before they can do us harm. Plants have developed thousands of kinds of antioxidants to protect themselves from specific threats to their own health and so there is no single antioxidant that will protect us from the many types of free radicals that are generated throughout the body. That's why it's important to eat a wide variety of fruit and vegetables and — because their efficacy is short-lived — to eat them often. In fact, eating several different kinds of vegetables or fruits at the same time, such as in a salad, creates a synergy that enhances the antioxidant benefit.

For decades, the emphasis was on an adequate diet — the minimal amount of protein, minerals, vitamins, calories and fats needed to get you through the days of your life. Meat, with its high levels of protein and energy, took pride of place on the table and vegetables and fruits were relegated to supporting roles.

Today we know that what we eat influences our health over time and so science is interested in what is the best diet for maintaining health through all the stages of life. It turns out that antioxidants in ordinary vegetables and fruit, which were not considered essential for an adequate diet, are an important part of an optimal diet. Their effect on our long-term health is cumulative, helping to protects us from the ravages of time and our own metabolism.

What kinds of things to antioxidants do? In short, antioxidants may protect against chronic diseases. Studies show that a higher intake of antioxidants can:

Keep the immune system healthy
Support healthy blood sugar levels
Protect against oxidation reactions thought to be responsible for aging
Keep the brain functioning optimally
Promote healthy inflammatory reactions
Support heart health

While deeply colored foods typically have high levels of antioxidants, they are also present in foods that are not highly pigmented - herbs, spices and vegetables from the onion family are examples. And you don't have to eat huge portions. Culinary herbs are a concentrated source of antioxidants. In one study, about 3 grams (or about 3 sprigs) of fresh herbs used per portion of salad was enough to make a difference.

Here is a list of foods with impressive levels of antioxidants:

Fruits and vegetables
Berries
Cherries
Pomegranates
Plums
Grapes
Apples
Beets
Tomatoes
Mangos
Figs
Persimmons
Winter squash, sweet potatoes, carrots
Eggplant
Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots
Citrus, including the peel
Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage
Spinach, kale, collards
Mushrooms

Beans (legumes)
black beans
pinto beans
kidney beans,
black lentils

Grains
blue corn
purple rice
red quinoa

Unrefined oils
olive oil
red palm oil
sesame oil

Herbs and Spices
turmeric
ginger
cinnamon
cloves
rosemary
oregano
thyme
mint
cardamom
chili
fennel greens
lemon balm
hibiscus
Wine vinegars
Honey

Beverages
herbal and green tea
fruit juices
wine
Chocolate
Wild Salmon

Nuts
walnuts
pecans
chestnuts

Technorati Profile

Kitchen-Made Face Cleansers

These do-it-yourself concoctions are designed for dry, oil or normal skin types. The apple cider vinegar acts as a natural astringent; the olive oil helps remove dirt; the lactic acid in the yogurt exfoliates; and the lemon juice tightens pores.

Dry Skin
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 mashed banana or avocado
1/4 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp olive oil


Oily Skin
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 tsp olive oil
1/4 tsp lemon juice


Normal Skin
1 cup plain yogurt
1 tsp olive oil
1/4 tsp apple cider vinegar
Choose one cleanser, depending on your personal skin type. Combine all ingredients well. Scoop out approximately 1/4 cup and apply all over face with a soft, circular motion. Rub into skin for at least one minute. Rinse well with cool (not cold) water. Gently pat dry with a soft cloth. Store unused cleanser in the refrigerator for up to seven days

Acupuncture Boosts IVF chances

“Acupuncture can increase the chances of getting pregnant for women undergoing fertility treatment by 65%,” according to The Guardian’s news pages.

The Times, The Daily Telegraph and BBC News covered the story and quoted Edward Ernst, a professor of complementary medicine, who cautioned that the effect might be due to a placebo effect caused by the women expecting acupuncture to work. He said that the expectation might cause them to relax which would improve pregnancy rates.

The study behind this story is a systematic review which combined the results of “high quality” studies on acupuncture, rates of pregnancy and live birth in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Although the methods used by this study are robust, some possible biases cannot be ruled out. Studies that have negative results are less likely to be published and may therefore not have been included.

When interpreting the 65% increase in pregnancy rates, it should be remembered that the differences in pregnancy rates were quite small. The results actually mean that in order to achieve one additional successful pregnancy, 10 women would need to be treated with acupuncture. The cost associated with lack of effect for the other nine women is something to be considered by individuals and health care providers.

Finally, the study found that the additional benefit of acupuncture depended on how successful IVF was overall. Where pregnancy rates were high, acupuncture had little benefit.

Where did the story come from?

Dr Eric Manheimer, Grant Zhang, Laurence Udoff and colleagues from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington and the University of Amsterdam, Holland carried out the research.

Funding was provided by the National Centre for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine of the US National Institutes of Health. The study was published in the peer-reviewed: British Medical Journal.

What kind of scientific study was this?

The study was a systematic review of randomised controlled trials that compared needle acupuncture given within one day of women receiving IVF with sham (fake) treatment or no treatment at all. The researchers searched for published literature in databases and conference proceedings for studies that compared acupuncture given within one day of IVF treatment versus sham acupuncture (or no treatment). They assessed the quality of 108 potentially relevant studies they found, and of these, included seven trials in their analysis.

Only studies in which pregnancy had been confirmed (either by presence of gestational sac or heartbeat on ultrasound), ongoing pregnancy beyond 12 weeks gestation (confirmed through ultrasound), or a live birth, were included. The researchers also only included studies in which acupuncture needles were inserted into traditional meridian points (groups of points thought to have an effect upon a particular body part).

The researchers used meta-analysis (a statistical technique) to pool the studies. They were particularly interested in the difference in rates of pregnancy between women who received acupuncture and those who did not.

What were the results of the study?

The seven studies that the researchers included in their analysis were all randomised controlled trials. In six of the studies, an acupuncture session was given just before the fertilised embryo was implanted back into the mother and another straight after. One trial involved acupuncture only after implantation. Two studies gave a third session during different phases of the process.

The authors reported that IVF with acupuncture increased the odds of pregnancy by 65% (according to early evidence on ultrasound), increased the odds of ongoing pregnancy by 87% (according to ultrasound evidence of pregnancy at 12 weeks) and increased the odds of a live birth by 91% compared with IVF on its own.

When the researchers only looked at the three studies that showed similar rates of pregnancy to women in the UK, they found that acupuncture did not increase rates of pregnancy with IVF.

What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results?

The researchers conclude that their results suggest that acupuncture given with embryo transfer, improves rates of pregnancy and live birth in women who are undergoing in vitro fertilisation.

What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study?

- In four of the seven studies that were included, the women knew which treatment they were receiving (while in the other three the comparison was sham acupuncture). The researchers say that the placebo effect (i.e. where believing in the effect of the treatment affects the outcome whether or not treatment is received) is unlikely to have had any effect in this study because the “outcomes are entirely objective (i.e. pregnancy and births)”. However, as mentioned in some newspapers, other researchers have said that it is possible that if women expect the treatment to be helpful then they may be more relaxed and this in turn could affect pregnancy rates.

- The researchers say that their findings are significant and clinically relevant, though they are “somewhat preliminary”. They conclude by saying that the effectiveness of acupuncture depends on the previous rate of pregnancy in the population. They call for further research to investigate the relationship between the previous (baseline) rate of pregnancy and the effect of acupuncture. When they limited their analysis to studies that had the highest baseline rates of pregnancy, there was no significant effect of acupuncture on pregnancy success. The fact that the baseline rates of pregnancy varied across the studies is a weakness of the review.

- The reviewers also say that publication bias may have affected their results, despite their best efforts to ensure this was not the case. They cannot rule out that there were small studies with negative results that have not been published and therefore not included.

- The use of “odds ratios” to reflect the comparison is questionable. The authors themselves say that the odds ratio “significantly over-estimates the rate ratio” because the outcome of pregnancy is relatively frequent. A better reflection of the absolute benefit is to consider that these results mean that 10 women will need to be treated with acupuncture for there to be an extra successful pregnancy. In the other nine women, there would be no additional benefit. It is also worth noting that confirmed pregnancy rates were not very different between acupuncture and non-acupuncture groups in real terms (32% v. 27%). Presenting the results in these terms gives them a little more context.

The results of this review suggest that acupuncture has a positive effect of pregnancy rates when given with IVF. An interpretation of the 65% benefit quoted by the papers must be considered in light of the fact that they represent relatively small absolute benefits considering that the rates of pregnancy in the non-acupuncture groups were high.

Links to the headlines

Acupuncture after IVF ‘could boost pregnancy’. The Daily Telegraph, February 08 2008
Acupuncture during IVF boosts a woman’s chance of conceiving by 65 per cent. Daily Mail, February 08 2008
Acupuncture ‘boosts IVF chances’. BBC News, February 08 2008

Links to the science

Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Manheimer E, Zhang G, Udoff L, et al.
BMJ 2008; Feb 7

This news comes from NHS Choices

Yoga Decreases Menopausal Symptoms In Breast Cancer Survivors - Yoga

Breast cancer survivors often have more severe hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms than other women, yet they have limited treatment choices. Hormone replacement therapy, for example, is not an option for cancer survivors because it may increase their risk for disease recurrence. Therapies widely used to prevent cancer recurrence, such as tamoxifen, also tend to induce or exacerbate menopausal symptoms.

However, new research from Duke University Medical Center and Oregon Health and Science University offers an untraditional source of relief: a tailored yoga program.

"These women have suffered through the difficulties of breast cancer and are left to cope with these daily, extremely disruptive symptoms with few options for relief," said Duke assistant professor Laura Porter, Ph.D., co-author of the study presented at the International Association of Yoga Therapists Symposium for Yoga Therapy and Research. "We knew that some data found yoga helped reduce hot flashes among healthy women but no>Yoga of Awareness" program on breast cancer patients. They also plan to teach the concepts to yoga instructors nationwide.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Causes

When you are afraid, your body activates the "fight or flight" response —a reference to our caveman ancestors facing a tiger. In reaction, your body releases adrenaline, which is responsible for increasing blood pressure and heart rate and increasing glucose to muscles (to allow you to run away quickly in the face of immediate danger). However, once the immediate danger (which may or may not have actually existed) is gone, the body begins a process of shutting down the stress response, and this process involves the release of another hormone known as cortisol.

If your body does not generate enough cortisol to shut down the flight or stress reaction, you may continue to feel the stress effects of the adrenaline. Trauma victims who develop post-traumatic stress disorder often have higher levels of other stimulating hormones (catecholamines) under normal conditions in which the threat of trauma is not present. These same hormones kick in when they are reminded of their trauma.

Physically, your body also increases your heart rate. After a month in this heightened state, with stress hormones elevated, you may develop further physical changes, such as heightened hearing. This cascade of physical changes, one triggering another, suggests that early intervention may be the key to heading off the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.

contd......

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

What Is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder?

Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is among only a few mental disorders that are triggered by a disturbing outside event, quite unlike other psychiatric disorders such as depression.

Many Americans experience individual traumatic events ranging from car and airplane accidents to sexual assault and domestic violence. Other experiences, including those associated with natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes, affect multiple people simultaneously. Dramatic and tragic events, like the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, and wars occur, and with media exposure such as we have today, even people not directly involved might be affected. Simply put, PTSD is a state in which you "can't stop remembering."

In 1 out of 10 Americans, the traumatic event causes a cascade of psychological and biological changes known as post-traumatic stress disorder. Wars throughout the ages often triggered what some people called "shell shock," in which returning soldiers were unable to adapt to life after war. Although each successive war brings about renewed attention on this syndrome, it wasn't until the Vietnam War that PTSD was first identified and given this name. Now, mental health providers such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and other health care professionals can attempt to understand people’s response to these traumatic events and help them recover from the impact of the trauma.

Although the disorder must be diagnosed by a mental health professional, symptoms of PTSD are clearly defined. To be diagnosed with PTSD, you must have been in a situation in which you were afraid for your safety or your life, or you must have experienced something that made you feel fear, helplessness, or horror.

The worse the trauma, the more likely a person will develop PTSD, and the worse the symptoms. The most severely affected are unable to work, have trouble with relationships, and have great difficulty parenting their children.

Research has shown that PTSD changes the biology of the brain. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and PET (positron emission tomography) scans show changes in the way memories are stored in the brain. PTSD is an environmental shock that changes your brain, and scientists do not know if it is reversible.


In the United States, 60% of men and 50% of women experience a traumatic event during their lifetimes. Of those, 8% of men and 20% of women may develop PTSD. A higher proportion of people who are raped develop PTSD than those who suffer any other traumatic event. Because women are much more likely to be raped than men (9% versus less than 1%), this helps explain the higher prevalence of PTSD in women than men.


Some 88% of men and 79% of women with PTSD also have another psychiatric disorder. Nearly half suffer from major depression, 16% from anxiety disorders, and 28% from social phobia. They also are more likely to have risky health behaviors such as alcohol abuse, which affects 52% of men with PTSD and 28% of women, while drug abuse is seen in 35% of men and 27% of women with PTSD.


More than half of all Vietnam veterans, about 1.7 million, have experienced symptoms of PTSD. Although 60% of war veterans with PTSD have had serious medical problems, only 6% of them have a problem due to injury in combat.


African Americans, when they are exposed to trauma, are more likely to develop PTSD than whites.


People who are exposed to the most intense trauma are the most likely to develop PTSD. The higher the degree of exposure to trauma, the more likely you are to develop PTSD. So, if something happens to you more than once or if something occurs to you over a very long period of time, the likelihood of developing PTSD is increased.


Sometimes, people who have heart attacks or cancer develop PTSD.


Refugees (eg, people who have been through war conditions in their native country or fled from conflict) may develop PTSD and often go years without treatment.


New mothers may develop PTSD after an unusually difficult delivery during childbirth. Also, patients who regain partial consciousness during surgery under general anesthesia may be at risk for developing PTSD.

Contd....

Source: emedicinehealth

Hair Loss- Homeopathic Remedies

Homeopathic Remedies

Fluoric acid - For brittle hair that falls out in small tufts.

Lycopodium - For premature balding and graying, or hair loss after childbirth. Eczema is often behind the ears.

Kali carbonicum: For dry, thinning hair.

Kali Sulphuricum - For yellow, flaking dandruff, which may be moist or sticky. Hair may fall out, leaving bald spots. Take one tablet twice daily for maximum 2 weeks.

Natrum mur - When hair loss is accompanied by dandruff and white crusts on the scalp. Greasy around the hairline.

Phosphorus - Indicated when hair falls out in handfuls.

Phosphorum acidum: Take 1X every six to eight hours for alopecia stemming from depression.

Selenium - For hair loss on the body and scalp. The scalp feels painful when touched.

Tissue Salts

Take 4 tablets under tongue three times daily.

Calc phos. - For hair loss after a fever.

Kali sulph - When the hair loss is accompanied by dandruff with dry, scaly eruptions.

Nat mur - For hair that is dry and falls out, or for beard hair that falls out.

Silicea - When the hair lacks nourishment, this remedy helps to bring strength and bounce back to the hair.


While homeopathic medicines are considered safe, it is always advisable to consult a competent homeopath before taking any medicine.

This doesn't constitute any medical advice and NOT meant to diagnose or treat any health condition and/or is NOT a replacement for treatment by a healthcare provider. Please consult your homeopath and learn how homeopathy works and how it is used before using any remedies that homeopathy offers.

Hair Loss: Diet and Hair Growth

Hair is part of the complete biological system of the human body; disturbance in one part of system can cause dysfunction in other parts. To maintain optimum health, it is best to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise regimen.

Hair growth and thinning is mostly determined by your genes and the way the hair follicles respond to hormones. A very poor diet can cause thinning of hair and speed up the onset of hereditary hair loss. Getting the right nutrients is important to help keep your hair healthy and shiny.

The best way to maintain a healthy vitamin and mineral intake is a good diet. It is not necessary or advisable to go out and buy a bunch of over-the-counter vitamin supplements. It is easy to overdose one with over-the-counter vitamins particularly when taking supplements of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals, causing toxicity and adverse reactions. The likelihood of doing this is far less with food; therefore, it is always best to obtain the bulk of your vitamin and mineral requirements from whole foods.

Experts agree that following the Food Guide Pyramid, which is a general eating guide that includes all of the daily food groups, offers a reliable and easy-to-follow plan to guide you through developing a healthy diet. A healthy diet ensures the intake of essential vitamins and minerals that contribute to your health and a healthy head of hair. Regular exercise and stress management are also essential to good health and are important for the prevention and treatment of temporary hair loss. It is suggested to make any change in the diet only after consulting a nutritionist or your health care provider.

Hair Loss: Causes

1. Genetic tendency
2. Nutritional deficiency (Iron, Protein, zinc, etc.)
3. Local factors (Skin diseases like Psoriasis, Lichen Planus, etc.)
4. Hormonal factors (Hyper or hypothyroid, menopause)
5. Systemic disease (Liver disease, kidney failure)
6. After acute ailments (Viral infection, Typhoid)
7. Stress factors (Anxiety, depression)
8. Drugs (Betablockers for hypertension, chemotherapy, anticholesterol drugs, etc.)
9.Unknown factors

Male pattern baldness tends to be genetic in nature and is associated with high levels of circulating testosterone hormone which gets converted to dehydrotestosterone(DHT) which binds the root of the hair follicle, triggering hair loss.

1. Local factors:

Some of the local factors or conditions associated with hair loss are:

(a) Local skin disorders:
Certain local skin ailments are known to lead to hair falling. Local skin infections such as Fungal infection (Tinea capitis), pyoderma, secondary syphilis, etc. Non-infectious conditions such as Dandruff, psoriasis, lichen planus, eczema, etc.

(b) Local exposure to toxins:
Over use or abuse with chemical based shampoos, soaps, lotions are known to produce hair falling.

(c) Scalp carelessness:
Unhygienic measures in scalp care may lead to hair falling. For instance, infrequent head wash, over exposure to harsh sun without protection, exposing the head to industrial fumes, etc.

2. General factors:

(a) Deficient Nutrition:
Overall all deficiency of nutrition may affect the growth and quality of hair. Deficiency of vitamins B Group, Vitamin A, may lead to hair falling. Deficiency in proteins, iron, certain minerals may affect the hair growth, leading to hair falling. Iron deficiency due to a wide range of reasons such as excessive bleeding, restricted intake of iron forms an important cause of hair falling, especially found in females. The deficiency as above may be either due to faulty intake or which may have occurred due to certain systemic disorders such as Mal-assimilation or mal-absorption syndrome. It may occur following any prolonged acute or sub-acute diseases such as Irritable Bowel syndrome.

(b) Hormonal variations:
Certain hormones including androgen, estrogen and progesterone variations during different phases in life may bring about hair falling in excess. Thyroid hormones form another important group of disorders responsible for hair falling in some cases. Menopausal age hence makes one prone to have hair falling. Post pregnancy and child-birth is another example.

(c) Post-acute-ailment:
Certain acute diseases are known to leave behind a weakened vitality leading one to have hair falling. For examples: Pneumonia, viral infections, typhoid, etc.

(d) Medicine and Drug induced:
Certain chemical medicines have known toxicity on the hair roots and growth. Long term use of chemotherapy, cancer medication, steroids, antibiotics, antiepileptic, antihypertensive medications etc. have been observed to produce hair falling in some patients, as per a study at our center. Contraceptive tablets are also known to induce hair falling.

3. Psychological factors:

The mind plays a vital role in maintaining the health in general developing a wide range of disorders, such as hair falling in particular.

Emotional stress is an epidemic condition prevailing in the world today. There is no single emotion, which may be figured out as a victim. In our experience, any and every emotion, which was experienced intensely, may cause a constitutional disorder affecting the physiological functioning of the hair growth.

Some of the examples of emotional stress may be summarized in brief as under: Intense anxiety about any important matter. Sadness or depression in one's life, which may be arising after marital disharmony or job dissatisfaction or unhappy social structure, etc. Grief due to unexpected events in one's life such as loss of a family member, loss in business, major set back in life, etc. A long-standing fear and apprehensive habit. And so on. Similarly, certain unhealthy attitudes such as aggressive behavior, violent expressions, hurried and impatient behavior, and like.

To put it in nutshell, the personality type plays a greater role in most cases of hair falling and that should form in turn, the major criterion to decide the correct line of treatment for hair falling.
4. Miscellaneous:

Some lesser common factors are industrial toxins, intoxicated water (with high levels or minerals and metals), local dermal infection, local allergic ailment, etc.

contd....

London Plastic Surgeons launch Skin Healing Gel

New ‘Miracle’ Skin Healing Cream Now Available to the Public

The wait is finally over as five of the UK’s leading plastic surgeons launch HEAL: a revolutionary new healing gel originally created to soothe and reduce inflammation of the skin following surgery (thereby shortening recovery times), but which has also proven to effectively treat everyday injuries such as sprains, sunburn, bruises and scars, making it the ideal medical product to have in the home for all the family to use. The innovative preparation, now available for purchase online, has been developed by The Firm, a specialist skincare group formed by some of the best-known names in plastic and cosmetic surgery including Peter Butler, Martin Kelly, Patrick Mallucci, Simon Withey and Norman Waterhouse of London Plastic Surgery Associates (LPSA). Together, they combine their specialist knowledge in skin anti-ageing, healing and nanotechnology to bring products to the public that actually work.

Each surgeon at The Firm has specific expertise in skin healing: Peter Butler carried out his experimental research on skin ageing and transplantation in the United States (Harvard). Martin Kelly has an MD in antioxidant skin therapy, Patrick Mallucci wrote a thesis on nanotechnology delivery systems and both Simon Withey and Norman Waterhouse have published widely on skin repair in plastic surgery. With a combined clinical experience of over fifty years in treating skin wounds after surgical procedures, they are well equipped to understand the healing process of the skin. In addition, The Firm drafted top French chemist Colette Haydon to perfect the formula in order to achieve the optimal effect, which offers a triple method of action: anti-inflammatory, bruise-solving and scar maturation.

According to Mr Butler, who leads the UK Facial Transplantation team and whose skincare research is internationally acclaimed;

“HEAL was created because no single product existed that combines all the elements of reducing bruising and inflammation as well as accelerating the healing process. This unique gel combines all of this and is completely different to any other ‘off the shelf’ products that claim to have healing effects on the skin, as they do not contain enough of the active ingredients needed to have an effect. The difference with HEAL is that the key ingredients are present in the right formulations to ensure they penetrate the skin’s surface and actually have a dramatic effect on the end result”.

Mr Mallucci added;”Over the last three years with the help and expertise of leading French chemist Colette Haydon we have developed HEAL which has a unique combination of active ingredients Arnica Montana and Madecassoside, for the first time ever packaged in a liposomal system, which delivers the agents to where they are needed most - to the deeper layers of the skin. The nanotechnology is designed to deliver the products of HEAL with maximum efficiency to the damaged area”.

HEAL combines a triple method of action which works to soothe the closed wound - using Arnica, Haloxyl and Glistin, to reduce heat sensation and discomfort; repair the damage - using Collaxyl protein fractions to promote cellular repair and optimise scar healing with Silicone. For the past two years The Firm have tested HEAL in their clinical practice, London Plastic Surgery Associates where every year hundreds of patients have undergone facelift, rhinoplasty and breast surgery. The feedback from their patients has been overwhelming, with:

- 94% of patients reporting that HEAL was very soothing to bruised areas
- 82% of patients reporting that HEAL reduced swelling after surgery
- 85% of patients reporting that HEAL highly effectively reduced post-surgery bruising
- 97% of patients would continue to use HEAL in the future and recommend the product to others

Fiona Kent, a 37-year-old Executive Personal Assistant - who had a Rhinoplasty and Chin Augmentation last year - says;

“I was amazed at how soothing and comforting the product felt on my tender skin after my operation and it reduced bruising within days. It smells divine and has a consistency that sinks into the skin. HEAL is truly amazing and is certainly a product that I will always have in the home.”

HEAL is available online at http://www.healgel.com and costs ￡28 for a 30 ml jar.

About The Firm

The Firm is a specialist group developing a new brand of skincare, created by founding Partners of thriving practice London Plastic Surgery Associates (http://www.lpsa.co.uk). The Firm draw on their expertise and worldwide acclaimed research to bring to the public skin healing solutions that work. All surgeons are members of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) and BAPRAS (British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons). The Firm is based at 30 Devonshire Street, telephone 0207 908 3777.

London Plastic Surgery Associates