Women’s Health Blog

Women’s Health Issues

All About Vitamin A

Author: admin
08 5th, 2010

Vitamin A was given the first letter of the alphabet for a name because it was the first vitamin to be discovered. It was found that vitamin A has a large number of uses in the body including keeping eyes healthy, aiding cell growth and also helping boost the immune system. However, vitamin A is not only absorbed directly but it is also created by the body by converting beta carotene into vitamin A.

Vitamin A itself is found in a number of foods such as eggs, milk, liver and meat. Beta carotene that the body can convert into vitamin A is found in many fruits and vegetables, especially the red, orange and green coloured ones. The most important point to remember that consuming too much pure vitamin A can be toxic. It is essential not to exceed the recommended daily allowance for vitamin A. The actual recommended allowance of vitamin A varies depending on a persons age, sex and other factors. While the actual amount of vitamin A consumed may be toxic if the recommended daily allowance is exceeded, there is a far higher limit to how much beta carotene can be consumed. Therefore it is advisable to concentrate on obtaining the greatest amount of beta carotene which the body can then convert to vitamin A, rather than consuming vast quantities of pure vitamin A rich foods.

Many people will remember being told that eating lots of carrots helps you to see in the dark and that is down to the vitamin A that is produced from the high levels of beta carotene that are found in the vegetables. Other foods which have high levels of beta carotene that can be converted to vitamin A include tomatoes and dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach. Beta carotene is not only used to form vitamin A, but it is also a powerful antioxidant in itself. None of the beta carotene that is absorbed is wasted as any excess after conversion to vitamin A has taken place is used to fight the harmful free radicals within the body. Vitamin A also helps fight infections and illnesses by helping tissues that line various parts of the body, including the eyes, mouth, nose, throat and lungs, to grow and also to repair them if they are damaged to prevent infection. Children also need plenty of vitamin A to help their bones and teeth to develop properly.

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04 4th, 2010

Almost all mothers who breast feed go through a
period of questioning whether or not their supply
of milk is adequate. Some mothers simply aren’t
able to produce enough milk to meet the needs of
her baby. According to many experts, true
insufficiencies of milk are very rare.

A lot of women think their milk supply is low when
it actually isn’t. Thinking this can happen if
you lose the feeling of fullness in your breasts
or if the milk stops leaking from your nipples.
Babies that go through growth spurts may want
more milk than usual, and these more frequent
feedings may leave your breasts less than full.

Causes of it
A mother’s milk supply may diminish for a brief
period of time if she isn’t feeding her baby
often enough due to nipple pain, or a poor latch
on technique. Illnesses or estrogen containing
birth control pills may also affect the production
of milk.

What you should do
The best way to handle a low supply of breast
milk is through a doctor’s care. You should
make sure that your baby gets frequent feedings
and that nothing is wrong with your nipples or
your milk ducts. Doctors are the best ones to
ask, as they can run tests to see if everything
is fine within your body.

A low supply of breast milk can affect your
baby, although it’s more of a mental condition
than anything else. If your baby isn’t gaining
any weight or if he is losing weight, you
should call a doctor immediately. Improved
techniques for breast feeding will normally
help, although in some cases weight gain or
weight loss will indicate a serious concern.

In most cases, you can still nurse with a
temporary decrease in milk supply, although
frequent breast feeding is the key to boosting
your production of milk.

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PPPPP

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A Guide to the C Vitamin

Author: admin
01 4th, 2010

The c vitamin has got to be the most widely known vitamin these days. It is not surprising because the body needs c vitamin for over 300 functions. In fact, the c vitamin has been proved to help protect against heart disease, cancer and other serious illnesses. Without the c vitamin the body would not be able to heal itself either. This is because the c vitamin is vital for the formation of collagen. Whenever a person has a cut or an injury it is the collagen that helps repair the damage and without sufficient c vitamin this would be almost impossible. Collagen has a multitude of functions in the body, including keeping the organs in place, and it would not be able to do this without sufficient c vitamin.

The c vitamin is also an antioxidant for the body and helps other vitamins and minerals to be absorbed better. Folic acid and iron, for example, need the c vitamin to maximise their usefulness. The more c vitamin that the body has, the better its defence against colds and other common ailments and the c vitamin may not prevent a person catching a virus but it does help speed up the recovery process.

There is c vitamin in almost every fruit and vegetable but some have far higher c vitamin content than others. Cranberries and melons have high c vitamin content. In fact, tropical fruits have the highest c vitamin amounts of all fruit. Hot peppers are amongst the richest sources of the c vitamin when it comes to vegetables. The hotter the pepper, the higher its c vitamin content is. Unfortunately, the c vitamin is water soluble so many vegetables lose their effectiveness as a c vitamin provider if they are boiled for a long time. Steaming or quick stir frying vegetables ensures that more of their c vitamin content is retained. The recommended daily amount of the c vitamin is easily obtained from eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day if they are consumed raw or cooked quickly.

C vitamin supplements are extremely useful to ensure that people obtain sufficient c vitamin. However, with a balanced diet the amount of c vitamin the body receives is likely to be sufficient. However, if a person begins feeling tired or lethargic then a c vitamin supplement will help overcome this. There is no danger of having too much c vitamin as the body simply excretes the excess.

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Resveratrol Side Effects

Author: admin
12 14th, 2009

Every medication, supplement or weight loss aid has some side effects. These can vary greatly according to the person taking them, but there are some for the general population to be aware of. Certain conditions, illnesses or ailments can complicate these or bring them on, so its imperative to know of the side effects of Resveratrol, no matter how seemingly insignificant.

Keep in mind, however that, these were reported by only a few users of Resveratrol and does not necessarily apply to everyone. There could be many different factors that came into play when they received a reaction ranging from their genetic makeup to an under or over dosage. Though its classified by the FDA as a non-toxic compound, being aware of what could possibly happen when taking this supplement will keep you prepared. And, though this may seem common sense to some, if you should get any of these side effects, it is advised to discontinue use and contact a physician.

The side effects are as follows:

*Stomach cramping. This is usually brought on through low quality doses of Resveratrol which contain high concentrations of emodin. Emodin is a phenolic compound obtained normally from rhubarb and cascara buckthorn plants and is generally used as a laxative.

*Diarrhea. This is self explanitory pertaining to the first side effect. Emodin causes the stomach cramping and thus diarrhea. But again, this is only from low quality supplements.

*Joint pain. It has been reported that the joint pains were reminisce of arthritis signs and symptoms. Stiffening of joints, particularly around the wrists and ankles.

*Feelings of numbness on the extremities, particularly the fingers and toes *Becoming sensitive to temperature changes *Discolored urine.

*Insomnia.

*Blood pressure rising right after taking a dose of the supplement.

It will be said again. These arent life threatening side effects, and are even known to disappear after a few days. And as mentioned above, most of these side effects were due to taking a low quality dose of Resveratrol. With a good quality compound, the likelihood of getting any of these side effects is very slim. Also note that these reports are purely from the users, and have not been reviewed by scientists yet. With this in mind, there might be something of a placebo effect, where the user is entirely convinced what theyre feeling is real, though in reality is might not be.

There are many ways to avoid the negative effects of Resveratrol. The first, and most important, is making sure when you order or buy, that youre getting a high quality. There are many places that sell generic or low quality supplements and you can easily be deceived.

Common dosage is between 50mg-250mg a day. It varies with each person, but more or less can lead to an under- or over dosage which can bring on side effects. This dosage optimizes the benefits without the adverse side effects.

With these ideas in mind, you should have no problem with taking the Resveratrol supplement. If you follow dosage instructions and keep to a routine, you should be feeling the effects and benefits of Resveratrol within just days!

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10 18th, 2009

As Resveratrol has been on the market for quite a while now, many people already know of everything it has to offer as far as its health benefits. The most important and famous benefit it offers is its ability to be an aid in weight loss. However, this is only what is advertised of this product. Because not all ads can be completely trusted and everything advertised isnt always whats expected of a product, a thorough and in-depth review would help those who are curious get a better idea on the benefits associated with Resveratrol.

A little background information on this miracle supplement would do many people a lot of good. Having good knowledge of where, when and how a product is made or used can help you in your decision to buy it. The first and foremost important, pertaining to this article is the fact that this supplement is said to have effect on weight loss and aiding in it. This fact is true in many respects. Clinical studies have proved this fact and not only with weight loss, but with many other benefits.

These other health benefits include blood-sugar-lowering, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and several other astonishing cardiovascular effects. Much research has been done on this product and clinical trials included, it has been discovered to be very beneficial to a large variety of people suffering different illnesses or issues that cant be handled another way. Especially those who refuse to take medications or cant in some way, have found that Resveratrol has been a great alternative. Its safe, natural and doesnt have the side effects that many medications do. But just knowing that research and clinical trials have proven it doesnt put everyones mind at ease. How exactly does Resveratrol do it?

Specific and detailed facts about how exactly Resveratrol can aid in weight loss will help most see that it has factors that deal with your body in individual ways to help burn fat and give you more energy. One of these factors is that it increases metabolism. It is the driving force in energy creation within the body and is the main role player in your success in losing weight overall. Fast metabolism simply means that your body is breaking down whatever you consume at a fast rate, absorbing vital nutrients while expelling anything not needed quickly. Even when you arent doing anything, a fast metabolism helps burn fat and energy.

Another key factor is weight loss is your energy level. Resveratrol increases these levels and you feel more energized, thus able to do more. Not only does it help burn fat, but it benefits your overall lifestyle. When your energy level is low, you usually dont like feeling anything. When increased, you can get much more accomplished and feel better.

The final important factor is that Resveratol is an appetite suppressant. Some people have an issue with bingeing. When your appetite is suppressed, youre less likely to want to eat and get other things done during your day or night. And on that note, when you eat less, you consume fewer calories and fat, kicking your weight loss into high gear.

With these essential factors for weight loss in mind, Resveratrol is a great decision to make when considering an alternative to anything that has been deemed uncertain, either by the FDA or simply lack of information. Remember these and even use them as a guideline when starting a weight loss regiment.
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07 9th, 2007

There are many benefits of breastfeeding your baby. Not only is it a natural and beautiful thing, it allows a mother to provide her new born baby with everything that he or she needs for a healthy start to life.

There are many benefits of breastfeeding and nearly no consequences. Babies that breastfeed are found to have a healthier body weight and are less susceptible to illness.

Breastfed babies, although they love to nurse, will stop when they are fill. And breastfed babies also take in essential antibodies from their mothers’ milk that fends off infections and other illnesses that can be very harmful to a developing baby. The benefits of breastfeeding are practically endless.

The benefits of breastfeeding also include the absolutely essential mother and baby bond that is developed during the first few months of life. If a mother does not spend this one-on-one time with the baby, experiencing such close and personal contact, the mother and baby could experience emotional distress.

Every baby deserves a healthy start and the many benefits of breastfeeding are absolutely essential to a baby’s health. If you’re pregnant and you want to breastfeed your baby, you should know that it is an easy way to give your baby the healthy start that he or she deserves.

Following are some simple instructions to teach you how to properly feed your baby.

First, sit in a comfortable position with your back straight and your lap flat. If you wish, you can position a pillow on your lap to support your baby during breastfeeding.

Now to position your baby properly during breastfeeding, turn your baby’s body toward your stomach. In this position, your baby’s bottom should be resting on your elbow and your baby’s head, neck and shoulders should be supported by your forearm and hand.

To begin breastfeeding, position your baby’s nose directly in front of your nipple. Allow your baby’s head to tip back gently and slightly. Then gently rub your baby’s lips against your nipple until his or her mouth opens very wide.

At this point during breastfeeding you should quickly bring your baby’s bottom lip and chin against your breast. In this position, your baby can breathe easily. You should be able to feel the baby’s mouth on a large portion of your breast.

You may need to support your breast to make your baby more comfortable during breastfeeding. It is also important that you are comfortable. You should be relaxed and you should be able to hear your baby swallowing softly.

If it doesn’t feel right, you should stop and start over.

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