Mind You, Each of your symptoms of pregnancy noted below could be explained by other causes. Check out here...

Spotting:
Implantation bleeding can be one of the earliest pregnancy symptoms. About 6-12 days after conception, the embryo implants itself into the uterine wall.

Some women will experience spotting as well as cramping. Some women do not even notice implantation bleeding or cramping, so don’t worry if you are trying to get pregnant and don’t experience these symptoms; you could still be pregnant.

Delayed or Missed Period:
A delayed or missed period is the most common pregnancy symptom leading a woman to test for pregnancy. When you become pregnant, your next period should be missed.

Some women can bleed while they are pregnant, but typically this bleeding will be shorter or lighter than a normal period.

Swollen or Tender Breasts:
Swollen or tender breasts is a pregnancy symptom which may begin as early as 1-2 weeks after conception. Women may notice changes in their breasts; they may be tender to the touch, sore, or swollen.

Fatigue or Tiredness:
Feeling fatigued or more tired is a pregnancy symptom which can also start as early as the first week after conception.

Morning Sickness or Nausea:
This well-known pregnancy symptom will oftentimes show up between 2-8 weeks after conception.
Some women are fortunate to not deal with morning sickness at all, while others feel nauseous throughout most of their pregnancy.

Backaches:
Lower backaches may be a symptom that occurs early in pregnancy; however, it is common to experience a dull backache throughout pregnancy.

Headaches:
The sudden rise of hormones in your body can cause you to have headaches early in pregnancy.

Frequent Urination:
Around 6-8 weeks after conception, you may find yourself making a few extra trips to the bathroom.

Darkening of Areolas:
If you are pregnant, the skin around your nipples may get darker.

Food Cravings or Food Aversions:
While you may not have a strong desire to eat pickles and ice cream, many women feel cravings for certain foods when they are pregnant.

This can last throughout your entire pregnancy. Some women develop aversions to certain types of food as well, and this too can last throughout your pregnancy.


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manage it better.

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01:20

Researchers have found that a mother’s nutrition during pregnancy can clearly impact her child’s risk of obesity years in the future.

The research has revealed that during pregnancy, a mother’s diet can change the function of her child’s DNA. The process, called epigenetic change, can result in her child tending to gain more fat. The research reveals that this effect happens independently of how fat or thin the mother is as well as child’s bodyweight at birth.

The study shows that susceptibility to obesity can’t just be due to a combination of our genes and our lifestyle, but could be caused by influences on a baby’s development inside the womb, which includes what the mother consumed. A mother’s nutrition during pregnancy can result in significant epigenetic changes that play a role in her child’s risk of obesity.

The scientists measured epigenetic changes in almost 300 children at birth and established that these strongly predicted the level of obesity at 6 or 9 years old. The thing that was surprising to the scientists was the size of the effect – children differ in how fat they are, but measurement of the epigenetic change at birth made it possible for the scientists to predict 25% of this variation.

The epigenetic changes, which change the function of our DNA without altering the actual DNA sequence inherited from the father and mother, can also impacts how an individual responds to lifestyle factors like diet or exercise for a long time in the future.

This research suggests that steps to avoid childhood obesity needs to be focused on improving a mother’s nutrition and her baby’s growth inside the womb. These powerful new epigenetic measurements could prove useful in keeping track of the health of the child.

The research presents convincing proof that epigenetic changes, at least in part, explain the connection between a poor start to life and later risk of disease. It strengthens the case for those women of reproductive age with better accessibility to education, nutritional and lifestyle support to further improve the health of the next generation, and also to lower the risk of illnesses like heart disease and diabetes which usually go along with obesity.

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10:57

Scientists know that vitamin D deficiency is unhealthy. However, a study now suggests that too much vitamin D isn’t healthy either. The research is based upon blood samples from 247,574 people.

Vitamin D is important in helping calcium get to our bones, and so reducing the risk from falls as well as the chance of broken hips. Studies suggest that vitamin D is also beneficial in preventing depression, cardiac disease and some kinds of cancers. The outcomes from research also support the benefits of vitamin D with regards to mortality risk. However, the study results also reveal higher mortality in those with too much vitamin D in their blood.

The researchers found higher mortality in individuals with a low level of vitamin D in their blood, but to their surprise, they also found it in those with a high level of vitamin D in their blood. A graph can be drawn showing that it could be harmful with too little as well as too much vitamin D.

Mortality is 2.31 times greater when the blood has under10 nmol of vitamin D for each litre of serum, and mortality is 1.42 times greater when the blood contains over 140 nmol of vitamin D for each litre of serum. Both of these values are in comparison to 50 nmol of vitamin D per liter of serum, the value where the lowest mortality rate was observed.

The data material was collected from a wide range of ages. Those who participated had approached their own medical practitioners for a number of reasons and had had vitamin D levels measured in that context.
The scientists emphasize that while they don’t know the reason for the higher mortality, they believe that the study results could be used to question the wisdom of those who maintain that you can’t ever get too much vitamin D.

Although the research can indicate an association between a high level of vitamin D and mortality, the higher risk cannot be explained.

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10:49

Description

The kidneys play a critical role in the body: Acting as the body's filtering system, they help control water levels and eliminate wastes through urine (pee). They also help regulate blood pressure, red blood cell production, and the levels of calcium and minerals.

But sometimes the kidneys don't develop properly and, as a result, don't function as they should. Often these problems are genetic and not due to anything a parent did or didn't do.

Many of these problems can be diagnosed before a baby is born through routine prenatal testing and treated with medication or surgery while the child is still young. Other problems may appear later, with symptoms such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), growth problems, or high blood pressure (hypertension).
In some cases, the problems can be severe and require surgical treatment.

How the Kidneys Work

The kidneys are like the body's garbage collection and disposal system. Through microscopic units called nephrons, the kidneys remove waste products and extra water from the food a person eats, returning chemicals the body needs (such as sodium, phosphorus, and potassium) back into the bloodstream. The extra water combines with other waste to become urine, which flows through thin tubes called ureters to the bladder, where it stays until it exits through the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body from the bladder) when someone goes to the bathroom.

The kidneys also produce three important hormones: erythropoietin, which stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells; renin, which helps regulate blood pressure; and the active form of vitamin D, which helps control the calcium balance in the body and maintain healthy bones.

Kidney failure, which is also called renal failure, is when the kidneys slow down or stop properly filtering wastes from the body, which can cause buildups of waste products and toxic substances in the blood. Kidney failure can be acute (sudden) or chronic (occurring over time and usually long lasting or permanent).

• Acute kidney injury (sometimes called acute kidney failure) may be due to bacterial infection, injury, shock, heart failure, poisoning, or drug overdose. Treatment includes correcting the problem that led to the kidney injury and, in some cases, dialysis.
  
  
• Chronic kidney failure involves a deterioration of kidney function over time. In kids and teens, it can result from acute kidney failure that fails to improve, birth defects, chronic kidney diseases, or chronic severe high blood pressure. If diagnosed early, chronic kidney failure can be treated. The goal of treatment usually is to slow the decline of kidney function with medication, blood pressure control, and diet. At some point, a kidney transplant may be needed.

Childhood Kidney Diseases

The most common kidney diseases in children are present at birth. They include:

Posterior urethral valve obstruction: This narrowing or obstruction of the urethra affects only boys. It can be diagnosed before the baby is born or just after and is treated with surgery.

Fetal hydronephrosis: This enlargement of one or both of the kidneys is caused by either an obstruction in the developing urinary tract or a condition called vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in which urine abnormally flows backward (or refluxes) from the bladder into the ureters. Fetal hydronephrosis is usually diagnosed before the child is born and treatment varies widely. In some cases the condition only requires ongoing monitoring; in others, surgery must be done to clear the obstruction from the urinary tract.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD): This is a condition in which many fluid-filled cysts develop in both kidneys. The cysts can multiply so much and grow so large that they lead to kidney failure. Most forms of PKD are inherited. Doctors can diagnose it before or after the child is born. In some cases, there are no symptoms; in others, PKD can lead to UTIs, kidney stones, and high blood pressure. Treatment for PKD varies — some cases can be managed with dietary changes; others require a kidney transplant or dialysis.

Multicystic kidney disease (MKD): This is when large cysts develop in a kidney that hasn't developed properly, eventually causing it to stop working. (While PKD always affects both kidneys, MKD usually affects just one kidney.) Fortunately, the unaffected kidney takes over and most people with MKD will have normal kidney function. MKD usually is diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound before birth. Doctors manage it by monitoring blood pressure and screening for UTIs when needed. Very rarely, surgical removal of the kidney might be necessary.

Renal tubular acidosis: This is when the kidneys do not properly control the amount of acid in the body. It can cause kidney stones and affect a child's growth, but usually can be treated with medications.

Wilms tumor: This type of childhood cancer involves the kidney, and usually is diagnosed within the first 2 years of life. It can be treated with surgery and chemotherapy.

Glomerulonephritis: This is an inflammation or infection of the glomeruli, which are parts of the nephrons that contain tiny blood vessels. It can affect the kidney's ability to filter waste and can lead to swelling, blood in the urine, and a reduction in urine production. Some cases can be treated with medication, while others require dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Nephrotic syndrome: This is when the body loses large amounts of protein through the urine, usually because of a change in the nephrons. Most cases are diagnosed after a child is a year old. Swelling of the face, abdomen, and extremities are among the main symptoms, and are often relieved with medication.

Congenital problems with the urinary tract: As a baby develops in the womb, part of the urinary tract can grow to an abnormal size or in an abnormal shape or position. These problems include:

• duplication of the ureters, in which a kidney has two ureters instead of one. This can lead to urinary tract infections over time and can be treated with medication or, in some cases, with surgery.
• horseshoe kidney, where the two kidneys are fused (connected) into one arched kidney that usually functions normally, but is more prone to develop problems later in life. An uncomplicated horseshoe kidney does not need medical or surgical treatment, but it does need to be checked regularly by doctors.

Symptoms of Kidney Problems

The signs and symptoms of urinary tract or kidney problems vary and include:

• fever
• swelling around the eyes, face, feet, and ankles (called edema)
• burning or pain during peeing
• significant increase in the frequency of urination
• difficulty in controlling urination in kids who are mature enough to use the toilet
• recurrence of nighttime bedwetting (in kids who have been dry for several months)
• blood in the urine
• high blood pressure

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11:50

Description

Pneumonia is a general term for lung infections that can be caused by a variety of germs (viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites). Most cases, though, are caused by viruses, including adenoviruses, rhinovirus, influenza virus (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus, and parainfluenza virus (which causes croup).

Often, pneumonia begins after an upper respiratory tract infection (an infection of the nose and throat), with symptoms starting after 2 or 3 days of a cold or sore throat. It then moves to the lungs. Fluid, white blood cells, and debris start to gather in the air spaces of the lungs and block the smooth passage of air, making it harder for the lungs to work well.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on a child's age and what caused the pneumonia, but can include:

• fever
• shaking chills
• cough
• stuffy nose
• very fast breathing (in some cases, this is the only symptom)
• breathing with grunting or wheezing sounds
• working hard to breathe; this can include flaring of the nostrils, belly breathing, or movement of the muscles between the ribs
• vomiting
• chest pain
• abdominal pain, which often happens because a child is coughing and working hard to breathe
• less activity
• loss of appetite (in older kids) or poor feeding (in infants), which may lead to dehydration
• in extreme cases, bluish or gray color of the lips and fingernails

If the pneumonia is in the lower part of the lungs near the abdomen, a child might have a fever and abdominal pain or vomiting but no breathing problems.

Kids with pneumonia caused by bacteria usually become sick fairly quickly, starting with a sudden high fever and unusually fast breathing.

Kids with pneumonia caused by viruses probably will have symptoms that appear more gradually and are less severe, though wheezing can be more common.

Some symptoms give important clues about which germ is causing the pneumonia. For example, in older kids and teens, pneumonia due to Mycoplasma (also called walking pneumonia) is notorious for causing a sore throat, headache, and rash in addition to the usual symptoms of pneumonia.

In babies, pneumonia due to chlamydia may cause conjunctivitis (pinkeye) with only mild illness and no fever. When pneumonia is due to whooping cough (pertussis), a child may have long coughing spells, turn blue from lack of air, or make the classic "whoop" sound when trying to take a breath.

Start of Symptoms

The length of time between exposure to the germ and when someone starts feeling sick varies, depending on which virus or bacteria is causing the pneumonia (for instance, 4 to 6 days for RSV, but just 18 to 72 hours for the flu).

Duration

With treatment, most types of bacterial pneumonia can be cured within 1 to 2 weeks, although walking pneumonia may take 4 to 6 weeks to go away completely. Viral pneumonia may last longer.

Contagiousness

The viruses and bacteria that cause pneumonia are contagious. They're usually found in fluid from the mouth or nose of someone who's infected, so that person can spread the illness by coughing or sneezing. Sharing drinking glasses and eating utensils, and touching the used tissues or handkerchiefs of an infected person also can spread pneumonia.

Prevention

Some types of pneumonia can be prevented by vaccines. Kids usually get routine immunizations against Haemophilus influenzae and whooping cough (pertussis) beginning at 2 months of age. Vaccines are now also given against the pneumococcus, a common cause of bacterial pneumonia.

Children with chronic illnesses can be at special risk for certain types of pneumonia, so they might need additional vaccines or protective immune medication. ("Chronic" means an ongoing illness or one that goes away and keeps coming back.) The flu vaccine is recommended for all healthy kids ages 6 months through 19 years, but especially for kids with chronic illnesses such as heart or lung disorders or asthma.

Because they're at higher risk for serious complications, babies born prematurely may get treatments that temporarily protect against RSV because it can lead to pneumonia in younger kids.

Doctors may give antibiotics to prevent pneumonia in kids who have been exposed to someone with certain types of pneumonia, such as pertussis. Those with HIV infection might be given antibiotics to prevent pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii.

Antiviral medicine is now available, too, and can be used to prevent some types of viral pneumonia or to make symptoms less severe.

In general, pneumonia is not contagious, but the upper respiratory viruses and bacteria that lead to it are. So it's best to keep kids away from anyone with symptoms (stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, cough, etc.) of a respiratory infection.

If someone in your home has a respiratory infection or throat infection, keep his or her drinking glasses and eating utensils separate from those of other family members, and wash your hands often, especially if you are handling used tissues or dirty handkerchiefs.

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11:39

Pregnancy is an ideal time to start taking really good care of yourself both physically and emotionally. If you follow the few simple guidelines below, you should give yourself the best chance of having a problem-free pregnancy and a healthy baby.

1. See your doctor or midwife as soon as possible

As soon as you find out you're pregnant, get in touch with your GP or a midwife to organise your antenatal care. Organising your care early means you'll get good advice for a healthy pregnancy right from the start. You'll also have plenty of time to organise any ultrasound scans and tests that you may need.

2. Eat well

Aim to eat a healthy, balanced diet whenever you can. Try to have:

• At least five portions of fruit and vegetables daily.
• Plenty of carbohydrates, such as bread, pasta and rice, as the basis of your meals. Choose wholegrain carbohydrates rather than white, so you get plenty of fibre.
• Daily servings of protein, such as fish, lean meat, eggs, nuts or pulses, and some milk and dairy foods.
• Two portions of fish a week, at least one of which should be oily. Fish is packed with protein, vitamin D, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for the development of your baby's nervous system.
  
  

You don't need to eat for two when you're pregnant. You don't need extra calories for the first six months of pregnancy. In the last three months you'll need about an extra 200 calories a day. You can keep up your energy levels with healthy snacks.

See our pregnancy meal planners for each trimester.

3. Be careful about food hygiene

There are some foods it's safest not to eat in pregnancy. This is because they can carry a health risk for your baby.

Listeriosis is an infection caused by listeria bacteria. It's rare and doesn't usually pose a threat to your health. However, it can cause pregnancy or birth complications. Listeriosis can even lead to miscarriage.

The following foods may harbour listeria and so are best avoided:

• pate of any type
• unpasteurised milk
• undercooked ready meals
• soft, mould-ripened cheeses, such as brie
• blue-veined cheeses, such as roquefort
  
  

As listeria bacteria are destroyed by heat, make sure you heat ready meals thoroughly.

Salmonella can cause food poisoning. You can catch it from eating:

• undercooked poultry
• Is it safe to eat soft-boiled or raw eggs during pregnancy?
  

Cook eggs until the white and yolk are solid. Thoroughly wash utensils, boards and your hands after handling raw poultry. Food hygiene is especially important now you're pregnant. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite. It's also rare, but it can affect your unborn baby. You can cut down your risk of catching it by:

• cooking meat and ready meals thoroughly
• washing fruit and vegetables well to remove soil or dirt
• wearing gloves when handling cat litter and garden soil

4. Exercise regularly

Regular exercise has many benefits for mums-to-be. It can:

• Build your strength and endurance. This may help you to cope better with the extra weight of pregnancy and the hard work of labour.
• Make it easier for you to get back into shape after your baby is born.
• Boost your spirits and even help to ward off depression.

If you play sport, you can continue as long as it feels comfortable for you. However, if your particular sport carries a risk of falls or knocks, or extra stress on your joints, it's best to stop. Talk to your GP if you're unsure.

5. Cut down on or cut out alcohol

Any alcohol you drink rapidly reaches your baby via your blood stream and placenta.

No one knows for sure how much alcohol it's safe to drink while you're pregnant. That's why many experts advise you to cut out alcohol completely throughout pregnancy, or at least for the first three months.

If you do decide to drink, stick to no more than one or two units of alcohol, no more than once or twice a week, and never get drunk.

Drinking heavily or binge drinking during pregnancy is dangerous for your baby. Mums-to-be who drink heavily on a regular basis are more likely to give birth to a baby with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). These are problems ranging from learning difficulties to more serious birth defects.

6. Get some rest

The fatigue you feel in the first few months is due to high levels of pregnancy hormones circulating in your body. Later on, it's your body's way of telling you to slow down.

If you can't sleep at night, try to take a quick nap in the middle of the day to catch up. If that's impossible, at least put your feet up and try to relax for 30 minutes.

If backache is disturbing your sleep, try lying on your left-hand side with your knees bent. Placing a wedge-shaped pillow under your bump may help ease the strain on your back.

Exercise may also give you some relief from backache. It can help with sleep problems, too, as long as you don't exercise too close to bedtime.

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07:09

 

Keep getting negative results every time you pee on a stick? Here are five fertility saboteurs that could be the reasons you’re not getting pregnant.

Whether you’re a few months into trying or are thinking about starting a family soon, you know doubt have babies on the brain. By now you likely know that many of us don’t get pregnant the first time we try. But what might be surprising news is that there are fertility saboteurs that can wreak havoc on your chances of conceiving. Here’s how to deal with five that could be obstructing your road to baby bliss.

1. Stress
When you mention to friends and family that you’re “trying,” you’ll almost guaranteed to hear someone say, “Just relax and it will happen.” Easier said than done. Stress, good or bad, is going to take its toll on you both physically and mentally. According to naturopathic doctor Via Bitidis, co-director of the North Toronto Naturopathic Clinic, balance and calm are a crucial part of trying to conceive. “When you’re stressed your adrenal system takes a hit. Your body isn’t going to say, ‘Okay, let’s get pregnant.’ Learning to say no and to take time for yourself is important for improving your chances of having a baby.” Megan Karnis, medical director of The ONE Fertility Clinic in Burlington, Ont., agrees with a word of caution: “A lot of women think the best thing to do when you’re stressed is to take time off work. In my experience, that doesn’t help, because it makes a woman feel she has to get pregnant in that time and then the stress to get pregnant is so much higher,” she says. Instead of altering your day-to-day routine entirely, Karnis recommends counselling, art therapy, meditation and exercise to reduce stress levels.

2. Sleep deprivation
You already know that catching an adequate number of zzz’s makes that morning department meeting more bearable, but here’s another reason to get yourself to bed before the wee hours. Sleep deprivation puts stress on the body (there’s that pesky s-word again) and when you’re tired, you don’t run on all cylinders. “For people who don’t get enough sleep, their immune systems are down a little bit and they’re more likely to get infections, which will affect the reproductive cycle,” Karnis says. “This applies to men as well. Infections can cause fever and that excess heat can damage the sperm temporarily,” she says. “Women who don’t get enough sleep can also start to feel anxious, which may cause missed periods.” Keeping yourself healthy is the baby bottom line, so set the PVR to record Mad Men and enforce a new bedtime.

3. Weight issues
A woman who is underweight or overweight may have some difficulty conceiving a baby. “An undernourished body may not ovulate properly,” says Bitidis. On the other hand, excess weight can have a significant effect on fertility. “Just being over your ideal weight decreases your chance of getting pregnant even if you are ovulating regularly,” says Karnis. “The further you stray above 25 on the Body Mass Index, the worse it gets.” Maintaining a healthy diet and developing a reasonable exercise routine will do wonders for your mind and body,” Bitidis adds.

4. Cycle confusion
“A lot of women don’t understand their own cycles,” says Bitidis. Most of us were taught the typical 28-day cycle in health class back in high school, but every woman is different and cycles vary in length. “The biggest thing is timing,” Karnis says. “We teach women that ovulation is two weeks before your period. Most people think that it’s two weeks after, but that’s only if you have a four-week cycle,” she says. You’ll have better luck conceiving if you monitor ovulation and start having sex at the right time. “We also teach people about sperm life—they can live for three days in the cervix, so you don’t have to have sex on the day of ovulation, it could be the day before. We also find that a lot of people don’t know that lubricant decreases sperm motility and transfer, so you shouldn’t use lubricant when you’re trying to get pregnant,” says Karnis.

5. Biofeedback
“Keeping a positive attitude is incredibly important. There is a huge mind-body connection. Try not to listen to the negative stories and try to be patient,” Bitidis advises. Preparing for pregnancy up to a year in advance may be a good idea if you’re planning to start a family in the near future, that way you can focus on making lifestyle changes. If you’re trying now, remember that it can take time—experts say up to a year— to conceive. If you’re concerned that it has taken too long, speak to your healthcare provider about your options for fertility counselling and treatment.

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17:55

What is stress 
 
Stress is usually believed to hinder one’s health and well-being in many ways. However, it can also come in the way of conception for couples trying for a baby. Hence, it is imperative for women to decrease their daily stress levels before planning for a pregnancy for smooth conception and a healthy pregnancy. 

Here is how high stress levels can affect conception.

It can lead to decreased egg production:

Stress induces various hormonal secretions in the body that leads to imbalance in the system. Stress disrupts the functioning of the hypothalamus, the gland, responsible for proper functioning and secretion of various hormones of the endocrine system. This in turn also affects the hormones that help in the production of ovum or eggs. When stress comes in the way of ovulation, it is termed as stress-induced anovulation. This condition leads to late ovulation in a cycle or no ovulation at all, hence leading to problems with conception. 


It affects male fertility:

Stress not only interferes with female reproductive functions, it also disrupts the functioning of the male reproductive system. Chronic stress both physically and mentally results in lower testosterone production, less sperm count and other problems like erectile dysfunction that can make it difficult for a couple to conceive despite their desires. 

It disturbs the functioning of the endocrine system:

Stress doesn’t always result in reproductive issues directly. The various hormonal changes happening in the body that disturbs the normal functions like irregular sleep, digestion, fatigue, weight gain can indirectly affect the reproductive cycle in a woman and lower sperm count in the males. Apart from this thyroid troubles in women can affect pregnancy to a great extent. 

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09:14

Living with Diabetes???

Here are few things you need to do to live with diabetes without falling prey to other complications:

1. Brush your teeth twice a day:

Diabetes and oral health are interlinked. High blood sugar can be a trigger for various gum diseases and infections. On the other hand, gum disease can make it harder to control diabetes. Over time plaque collects on the surface of your teeth, hardens to form tartar and settles on the gum line. It makes cleaning between the teeth difficult leading to painful, inflamed gums. Moreover, the glucose present in saliva also affects the health of your teeth and the tissues of your tongue, roof and the back of the mouth. So brush twice daily and floss at least once a day. Rinsing your mouth after every two hours will also help you keep your mouth healthy.


2. Opt for strength training:

Brisk walking, aerobic exercises and yoga can go a long way in managing diabetes, but strength training can do wonders. It improves insulin sensitivity of the body and helps to control blood sugar. When you exercise with weights or other forms of resistance you work on your muscles, tire them out and burn calories. The body then uses glucose from the bloodstream to power the muscles, reducing blood sugar level. Apart from this, strength training also aids weight loss that helps to manage diabetes. However, talk to your doctor before taking up a weight training program. Check your blood sugar level before and after exercising to know if there is a dip in your sugar level.


3. Eat fibre rich foods:

You know the basics of following a good diet if you are a diabetic – less sugar, more complex carbohydrates, etc. But giving importance to fibre is far more necessary than thinking about curbing sugar. There are studies that indicate high-fibre diets help to initiate carbohydrate metabolism, lower cholesterol level and help to control diabetes. However, it is essential to include fibre moderately in the diet along with other macro and micro nutrients. To improve your fibre intake, choose whole fruits over fruit juices. Eat more legumes like rajma, chickpeas and black-eyed peas over the split moong and masoor dals. Leafy green vegetables, oatmeal, multigrain bread, are few foods that are rich in fibre.

4. Choose shoes wisely:

One simple thing that you can do to save your feet from the perils of the condition is to get shoes with big toe boxes or the ones that fit you snugly and is comfortable. Blisters, sores or friction can be hard on your feet and make way for infections if you are bruised that would need a lot of attention and care. Remember with diabetes problems like gangrene and diabetic foot is common. Closed shoes can put more pressure on your feet and hurt them. Another way to protect your feet is to wear socks to reduce friction.


5. Manage stress:

We always talk about practising yoga, meditating, going for a run, walking with your pet, reading a book, cooking or doing whatever that helps you control daily stress. However, you can download apps that will help you keep a tab on your stress levels  Hormonal imbalances that happen due to acute or chronic stress can affect your health in many ways. One way it increases the blood sugar level that is dangerous for a diabetic. It can also trigger obesity and increase blood pressure that can harm your heart. So close your eyes and breath to kill stress before it kills you.

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09:00

Overview

Garlic is one of the most common ingredients in Indian dishes but apart from imparting flavour to food, this tiny, white pod also has immense medicinal properties. Used since time immemorial to treat various ailments, garlic is one ingredient in your kitchen that has a number of uses. Here are the top 15 health benefits of garlic you should know about.

Internal Contents of Garlic

• It has a variety of potent sulphur-containing compounds which are the reason for its characteristic pungent odour.

• Allicin, the vital compound in the pod, is known to have great anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-oxidant properties. That is why garlic is best had when it’s finely chopped, minced or pureed and let sit for some time.

• Garlic is also a reliable source of selenium.

• Allicin, along with other compounds like ajoene, alliin, etc. also have a healing effect on your circulatory, digestive and immunological systems and help in lowering blood pressure, detoxification, healing, etc.

1. Helps keep bacterial and viral infections at bay 

Due to its innate compounds, garlic can help keep both bacterial and viral infections at bay.

• They help control bacterial, viral, fungal, yeast and worm infections.
• Fresh garlic is thought to play a role in preventing food poisoning by killing bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella enteritidis, etc.

2. Can help treat skin infections

Since it has both antibacterial and antiviral properties, garlic is great when it comes to treating skin infections.

• The chemical ajoene found in garlic may help treat fungal skin infections like ringworm and athlete’s foot.

If you have a skin infection, you could apply the juice of come crushed garlic cloves on the area once or twice a day. Wash the juice off with some clean, room temperature water.

3. Helps prevent the formation of clots in the body

The anti-clotting properties of ajoene found in garlic help in preventing the formation of blood clots in the body. While this fact is great for people with heart ailments and those prone to suffering from a stroke and other clotting disorders, it may also increase the risk of bleeding after surgery.


To help stay healthy have one crushed garlic pod everyday on an empty stomach.

4. Can keep your blood pressure levels in check

• Allicin in garlic blocks the activity of angiotensin II (a protein that is responsible for increase in blood pressure) and helps in reducing blood pressure.

• The polysulphides present in garlic are converted into a gas called hydrogen sulphide by red blood cells that helps dilate your blood vessels and helps control blood pressure. If your blood pressure levels are of concern, there are natural alternatives to blood pressure medication that you could try after speaking to your doctor about the change.

To help control your blood pressure you could add garlic to your daily meals. Apart from that you could also eat one pod of raw garlic on an empty stomach to keep your blood pressure under control.

5. Helps protect your heart

• With age, your arteries tend to lose their ability to stretch and garlic can help maintain their elasticity.

• It also helps protect the heart from the damaging effects of free oxygen radicals.

• The sulphur-containing compounds of garlic also prevent our blood vessels from becoming blocked and slow the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

• The anti-clotting properties of ajoene (a compound present in garlic) helps prevent the formation of clots inside your blood vessels.

6. Can reduce the levels of bad cholesterol

• The allicin present in garlic helps moderately lower our blood triglycerides and total cholesterol.

• This compound also helps reduce arterial plaque formation.

7. Combat allergies

• The anti-arthritic property of garlic is due to diallyl sulphide and thiacremonone.

• Garlic has also been show to improve allergic airway inflammation (allergic rhinitis).

Raw garlic juice may be used to immediately stop the itching due to rashes and bug bites.

8. Can protect you against frequent colds and bouts of sore throat

• The daily use of garlic might reduce the frequency and number of colds.

• Its antibacterial properties help in treating throat irritations.

• Garlic may also reduce the severity of upper respiratory tract infections.

• Its ability to promote expectoration makes it irreplaceable in chronic bronchitis.

9. Helps keep your blood sugar levels in check

• Garlic increases insulin release and regulates blood sugar levels in your body, especially if you are a diabetic.

10. Can help keep cancer at bay

• Garlic’s anti-cancer properties are due to the allyl sulphides it contains.

• According to studies, diallyl sulphide found in garlic inhibits the transformation of PhIP (a type of compound that has been associated with increased incidence of breast cancer) into carcinogens.

11. Helps beat iron deficiency and anaemia

• Diallyl sulphides present in garlic increase the production of ferroportin (a protein that helps in the absorption and release of iron) and improves iron metabolism — all of which helps prevent iron deficiency and associated diseases like anaemia.

12. Can give your sex life a much needed boost

• Garlic’s aphrodisiac properties which is due to its ability to increase the circulation and intensifying an orgasm.

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13. Helps relieve pain caused due to a toothache

• It can help relieve toothaches due to its antibacterial and analgesic properties. But be aware that it can be irritating to the gum

Simply put some crushed garlic clove directly on the affected tooth.

14. Can help you lose weight

• According to recent research, garlic may help to regulate the formation of fat cells in our body by converting pre-adipocytes to fat cells (adipocytes) by preventing the conversion.

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Description

Peptic ulcer disease refers to painful sores or ulcers in the lining of the stomach or first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum.

Causes of Ulcer

No single cause has been found for ulcers. However, it is now clear that an ulcer is the end result of an imbalance between digestive fluids in the stomach and duodenum. Most ulcers are caused by an infection with a type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

Factors that can increase your risk for ulcers include:

• Use of painkillers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn, and others), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, some types of Midol, and others), and many others available by prescription; even safety-coated aspirin and aspirin in powered form can frequently cause ulcers.
• Excess acid production from gastrinomas, tumors of the acid producing cells of the stomach that increases acid output (seen in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome)
• Excessive drinking of alcohol
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Serious illness
• Radiation treatment to the area

General Symptoms of an Ulcer?

An ulcer may or may not have symptoms. When symptoms occur, they may include:

• A gnawing or burning pain in the middle or upper stomach between meals or at night
• Bloating
• Heartburn
• Nausea or vomiting

Special Symptoms

• Dark or black stool (due to bleeding)
• Vomiting blood (that can look like "coffee-grounds")
• Weight loss
• Severe pain in the mid to upper abdomen

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