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Appendicitis in Children
Watching your child deal with excruciating pain and not knowing the reason is a known way for parents to have panic attacks. When your child has a stomachache or a headache, it’s almost an instinct to call the doctor. Sometimes however, an illness or condition leaves parents helpless. The first step towards fighting a condition that you can’t manage for your child is to understand it. Conditions like appendicitis are extremely painful for children and can lead to more severe repercussions if left untreated. In fact, if left untreated for too long, appendicitis can become life threatening.
Video: Appendicitis in Children - Signs, Treatment & Prevention
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What is Appendicitis?
Appendicitis is a condition that is caused because the appendix which is located in the lower abdomen has become inflamed or filled with pus. An enlarged appendix that leads to lower abdominal swelling is one of the most painful conditions a young child can face during their development. Appendicitis can afflict anyone between the ages of ten to thirty. According to most pediatric specialists appendix pain in children is more common than appendix pain in adults.
This condition is not at all contagious and if caught early can be treated without problems. Sometimes doctors will recommend surgery to remove the appendix in children; there is no need to worry. This procedure is extremely low risk.
In cases where the appendix is infected, it has been known to explode causing the spread of harmful bacteria that may spread the already existing bacterial infection or cause an abscess.
Once appendicitis has a positive diagnosis however, consult a doctor on treatment options immediately. This condition can deteriorate quickly and may lead to possible fatal outcomes.
Is Appendicitis Common in Children?
Appendicitis is a common condition that affects a lot of children on a regular basis; it is also something that can affect adults. Understanding who is most at risk can help you identify if a loved one may be affected and the breakdown of age groups most at risk are:
Appendicitis is mostly common in children between the ages of 9-15. This is known as pediatric appendicitis.
It has been known to manifest in adults up to the age of thirty but is not as common. The second most common age group for appendicitis is 16-30.
This condition is highly unlikely to affect toddlers, infants and adults above 30 get appendicitis. Although extremely rare, children from the age of 2 to 8 and adults beyond the age of 30 can theoretically be affected by this.
What Causes Appendicitis In Children?
This condition occurs due to the appendix getting inflamed, swollen or infected. This can happen because the organ itself is exposed to and interacts with stool, parasites and mucus. This causes a drastic dilution or blockage of blood supply to the organ itself leading the organ to lose nourishment and eventually die. Every organ requires blood supply as a source of nourishment, the appendix is the same. The lack of blood penetrating this wall of infections and impurities causes an increase in pressure from the organ itself, leading for it to start tearing and creating holes this is called an appendix rupture. This rupture results in the leaking of the appendix into the abdominal cavity, leading to possible abscesses.
Predominantly, there are two reasons why children develop appendicitis. They are:
Obstructions: Obstruction could be complete or partial. It could be caused by a number of reasons such as an injury, foreign organisms, worms, tumors or cancer.
Infections: When the body is fighting an infection, the appendix tends to swell up. However, some infections cause the intestinal lymph nodes to swell up, which can cause a blockage to the appendix.
Signs and Symptoms of Appendicitis in a Child
There are many signs and symptoms that indicate appendicitis in your child. Knowing these signs will help you be prepared in case of any issue with your child’s appendix.
Pain in the lower abdominal region: The appendix is located on the lower right side of the abdomen. If your child is suffering from appendicitis, he will complain of pain in the area. However, not all abdomen pain is indicative of appendicitis.
Loss of appetite: A consistent loss of appetite with no enthusiasm towards his favorite foods could indicate that your child has appendicitis.
Low to mild fever: Appendicitis is sometimes accompanied by a mild fever between 99 and 102 degrees.
Nausea and vomiting: Any prolonged bouts of nausea and vomiting should be brought to the notice of your pediatrician.
Pain while urinating: Any pain in the lower abdomen area could cause difficulty in urination.
Diarrhea: This symptom occurs a few days after the appendicitis begins. If your child suffers from sustained diarrhea, then you must get medical attention for your child.
Constipation: This is also a common symptom for appendicitis.
Swelling of the abdomen: A tenderness of the stomach along with inflammation could be indicative of appendicitis.
Painful cramps: Appendicitis is usually accompanies with sharp and excruciating pain in the abdomen.
Risk Factors
There are certain risk factors that are unavoidable. These are because they are not in your control. Neither you nor your doctor can deny these factors. These include:
Age: It remains unknown why children and young adults are most likely to develop appendicitis. The age group between 10-30 is most vulnerable.
Infections: An infection in the gastro-intestinal area could be the precursor to appendicitis.
Trauma: An injured appendix could cause appendicitis with higher chances of it getting ruptured. The injury could be caused by contact sports or an accident.
One of the risk factors for appendicitis that you can control is having a low fiber diet. This diet particularly causes constipation. Some of the hardened stool can get itself lodged in the appendix and can cause swelling. You can avoid this situation by having a diet that is rich in fiber.
Complications of Appendicitis
Peritonitis: If a condition of appendicitis is ignored and is not removed in time by a surgeon, the appendix could burst and spill all of its infected fluids to leak into the abdominal cavity. This could then infect the lining of the abdomen. This condition is known as peritonitis. If the condition is not treated with antibiotics, it could be life threatening.
Abscess: If the infected fluids mix with the intestine, it causes an abscess filled with puss. The abscess is either treated with antibiotics or is drained out through a tube.
Septicemia: The ruptured appendix contents release harmful bacteria into the blood stream. These bacteria could cause an infection of the blood called septicemia. This can be dangerous and must be treated as an emergency.
Diagnosing Appendicitis in Kids
Diagnosing appendicitis in children can be hard as it exhibits various symptoms that are not exclusive to this condition. A full medical history plus an initial physical exam will help your doctor with the diagnosis. If he does suspect appendicitis, he will ask for more tests.
Blood tests: This test is most common as it is an easy test to tell if there is any infection in the body.
Urine test: A urine test is carried out to rule out kidney and bladder infections
Abdominal Ultrasound: This diagnostic procedure is used to see how your body’s internal organs and blood vessels function.
CT or CAT scan: This diagnostic tool combines X-ray technology with computer technology to get imaging that is clear and crisp.
Treatment for Children’s Appendicitis
The treatment for your child’s appendicitis is based on a lot of factors. These include:
The extent of the problem
Age, overall health, and medical history
Allergies to medications
Tolerance towards certain procedures
Since the nature of appendicitis is in itself considered an emergency and one that could lead to serious complications, the best option to treat appendicitis is through surgery where the appendix will be removed. Do not worry; since the appendix is a vestigial organ, it has no particular function.
How is Surgery for Appendicitis Done?
The appendix will be removed surgically. This is usually done in one of two methods.
Open method: This surgery is conducted under general anesthesia. An incision is made on the lower right side of the abdomen, near the appendix. The surgeon will then find and remove the appendix. If the appendix has ruptured, she will insert a tube into the abdominal cavity to drain out all the fluids.
Laparoscopic method: This surgery is considerably newer and involves making several tiny incisions. Through these incisions, a camera and light source are inserted for the surgeon to see what is happening. He will then remove the appendix. This method results in minimal scarring and quicker recovery time. However, it is not recommended if the appendix has ruptured.
What Happens After Appendicitis Surgery?
Post-surgery, your child will not be allowed to eat or drink any fluids as her intestines recover. Her nutrition will be taken care of with intravenous (IV) fluids through which medication will also be administered. If her appendix had ruptured, then she will have to stay longer in the hospital longer than if it hadn’t. In either case, your child will have to continue taking antibiotics even after she is discharged for a certain period of time.
After discharge, your child must not play any contact sports or lift heavy objects. Some of the pain medications prescribed can cause constipation. Talk to your doctor about this and try to find a solution for the same. Light movements after the surgery instead of staying still will help reduce the occurrence of constipation. Once your child can eat solid foods again, she must have a fiber rich diet and drink plenty of water and soups.
What to Do if the Child’s Appendicitis Has Ruptured?
Ruptured appendix in a child can seem very frightening. It is caused when the wall of the appendix weakens enough to rupture due to the fluid buildup inside it. When it ruptures, there will be a temporary abatement in the pain. A ruptured appendix could cause many other issues. Abscess formation is quite common. Scar tissue will soon start to develop around the abscess to ward it from further infections.
Preventing Appendicitis in Children
There is no sure way of preventing appendicitis in children or adults. However, medical experts are of the opinion that persons who have a high fiber diet seem to suffer less from appendicitis. This is because such a diet reduces the chances of hard stools causing any issue with the intestines.
Home Remedies for Appendicitis
There are many home remedies that will help ease the pain and discomfort of your child.
Mint is known for relieving pain. Mix a couple of drops of mint essential oil in water and ask your child to drink up.
If your child has a fever due to the appendicitis, then you can boil a few basil leaves in water. After it cools down, strain it and give your child the clear liquid to drink.
Garlic will help reduce the inflammation. Boil a few pods of garlic in water. Add honey for sweetness.
Moong beans are said to help with appendicitis. Give your child a spoon full three times a day.
Buttermilk reduces the growth of bacteria in the gut. However, it is effective only when a liter is consumed.
A tea made from steeping fenugreek seeds in hot water can help with the mucous and waste in the intestine.
Give your child a combination of carrot, beet and cucumber daily.
Lemon juice and honey will help with any digestive issues.
Ask your pediatrician if your child can consume ginseng tea. If yes, then give it to your child twice a day.
Provide green vegetables and fresh fruits will help make sure that your child doesn’t develop constipation.
Give your child a paste of turmeric and ginger as they are anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial.
Ginger has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antiemetic properties. Hence give it to your child in a candied form.
Whole wheat will help your child’s digestive system.
When to Contact Your Child’s Doctor?
Childhood appendicitis is extremely treatable but can be serious. You should rush your child to the doctor if none of the symptoms seem to be abating. If your child is in severe pain, then seek immediate medical assistance. A ruptured appendix causes more complications and is harder to recover from. Reaching your doctor early enough is a key to a quick recovery.
Conclusion: Appendicitis can be an exhausting and excruciating experience for everyone involved, follow your doctor’s instructions, and treat the condition fully and at an early stage to help your child live a long healthy life. Do not medicate your child without your doctor’s knowledge or prescription. For the treatment to be completely effective ensure you fully disclose all information about your child’s medical history to your doctors. Read more
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First Aid Kit for Babies - Why You Need and How to make
Parents do their best to take care of their baby and to protect him from any ailments or injuries. However, it is very common for any baby to fall sick or get hurt. If your baby falls sick, do you panic? Do you take him to the doctor immediately for any minor injury? If the problem is not severe and can be easily tackled at home, then you need to be prepared for it. Hence, a first aid kit comes handy if your baby falls or has some other problem. But what should a first aid kit for babies include? Find out!
Why You Need First Aid Kit for Infants
As parents, you will be extra cautious just to make sure that your baby is fine, but ailments and injuries are unavoidable when your little one starts crawling and walking. Therefore, you should keep a first aid kit handy at home to deal with such unforeseen medical situations. Small babies are prone to minor injuries or medical conditions such as flu, cold, stomach bug etc. Keeping a first aid kit at home may help you take prompt medical care of your baby. Also, many times the injuries or illnesses can easily be managed at home without any intervention from your doctor. Sometimes it may just be your love, care and first aid assistance that your baby may require to feel better. However, you need to understand the difference between minor medical issues and issues that may need immediate medical assistance. This is because serious medical issues cannot be managed at home and may require prompt medical intervention.
Should You Assemble or Buy a New First Aid Kit for Your Newborn Baby?
Parents often wonder if they should buy a ready-made first aid kit or assemble it on their own. Well, it is recommended that you opt for the one that is available in the market and add extra products that you may need for your baby. This is because; the readymade ones come with the basic medical supplies and may not contain all the emergency supplies that you may be looking for. Therefore, it will be a good idea to procure the kit from the market and keep adding on supplies as per your requirements.
We recommend that you store your first aid kit in a cool and a dry place, away from heat and direct sunlight. Also, keep the kit at a place, which is out of reach for the kids. Always keep the measuring cups of various medicines such as cough syrups, fever medicines, and other such medicines with you to administer the correct dosage to your baby. Keep checking the various medicines and ointments in your kit for their expiry date and replace the expired ones on a regular basis.
However, you must consult your doctor for the correct dosage of various medicines that you may want to administer to your baby as overdosage may have fatal consequences, and less than required amounts may not cure the ailment properly. Therefore, your doctor can help you regarding the correct dosage.
Checklist for Making First Aid Kit for a Baby
Here’s an infant first aid kit checklist or your baby’s first aid kit shopping list:
Antipyretic and analgesic medicines, to control fever and pain. Paracetamol is one of the safest medicines to control fever and pain in babies.
A thermometer, preferably a digital one as it is convenient to use for babies.
Cough syrup or a decongestant that is prescribed by your baby’s doctor.
Calamine lotion to take care of skin rashes.
An antihistamine cream or lotion for bug bites, stings, or insect bites.
A saline solution to clear out the blocked nose or to clean sore eyes.
Few sachets of oral rehydration solution or ORS, to be used during dehydration or diarrhoea.
Few sterile gauzes, cotton balls, sticky bandages to secure wounds and bruises.
An antiseptic solution and antiseptic cream for the wounds. After cleaning the wound with the solution, you may apply the cream.
An ointment for burns.
Ice packs for providing relief from pains. It can be used when your baby falls or hurts himself and may have swelling around the injury.
A pair of scissors to cut the gauzes and the bandages.
Tweezers for pulling out thorns or splinters.
A baby nail clipper.
Measuring cups, droppers, or syringes for measuring medicines. Though most syrups come with calibrated cups, it is a good idea to keep few extra ones handy.
Few pairs of disposable sterile gloves to maintain hygiene while taking care of your babies injuries.
A first aid manual is a must as it may explain the correct procedure of using various products.
The above-mentioned are some of our recommendations or baby first aid items that you may include in your first aid kit.
Do You Require More Than One First-Aid Kit?
Well, it all depends on your needs and lifestyle. If you want, you may have a separate adult and baby first aid kit at home. Also, if you travel often with your baby, you may have a baby’s travel first aid kit too. You can have one detailed and a big first aid kit at home and carry a small one with basic items in your baby bag, carry bag or keep it in your car. No matter how many first aid kits you wish to keep, it is important that you secure the lids tightly and keep the kit away from your baby and any small kids in your home. Small babies, toddlers and younger kids in the house may harm themselves if they get hold of your first aid kit.
In Case of an Emergency - Things to Do
All of us dread emergencies and especially when it concerns your baby. However, we recommend that it is not only important to maintain your calm, but it is equally important for you to take some prompt actions. Here are some things that you may be required to do in case of an emergency:
Keep all your baby’s medical or health documents at one place, so that you won't have to assemble them when the need may arise.
Keep your doctor’s phone number, the nearest hospital’s phone number or any other medical emergency number on your speed dial. Alternatively, you may write all these numbers on a piece of paper and stick it inside your first aid kit too.
Keep the information of the blood group of various family members handy too, in case of an emergency where blood may be required.
Keep your neighbour’s or close family member’s numbers handy too, in case you may have to rush to the hospital, and you have other children in the house to take care of.
In case, your baby gets seriously injured. We recommend that you do not move around much with your baby. Keep your calm and try and relax your baby too, till the medical help arrives.
The above-mentioned are some of the tips that may help you deal with most emergency situations effectively. Babies are very unpredictable, and you do not know when you may need any kind of medical care for them. Therefore, as a parent, be prepared to deal with any kind of medical situations and for that, you need to prepare in advance.
Parents may not be doctors, but they know what may be good for their kid and thus it is important to take prompt medical action in case such medical emergencies arise. Also, discuss with your doctor to know what all medicines, ointments and other basic medicines that you can safely use for your baby. We strictly recommend not using any kind of ointment, medication, or treatment method for your baby, without your doctor’s prescription.
Also Read: Newborn Baby Shopping Read more
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Benefits of Microwave Cooking and Dangers Associated with It
Microwave ovens are one of the greatest inventions in the last century. It has never been easy to take out food that is ice-cold and warm it up in a matter of minutes. Even defrosting meat takes mere minutes, and you are ready to cook your meal! We all know the innumerable benefits associated with a microwave oven but do we know the dangers that come with it? Let's investigate more about the pros and cons of microwave ovens.
Is Cooking in a Microwave Oven Safe?
Ovens have made everybody’s lives across the planet easier. Heating food has never been quicker, and households have hot food served in a matter of minutes. Some dangers come with using a microwave oven and those include:
Decreased bioavailability of various vitamins and minerals.
Heating milk and grains changed some of the essential amino acids into carcinogens.
Nutritional value was reduced.
Plant alkaloids were converted into carcinogens in raw or frozen vegetables.
Microwave sickness was noticed.
What are the Various Types of Microwave Ovens?
There is always this dilemma we face when it comes to choosing the right microwave oven. This is because there is a large choice that you can select from. They differ in form as well as functionality. Based on the kind of requirement you have in your kitchen, it is easy to pick up one, which would be comfortably in your budget. Remember, microwave ovens are an investment, so it is worth spending that extra penny to get the best quality. This will also make sure that it lasts for a long time. Here are some different kinds of microwave ovens.
1. Convection Oven
This oven uses convection to heat up the contents inside. A fan and heating elements ensure that the hot air cooks and crusts everything evenly.
2. Grill Oven
Grill ovens can be used for cooking food that is crispy and juicy like kebabs, meats and tikkas. This is useful is browning some kinds of food and can work for up to 90 minutes.
3. Solo Oven
A basic oven that heats uniformly, used mainly for simple baking or reheating is called a solo type oven. Useful if you don’t have plans for cooking anything grand.
4. Over the Range Oven
These ovens come with an oven and a range hood and can be installed on the wall over your stove top. This essentially combines the microwave and the ventilation unit to save you space.
5. Countertop Oven
Countertop ovens are placed right on the counter and make for a great choice for people who do not want to alter their kitchen to get a microwave oven unit in place.
6. Built-in Oven
These microwave ovens can be built right into the kitchen cabinets. The advantages – you can place it at any height, give your kitchen a neater look, and save space on your counter.
How Does a Microwave Oven Work?
There exists a generator inside the walls of the oven called a magnetron. Once you switch on the microwave oven, the magnetron takes up all the energy from the power source and turns it into radio waves, which are electromagnetic waves of a certain frequency. The food spins around while the magnetron blasts radio waves at it. As the microwaves bounce off the walls and finally hit the food, they penetrate it, travel through and subsequently, and vibrate the molecules inside. This vibration leads to the heating of the food. The fast they vibrate, the hotter the food gets. Once it is done, you get a bowl/plate of fresh hot food!
How to Use the Microwave Oven Rightly
It can be a tightrope walk when it comes to using a oven. There are many buttons performing a number of functions, and it can be tough to wrap your head around them all and let’s be honest, nobody wants to go through the manual. However, if you start with the basics, you can work your way up to the other functions. For now, these are the basic steps in using a microwave oven rightly.
Open the microwave oven door either by pressing the button or by pulling it open.
Place the utensil (mug/plate) inside the oven. Make sure the utensil is not made of steel or plastic and that the contents have been shifted to a microwave safe bowl/mug.
Shut the door and set the time for cooking. You may want to start with 1 minute and see whether you need to heat it for more or less time.
Reset the time in case you need to heat the contents for longer.
Check at regular intervals by mixing or stirring contents of the mug/bowl.
Once it has acquired the desired heat, remove it carefully and enjoy!
Foods You Should Never Place in the Microwave Oven
There are various foods that you can microwave and enjoy them hot and crispy, but there are also some foods that you should not microwave. Those include:
Eggs create steam inside the shell and will explode so don’t try to hard-boil an egg in the microwave oven.
The spice in chilli peppers vapourises, and the fumes should be avoided.
Try to not boil water because it sometimes ends up heating the mug and not the water. When the tea is added and stirred, it can cause the water to superheat and sometimes blow up the mug.
Breast milk should be carefully microwaved because it can get hot in some places and remain cold in some if removed from the freezer. Microwave cooking is harmful in this case.
Processed foods are already bad for health, and if you microwave them, it leads to the formation of cholesterol oxidation products which have been linked in the past to heart disease.
Leafy greens should be avoided in the microwave oven because some of them can catch fire, potentially burning not only your food but your appliance as well. Exercise extreme caution!
Oils like olive oil, peanuts, avocado etc. should not be heated because they are not liquid but fats. You can try heating them, but it may not work.
Fruits should not be heated because they turn out to be super hot on the inside and this can burn your palate.
Microwave cooking rice is not a good idea because rice has certain bacteria that are killed only when it is boiled on the stove.
Frozen fruit should not be heated but defrosted instead because it can lead to good properties turning into carcinogens.
Does a Microwave Oven Decrease Your Food's Nutritional Value?
Sometimes you may wonder if all the waves that were emitted inside a microwave oven end up doing you more harm than good. It’s a good question to ask whether microwaves end up decreasing the nutritional value by overheating and killing the nutrients. The short answer is no. You heat up food in the microwave oven for a fraction of the time that you might keep it on the stove. The stove gets a lot hotter than the oven and over a longer period of time. The most heat sensitive nutrients are usually soluble in water, so those would include vitamins and some acids that are common in vegetables. Shorter cooking time in the microwave oven means that lesser of the nutrients are being destroyed.
Tips to Keep in Mind While Using a Microwave Oven
Ovens should be used carefully. Do you see something that might be a potential red flag with your microwave oven? Make sure to get it checked by a representative of the company. Some tips to keep in mind while using a microwave oven include:
Don’t use metal or plastic in the oven
Try to spread the food evenly so that it heats evenly.
Don’t cook dishes that need a lot of water.
Stir and mix frequently.
Cover the bowl/mug to prevent splatter.
Pierce foods like potatoes and hotdogs with a fork so that they heat on the inside.
Smaller the pieces of food, the quicker they cook.
Use the defrost setting when you are thawing food.
FAQs
Some of the common questions that you might have included:
1. Is it Safe to Microwave Baby Bottles?
Being a mother is a testy time only because so many important decisions have to be made regarding the welfare of the baby. Usually, new mothers have this question where they are confused about microwaving the baby bottle. Although it is not advised to heat breast milk, baby bottles can be microwaved and are safe for the baby. Breast milk has immunological properties that are destroyed in the heating process. However, cow’s milk or formula can be heated with no issues.
2. What Happens if You Stand Close to the Microwave Oven When it is Operating?
Microwave ovens are built with enough technology to block the dangerous radio waves from penetrating your body. There are small squares or circles on the door, which act as a shield since they’re of a smaller wavelength than a microwave. For the most part, nothing will happen if you stand next to a microwave oven. However, standing next to one over long periods might not be beneficial to your health either.
3. Can You Use a Plastic Container to Microwave Food?
Nowadays, ordering in food has become very common with all the food delivery apps available at your fingertips. All the containers that most restaurants sell the food in are microwavable. You cannot use any plastic in a microwave oven, as it will most probably melt. You have to use special microwavable bowls/mugs/containers, which can withstand that heat without melting into your food and spoiling your meal.
4. Is It Safe to Use a Microwave Oven During Pregnancy?
Some tests indicate that the electromagnetic waves emitted by a microwave ovenmay not be the best for pregnant women and their babies. There are some side effects of a microwave oven. If a microwave oven is old or damaged, it gives more of a reason to stay away because microwaves can harm embryos and lead to a miscarriage. Although there are no studies that show its adverse effect decisively, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Humans have made most of the technology that is available to them. Instantly heating up food is one of the simple technological marvels that we take for granted only because we use it so often. Microwave ovens have changed the game for many reasons. Although there might be some that advocate against the use of ovens due to their ill effects on our health, they are very helpful and safe if used correctly according to the microwave cooking guidelines. Exercise caution, enjoy a hot meal and the next time, take a minute to appreciate the microwave oven.
Also Read:
Quick Kitchen Cooking and Storage Hacks
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5 Sugarless Dessert Recipes for the Health-Conscious Couple
Here’s a simple truth – sugar and sweets laden with ghee, condensed milk, sugar, and the likes are hard to give up. Many of us make a resolution to limit our consumption of sugar almost every year, if not give it up completely, but only a few succeed and meet their goal of staying fit and healthy. When a dessert craving hits, it hits hard, making us forget every resolution; and we give into our temptation just like that. Whether it’s your spouse’s birthday, your anniversary, or even Valentine’s Day, we know you’ll want to indulge in sweets, because the truth is, any celebration without sweets seems bland. But to all those health-conscious couples who are determined to not consume sugar, we appreciate your unwavering resolve and bring you the recipes of some sugarless desserts that may satiate your sweet tooth.
5 Sugarless Desserts That Actually Taste Good
Whatever you are celebrating, celebrate it the healthier way with these desserts. Give these recipes a try and eat without feeling guilty.
1. Carrot Cake
It’s the time of the year when you get fresh carrots, so you might as well make the most of it by trying out different carrot dishes. Yes, we all love to eat gajar ka halwa, but there’s so much more you can make with gajar. Make a carrot cake and enjoy it with your partner. The recipe below is a healthier alternative to your usual carrot cake, as it doesn’t include the sugar, white flour, and excess ghee that we use otherwise in cakes and other sweets. Try out the recipe –
Ingredients:
Eggs – 3
Bananas – 2
Grated carrots (medium-sized) – 4-5
Fresh seedless dates – 10-15
Whole wheat flour – 1 cup
Baking soda – 1 ½ spoon
Nutmeg – ½ spoon
Cinnamon powder – 3 tsp
Cardamom powder – ½ tsp
Coconut flakes – ½ cup
Raisins and walnuts – ½ cups each
Sunflower oil – 6 tbsp
How to Make:
Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Whisk the eggs in a medium-sized bowl.
In another bowl, mix the bananas and dates using a hand blender till the mix turns into a thick cream.
Sift together the wheat flour, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon powder, and cardamom powder, and mix it with the banana-dates cream.
Add the whisked eggs, grated carrots, walnuts, and raisins to the above mix, and stir.
Now grease a cake pan with a little amount of oil and pour the prepared batter into it. Bake for about 40 minutes.
Let it cool, then dig in.
2. Oats and Raisin Cookies
If you are not in the mood to cook something heavy, make raisin cookies. Raisins and apples will form the base ingredients of this crunchy delight. Here’s the recipe of the same –
Ingredients:
Raisins – 1 ½ cup
Apples (peeled and chopped) – ½ cup
Butter – ½ cup
All-purpose flour (maida) – 1 cup
Baking soda – 1 tsp
Vanilla extract – 1 tsp
Oats – 1 cup
Eggs (beaten) – 2
Walnuts – ¾ cup
Water
How to Make:
Take water in a saucepan and add the raisins and apples to it, and bring it to a boil.
Turn off the heat and add the butter to the saucepan. Keep aside.
In a medium-sized bowl, take the flour and baking soda. Add the beaten eggs, vanilla extract, and the raisin-and-apples mixture, and mix it thoroughly.
Fold in the oats and walnuts.
Cover the dough and let it chill for 8-10 hours.
Preheat the oven to 175°C and grease the cookie sheets or tray. Drop dollops of the mixture onto the sheet.
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes. Once done, let them cool.
3. Banana and Peanut Butter Ice Cream
This two-ingredient ice cream recipe is perfect for those who don’t want to spend hours making a dessert. With this recipe in your cookbook, you won’t have to go to an ice cream parlour to buy ice creams (which usually contain sugar and other artificial sweeteners). You can make your own healthy banana and peanut butter ice cream with minimal effort. And your children will love eating this ice cream too!
Ingredients:
Bananas (ripe) – 4
Peanut butter – 2 tbsp
How to Make:
Peel the bananas and slice them into discs of half an inch each. Arrange these slices on a large plate and freeze for about 1-2 hours.
Take the slices in a blender and puree. Blend until the banana slices turn smooth and creamy.
Add the peanut butter and blend again.
Transfer the mixture into another bowl and freeze. You can also eat this ice cream immediately if you like it soft and creamy.
4. Date Balls
Dates are naturally sweet and are a storehouse of nutrients. They will satisfy your sweet tooth easily; however, eat in healthy amounts as we know your hands would keep reaching for quite a few of these, once you taste them.
Ingredients:
Seedless black dates – 3/4th cup
Almonds (chopped) – 1 tbsp
Walnuts – 1 tbsp
Pistachios (chopped) – 1 tbsp
Ghee – ½ tbsp.
Poppy seeds (khus khus) – 2 tbsp
How to Make:
Heat the ghee in a non-stick pan.
Add the dates and cook on a low flame while stirring it continuously for 5-10 minutes.
Cook until they turn soft and lumpy.
Turn off the heat and add the almonds, walnuts, and pistachios, and mix well.
Allow it to cool a little then shape them into balls or rolls as per your choice.
Take khus khus in a plate and roll the date balls around in it.
Refrigerate for some time to let the balls set.
5. Chocolate-dipped Strawberries
Celebrating special days like birthdays or Valentine’s Day would be incomplete without chocolate, which is why, we are sharing with you one of the easiest chocolate recipes there is – and, it’s guilt-free! After having a wholesome meal with your partner, dig into this dessert together. You can eat chocolate-dipped strawberries while cuddling with your spouse on the sofa and watching a romantic movie. Prepare this recipe in advance and have a romantic movie date together, complete with a yummy snack!
Ingredients:
Sugar-free chocolate chips – ½ cup
Strawberries – 8 - 10
Coconut oil – 2 tbsp
How to Make:
Take the coconut oil and chocolate chips in a bowl and melt them together in a microwave. You can also melt them in a saucepan.
Stir until the mixture becomes thick and smooth.
Wash the strawberries and dry them. Leave their stems on for easier grasp.
Using a skewer, dip a strawberry in the melted chocolate and swirl it around to coat it evenly with the chocolate. Repeat the same exercise to coat the remaining strawberries with chocolate.
Lay all the coated strawberries on a tray or a plate lined with parchment paper.
Coat the strawberries again and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
Your chocolate-dipped strawberries are ready to eat.
These are some not-so-usual sweets that you can make on any occasion or for no reason at all. These desserts are comparatively healthier than the sweets you eat otherwise, so make them and eat in healthy amounts. As these desserts are devoid of sugar, they won’t come in the way of your health goals. Furthermore, these desserts can be made in no time, so don’t you panic if you have decided to make a dessert at home at the last minute. We are sure you will do just fine. Anyway, anything homemade tastes better than its store-bought counterpart because it is made with love. So try these healthier sweets without jeopardising your sugar-free and healthy lifestyle.
Also Read:
How to Make Sugar Free Kaju Katli
Homemade Sugar Free Ice Cream Recipes
Healthy and Tasty Dry Fruit Recipes Read more
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Happy Pregnancy and Unexpected Delivery
Pregnancy is the best phase of life for any mother. Mine was the twin pregnancy. We were so happy and were leaving pregnancy with utmost care and love. The feeling of giving birth to two children was out of the world. Month by month growth of babies was proper and in the seventh month my baby shower was also done with full-on excitement. All the giveaway gifts were handmade. Things were going nice. Suddenly at the end of the seventh month the water starts coming from one of the baby sac. It had created risk for my both children. Also the medicine which is given for lungs development in babies as a precaution for premature delivery was due next week. So for that we had to wait for at least a day to deliver the babies as the medicine could react and do it's job.
But God had other plans before the day could complete my labour start and it was unbearable. The Doctor had to do my delivery in an emergency and with God's grace and Doctor's effort my babies were delivered safely. They had been kept in neonatal care for about a month. Where all the sonography and blood reports of the children were done. They took care of my babies very nicely. Our daily schedule was to visit the hospital to see our babies and following all the hygiene practices and going back home with heavy heart that children are not with me. And finally after the stress and tension, they are now with us. Loving each and every moment. The shocked face of them, their crying face, the hold of your finger by them. Enjoying motherhood --the best feeling ever. Now they are on the urge of completing three months and their development is perfectly alright.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions (including content in any form) expressed within this post are those of the author alone. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The responsibility for intellectual property rights of this content rests with the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with him/her. Read more
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Bouncer Swing Buying Guide
What is a Bouncer Swing?
The ingenious baby bouncer swing is one of the most coveted baby gears currently available in the market. Flexible, soothing, entertaining and cozy, it is conceived to give babies quality time and help the mothers get on with their chores with their precious tots close-by and safe.
Essentially, a bouncer swing consists of a removable swing seat that doubles up as a bouncer. The bouncer can support babies up to 8 kg and the swing can normally accommodate babies up to 13 kg.
Features of a Bouncer Swing
Bouncer Swing
Must Haves
Reclining Seat: The bouncer seat needs to be spacious to accommodate the possibility of a full recline position.
Removable Head Support: An infant head support is essential for babies under six months.
Motion, Speed, Sound and Light Control Unit: Most bouncer swings offer a control panel which allows motion, speed, sound and light settings in accordance to your baby's preference.
Safety Harness: A five-point harness is the ideal safety belt to keep your baby snug and secure, to prevent injuries that could be serious or potentially fatal.
Removable and Washable Seat Cover: A removable and machine-washable cover, that is also dryer-friendly, is easy to clean and maintain.
Frame: To ensure even weight distribution of the growing child, and allow for some safe movement within the harness. As the baby's weight increases, sturdiness of the frame becomes an essential feature to carry the extra kilos.
Battery Slot: A fully battery-operated bouncer swing allows for more options in music, vibrations and swinging.
Portability: Easy to carry, fold and store away. Good portability would require a light frame, smooth, but stable articulations and a body that is easy to assemble and dismantle.
Good to Haves
AC Adapter: It comes in handy when the batteries wear out. It allows the swing to operate on electricity instead of batteries.
Toy Bar: To hang up your child's favourite toys or mobiles for the child to play with.
Canopy: To provide shade if the baby wants to take a nap.
Pros and Cons of a Bouncer Swing
Pros
Cons
Swing seat in the baby bouncer swing is made of delicate soft material for better comfort.
Infants run the risk of slumping and damaging their spines if not positioned correctly inside the swing.
Option to run on battery, where power is not available, is a handy facility.
Regular monitoring is required to ensure that babies have enough breathing space.
The seat is quite spacious to provide the baby enough room to move the limbs when inside the swing.
The swing starts making noise when infants above 9 kg occupy it.
The swing can be easily carried around and stored, owing to its foldable feature.
Batteries installed in the stipulated slot can jangle as they can touch the plastic for want of any pads.
Economical buy as two products in one – it's a Swing and a Bouncer.
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Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
11 hours ago
Q. #AskTheExpert hello dr.
baby planning kar rhi kuch tips btayiye conceive ho jaye
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
11 hours ago
A. it's a natural process ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
10 hours ago
Q. when baby is kick? I'm 13 weeks pregnant
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
10 hours ago
A. during first pregnancy you may feel the baby movements after 24 to 25 weeks of pregnancy and till then only mild flatters may be felt but which you may not be feeling if you are doing some work
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
9 hours ago
Q. I’m in my 31 week 1 day of pregnancy. What will be my delivery date??
As I have low lying placenta with grade 1 maturity.
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
9 hours ago
A. you had to correlate is ultrasound examination. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
9 hours ago
Q. My hemoglobin is 6.4 from 28 weeks of pregnancy. Now I’m 31 weeks pregnant. What should I do?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
9 hours ago
A. Haven’t when you having some kind of iron supplement because they’re very good during the time of pregnancy if you are not having one you need to start with and whatever tabs you take you should just take it with any good juice specially pomegranate juice that’s going to help in doubling the impact of the medicine that you’re taking secondly try and include more of Iron which diet like spinach broccoli beetroot pomegranate black rice sweet potato these things are exceptionally healthy for you to consume
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
8 hours ago
Q. This is my cbc report
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
8 hours ago
A. No there is nothing visible on my wall so I can really really cannot help you can you please repose the question once again providing all the necessary details as once I’m certain what are you talking about what’s mentioned in the report according to that I can provide you proper help on your question
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
6 hours ago
Q. #asktheexpert
now I'm 24 weeks. Sometimes I'm feeling pain in my thigh.
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
6 hours ago
A. For thegh query asked needs consultation with doctor for proper guidance so it is better that the doctor will guide you the correct way .
Onlfine consultation can also be taken and the expert will give you the proper answer .
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