Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Suggested for you
Sleeping Immediately After Eating - Is It Bad for You?
Most of us love to enjoy our afternoon siesta post lunch, or we love to relish late night snacking before retiring for the day. You may often wonder whether it is okay to snooze after you eat. There is no doubt that we often feel drowsy after having our meals but does that mean we should catch up on some sleep or should we actually wait for some time before dozing off? Well, it may not be a good idea to doze off after eating your meals. Sleeping immediately after eating food may not be good for your body.
Why We Usually Feel Sleepy After Eating
As soon as you finish eating your meal, your brain signals the organs to start digesting the food. The blood circulation becomes more concentrated around the digestive system. The shift in the intensity of blood supply affects the brain too. This blood deprivation to the brain may make you feel drowsy or sleepy.
How Does Sleeping Immediately After Eating Affect Your Health?
Your body is ideally required to digest the food you consume to obtain energy, and it can do so if you sit in an upright position. However, when you nap after eating, you are not allowing your body to perform this function, thus leading to some of the following:
1. It May Lead to Weight Gain
Immediately sleeping after eating can cause weight gain. This is because your body needs to burn the calories that you consumed from a meal, but instead, you sleep, which means your body will store these calories. An excess amount of calories in the body lead to weight gain. In short, sleeping after eating makes you fat.
2. It May Cause Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is a condition when the contents of your stomach are pushed back into your oesophagus. Acid reflux causes a burning sensation in your chest cavity. This happens when you sleep soon after eating your food.
3. It May Cause Digestive Issues
If you sleep right after eating lunch or post-dinner, your food does not get digested properly. Undigested food can cause digestive issues like gas, heartburn, acidity, flatulence, bloating, etc.
4. It May Lead to Stroke
Sleeping immediately post having a meal can increase your chances of suffering a stroke. This is because undigested food may cause an imbalance in your blood sugar levels and blood pressure, and in extreme cases, it may lead to stroke too.
How Long Should You Wait to Go to Sleep After Having Food?
It is recommended that you should let your body digest the food that you ate before you hit the snooze button. Though different food items may take different amounts of time to get digested, it is good to wait for at least 2 to 4 hours to nap after you have had your meals.
Bedtime Snacks That Are Healthy for You
Though it is not a good idea to munch on anything right before your bedtime, sometimes, sudden hunger pangs may strike, and we may want to eat something. We suggest that you eat something healthy and nutritious, instead of piling on useless calories. Here are some healthy recommendations that you can use to curb that late night snacking needs:
A glass of warm milk with honey is a healthy option, and you will sleep well too.
A cup of low-fat yoghurt is easy on your tummy as well.
A whole-wheat cracker with some peanut butter is ideal to put that growling stomach to rest.
A cup of whole grain cereal with low-fat milk.
If hunger strikers at an odd hour, these are some snacks that you can gobble down without even thinking twice. Avoid fatty, fried or calorie-dense foods as they can not only be hard on your digestive system, but they may cause trouble with sleeping too.
Does Eating Too Late Affect Your Sleep?
Food and sleep have a very complex, yet interesting relationship. Some foods can induce intense sleep and make you sleep like a baby. Then there are foods like chocolate, energy drinks, soda, etc. which can keep us wide awake if consumed before dozing off. Therefore, we really have to be cautious about what we eat close to bedtime because it can directly impact our sleep. Also, if you consume your meal right before sleeping, there is a good possibility that you may suffer from a bout of acidity or heartburn, which will impact how well you sleep.
There are people who may not feel affected at all by what they consume close to bedtime, but that certainly does not mean that they should eat whatever they want because their sleep isn’t getting disrupted. Well, the question is not of sleep, but it’s about the food that is not getting digested. Hence, sleeping after every meal or lying down after eating is not at all recommended.
It is important that you leave a considerable gap between your meal time and nap time. Eating a healthy and nutritious meal before bedtime, avoiding unhealthy foods and opting for right late night snacks are some of the good things you can do for good sleep and good health. However, if you experience any heartburn, acid reflux or any sleep-related issue, we suggest that you see your doctor and get examined right away to rule out any medical condition.
Also Read:
Why Is It Important to Eat Healthy Food Instead of Junk Food
Foods to Eat to Keep Your Heart Healthy
Healthy Foods That are Incredibly Unhealthy Read more
Suggested for you
Check out this new Memory
Shreyansha jha
Mom of a 2 m old girl
1 min ago
#QueenofHearts
1 Likes
0 Comment
Suggested for you
Vitamin A during Pregnancy
Vitamin A is popularly known as the perfect antioxidant. It is also integral to a healthy pregnancy given its ability to prevent anaemia, encourage metabolism, and promote facets of foetal development such as cell growth and vision. It is also known as an immune-enhancing nutrient. However, too much of Vitamin A is also not a good thing when you are pregnant. So, here’s all you need to know about this critical vitamin to ensure moderate intake throughout your pregnancy.
What Is Vitamin A And Why It Is Essential?
It is important to get just the right amount of Vitamin A for pregnant women, and this can be a tricky feat. Crucial in ensuring the visual health of your baby as well as its immune function, Vitamin A can be found in two forms. Though the two types have different chemical properties, both offer unique health benefits.
Retinol – Meat and fish contain this in high levels while dairy products and eggs have this in moderation.
Beta carotene – This is found in fruits and vegetables. Your body uses this to make Vitamin A
Benefits of Vitamin A for Pregnant Women
Taking Vitamin A while pregnant but in the right amounts ensures proper foetal growth and development. The health of bones, teeth, skin, and vision of the foetus is ensured when there are adequate levels of this vitamin present. Risk of Vitamin A deficiency arises in the third trimester which is a time when the baby’s growth is at a fast pace and there is increase in blood volume.
How Much Vitamin A Can You Consume During Pregnancy?
It is important to plan your diet in a way that ensures that you consume a safe amount of Vitamin A during pregnancy. Consuming too much or too little can have side effects, and may even lead to birth defects. The amount of Vitamin A is measured with a unit known as RAE (retinol activity equivalent). Another unit of measurement is IU (international unit) and 3.3 IU is equal to 1 mcg RAE.
The recommended dose of Vitamin A in pregnancy for women over the age of 19 is up to 770 mcg RAE or 2565 IU daily. The upper limit is set at 2800 mcg RAE or 10,000 IU per day including various sources such as supplements, meat, and fortified food items.
What If You Do Not Get Enough Vitamin A?
The lack of Vitamin A in an expecting mother can lead to issues such as anaemia, weak immunity, and vision problems, especially related to night vision. Vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy can lead to a condition called xerophthalmia where the cornea thickens and this causes failure to produce tears. Severe deficiency of Vitamin A can also prove fatal in some instances for both mother and child.
Vitamin A Rich Foods Sources
Ideally, a well-balanced diet should ensure that you get your daily quota of Vitamin A, since fruits and vegetables as well as dairy products are rich in this essential nutrient. Some food items have a high level of Vitamin A while others carry it in moderation. Here is a list to help you figure out what to include in your daily meals.
Food Products
Vitamin A Content
baked sweet potato-1
1,096 mcg (21,909 IU)
cooked carrot slices-1/2 cup
665 mcg (13,286 IU)
pumpkin pie-1 slice
596 mcg (4,567 IU)
boiled spinach-1/2 cup
573 mcg (11,458 IU)
cooked butternut squash-1/2 cup
572 mcg (11,434 IU)
Medium sized raw carrot- 1
509 mcg (10,191 IU)
boiled kale- 1/2 cup
443 mcg (8,853 IU)
1 cup non-fat milk
338 mcg (1,131 IU)
One portion of oatmeal, cooked in water
329 (1,099 IU)
1 large scrambled egg
87 mcg (321 IU)
cheddar cheese- one ounce
75 mcg (284 IU)
frozen peas- 1/2 cup
84 mcg (1,680 IU)
cantaloupe cubes- 1 cup
270 mcg (5,411 IU)
raw spinach- 1 cup
141 mcg (2,813 IU)
What if you get too much of Vitamin A in Pregnancy?
Your body needs only a certain amount of Vitamin A during pregnancy. According to The American Pregnancy Association, if you ingest too much of Vitamin A, especially in the first trimester, there is a risk of birth defects in the foetus. In this event, the baby is likely to be born with complications in the head, heart, brain, or spinal cord.
Other side effects of Vitamin A in pregnancy can be chronic toxicity in the mother. Symptoms of excess Vitamin A in pregnancy can range from blurred vision to hair loss, joint pain, liver damage, and chronic headaches.
Is It Safe to Take Vitamin A Supplement When Pregnant?
Ideally, no. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends supplementation for pregnant women only in areas where Vitamin A deficiency is considered a severe public health problem. Most prenatal vitamin supplements contain some amount of Vitamin A, and together with the intake of retinol or beta carotene from your daily food, there is a possibility of levels in your body rising quite high. Consulting your doctor is the best option when it comes to consuming supplements of any kind.
Tips for Consuming Vitamin A in Pregnancy
Fruits, vegetables, fortified cereals, milk, dairy products, and meat are all rich sources of Vitamin A. Orange, yellow, and green leafy vegetables such as carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, apricots, and oranges are great sources of beta-carotene. Chopping, grating, cooking, or juicing makes it easier for the body to absorb beta carotenes.
Ensure that any supplements you take do not contain Vitamin A to prevent excess consumption. Non-pregnancy supplements such as cod liver oil are also best avoided during pregnancy.
Steer clear of liver (from beef, chicken, etc.), and dishes where liver is the main ingredient, as it contains high amounts of preformed Vitamin A. Just one serving of liver can contain more than twice the daily limit of Vitamin A recommended during pregnancy!
During the first two months of pregnancy, make sure that your daily intake of Vitamin A does not exceed 6000 IUs.
Conclusion: Since this important nutrient can be found in a variety of edible items, getting your required dosage of Vitamin A through food is the best option during pregnancy. Simply avoiding Vitamin A supplements brings down the chances of overdosing to negligible. Whenever you are concerned about your diet or health during this important phase of life, be sure to check with your healthcare provider at the earliest.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified professional. Read more
Suggested for you
Baby Developmental Milestone: Talking
You are eagerly awaiting your baby’s first words and are telling yourself that all these dirty diapers, sleepless nights and hours of crying (you and the baby) are going to be worth it when that first syllable pops out. But when is your little darling going to spout her first words and thrill you with her incessant talk?
Every baby gets there in her own time and her first word is only after she makes her way through all her baby-babble. This phase is pretty important as your baby is learning to enunciate and communicate. This mindless sound is actually leading somewhere productive and will get you to the ‘mommy’ and ‘daddy’ place.
When Will Your Baby Start to Talk?
Till about six months your little one’s main source of direct communication with you will be crying. But during this time at about four-and-a-half months, she will also begin to develop an association between certain sounds and things. She will realise one sound refers to the dog and distinguish that something with this sound is linked to a particular lip movement. Her incoherent baby-babble will develop certain noises like ‘m’ and ‘b’. What is truly exciting is your baby could recognise her own name or realise you are greeting her at this point.
When Will Your Baby Start Talking Clearly and in Full Sentence?
Around six to seven months, your little bundle of joy will start to blurt sounds closer to words and it could sound like gibberish to you but in reality, it contains tone and inflexion! What does this mean? Your baby is conveying meaning and feeling in her babbling, that's what! Remember, on a cellular level that little brain is firing at incredible rates and neurons are being created with every action you take around the baby.
So, you are probably wondering what age babies start talking. Like everything else, it is when they please and are ready! At around nine months in, this tiny human being is communicating via gestures and grunts.
"That thing over there? I want it."
"This nasty oatmeal you are trying to feed me? I am going to push it away!"
The next months will bring a combination of sounds to be more expressive. This will go on until the twelfth month which is the common 'baby first words age' and she has possibly started spouting those cherished first words. Again, do not fret if she does not say her first word by now. It is perfectly natural for her to take her time. Common first words could be her terms for her parents, greetings and things she likes such as a cookie! She will take a while to form full sentences.
From there? It is a slippery slope. This is new and exciting and she has discovered that her parents seem to love it so why not explore it some more? One word will indicate the meaning of a full sentence. So, if they want a cookie they will just say the word 'cookie'. She will gradually develop an understanding of syntax, grammar and manners through her toddler years. Expect an explosion of language post nineteen months and it will continue to come. After all, the tiny terror in every toddler needs to communicate and share their defiance somehow.
How Will Your Baby Learn to Talk?
A baby’s understanding of language begins by listening to her mother's voice constantly. This progress continues through her life and if you are bilingual, that is, your home is bilingual, she will experience progress equally in both tongues.
You and your baby's primary caregivers will be her first connection to communication. She will learn non-verbal communication from you and develop her skills in this area first. Expect her first words around six months and watch her bloom with full conversations being possible by three years old.
How Can You Help Your Baby to Talk?
Here are a few ways you could encourage your baby to talk.
1. Talk to Her
Resist the urge to baby talk and coo at her. This is not how to teach a baby to talk. You are her source of communication and her guide to a solid conversation. Speak clearly and simply. Point out things around and chat about things like she likes, even if it is her food. Do not worry, this does not have to be a constant chatter.
2. Read Stories to Her
This is another great way to share a range of emotion and experience with her. An added bonus is that she will be interested in the story and be easier to deal around bedtime.
3. Sing Songs
Mothers instinctively talk in higher pitches and coo at their babies and a mother's instinct is always right. This tone encourages language comprehension and not only soothes your baby or entertains her. The vocabulary in these songs also opens up a whole world to your little angel as well.
4. Encourage Her to Repeat
Describe what you are doing and ask her to repeat it with no pressure. Make it seem fun and maybe even ask her to repeat certain words till she is ready to do full sentences. If you say 'Lucy is eating her eggs' then point at the bowl and say 'eggs' for her to understand this has a meaning. She will learn to associate experiences like certain tastes with words and may even demand eggs in the future.
5. No TV
Babies are learning from your live talk performance because it is rewarding. A TV offers no reward and is mostly just 2D noise to them that entertains. You are overjoyed by her talk and encourage her chatter unlike these characters, even the educational programmes do not do this.
Things to Avoid When Your Baby is Learning to Talk?
Keep these things in mind if you are hoping to encourage your baby to talk.
Do not coo or simply make noises at her.
Do not leave her sitting in front of the TV.
Do not push her beyond her levels.
Do not show displeasure or anxiety in reaction to her not talking.
Do not panic if she does not hit her talking milestones.
What Can You Do if Your Child isn't Talking?
Here are a few simple things you could do to help your baby talk if she hasn’t begun yet.
Play games with her and encourage every single noise she makes. After all, every baby wants to impress her caregivers and get the doting affection of those around her
As your child grows to be a toddler, a sibling or cousins could encourage her development in terms of social and cognitive development to a large degree. She will find her path in her own time as do all babies
Have patience. You will see everything you taught her will fall into place and her babble will one day become talk
When Do You Need to Worry?
Consult a doctor if your baby shows the following signs.
By about fourteen months, if your baby has not said her first word
By her second year if there is no recognition of about fifty words, or she cannot speak ten words
You should not panic about this but be thorough. Before jumping to conclusions and thinking autism, consider hearing tests, speech evaluation and developmental screenings.
Take a deep breath and join your little one on her newest journey. You have the skills to do this as evolution and Mother Nature has equipped you for it on multiple levels. Follow the above pointers and more importantly, your gut instincts as well as your baby's indicators. Essentially work with her to ensure she can chatter with you and take the next step in her development. Realise you are dealing with a tiny human being who will get there in her own time and will joyously share it with you when she does.
Also Read: Baby Crawling Milestone Read more
Suggested for you
Age Appropriate Chores for Kids - Easy Tasks to Teach Your Child Responsibility
From the time a baby is born, parenting begins. As they grow from infancy into toddlers and beyond, into teenagers, getting the kid involved in age-appropriate chores helps them understand important life-skills.
Kids learn by doing. Some of the benefits and values of introducing the child to easy age-appropriate chores are:
Helping with the chores in the house makes kids develop important life skills that they will need as adults.
Encourages the use of logic and reasoning skills to complete a task, in order to avoid the consequences of not finishing the chores.
Kids learn about taking ownership, punctuality, owning up to their mistakes, assessing how to get the chore done, teamwork, their place, and importance in the family, honesty and a host of ethics, values, and life-skills.
Finishing the assigned chore fills them with pride and they learn that doing so earns them a reward.
Kids will understand the value of work and that work earns respect.
Completing a task is an accomplishment for the child, no matter how small the task is. It fills them with pride and a sense of belonging.
It is possible that children pick up a few life skills such as planning, budgeting, cooking, washing, and managing a home.
Getting the children to help you with household chores will free up some of your time, help maintain a clean home and keep the kids involved in productive work.
Chore Ideas for Children of Different Age Groups
Obviously, a child cannot perform chores that an adult does. Introducing age-appropriate chores for children is a very important part of learning. The benefits of doing everyday household chores for kids is the learning that helps the child grow into a self-sufficient, balanced adult.
As the mother spends maximum time with the kid in early years, we shall discuss chores for kids in a simple age-appropriate sequence.
Toddlers (2-3 years)
Toddlers communicate and benefit most from doing easy chores. Here are some easy chores for kids to introduce to your toddler. Just showing them how to do it and making a game out them will help the bond between mother and child and train your toddler right. At this age, the focus is on teaching the child one skill at a time and not about making them self-dependent.
Personal Chores
Picking up toys
Throwing diapers in the trash bin
Changing clothes is an easy way to teach them colours, hygiene, and cleanliness
The bathing and cleaning routine, when made interesting, is very educative for the child
The feeding routine and table etiquette
Supervised preparing the school bag, lunch box etc
Family Chores
Dusting things and cleaning spilt water
Making beds and putting on pillow covers
Placing things and cleanliness, sorting and stacking the toys etc
Help you set the table and clear the table like placing the mats, plates, and cutlery on the table
Sort out the whites and the coloured clothes for laundry
Dusting with a cloth
Straightening books on a table or shelf
Pre Schoolers (4-5 years)
At this age, they are able to figure out what you need them to do, by demonstrating how to do it. Being on the verge of entering a school, they need to be able to communicate with others.
Personal Chores
Make the bed
Pour milk for themselves
Wash their hands
Get dressed
Pick up toys in their room
Family Chores
Help set the table for meals
Assist in cooking meals with the help of an adult
Sort clean clothes into a pile based on the family member it belongs to
Help you with shopping and arranging groceries
Help you hang wet clothes to dry by handing them to you
School-age Children (6-8 years)
Introducing kids to doing easy chores is a fun way for them to learn. They are happy to learn and please their parents. Doing this repetitively turns easy chores into good habits. By the time they are six years old, they learn how to do most things by themselves. Try these with a bit of creativity.
Personal Chores
Bringing and helping carry things, handling and storing groceries etc
Make their beds in the morning
Flushing toilets and bathroom etiquette
The good and bad touch and bathing routine
Music, playing instruments, story-telling, dancing can be introduced to the child as a hobby
Family Chores
Folding the laundry
Bringing the newspaper in and collecting the mail
Supervised use of the dishwasher, washing machine etc including washing their dishes in the sink.
Feeding and walking the pet
Watering the plants using a pail of water and a mug, planting and supervised gardening activities
Taking the trash out
Telephone etiquette, supervised use of television, computers etc
Counting money and checking the bills
How to Motivate Your Child to Get Involved in Chores?
Once they start doing the chores and enter the learning process, how should we encourage and motivate them to make a habit? Here are some pointers.
Create a chores chart for kids
Don't burden them with too many chores in a single day
Give instructions that are simple and easy to follow
Give them ample praise for sticking to the routine and completing their tasks each day
Offer help they need and let them know that you have their back
Introduce a reward system that they will enjoy
Give them a mix of jobs around the house, some mundane, some exciting
Get them interested in a hobby like music, dancing, reading and so on
Allocate responsibilities like packing their school bags, lunch box etc
Help them interact with pets
Encourage them through story-telling, showing them the family albums etc
Teach them the value of money and accountability by rewarding them with pocket money
Parenting and helping your child grow into a well behaved and good adult is a very serious business! As a parent, you spend nearly two decades equipping the kids to be self-sufficient when they grow into adulthood. Hopefully, you will start early and help inculcate these habits steadily into their routine. The idea of daily chores for kids in the house is to help them learn basic life skills that can help them survive in their adulthood. So, here’s to happy parenting!
Also Read:
Must Have Healthy Habits for Kids
Good Manners to Teach Your Kids Read more
Suggested for you
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 4 months
16 hours ago
Q. Eaten ajinomoto food by mistake 2 time
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
16 hours ago
A. okay already had it it's 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 Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Mom of a Newborn child
16 hours ago
Q. My 2month old baby is doing green poop from last 10-15 days. Baby is formula fed
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
15 hours ago
A. Green colour Motion is normally seen in babies and mostly it may be dvue to less feeding or formula milk feeding babies.
If it is associated with mucous and foul smell inf motion than there could be some infection.
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Mom of a Newborn child
16 hours ago
Q. My 2 month old baby has started breastfeeding now earlier baby was on formula Now i dont know when is baby full. How to schedule breastfeeding and formula both?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
16 hours ago
A. if the baby is sleeping after breastfeeding and passing urine adequately nothing to worry. 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 Disha Patel has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
16 hours ago
Q. I'm 8 months old pregnant,can I eat Jack fruit?
Dr Disha Patel
Ayurvedic Physician
15 hours ago
A. you can eat it in moderate amount.
do eat protien rich food during last trimister.
dtink lots of fluids.
tajlk e care n all the very best.
Nidhi pant has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
13 hours ago
Q. I'm in my 28th week of pregnancy and from past 2 days I felt movement of Baby a little low is it normal??
Nidhi pant
Guardian of 2 children
13 hours ago
A. eat sweet things and plz consult your gynae
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Father due in 2 months
52 mins ago
Q. #AskExpert Pl explain :
Fundal Anterior wall, Grade II. Well away from the internal OS. The placenta echotexture is homogenous and there is no evidence of Retro placenta clots. Placenta maturity normal.
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
40 mins ago
A. Only Dr would be able to give you better guidance on that so whatever doubt you have associated with your query kindly take it up with your doctor as the doctor has to see entire situation as all that basis for health can be provided
Check out this new Memory
Tarandeep kaur
Mom of a 4 m old girl
New Milestone
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Ophelia Dsilva
Mom of a 1 yr old boy
1 min ago
#QueenofHearts
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Tarandeep kaur
Mom of a 4 m old girl
1 min ago
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Nilu Yadav
Guardian of a 5 m old boy
1 min ago
#QueenofHearts
0 Likes
0 Comment
Tell us more about yourself get More Personalised
- Infant0 to 6 Months
- Baby6 Months to 2 Yrs
- Toddler2 to 4 yrs
- Kids4-6 yrs
- Big Kids6+ yrs
- Expecting
- Trying to Conceive