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Here's How Eating Prunes Can Help You if You Are Diabetic
Imagine a life where you forego your favorite sweet treats, have restricted eating habits, face the risk of medical complications and observe a life-time of caution. Scary, isn’t it? Sadly, this is the story of thousands of people across the globe who are battling with diabetes. This is a medical condition that affects how your body handles glucose. In the long run, it can cause problems in your heart, kidneys, nerves, and even during your pregnancy. Before you start getting paranoid, here’s one tasty solution to help prevent and deal with diabetes…
Yes, we are talking about prunes, or dried plums. These delicious foods that you may have consumed every now and then hold the key to controlling diabetes. Several studies have established that regular consumption of prunes reduces the likelihood of developing the disease as well as helps in controlling it. If you have a family history of diabetes or are worried for your children given the unhealthy modern lifestyle, there’s all the more reason to figure out why prunes could be your best friend.
This is how prunes help control diabetes:
1. They slow the rate of your body’s absorption of glucose
Prunes are naturally rich in fibre and have a low Glycaemic Index (GI). GI is nothing but a measure of how a certain food affects your blood sugar levels. The lower this number, the slower the digestion of that food. So prunes, considering their really low number of 29 on 100, release energy very slowly. When you consume them, they lower the rate at which your food leave your stomach. This means it takes more time for your blood to absorb the glucose from say, your lunch or dinner. End result– your blood’s sugar levels get normalised.
2. They help you feel fuller for longer
An unhealthy eating style and excessive weight put you at higher risk of developing or aggravating your diabetic condition. But consuming prunes gives you a sense of fullness, owing to its soluble fibre, and this means you end up eating less. This means you don’t resort to unhealthy snacks between meals. You can simply let prunes keep your energy levels topped up.
3. They control inadvertent weight gain
For diabetics, it is important to cut down on saturated fats. This is because saturated fats increase blood cholesterol and put you at risk for heart disease – something that is already more common in people with diabetes. Consuming prunes, which are very low in saturated fat, is a good step in this direction.
4. How to make prunes a part of your day
In light of how diabetes has become a very common lifestyle illness, we must take necessary steps to keep it away. Aside from regular exercise and sticking to healthy, low sugar meals, eating prunes is highly recommended to keep your blood sugar levels in check.
A good option is to keep a pack of Del Monte Prunes handy as your ready source of vitamins, minerals and fibre. These are high quality prunes that are prepared from juicy plums and have the same nutritional composition as the fresh fruits, with the added benefit of easy storage and year-round availability. You can use these prunes as an instant snack when you’re feeling drained out in the early evening hours, or even munch on them together with your kids when taking a walk in the park.
Del Monte prunes also gel well with kid-friendly foods such as custards, kheer and cakes. Another good option especially for diabetics is to start your day with a serving of these prunes and give your system an early fibre boost. You can check out more about these delicious prunes on the Del Monte India Facebook page.
To let your body derive the maximum benefit from these super foods, make sure you make them an integral part of your diet. Also remember to consume them in moderation as excessive consumption can have side effects such as diarrhoea and bloating. Moderation and balance is the key to good health!
As a mom, you have a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders. Making the right health and lifestyle choices is important to keep yourself and your family members safe and protected from disease. We recommend you include this delicious food in your daily meals to discover the sweet route to a diabetic-free future! Read more
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Is Your Child Complaining of Ear Pain at Night? - Common Causes and Remedies
There is no doubt that earaches are usually troublesome for everyone and more so for kids. In instances where a child wakes up at night owing to severe ear pain, parents can feel helpless about not only providing relief but also in identifying the cause in the first place. However, there are ways that parents can help ease the pain and hold the fort till morning before they seek a doctor's assistance. Most types of ear pain do not warrant antibiotics. Home-based remedies can bring considerable relief.
What are the Possible Causes of Ear Pain in Children?
Some of the possible causes of ear pain in children at night can be:
Middle ear (area behind the eardrum) infection caused either by bacteria or viruses
Swimmer’s ear which is an infection of the ear canal lining
Common cold
Pain from another body part like a sore throat, an infected tooth, or a tonsil infection
Ear canal injury owing to a likely scrape from a fingernail or a cotton swab
Ear canal abscess which is usually an infection that develops in the ear canal
A blockage caused by a huge chunk of hard earwax
Pierced ear infections
Aeroplane ear when ear tubes get blocked due to a sudden rise in air pressure causing eardrums to stretch
How Can You Help Your Child Get through the Night When He Has Ear Pain?
Some useful tips which may aid your kid to pass the night in case of ear pain can be:
In case of ear pain at night, medicine can be a good option to bring some relief from the ear pain. You can offer your child an apt dose of any child-safe over-the-counter pain killer like Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen.
Home remedies include the use of a warm compress. You can use a clean, warm washcloth or a heating pad for this purpose. Apply it to your child’s ear to alleviate the pain and discomfort.
Elevating the child’s head and keeping the sore ear side facing upward may bring respite from child ear pain at night.
Provide plenty of fluids to your child or have him chew gum to support swallowing as it may unblock the Eustachian tube by draining excess fluid if it is present in the middle ear.
Applying tea tree oil as ear drops for ear pain can also be considered. Tea tree oil has potent antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic qualities which may prove beneficial in relieving ear pain. Be sure to mix a few drops of olive oil with tea tree oil before applying it.
At times ear pain can get triggered by some compression in the ear canal. Neck rotation exercises can significantly reduce the pressure and lessen the pain.
When to Call the Doctor?
Not all earaches need instant medical attention. However, you may want to call the doctor in the following cases:
If your child accidentally lodged some toy or object in his ear earlier in the day
If your child seems to have a stiff neck (unable to bend chin to touch the chest) and severe earache
If you notice swelling, redness behind the ear or on the skin
If your child is running a constant high fever
If you see blood or pus draining from his ear
If your child appears weak and very sick
Ear pain can give the entire household a sleepless night. It is important to note that an earache does not necessarily mean an infection. So, refrain from administering any antibiotics to your child unless recommended by your doctor.
Also Read:
Ear Piercing for Kids
Ear Pain in Children
Home Remedies for Ear Pain in Kids Read more
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How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs at Home - Your Stepwise Guide
Bed bugs are troublesome to deal with. If you fail to eliminate even a single pregnant bed bug, your household runs the risk of getting infested with over 300 adult bed bugs and 1000 eggs in less than three months.
Bed bugs are common household pests that are oval in shape and brownish in colour. They are parasites that live on the blood of humans and animals.
Immature bed bugs are known as nymphs. Nyphms shed their skin five times before becoming mature. They need a complete meal of blood before each shedding. These nymphs require a little less than a month to develop fully and produce three generations of offsprings in a year, under favourable conditions.
So, where do these pesky pests come from? Bed bugs can enter your home (and life) through clothes, luggage, couch, beds, and mattresses. They have a flattened body and can fit into any available space are hard to detect. They do not have nests but live in groups. Bed bugs initially hide in mattresses, headframes, box springs and places from where they will have easy access to sleeping people, and feed on them. They later spread to other places.
Bed bugs bite while you are asleep. They pierce the skin and suck blood using their beak. They feed for up to 10 minutes and crawl back, unnoticed. Bed bug bites may or may not swell, after a complete meal. The bites are painless but soon starts itching.
Bed bug bites might look similar to mosquito bites and so, it is difficult to understand a bed bug infestation. You will need to identify the bed bugs first.
How to Remove Bed Bugs?
These small bloodsuckers can create havoc in your life if not eliminated completely. It is not difficult to remove bed bugs. A little bit of patience and knowing what needs to be done, can help in removing these tiny pests.
There are both non-chemical and chemical approaches that you can take, and that depends on the extent of the infestation.
Here is how to get rid of bed bugs permanently:
1. Identifying the Infested Areas
It is cheaper (and easier) to treat bed bugs when the infestation is small as compared to a large one. Smaller infestations are difficult to detect, but nevertheless, you will need to put in the effort to ensure the infestation does not become a large one.
You can do the inspection yourself or hire a professional for the same. Some professionals even hire dogs to track bed bugs using their smell.
As already mentioned, bed bugs can easily squeeze into seams of couch and mattresses and even folds of curtains. And, these are the places where you will need to start your inspection from.
Some of the other places that you are most likely to find them are
Inside the cracks of headboards and bed frames
Near-bed spring and mattress tags
Between couch pillows and cushions
In between furniture joints
Underneath wall decor accents, paintings, and posters
In baseboards
Use a magnifying glass and a torchlight to inspect these places thoroughly. These are some of the signs that you need to be on the lookout for:
Living bed bugs that are reddish-brown in colour and about 0.25 inch long.
Bed bug droppings are nothing dark spots measuring the same as a period.
Crushed bed bugs on the couch or bedsheet that leads to reddish stains.
Tiny, pale and yellow eggs and eggshells.
Yellowish skin that nymphs shed.
If you find a bed bug, keep it inside a sealed jar containing rubbed alcohol. A lot many bugs look similar to bed bugs. If you are not sure of what you have caught, you can call an entomologist or exterminator for identification.
2. Control the Infestation
Once you are sure that it is a bed bug infestation, you will have to contain it so that the infestation does not become a large one. Using vacuum is one of the best ways of trapping bed bugs. Run your vacuum over all the possible hiding places like your bed, carpets, dresses, and others.
Now seal the vacuum content in a plastic bag and dispose of properly. Do not forget to clean the vacuum thoroughly.
Next, seal all your infected clothes and linen in a plastic bag until you can wash them. While washing them, select the highest temperature setting for the dryer and washer. This will help in eliminating the bed bugs permanently.
If there is something that cannot be washed, keep it sealed in a plastic bag. Open the bag only when you are sure that all the bed bugs have been killed. For furniture that cannot be cleaned, throw it away. Tear the cushions and pillows and paint the word ‘bed bugs’ so that no one else takes those home.
3. Preparing for Bed Bug Treatment
Treating bed bugs is not easy, and a little bit of preparation will only increase your success rate.
Ensure that carpets, clothes, linen, drapes, and furniture have been cleaned thoroughly or discarded.
Next, you will need to get rid of all the bed bug hiding places. Are there books, newspapers, and magazines lying at the same place (like underneath the beds) for over a year? It is time to throw them away. Be careful not to move items from an infected room to a clean one.
Glue down loose wallpapers and seal all cracks and open areas. Block furniture and baseboard cracks. Tape up loose electrical outlets. Shift your beds and couch at least six inches away from the wall and furniture so that the bed bugs cannot climb back.
4. Killing the Bed Bugs
There are different by which you can kill these insects.
Killing Bed Bugs at Home
How to get rid of bed bugs from mattresses and clothes is a common question that people have in mind.
You always do not need chemicals to get rid of them. Intense cold or high heat is enough to kill them.
Wash linen and clothes in hot water for over 30 minutes. Put them in the dryer with the highest heat setting for 30 minutes to remove bed bugs permanently. You can use a steamer on mattresses or any other probable hiding place. You can also pack the infested items in a plastic bag and keep it inside a car on a hot day. Or you can keep the bag inside the freezer for a couple of days.
Now that you have managed to kill all the bed bugs, you will have to make your house bedbug-proof. Bed bug-proof covers are available for box springs and mattresses. Cover your mattresses with these and zip up completely. The existing ones will die, and new ones will not be able to enter.
If the infestation is large, you will have to use an insecticide.
Chemical and Non-chemical Treatment Options
Want to know the way to get rid of bed bugs fast? You will have to make use of insecticides. Some of the available options include pyrroles, pyrethroids and pyrethrins, bug bombs and many more. Most of these can be harmful to human health, if not used properly. Read the label before using any of these. Let's take a look at them in detail:
Pyrethroids and Pyrethrins: These are among the most common chemicals used to eliminate bed bugs. However, some bed bugs have grown resistant to these chemicals.
Neonicotinoids: These are nothing but artificial nicotine. These work by damaging the nervous system of bed bugs. This chemical works on bed bugs that are resistant to common insecticides.
Pyrroles: They work by disrupting the bed bugs at the cellular level.
Bug Bombs or Foggers: These are very effective in killing bed bugs but cannot get into crevices and cracks, and so might not be a great option. Read instructions carefully before using a fogger.
Desiccants: These destroy the outer shell of bed bugs and the bugs eventually die. The results are slow, but the good thing is that bed bugs cannot get resistant to these.
Plant oil-based bed bug killers are also available in the market.
You will have to do the treatments every 10 days for at least three times to ensure that all the bed bugs are gone.
5. Keep Monitoring
Even after the bed bugs are dead, you will have to keep on monitoring as bed bugs are hard to eliminate. Even a single living pregnant bed bug can give birth to hundreds of more. So, you will have to make sure that there is not a single bed bug left in your property.
Make sure to check the infested areas and all the hidden areas for any bed bug activity every 6-7 days.
You can consider using bed bug interceptors for this purpose. You will need to place these interceptors under each leg of your bed and couch. These work by catching the bugs before then you can climb onto the furniture. You will have to keep doing this at least for a year, as bed bugs can be pretty persistent.
6. Retreat As and When Needed
Bed bugs are really hardy. Just the moment you think that you have eliminated the last living bed bug from your property, you will see one crawling under your bed. You will have to retreat if required.
As far as treating the bed bugs is concerned, you will have to try different methods to see what is working for you. What worked during the initial treatment might not work now.
If nothing helps, you will have to hire the services of a professional exterminator.
7. Take the Help of Professionals
If the infestation is quite large, you will have to hire an exterminator. Also, if none of your methods are working, it is best to leave it to the pros.
Professional exterminators and pest control companies have access to chemicals that you do not have access to. Also, they are trained to use these chemicals without causing harm to the surrounding environment.
They make use of insecticides that do not only kill the bed bugs in contact but insecticides that stay inside furniture cracks and broken electrical outlets to prevent future infestation. In short, they give you long-term results.
Some pest control companies resort to whole room heat treatment. They make use of special equipment and devices to heat up the entire room with the temperature being in between 135 and 145-degree F. Such a temperature range is enough to kill every living bed bug in the room.
Before treating your property, a professional exterminator will tell you what all you need to do to prep for the treatment. Make sure you follow all the instructions to ensure that all the bed bugs are wiped out.
You will be asked to stay out of the treated room unless the insecticides dry. Professional treatment can take up to a few days, depending on the level of the infestation.
8. Preventing Bed Bugs
Once you have managed to eliminate the bed bugs, you will have to ensure that they do not come back. Reduce clutter and do not leave clothes, paper, and magazines on the floor.
Use a bedbug cover to protect your couch cushions and mattresses. Keep them zipped so that the bed bugs are not able to enter. Wash linen, carpet, and furniture often. Clean your furniture on a regular basis as well. Seal cracks and crevices on the floor, around electrical sockets, and baseboards so that the bed bugs stay away. Look for bed bugs while staying in hotels or travelling by public transport. If you suspect bed bug marks on your skin, wash your clothes and bags immediately using the highest heat setting in your washer or dryer.
If you are purchasing used furniture, make sure to inspect it thoroughly.
In most scenarios, it is easier to hire professionals as they take care of all the requirements and ensure that the bed bugs are gone. But then again, with these methods provided. You can do it yourself!
Also Read:
Home Remedies to Consider for Pest-Free Home
Effective Ways on How to Get Rid of Lizards from Home
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Limiting Your Toddler's Liquids
What should my toddler drink? Is juice healthy or should I stick only to water? While toddlers need their daily cup of vitamin-enriched juice, there's a limit to the amount they should have. The type of juice they should consume also bears thought.
If you’re thinking of limiting your toddler’s juice intake, there’s good news. There are ways you can ensure she eats her meals properly while also enjoying 2-3 cups of juice daily. The key word here is ‘balance’.
4 Ways to Limit the Amount of Liquid to Give a Toddler
1. Make the switch
If your child likes the bottle, she could overindulge in drinking juice. If the bottle is getting her tummy too full, switch to a small cup. You can start by offering her a little milk, water, or a water-juice mixture. Offer it to her with snacks and meals. Remember that the transition from a bottle to a cup might not be smooth sailing. You need to give your child time to adjust. Drips and spills are in store! While a sippy cup can make things less messy, it can become a habit, like the bottle.
2. Make the right choices
Your child now needs a daily dose of 2-3 servings of milk. This means that she can have another 2-3 cups of other fluids (more during the summer). In order to keep a track of how much she consumes, measure the cups of milk and juice-water mix in the morning. Introduce smoothies and other varieties of juices. Don’t worry if she doesn’t take to certain flavours quickly. There are a number of reasons that determine what she wants to drink: the weather, mood, her energy level and appetite are a few.
3. Be juice smart
Fruit juices might be your toddler’s favourite drink but try to introduce her to other liquids too. Apple juice can be loaded with sugar, so consider transitioning to white grape juice. You can also try out sugar-free orange, pineapple and papaya juice, which are packed with vitamin C. Some other fruit juices pack in vitamins A and D as well as calcium. Keep your child away from unpasteurised apple cider as it carries an E. Coli risk. Bear in mind that most commercial juices usually comprise only 10 percent juice and a truckload of sugar and calories. Choose wisely. The need to regulate fluid intake for 13-month-old babies and beyond is essential.
4. Water, anyone?
In the midst of all the bottled and packaged drinks available today, many of us overlook the importance of simple drinking water. If you’re not sure what juices are good for your toddler, let her have water. It can quench her thirst and is good for her system. Water is also good for the tummy and teeth.
What liquid do I feed my toddler? Now you know that fresh juices and milk should be at the top of your list. Concentrated juices are not beneficial to health in the long run. Instead, make the effort to prepare smoothies and freshly squeezed juice. The good old H20 should also be given every day. Read more
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Beating the 'My Husband Snores and I can't Sleep' Blues
You love your man, you really do. Life together would have been perfect if only his bad sleeping habits weren't keeping you up all night. You can easily get your fair share of a good night's sleep by putting a stop to it with these tips.
You’ve just woken up bleary-eyed from yet another sleepless night while your partner is snoring his way into a deep sleep haven. Take steps into the right direction to change his sleeping habits and get your much-deserved sleep as well with these snore proof suggestions from experts.
"My Husband Snores and I Can’t Sleep"! Well, Now You Can!
1. Mind Your Sleep Pattern
The different sleeping patterns of men and women can be a cause for concern.Men sleep deeply while women are light sleepers. Experts suggest that women concentrate on their own sleep clock. Go to bed and wake up the next morning the same time every day. Don’t use your mobile phones or laptops as their glowing screens may leave you feeling wide awake.
2. Snuggling vs Sleeping
There is something incredibly intimate about snuggling with him while sleeping, but this can cause trouble in sleeping with your partner! Separate the pillow talk time from your sleeping hours. Once you’re done talking, claim your space and sleep in peace!
3. Sleeping Arrangements
While you look for help for a snoring husband, here’s something that you can try. If you’re making do with a small bed, get a bigger one so the effects of his snoring lessen over the extra space. Experts have also suggest sleeping in separate bedrooms for a few days till a solution is found. Don’t stress out sleeping apart, after a well-rested night, you’ll be less likely to get into fights anyway!
4. Mark your Territory
Women tend to have lower body temperature at night while the testosterone and thyroid activities of the male body keep them hot during their sleepy time. Unless you want to awaken to the feel of his sweat-drenched clothes place a pillow barrier to mark your LOC!
5. The Other Side of Things
Men sleeping on their backs are more likely to snore louder. You can easily fix this by asking him sleep on his side. A full-length pillow is a great solution for him to stop snoring and have something snuggle with too!
6. Treating Things Naturally
Try these natural remedies for sleeping problems to relieve your partner off his clogged nose. A hot shower before bedtime or even jala-neti (saline water treatment) helps in opening his blocked nasal cavity. If your man is allergic to dust, set your vacuum cleaner to work. Allergens could also be the reason why you’re spending sleepless nights.
Just like all the other aspects of married life, sleeping together also requires compromises. However a few steps and changes can alleviate his snoring and you can catch up on your precious sleep too! Read more
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Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
11 hours ago
Q. I am 9 week pregnant and I have runny nose very badly can I use cetirizine tablet?
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
6 hours ago
A. use nasal drops , that acts faster .
You should have proper consultation with your treating doctor , as some examination or investigations may be needful, so that proper medications can be given And the treatment can be done very properly.
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
11 hours ago
Q. hi,
my LT 10x18mm and RT 18x20mm and ET 6.5 , what if I intercourse after 2 days, can I do intercourse in ovulation day can become a pregent .
on ovulation day if we intercourse can become a pregent..pls advice..
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
6 hours ago
A. since the follicle size is 18 to 20 mm your ovulation may occur within 24 hours also so if you have intercourse with in that time it will be more effective to get conceived
your endometrial growth is not good enough for conception but still you can just try
Sai Prasanthi R L has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
10 hours ago
Q. Hlw dr its my 6th month pregnency can i intimate with my partner
Sai Prasanthi R L
Mom of a 10 yr 2 m old boy
9 hours ago
A. Hello dear! If your pregnancy is going on fine without any high risk factors then it’s okay. Still, would advise you to check with your doctor once before going further. Maintain a good personal hygiene routine and a healthy lifestyle
Abhaya Rajput has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
7 hours ago
Q. My breasts feel full and heavy, but there’s no milk when pumping and during feeding baby —what do I do?
Abhaya Rajput
Mom of a 14 yr 4 m old boy
45 mins ago
A. Hello there ma’am please do not worry about it too much. But it is really very difficult to say anything without proper examination. It is advisable to get yourself evaluated by a doctor and follow doctors advise properly. You can also book online doctor’s appointment on FirstCry where the doctor can help you and guide you properly.
Thanks and take care
Dr Disha Patel has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 6 months
6 hours ago
Q. can I take medicine pcm n citrazene in pregnancy fir sore throats n fever
Dr Disha Patel
Ayurvedic Physician
1 hour ago
A. dear mom.
better to take tab pcm for time being n do take steam inhakation couple of tines a day, follpw good home renedies for cold, taje more rest .
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Mom of a 9 m old child
17 mins ago
Q. hi everyone good morning,
sorghum can I give to my 10 month baby is it safe or not please revert I waiting for your reply
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
15 mins ago
A. yes
whenever you give any new food to the child you have to take care of two things.
you should give in small quantity. if the child doesn't develop any digestion problem in next 24 hours to 48 hours and the child is able to digest that food then that food can be given again.
but if the child is not able to digestc or there is some problem with vomiting or loose motion or colic pain then kindly avoid that food.
we wait for 2 to 3 days to confirm whether the child is having any problem to that particular food or not
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