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Eating Prawns During Pregnancy- Is It Safe?
Craving some delicious prawn dishes? Butter garlic prawns, prawn curry, stir-fried prawns dipped in sauce, prawn biryani, pepper prawns. The list goes on. Prawns belong to the crustacean group of sea creatures and are delicious. However, with many people suffering from allergic reactions to prawns, one wonders if eating prawns is safe during pregnancy.
Is it Safe to Eat Prawns When Pregnant?
While some seafood needs to be avoided during pregnancy, prawns are generally safe when procured from a non-polluted source and cooked thoroughly. However, during pregnancy, moderation is the key for every food you add to your list. Consuming prawns in excess or not adhering to certain precautions while consuming prawns can lead to adverse effects during pregnancy. In case of doubt, always consult your doctor before the consumption of any food item.
Health Benefits of Eating Prawns
Apart from being delicious, prawns are packed with minerals and vitamins essential for mommies-to-be.
Packed With Proteins
Prawns are an excellent source of proteins during pregnancy. Protein-rich foods help in stabilising blood sugar levels and keep gestational diabetes in check. Being low in calories and fat content, prawns will help you gain healthy muscle mass.
Rich in Vitamins
Prawns are a rich source of Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, iron, zinc, choline, iodine, copper, and phosphorus. Essential to improving immunity, thyroid function, and brain development, they are also helpful in the development of bones and teeth.
Rich in Other Nutrients
Prawns contain nutrients that are readily absorbed by our body and essential for our body to protect and heal itself. Selenium is an antioxidant that helps fight cell damage and protects against certain cancers. Amino acids help regenerate new cells and repair damaged cells. Astaxanthin has anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties. Prawns are rich in all these nutrients.
Low in Calories
During pregnancy, it is essential to gain healthy weight and get adequate nutrition. Prawns are low in calories and, thus, a healthier choice to add nutrition without consuming unnecessary fat.
Rich in Omega 3
This fatty acid is found abundantly in prawns. Studies have shown that it helps in developing the eyes and nerve connections in the foetus.
Should Prawns Be Avoided in Pregnancy?
As we just discussed, consuming prawns during pregnancy has several health benefits. However, it is still recommended that you check for the risks associated with consumption of prawns or any seafood with your doctor. If you are still unsure, start with small amounts and see how your body reacts to it. Your diet can then be changed accordingly. In any case, practice moderation and do not go overboard with any food. If your body accepts it, prawns can be very nutritious and healthy for both you and your baby.
Some pregnant women may face the risk of prawn allergy during pregnancy. Here are some risks associated with prawns during pregnancy and information on whether you need to be on your guard:
Cholesterol: Prawns are a rich source of cholesterol. If you have high cholesterol, prawns may not be good for you or for the health of your unborn baby.
Allergy: If you have shown allergic reactions to a similar group of food, it is advisable to keep away from prawns. They can cause reactions that include abdominal pains, itchiness, rashes, and inflammation.
Mercury poisoning: Water pollutants and increased levels of toxic chemicals can create health problems if you consume prawns sourced from polluted waters. Prawns can absorb the pollutants into their body. Seawater prawns may contain a high level of mercury that can adversely affect the development of the baby’s nervous system. Contaminated river or lake waters contain high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls and pose a health risk to you and your baby.
Infection: It is always recommended that you consume cooked prawns when pregnant. Raw or undercooked prawns are extremely harmful and associated with multiple health risks like blood poisoning, food poisoning, or other harmful infection to your baby.
Tips While Eating Prawns When Pregnant
Always buy prawns from reliable and trusted sources. Ensure that they are thick and glossy; do not buy discoloured prawns or ones with shrunken eyes.
Avoid raw seafood preparations like sushi during pregnancy. Dried prawns during pregnancy are fine if they are thoroughly cleaned and cooked.
If you don’t have an option of fresh prawn, opt for good quality frozen ones and defrost them before cooking.
Ensure that they are cleaned properly before cooking. You may cook them with or without the shell. Cooking with veins or deveining them is a personal preference.
Clean and cook them thoroughly. Signs of well-cooked prawns include a red shell and pearly white or opaque flesh. You can soak them in a bowl of lukewarm salted water for about 10 minutes and wash them well.
Avoid restaurant served seafood.
Steam or sauté them till they are completely cooked. Make sure that the meat is firm and bouncy.
As long as prawns are eaten in moderation during pregnancy and sourced from reliable sources, there are unlikely to be any complications. If you experience any signs of discomfort or an allergy, immediately consult your doctor.
Also Read: Eating Fish in Pregnancy Read more
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A journey from a PCOD patient to embracing Motherhood. An unforgettable journey of a lifetime.
Motherhood, a blessing that every female eagerly waits for. But sometimes it is just a dream which is far from reality for a few females.PCOD/PCOS is becoming common nowadays and is happening to every 1 in 5 girls. This is such an issue if not addressed at the right time then this could lead to infertility.I was diagnosed with PCOD, after a couple of months of my marriage in the year 2017. Our world suddenly turned upside down when I learned about this disease. I consulted many doctors in Delhi but all in vain. They all suggested that I must get an IVF, and were least interested in treating the disease.My husband and I were not in favor of this and started to look for another doctor and luckily we found one who not only cured the disease but assured us that we will conceive naturally.The day I have been waiting finally arrived when the doctor said that I have been cured completely of PCOD, after two long years of medications. These words were sheer poetry to my ears. This day was the beginning of good days in our lives.Months passed and out of nowhere, I realized that I have missed my period. I then checked and found the result to be positive.We were dancing over the moon after getting to know that we are pregnant!!. Nothing in the world can be compared to the joy and happiness of having able to carry a baby within you.I felt blessed that I could experience this beautiful phase of motherhood.The start was rough but the ending was just amazing.We welcomed our angel on 04 Jan 2020.Soon she will be turning a year old.This journey of the first year has been wonderful.I wish luck to all those who are expecting and those who are planning.Those who have welcomed their kids, good luck to those as well.STAY SAFE!! Read more
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10 Hazardous Effects of Junk Food on Children
If you end up asking any parent about the biggest challenge they have concerning their child, making sure their kids eat the right food at the right time will always be in the top 3 of those challenges. By themselves, kids take a while in getting into the right groove of eating healthily. This is further made difficult by the almost pervading presence of fast food at every corner of the neighbourhood. The allure of the visuals and the lovely aroma makes it difficult for little kids to resist it, leading them to constantly crib about eating more and more of it. But there is a reason it is called junk food.
What Attracts Kids to Junk Food
Most of the times, the fast food establishments are located in such a setting that promises fun and exciting moments when you visit them. In the initial times, this is what attracts the kids to enter the joint in the first place. The barrage of advertisements, large billboards showing delicious food items, the various events that are organized by the joints, all play a vital role in getting the child excited to come there.
Many restaurants make it even more enticing for kids by bundling the meal with a toy. These are either based on any cartoon characters that are currently popular with the kids or related to an upcoming movie as a promotional campaign. Combined with a known celebrity to invite children, these strategies work in bringing a large number of children to the restaurants and gorge on fast food items.
What Contents of the Food Makes it Junk
When comparing healthy food vs junk food for kids, fast food barely has any nutrition but there are some specific ingredients that end up making it junk.
1. Additional Sugar
Various junk food items contain artificially added colours, flavours, and sugars that make them look attractive and taste delicious. Furthermore, these are usually paired with aerated beverages which also have the same constituents in them. These altogether combine to form a large quantity of additional sugar that is not good for the body.
2. Bad Fats
To further make their food items drool-worthy, all the food items that fast food restaurants offer, including burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and so, usually have multiple layers of cheese in them. Some of the items come with mayonnaise or have it as a separate dip for flavouring. Many of them are fried in oil. All of these aspects add to the fat content in the food item, most of which is not suitable for the kid.
3. Processed Substances
Fast food barely contains any fibrous elements and none of the other nutrients that are essential to give the body the necessary energy. All fast food does is make you feel full with processed food items, essentially rendering them junk.
4. Food Toppings
Many toppings that various burgers and salads have or the sauces and dips that accompany them are usually mayonnaise in generous quantities, ketchup or other flavours. All of them usually have a lot of salt in their preparation, which passes on to your kid’s body.
Harmful Effects of Junk Food on Children
Consumption of such junk food with all these constituents can be quite harmful to children and result in many adverse effects.
1. Reduction in Comprehension Speed
Where today’s age is all about getting there first and faster, all of this can be achieved only when the brain has had the right nutrition to develop itself. Junk food works only to fill the stomach and barely provides anything to help develop alertness. This results in kids generally lacking concentration when engaged in tasks, failure to remember things for a long time, and generally be weak at learning.
2. Issues with Heart Later in Life
The substantial portions of cheese and other fatty ingredients is inseparable from junk foods. These play a key role in increasing the presence of cholesterol in the body, which begins to deposit along the lines of the arteries. A habitual consumption of junk food opens doors to the presence of various heart-related problems later in life.
3. Growth Retardation
The physical body of your child is still undergoing quite some growth and development since the dental region and the bone structure take a while to reach their full maturity. Eating junk food begins to result in fatty deposits in various regions of the body, especially the hips and the thighs, as well as the additional sugar, gets exposed to the teeth. This can set in bone-related issues early in life and lead to dental decay as well.
4. Digestion Issues
Junk food is junk primarily due to the high presence of processed food items that lack any necessary nutrients, primarily fibre. This makes them difficult to digest as well as restricts proper bowel movement. All of these are responsible for the onset of constipation or any other intestine related disorders too.
5. Risk of Obesity
All the tasty and irresistible flavours of junk food are a result of fatty substances used in it. These fats simply get stored in the body but do not provide quick energyeateat, making your child lethargic. An inactivity of the body in the early stages of life sets the very foundation for a kid becoming obese and causing body image issues later on.
6. Risk of Diabetes
Sugar levels are the highest in junk foods and the beverages that accompany them. And since sugar begets the consumption of more sugar, all these colas and sodas get consumed in large quantities. This directly impacts the liver, causing insulin secretion issues and could even result in type 2 diabetes very early in life.
7. Kidney Problems
The increase in fats and cholesterol puts pressure on the heart, leading to increased blood pressure, too. This consequently brings about an impact on the function of the kidney, resulting in water retention within the body due to high levels of sodium. Doctors look for such signs to diagnose a kidney that doesn’t function properly.
8. Lower EQ
The presence of sugar and many other flavouring agents begins to affect the hormones that are thriving in a young kid. This results in children having extreme mood swings, sometimes resulting in tantrums or even depression.
9. Risk of Fatigue
The feeling of fullness that comes immediately after consuming junk food may satisfy the stomach but provides no energy source for the body in any forms of proteins or carbohydrates. This causes your kid to be tired and lethargic all the time.
10. Weak Circulation
High levels of salts present in junk foods provide a boost to the blood pressure but not in a good way. Salt contains sodium which is what results in BP problems later in life since it ends up in not developing the circulation system properly.
When to Worry About How Much Junk Food Your Child is Eating
Recently, many parents have realized the effects of junk food eating and most kids now end up eating it once a week or so, but there’s no specific level to it. Some occasional consumption or demand for it is fine. But if that starts falling into a pattern or reaches extremities where your child refuses to eat anything but junk food, then that’s a serious problem.
How to Encourage Your Child to Eat Healthy Food
Junk food gets kids excited and interested. That’s the core that needs to be targeted and it can be addressed using healthy home-cooked food as well.
1. Have Happy Meals at Home
Make sure your family enjoys lunch or dinner together in a fashion where food is the focus. If you have any party or event at home, avoid bringing junk food.
2. Adhere to A Plan
Let every child have his own meal on the refrigerator or someplace. This can let him know in advance what to expect.
3. Reduce Television
Restrict television to only those moments for the cartoons they enjoy. Opt for recorded episodes or internet streaming to avoid ads altogether.
4. Make Healthy A Habit
The more healthy the environment is, the lesser the chances of junk food cravings become. Let your fridge have the necessary options, too.
5. No Fast Food with Grocery
Keep the usual grocery items as “needs” and fast food as “luxuries”. The frequency of consuming junk food will drop down almost immediately.
6. Avoid Lectures
Constantly telling kids to eat healthily makes it even more unattractive in their heads. Present them with healthy and tasty options instead.
7. Cook Together
Let your child enjoy the feeling of cooking a meal. He will be more attached to healthy food emotionally, too.
8. Start Gardening
Begin from the roots and let your child grow his own veggies in a small patch. Make a side dish using it to instill a feeling of pride in your child.
Healthy Alternatives to Junk Food
There are some healthy alternatives you can opt for as well.
1. Homemade Jelly
Satiate the sweet taste buds with a healthy and tasty option.
2. Brown Bread Snacks
Combine these with corn to make a wonderful snack for the evening.
3. Grilled Fish Sticks
Push the burger aside and grill your kid’s favourite fish.
4. Granola Bar
These are not only filling but quite nutritious and a good energy source.
5. Homemade Potato Chips
Rather than buying commercial ones, make potato chips at home in healthy oil to make them tasty and fit for your little one.
Fast food for kids can easily get addictive and then become a tough problem altogether. Take measures to nip the problem in the bud, inculcate healthy eating habits, and let your child be a model for other kids as well.
Also Read: Brain Development Foods for Kids Read more
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts what to give children when starting solids?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
3 hours ago
A. After completing the time of six months you should start with dal water and rice water followed by all kind of fruits and vegetables porridge khichadi mash banana mash potato mash sweet potato dairy products and varieties made made out of ragi Suji and oats can also be given to your child
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World Heart Day - History and Significance
With the world becoming more aware of lifestyle diseases, there has been a significant change in the perception of your heart’s health. From healthcare professionals to food industry leaders, the focus and direction towards heart disease have turned towards preventive care.
When and Why Is World Heart Day Celebrated?
September 29 - World Heart Day - was set up by the World Heart Federation (WHF) as an international campaign to spread awareness about cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and their prevention. Heart disease, along with strokes, is responsible for over half of all non-communicable diseases in the world today. This makes CVD the number one killer. World Heart Day is aimed at bringing attention to cardiovascular disease and the range of associated health issues.
History of World Heart Day
Word Heart Day was established by the World Heart Federation in conjunction with the World Health Organisation (WHO) by the chairman of the WHF in 1999. It was celebrated for the first time in 2000. Initially, World Heart Day fell on the last Sunday of September, but it was later changed to the 29th of September.
How Is International Heart Day Celebrated Around the World?
While International Heart Day is not a public holiday, thanks to the efforts of the WHO and WHF, several events and activities are planned across the world with the objective of increasing the awareness of heart illness and its prevention. Governments and NGOs in different countries arrange activities that include runs, talks, concerts, plays, and sporting events. The WHF also organises awareness events in over 100 countries. These include:
Health checkups
Fitness events
Sports events
Public talks
Concerts
Stage shows
Exhibitions
World Heart Day Themes of Past Decade
The WHF initiated National Heart Day in over 100 countries with the aim of reducing the number of premature deaths due to heart illness by 25% by 2025. With this aim, they have organised World Heart Day with specific themes for each year. The theme for each year in the past decade has been:
How Young Is Your Heart? – 2006
Team up for Healthy Hearts – 2007
Know Your Risk – 2008
I Work With Heart – 2009
I Work With Heart – 2010
One World, One Heart, and One Home – 2011
One World, One Heart, and One Home – 2012
Take the Road to a Healthy Heart – 2013
Heart Choices NOT Hard Choices – 2014
Creating Heart-healthy Environments – 2015
Light Your Heart, Empower Your Life – 2016
Share the Power – 2017
My Heart, Your Heart – 2018
World Heart Day Quotes
More people are becoming aware of heart health, not least due to the involvement of celebrities and health care organisations. Here are a few quotes attributed to World Heart Day and heart health.
“We’re in a situation now where weight and extreme weight and heart disease is the biggest killer in this country today.” – Jamie Oliver
“With all of the holiday cheer in the air, it’s easy to overlook the ingredients in the foods. Ingredients such as salt, sugar, and fat – all of which leads to diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, strokes, heart disease, and cancer.” – Lee Haney
“I’m giving life lessons and tips on how to take care of your emotional heart, because heart disease is the number-one killer in America.” – Leeza Gibbons
“I saw many people who had advanced heart disease and I was so frustrated because I knew if they just knew how to do the right thing, simple lifestyle and diet steps, that the entire trajectory of their life and health would have been different.” – Mehmet Oz
“Seeds and nuts are indispensable for cardiovascular health. The protective properties of nuts against coronary heart disease were first recognised in the early 1990s, and a strong body of literature has followed, confirming these original findings.” – Joel Fuhrman
“The most important thing in illness is never to lose heart.” – Nikolai Lenin
“Think about it: heart disease and diabetes, which account for more deaths in the U.S. and worldwide than everything else combined, are completely preventable by making comprehensive lifestyle changes. Without drugs or surgery.” – Dean Ornish
“The medical literature tells us that the most effective ways to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and many more problems are through healthy diet and exercise. Our bodies have evolved to move, yet we now use the energy in oil instead of muscles to do our work.” – David Suzuki
“I got into being vegan because I was simply looking to benefit from being more compassionate. I have since come to learn that it is an animal-based diet that is responsible for the overwhelming majority of cases of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, multiple sclerosis, and all kinds of other problems.” – Steve-O
“Millions of Americans today are taking dietary supplements, practising yoga and integrating other natural therapies into their lives. These are all preventive measures that will keep them out of the doctor’s office and drive down the costs of treating serious problems like heart disease and diabetes.” – Andrew Weil
As with most lifestyle diseases, heart disease is also hugely preventable. Small and simple changes to your lifestyle will result in exponential benefits to your heart. Even if we have a genetic disposition towards heart disease, the onset of the disease can be thwarted with good lifestyle changes. A healthy diet with low salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats combined with regular exercise will go a long way towards combating cardiovascular diseases.
The efforts of the World Heart Federation and the WHO have seen an increased awareness in the general population. People are now more aware of the risks of packaged food, unhealthy diets, and a lack of exercise. However, there is still much to be done in terms of reaching people who do not have the luxury or time of making home cooked meals every day. Food corporations who make packaged food or run fast food chains also have to be brought under international regulations in order to ensure that the public receives the right nutrition.
Also Read:
Foods That Are Good for Your Heart
Effective Yoga Mudras for Your Healthy Heart Read more
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Pumpkin Petha
The Pumpkin is a very underrated fruit. This humble and common Indian ingredient is a nutrition house and nourishes the skin, digestive system, immunity system and acts as an anti-depressant too! The benefits of pumpkin need to be tapped as it is ideal for the Indian weather conditions. Include it in your kid’s diet for a host of goodness!
Serves
Preparation Time
Cooking Time
6 People
30 Minutes
15 Minutes
Ingredients
1 big white pumpkin
2 tsp chemical lime
3 cups sugar
3 cups water
1 tbsp lemon juice
3-4 pods green cardamom peeled and crushed
Method
Step 1
Peel the pumpkin, remove the seeds and the inner fibrous flesh.
Step 2
Cut into sizable pieces and prick the pieces with a fork all over.
Step 3
Dissolve 1 tsp of chemical lime in enough water to cover all the pumpkin pieces.
Step 4
Drop the pumpkin pieces in this solution and let them soak for about 30 min.
Step 5
Remove the pieces and rinse them thoroughly.
Step 6
Next, in a big pan, boil the washed pumpkin pieces in water till they turn translucent.
Step 7
While the pumpkin pieces boil, in another pan, dissolve the 3 cup sugar in 2 cups water.
Step 8
Add the lemon juice and cardamom podas. Let this solution boil and thicken to give string consistency.
Step 9
Remove the pumpkin pieces from the water, strain them well and drop them in the sugar syrup.
Step 10
Simmer for a couple of minutes and take off the stove.
Step 11
Chill and serve.
Nutritional Information
Calories
188 K cal
Proteins
0.9 g
Fats
1.2 g
Carbohydrates
50.6 g
Cholesterol
0 mg
Sodium
4 mg
Potassium
4mg
*For frying, add approximately 10 grams of fat per serving at 9 Kcal/gm of fat. Read more
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Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. can I take gevocet m during breastfeeding
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
3 hours ago
A. Please check with your doctor they will be able to confirm whether you can take this medicine or or not as a Dr who have a fair idea and they will know for what thing you are willing to take this medicine so whatever doubt you have associated there be able able able to clear it up for you
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. can I take zanocin 200 during breastfeeding
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
3 hours ago
A. I’m not aware about what medicine it is for I can only tell you that these basic medicines you can take throughout your lactation it’s not a problem the medicines that you could take before your pregnancy can always be taken during the time of lactation
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. #asktheexpert mam iam 33 weeks now when can I expect delivery date
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
3 hours ago
A. The basic delivery date is normally 39 to 3 40 weeks of your pregnancy whenever you are ready for your delivery and whenever you hit your labour that’s going to be the right time for you further move your Dr is going to tell you when are you going to deliver with the help of an ultrasound
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. iam 33 weeks pregnant now
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl
3 hours ago
A. What is your question associated with your pregnancy that you haven’t mentioned clearly can you please repost your question providing all the necessary details so at least I know and understand what are you willing to ask and accordingly I can give you help and assistance on that
Jennifer has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 3 months
1 hour ago
Q. I am 23 weeks 1 day pregnant. I was feeling the movements actively until today. Baby movements were not that good or maybe I didn’t feel it that way today. Is it a cause of concern? Should I wait for a day or two or should I go and see my gynaecologist?
Please suggest!
Read moreJennifer
Mom of 6 children
55 mins ago
A. please consult ur gynae asap.
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