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Eating Ghee During Pregnancy - Benefits, Risks & Myths
Ghee is one of the main ingredients used for cooking in India. When a woman is pregnant, she is often told to consume ghee, especially by the elders of the family, as it is believed to assist vaginal delivery (though there is no scientific study to prove the same). But is it good to eat ghee during pregnancy? Read on to discover all you need to know about consuming ghee during pregnancy.
Is It Safe to Eat Ghee During Pregnancy?
It is a known fact that a balanced diet and nutrition is of utmost importance for a pregnant woman. During pregnancy, a woman also needs to consume healthy fats. Ghee is a source of fats and thus can be included in the diet of a pregnant woman. However, one should include it only after consulting with a doctor.
Benefits of Eating Ghee During Pregnancy
Ghee is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, Omega 9 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Ghee has many health benefits but its benefits in pregnancy are not scientifically proven. However, in Indian culture ghee is believed to benefit a pregnant woman in the following ways.
It may provide relief from constipation during pregnancy.
It may help in the development of baby’s brain.
It helps in improving the digestion of a woman.
It helps nourish the baby.
It helps ease the labour.
Homemade ghee is a better and healthier option as compared to ghee or clarified butter that is procured from the market. You may begin consuming desi ghee in the first trimester but if you are concerned that you will gain too much weight or if you are already overweight, then it is recommended to include desi ghee in your diet only after consulting with your doctor.
Is Ghee Really Necessary for Pregnant Women?
Diet plays an important role in pregnancy. It is important for an expecting mother to eat a well-balanced diet to provide good nutrition to her growing foetus. It is believed that ghee lubricates the vagina and helps in normal delivery. It is also believed that it eases labour pain and is also effective in stimulating contractions. However, these beliefs are not supported by any scientific evidence. A pregnant woman only requires 350 extra calories to cater to the nutritional needs of the growing foetus. These extra calories can be obtained by eating a good diet that may include ghee also. However, consumption of ghee in large quantities may lead to weight gain. If weight gain is a concern then you should refrain from excess consumption of ghee.
Why Consuming Ghee During Pregnancy Might Not Be Safe?
Consuming ghee in pregnancy does not have any ill effects on the health of the mother or her unborn child. You may include ghee in your diet during pregnancy as it is a healthy source of fats. However, it is important to include it in moderate amounts, as consuming it in large amounts could lead to weight gain and obesity. As physical activity also reduces in the last months of pregnancy, so if you eat more ghee in the last months of your pregnancy, it can make you and your baby gain more weight. Normal or vaginal delivery too can become difficult in case your baby gains more weight. Adding ghee to your diet may also lead to excess weight gain in case you are on a high-calorie diet. And excess weight and obesity may cause complications in your pregnancy and it may become very difficult to get rid of excess fat after childbirth.
Therefore, if you are already overweight or have concerns about gaining excess weight in your pregnancy, it is advisable to consult your doctor before including ghee in your diet.
Myths Associated With Eating Ghee While Pregnant
There are a number of myths associated with eating desi ghee during pregnancy. It is tasty and healthy, no doubt, but many people believe that drinking milk with ghee added to it can provide for extra nutrition and calories to the pregnant woman and her unborn child. It is also believed that it aids the birthing process by lubricating the vagina. Many people think that including ghee in the pregnancy diet in the ninth month helps in normal delivery. However, these are just myths so don't add ghee in your diet just because you like the taste. If you wish to eat ghee during pregnancy, you can but only after consulting with your doctor.
Are There Any Risks and Complications?
There are no known risks or complications of consuming ghee other than the possibility of putting on extra weight (which is a consequence). A balanced diet is of utmost importance in pregnancy as it nourishes you and your baby. It is advisable that you have small frequent meals instead of having 3 big meals at a single time. Including more fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet is a healthy option. If you are enjoying good health and you do not have any weight gain issues, then you may include a moderate amount of desi ghee in your diet. Ghee has been in use since ages in almost all Indian homes and it is also a good source of dietary fat.
It is recommended that you seek expert medical advice whenever you plan to make any dietary changes in pregnancy. Your doctor may recommend the best food options for you in pregnancy.
Also Read:
Consuming Peanut Butter in Pregnancy
Eating Paneer during Pregnancy
Consuming Jaggery while Pregnant Read more
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If You're Doing At Least 8 of These 10 Things, We Guarantee Your Kids Will Rarely Fall ill
Highly successful people don’t do different things, they do things differently. The same can be said about people who rarely fall ill. While there is some amount of genetics involved in this (people who’ve been blessed with a good constitution are able to better ward off diseases and illnesses), there are a certain set of habits that all of us can adopt to keep ourselves fit.
Here are some highly-effective habits of strong parents and children that are a must for everyone to follow. After all, when it comes to any kind of disease or illness, prevention is always better than cure, right?
10 Things You Do as a Mother That Safeguard Your Child’s Health
The following tricks to prevent kids from getting sick are sure to make life easy for you, and keep most health problems at bay! We guarantee that if you follow at least 80% of this list, your kids will be safeguarded from most common infections.
1. You Serve Clean, Healthy Food to Kids
We are the food we eat, and it is important to eat good food in order to stay fit. Food is closely linked to not just our overall health and well-being, it is also associated with good immunity. Hidden hunger arising from nutrient deficiencies never occurs overnight, they are a result of sustained poor intake of the nutrient. A well-balanced diet of home-cooked food that meets all daily nutrient requirements of your child will help them grow at an optimum pace, and will also make their body strong from within.
2. You Limit Fast Food Consumption
It is not enough to only eat good food; it is also equally important to not eat junk or fast food.
WATCH: Top 10 Bad Effects of Fast Food on Health
https://youtu.be/qciqf9l4p_o
Key Takeaway: From obesity, heart diseases, diabetes, to loss of appetite, increased stress levels, and nutrient deficiencies, fast foods bring along a host of health problems that significantly reduce the quality of life, and make way for other illnesses to enter your life.
Junk food and fast food should be avoided for all the above reasons. However, the most significant reason to give up junk or fast food is the fact that it provides no nutrition to the body. Why would you want to eat or feed your child something that is not really nourishing the body?
3. You Curb Sugar Consumption and Stick to Natural Sugar
Children actually end up eating a lot of sugar. Every candy, chocolate, cake or pastry that your child eats is full of sugar, and consuming high-sugar foods can be a recipe for disaster. From dental problems and hyperglycaemia, to behavioural problems such as anxiety and temper tantrums, too much sugar can wreak havoc on your child’s body.
What’s most interesting to note here is how quickly and easily you can adopt the benefits of cutting down on your child’s sugar intake. According to a study conducted by the University of California, San Francisco last year, simply cutting down on ‘added sugar’ from the diet of obese children lead to improvement in there LDL levels (i.e. bad cholesterol), triglycerides level, as well as blood pressure in just nine days. (Added sugar here refers to high fructose corn syrup and sucrose specifically.)
However, children are young and will crave sweet! At such times, it is important you make a healthy choice. Offer them natural sugar – such as that in fresh fruits, milk, etc. and stay away from products that have added sugar in them in the form of sucrose, dextrose, starch, corn syrup, etc.
4. You Ensure the Kids Get Daily Exercise
Exercise should be made into a habit, and the best time to inculcate habits is when you are a child. Children who exercise regularly not only rarely fall ill, they are also able to sleep better, perform better at school, and are able to remain optimistic through life.
But what is the exact connection between exercise and immunity? Exercise promotes the circulation of lymphatic fluid, which carries lymphocytes – the white cells that fight off diseases and infections. So if you get lazy, so is your immune system going to, making you more prone to infections.
5. Your Kids Maintain Good Personal Hygiene Indoors & Outdoors
One of the important steps in keeping diseases at bay is to maintain a high degree of personal hygiene. Every child must be made to brush their teeth, have a bath, and comb their hair every day. Children should also be encouraged to wash their hands when they come home after spending time outdoors, before eating food, and before touching their face or private parts. They should be discouraged from sharing their personal belongings, especially towels, handkerchiefs, napkins, etc.
While stepping out of the house, children should dress appropriately, keeping the weather in mind. They should wear a good moisturiser and a good mosquito repellent that offers effective protection against mosquitoes. If you do not want to use any products on their skin, you can use a fabric roll-on like Good knight’s Fabric Roll-On. With just 4 dots of the completely natural product on your child’s clothes, you can protect them from mosquitoes for up to eight hours. This product makes a good mosquito repellent for children during all outdoor-time.
6. You Establish a Daily Routine and Break-time for Children
On the face of it, a regular daily routine might seem like the last thing related to a good immune system. However, there is a lot that a proper well-defined daily routine can do to keep you healthy and disease free. First up, it makes you and your body disciplined. Any new habits you want to inculcate can be worked into your routine and become easy to develop.
Daily routines also regulate the body’s sleep, hunger, bowel movement, and other patterns. Finally, they make us value our break-time, and use it constructively instead of just sitting in front of the TV! Especially with the increased amount of time that children are spending on screens, this becomes a very important point.
7. You Help Your Kids Get Adequate Sleep
All the body’s wear and tear is compensated for during sleep when different restorative processes help rejuvenate both the physical body and the mind. Effects of poor quality sleep and/or lack of sleep can be serious and long-lasting, affecting all walks of life – from poor performance at work or school to compromised immunity, weight gain, and many more. Getting enough sleep is as important as all the points above, to keep illness away!
Make sure you and your child get 8 hours of undisturbed sleep. Do not eat or drink one hour before going to bed, no cell phones, and ensure you use a good mosquito repellent. However, if your child is too young, vapours from chemical-based repellents can trouble them. Instead, dab 4 dots of GoodKnight Fabric Roll-On onto their cots to repel mosquitoes. It is completely natural and child-safe. Also, keep windows closed in the evenings, use a mosquito net, and keep the baby’s room closed through the day, when not in use.
8. Your House is Clean and Free of Mosquito-Breeding Spots
A clean house keeps most health problems and illnesses away. Start with getting rid of things you’ve not used for more than 6 months. Move and shift things around; never let them sit and catch dust. Pay special attention to stored water and the corners of rooms that are inaccessible – these are favourite places for mosquitoes to breed, and we all know that mosquitoes are our biggest fear and worst enemies! They spread diseases like dengue, malaria, etc., that take a very serious toll on children’s health. Keeping these places clean is a primary step towards mosquito protection.
9. You Take the Kids for Regular Doctor’s Check-ups
While we do everything we can to ensure all the above tips, it is always a good idea to get regular doctor’s check-ups done for all family members periodically – once every 3 months can be a good period. Get routine blood tests done, check for nutrient deficiencies and check their growth rate. A slowed down growth rate is often indicative of a serious health problem. A lot of things can be revealed by a doctor’s report that may not be evident to us. Also never disregard any symptoms of an illness. Fevers, colds, insect bites, etc., should all be given due attention.
10. You and the Kids Have Fun and Socialise
Finally, don’t take life too seriously! It has been reported that people who laugh more, engage in social activities on a regular basis, and have ample of interaction with other people in the real world (and not virtually), tend to live longer, have a better quality of life, and are able to ward off most coronary, hepatic, stress-related and lifestyle diseases. So remember to keep calm and chill out! Do not cause undue stress for your child over their grades, homework, and classes. Ensure you spend time together as a family. Hug each other, laugh together, and cuddle at bed-time.
Positive Impact of Socialising on Overall Health
Probably the first thing we think of when we are feeling down is calling a friend or stepping out. With changing times though, this is changing too; more and more of us are turning to social media instead of turning to another person.
However, according to a 2012 study carried out by the University College Dublin, it is increased social interaction that actually help to alleviate symptoms of depression. Social interactions that participants of this study engaged in included going for a movie, concert or play, going out for coffee or to eat, and enjoying a conversation on such outings.
Additionally, earlier this year, a study carried out in UK by Peter Howley and Christopher Boyce determined that “use of social networking websites is negatively associated with mental health”.
These and other similar studies point to the importance of face-to-face social contact and how it is important in our mental well-being. We all already know how mental and physical health is closely linked and interdependent. As a new-age 21st century mother, it is imperative that you not only encourage but foster social interactions for your child and family! A happy child is a healthy child.
So these are some of the ways to prevent getting sick. These may seem like simple measures, but these lifestyle changes will ensure you remain fit and develop a strong immunity. This, in turn, will protect you and your children from being vulnerable to infections.
Source:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021915016302933
http://www.ucd.ie/news/2012/06JUN12/130612-Socialising-helps-to-alleviate-symptoms-of-depression.html Read more
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How to Help Your Baby Deal With the Dreaded Vaccination Day
Vaccines are important and no matter how much you hate seeing your baby in utter pain and discomfort, you just cannot avoid vaccines.
Thanks to advances in medicine, we have painless vaccines now that lead to no swelling at the site of injection or fever afterwards. However, the shot itself is painful!! I have seen adults shake at the sight of an injection, so it is quite evident that vaccines are painful. As a parent, you can help to take at least some pain out of the entire thing. Here I'm sharing some tips:
Firstly, this is my personal hack and I do not say that everyone should follow it. You may give it a try if you wish. I give a little bit of Crocin to my daughter 30 minutes before getting her injected. The mom logic being, it inevitably pains a little after injection and mostly, we do give Crocin anyhow after the shot. Giving it before the shot, I feel reduces the pain experienced by the baby further.
Numbing the area where the shot needs to be given with help of cold pack application and spraying topical anaesthesia decreases the perception of pain. These are called Eutectic anaesthesia sprays and you can readily get them at chemists.
Ice packs are helpful in numbing the skin before shots and reducing the pain and swelling after shots. Please do not put these directly on babies skin, wrap in a cotton clothes and then use.
Feed your baby before and after shots. Breastfeeding makes most babies drowsy so, they will not notice much pain. Also, after shots it helps to comfort and soothe them.
If your baby is awake at the time of shots, distraction is the key. Talk to them, play with them using a toy or a prop to take their mind off the pain.
After shots, do not apply any kind of heat to the area. Also, avoid massaging that leg for 2 days after shots have been administered.
So, these are some personal suggestions from me to make the vaccination day less dreaded for your baby.
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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A Step By Step Guide For a Diwali Party For Your Toddler
The little ones are looking forward to Diwali as much as grown-ups are. But the truth is, sometimes, amidst all the hustle and chaos of the Diwali family party, the kids might feel left out or even worse - get bored on their favorite festival! It can also be hazardous for them to deal with crackers or go into the street unaccompanied. But your toddler is like a racer-jet and it will be quite a task to supervise him all evening without giving up on your own social indulgence. What's the solution here? An exclusive kiddie party on Diwali!
Trust us, with this step-by-step guide, you'll know exactly how to celebrate Diwali with toddlers.
Tips to Celebrate Diwali With Toddlers
1. Safety First, always
Toddlers, though super active, are not really big on balance and precision! Most of their motor skills are still developing, making it dangerous for them to even be around something seemingly harmless such as diyas/candles. Firecrackers are obviously not fit to be handled by toddlers. So, the basic tips to celebrate Diwali with toddlers are not keeping any inflammable substances around, and arranging the event in a room big enough for them to toddle-around in.
2. Games and Activities
Kids have a way of finding forbidden things irresistible! They know that the grown-ups are bursting crackers and will want to do the same. The trick is to keep them occupied so their wandering minds stay hooked. Start by assembling a few fancy dress props - dupattas, a fake moustache, spectacles, hats, scarves etc. Ask the kids to take their pick and parade around in style! Then serve some food, and post that you can leave them with scrapbooks and pictures to paste, stencil games and other play props. An exclusive play idea for Diwali celebration with kids could be projection stencils with electronic torches taped on the back. They can switch on the lights and look at patterns emerge on the walls of a dimly-lit room.
3. Food and Drinks
Toddlers love finger food! Some snack ideas include cheese pops, tikkis, wafers, fries, fruits, barfis and laddoos. Make sure that the foods are big enough to prevent any choking hazard. You can assemble an assorted platter for each toddler to munch on while playing. As far as drinks go, children love sugar. Opt for healthier choices such as fruit juices, milkshakes and squashes - steering clear of sodas to prevent a sugar rush. If you're going all the way, you must try out our roundup of the best Diwali recipes for kids!
4. Wrapping it up
Once the kids have tired themselves out to their heart's content and the energy reserves are running low - it's time to go to bed! End the fiesta with a fireworks presentation just for the kids. Two or three adults can put on a firecracker-show and entice the kids with gestures and background music. After that, make a quick rangoli in front of them that they can help you with. Click pictures for everyone and later you can send the scrapbooks with the pictures as a return-gift. Both the kids and moms will treasure it!
Keeping the kids happily occupied is a big feat, especially when all the grown-ups are running around and dangerous firecrackers are what they want to play with. With these ideas for Diwali party with toddlers, you'll be able to throw them a bonanza that even the grown-ups will be jealous of! Read more
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Tips to Stay Positive around your Growing Toddler
Toddlers learn from what they see and feel, more than from what they hear. Hence, they can sense your frame of mind while you are communicating with them, and if that is not positive, those are the cues they pick up. Studies, over the years, have shown that children of positive parents enjoy better physical and physiological health.
Staying positive when you have to get a two-year-old ready for school in the morning, while packing lunch for the partner and self, and all this in time to catch the 8 am company pick-up can be a daunting task indeed. In the midst of all this, ‘positive’ is the last word most would think of associating with this daily battleground. Yet, it isn’t impossible!
Here are some tips from experts on how we can ‘converse’ with our toddlers better, to make growing up a more positive experience for them and us.
1. Prioritise
This is far easier said than done – most of us know that. And yet, it is the most effective tool towards the end result we desire. Many of us carry our work-related or other stress to the time we spend with our little ones, and they sense it immediately. Children are far more perceptive than we give them credit for. They can sense your tension, and resultantly, turn cranky themselves. They can feel that they do not have your full attention and, naturally, demand it.
2. Empowerment
Don’t be surprised. This isn’t a word exclusively dedicated to women. By now, you are aware (from past experience) that even infants have their own opinions. It’s just that they can’t do much about it given their limited mobility. Toddlers, on the other hand, are mobile, can say ‘no’ and make their dissent known vociferously. Let them be the judge of what they would like to do and not do in some matters, depending on the safety of the issue at hand. Let them know that their opinion counts too, so that at the times when you need to negotiate, the resistance is relatively lesser.
3. ‘Play’ Out your Daily Tasks
Most of us hate repetition, as will the child. The same tasks followed in the exact same manner every passing day will make the child resent it, especially since they do not know the relevance of it. Make the tasks that the child is engaged in on a daily basis, fun. For example, fly them to the bathtub, make a song and dance out of brushing your teeth together, eating can become an exploration with their toy friends. Again, the fun element in all these otherwise mundane tasks will add excitement for the child and reduce resistance.
4. The Reason Behind the Behaviour
Try and understand the reason why your toddler is doing what she is. Be it throwing away a toy, emptying the milk bottle or hitting you. Children are trying to communicate through every gesture and action. It is up to us to understand the reason and take steps accordingly. Reasons may be as varied as seeking attention, genuinely not liking what is placed on the plate in front of them or just frustration at her own inability to communicate exactly what she wants.
5. Give them an Alternative, not Just ‘No’
Many parents make the mistake of telling their toddlers what is off-limits without pointing out to an alternative for them to keep themselves occupied. While you have told her that the remote control to the television is out of bounds, show her the window that will offer her the view of passing cars, people and the occasional dog and cat. Spend some time with her on this and move away once she is hooked to the interesting happenings outside the window.
Stay positive! The experience will be much more enriching – for your child and you. Read more
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Dr. Minal Acharya has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 5 months
6 hours ago
Q. Hii...., Is it safe to eat jackfruit in 4th month of pregnancy, daily 2 ...
Dr. Minal Acharya
Nutritionist
6 hours ago
A. dear mam, you can eat jackfruit during the 4th month of pregnancy. there is no problem in having it. you can eat all types of seasonal vegetables and fruits even green leafy vegetables.
shahin has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
5 hours ago
Q. is that positive result??? my Due date is tommoro I am having vomitting and nausea and back pain etc please reply asap
shahin
Mom of a 6 m old boy
4 hours ago
A. yes
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
4 hours ago
Q. Hi I'm in 23weeks pregnancy
my afi is 26 I have no diabetes or any other issues
is that risky ? what to do for making normal delivery possible
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
4 hours ago
A. yes AFI level is very high and yes you need to be very careful to have regular follow up with your doctor take the precautions advised by your doctor and regularly keep a watch on baby movements
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
4 hours ago
Q. nasal congestion during 9th week pregnancy is normal or something serious?
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
4 hours ago
A. it's ok . take steam twice daily or you can use nasal drops
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.
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 5 months
2 hours ago
Q. Is there any issue with this test
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
2 hours ago
A. You have not given any details about us to what test are you talking about or anything associated with that for that matter can you please repost your question with all the necessary details required to understand your question as accordingly I can assist you on that
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
42 mins ago
Q. my baby is 8years old and she wets bed can anyone suggest me what to do??
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
41 mins ago
A. normally bedwetting is very common during the night time and the child is able to tell you regarding urination during the daytime.
usually this problems improves with increasing age of the child and usually no medicines are given until and unless recommended by the doctor( you can easily wait for ten years of age of the child)
usually treatment of medicines (if started) gives only symptomatic relief and the problem goes away only with increasing age with the strengthening of the muscles of the bladder which control the urination.
steps
decrease the amount of water intake just before going to bed and make the child pass urinex before going to sleep.
also you can wake up the child at around 2 o'clock 3 o'clock and make the child pass urine.
never criticizex the child for this act because this will again aggravate the problem due to stress.
meet your doctor who will tell you more regarding this .
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