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10 Health Benefits of Makhana (Lotus Seeds) in Pregnancy
When you’re expecting a baby, there are certain foods that you need to avoid to help the growing child inside you. While some of these food items can drastically affect your health negatively, there are a few that are highly beneficial, especially during this period. One such food is makhana also called fox nuts or lotus seeds.
What is Makhana?
Makhana, as mentioned, are lotus seeds that are popularly used for medicinal purposes in Asia. It is also used in various cuisines around the continent.
Lotus seeds can be eaten both raw and cooked and they have a lot of nutritional value. Read about some of the health benefits of makhana or fox nut during pregnancy:
Nutritional Value of Makhana
Makhana seeds have plenty of nutritional value attached to them. It is considered one of the healthiest foods for a mother to consume during pregnancy and it is extracted from the lotus flower. Lotus seeds are consumed mainly in South-East and South Asia. Some of the nutrients present in lotus seeds include:
Calcium
Phosphorous
Iron
Manganese
Vitamin-B complexes
Potassium
Amino acids and
Antioxidants
The best part about phool makhana during pregnancy is that they can be consumed in many different ways, based on how you want to make them. They can be used in soups, curries, or fried and had as snacks as well.
Makhana Benefits during Pregnancy
Here are some of the benefits of consuming lotus seeds during pregnancy.
1. Treat Insomnia
Makhana seeds are great for treating insomnia. Insomnia may be caused due to a variety of reasons like changing patterns in hormones, stress and food habits. Having makhana seeds can help treat insomnia to an extent because of the presence of mild sedative substances in them. The antioxidants and vitamins present will regulate the body’s functioning in such a way that a person feels asleep when it is their regular bedtime.
2. Prevent Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is another problem that can be easily countered with the help of lotus seeds. A lot of women face issues because of changes in hormonal balance. This includes diarrhoea as well, and lotus seeds are said to be a great remedy for the same. Lotus seeds can increase the strength of your digestive system and ensure that food is digested properly during this phase. Eating a few lotus seeds each day during the early stages of pregnancy will help in avoiding diarrhoea and other digestion related issues.
3. Blood Pressure Control
If you have blood pressure issues while pregnant, lotus seeds are perfect for regulating your blood pressure. There is an embryo in the middle of the lotus seed, which has vitamins and provides a cooling effect on the body.
The embryos help in keeping the blood flow under control while the other “bitter” component called “isoquinoline” is calming and helps in keeping the veins dilated.
4. Help in Relieving Painful Gums
If you’re struggling with painful and bleeding gums due to pregnancy, it is because of the hormonal changes that take place in the middle period. Due to excess water retention, the gums can turn sore and painful.
By eating lotus seeds, you can increase the vitamin-B complexes found in the body. The zinc present will help clean and reduce the pain in your gums.
5. Hydrate Your Skin
Lotus seeds are helpful in hydrating your skin during pregnancy. A lot of women face flaky or dry skin during pregnancy and this can be painful when rubbed against hard surfaces. By eating lotus seeds, you can decrease the spots, wrinkles and lines on your skin. The lotus seeds can help in keeping your skin hydrated within the subcutaneous tissues and help hydrate your body from inside as well.
6. Control Weight
While you will pile on the pounds during pregnancy, it can be hard to control your weight. It is important that you eat well, but at the same time, do not overeat. Lotus seeds are excellent during pregnancy because they have a low glycaemic index and will help you feel full after you’ve eaten a few of them. There are a lot of other minerals as well that are present in makhana, so you can get a lot of other nutritional assets as well.
7. Control Blood Sugar
Makhana can also help in controlling the sugar levels in your blood during pregnancy. It is possible that your sugar can rise due to stress as well as hormones, and lotus seeds can help control the same. Lotus seeds are rich in Vitamin B complexes and fibre, and low in calories. These help in burning calories and lowering the glucose levels in your blood.
8. Prevent Urinary Tract Infections
When you’re pregnant, the body can be fragile and needs nutrition at all times. The vaginal secretion can also be left on your underwear which could lead to tract infections when they’ve not been changed for a while. If you consume lotus seeds, you can reduce the risk of the same by up to 20%. You can include them in soups or snack on them in general.
9. Increase Energy
One of the most annoying feelings when you’re pregnant is that of fatigue. It can be very hard to overcome this, especially if you’ve to complete some work. Having lotus seeds is a great way to fight this because they contain iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium, protein and vitamins and can help you feel energised through the day.
10. Enhance the Development of the Foetus
Due to the higher levels of protein present in lotus seeds, you can help your foetus develop in the right manner. The protein present, along with other vital nutrients can enhance the central nervous system of the foetus and the vitamins help the baby absorb the other nutrients from the food that it consumes.
The development of the foetus is also greatly boosted by eating lotus seeds because there is a lot of fibre present in the food.
How to Eat Makhana
Many women are confused about how to incorporate makhana into their daily diet. There are in fact, several ways that you can do so, depending on your preference. Here’s how you can eat makhana or lotus seeds during pregnancy.
1. Plain Roasted
There are a great substitute for popcorn, when eaten plain. All you have to do is lightly roast them in a spoon of butter or ghee. You can also add some salt, chilli powder or any other seasoning for a nice flavour.
2. Kheer
Makhana is not just a nutritive addition to kheer, but can also help thicken it when added. Simply roast some plain makhana, as mentioned above, crush them, and add to the kheer, five minutes before you finish cooking it.
3. Laddus
Roast some plain makhana and blend it into a fine paste. Now, mix this in with the other ingredients in the recipe, and there you have it, a healthy laddu for you to enjoy.
If you’ve been wanting to know, “Is makhana good for pregnancy?,” then your answer is clear – YES! makhana is an excellent source of nutrients for the body and mind. It has multiple health benefits and are one of the main reasons that a lot of ancient Asian cultures advocate its consumption. Having makhana will help you regulate your weight, keep blood pressure under control and so much more, so don’t hesitate the next time you feel like eating it.
Also Read: Eating Peanuts during Pregnancy Read more
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50 Acts of Kindness Ideas for Kids
Parents generally tend to focus on providing the child with the right kind of education, the perfect school, and ensuring he learns the skills required to be a productive individual. However, there are rare times when a child’s social growth and compassionate behavior are put in focus as well. In today’s world, kindness is taking a backseat with most people preferring to be selfish and uncaring towards others. Here’s your chance to make the next generation better than us.
Why are Random Acts of Kindness Important for Children?
Many believe that being kind actually makes you naive and gullible, leading you to lose out to competition in life. But studies show otherwise. Kids who are kind to other children around them are more readily accepted by his classmates. Everyone wants to be treated kindly and seeing someone as a kind person helps you form a bond with them. The instances of bullying, bunking school, and unfounded violence begin to fade away when the benefits of kindness start getting visible. The random acts of kindness help your child in understanding that a kind act should not be looked at as a deal or a trade. It should come from within, from the heart.
Ways to Teach Your Child The Importance of Kindness
To understand the best way of teaching kindness to children activities can always be useful, but so can everyday behavior that helps inculcate kindness as a way of life.
1. Lead By Example
The easiest way for your child to be a kind person is to see you be one. Children readily emulate various traits and habits of their parents. If you tend to behave rudely, your child will end up looking at the world from the same eyes. By behaving kindly with others, you set an example for your child to look up to and do the same in his life.
2. Expand Their World
A child’s world is pretty small inside his head. His school, friends, toys, and family. That’s pretty much everything for him. This is why the concept of understanding random acts of kindness dawns a little late on them. Talk to them about the world and the people living in it. Open their eyes to other individuals in the school, the many people in the streets you cross daily, and let them know why kindness is so important today.
3. Make It A Habit, Not A Duty
Kids hate duties or chores and will do them simply to appease you. You wouldn’t want your kid to be kind just because you ask him to. This is a value that he needs to inculcate within himself. This can be achieved only by practising kindness on a daily basis. Let it be as small as waving to the fruit-seller you see every day on the way to school. Tiny habits come together to form a personality trait.
4. Let Them See The Power of Action
Teaching your child about kindness is one thing. But, once they see it happen in real life, there is no turning back. Ask your child to go and compliment a shopkeeper, or gift a toffee to a policeman standing on the road. Let them hear the words of thankfulness and experience the happiness that comes with helping someone.
5. Smile More to Be Kind
Not all kindness needs to manifest in the form of action. Even a small gesture of acknowledgement can improve someone’s day. Smile at people you see every day and wave to the ones you know well. Those are enough to make someone happy for the entire day.
6. Begin Young
As your child grows up, his habits start solidifying and introducing new ones, especially selfless ones, start getting difficult. Teach your child to be kind while he is a kid so that it integrates with his personality by the time he becomes an adolescent.
7. Join Him in Being Kind
Your little boy cannot do this all by himself. And it isn’t too late for you to start being kind again as well. Go with your child to encourage him to act kindly with others. Pick a day and a location and decide to smile at everyone you see them. Help your child take the first steps.
8. Clarify The Purpose
Make sure your child sees kindness for the altruistic act that it is. And not something to show off or expect something in return. That not only defeats the entire purpose of kindness but might make your child start doubting anybody else who is kind to him. This can even cause behavioral problems.
9. Kindness and Success
Later in life, your child will begin to associate success by comparing himself with others, leading him to be less kind to others in the effort to be better himself. Talk to him about what true success means and how kindness is an internal success that nobody can take from him.
10. Don’t Be Kind Alone
Let your child get together his friends and organize a random act of kindness. Let him know that everyone is on the same side when they are kind and if someone isn’t actively kind, you shouldn’t end up judging the person for it.
List of Random Acts of Kindness for Kids to Try
Here's a list of acts of kindness your kids would enjoy.
Writing a letter to a friend and posting it.
Thanking different staff members of the school.
Giving water to a thirsty child.
Clean the toys at home by himself.
Make a handmade gift for a friend’s birthday.
Giving healthy sweets to a police official.
Helping someone with their bags at a supermarket.
Replacing birthday gifts with donations to charities.
Write a song for someone you know.
Give old toys and books to an orphanage.
Leave a small lovely note for mommy in the kitchen.
Give free hugs whenever you can.
Use old printed papers to practice drawing.
Teach your friend a new activity you’ve learnt.
Bake muffins with your mom and give them to random people.
Clean the blackboard in the classroom before your teacher enters.
Play with someone you don’t know at the playground.
Say “thank you” to the bus driver.
Talk to faraway relatives regularly over video calls.
Make your bed and clean the room without mom asking you to.
Make popcorn yourself in advance for a movie night.
Help take care of someone’s dog while they’re travelling.
Assist elderly people with their luggage.
Gift your sick friend a “get well soon” card.
Work with your mom in helping her with dinner.
Get a packet of biscuits for your society’s watchman.
Save a little money in a kindness jar every day and use it for a random act.
Be polite, smile, and say “thank you” to servers in hotels and restaurants.
Brush your teeth with the tap shut off.
Write a letter to your principal, praising your teacher.
Play with kids from another school.
Remember to say hello and goodbye.
Read a book or the newspaper to your grandmother.
Talk to a friend you haven’t spoken to in long.
Collect any old clothes and donate to an orphanage.
Get flowers for your doctor during your visit.
Help your neighbour with his grocery shopping.
Talk to new kids at school.
Help set up the plates for meals on weekends.
Make lemonade for everyone randomly.
Walk your friend’s dog.
Plant a tree.
Give your postman a thank-you card.
Wash your dad’s vehicle.
Crack a joke out of the blue.
Leave a paper note in a library book.
Feed pigeons and birds with grain.
Wash your plates after eating.
Give a new kid a friendship bracelet.
Share an umbrella.
Random acts of kindness are not difficult to come up with. They are the most obvious ones once you start looking at the world with humane eyes. Let your child be that from his childhood, and he will grow up to be a wonderful human being loved by all.
Also Read: Good Habits for Kids Read more
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Orange Jelly
Make the best out of this orange season with our recipe for orange jelly. Jellies are super easy to make though they look tricky. Delight your little one with fun jellies and the goodness of oranges is just an added side effect!
Serves
Preparation Time
Cooking Time
4 People
10-15 Minutes
10 Minutes
Ingredients
Gelatine
250 ml Water
2 oranges
75 g Granulated Sugar
Method
Step 1
First extract the juice of the oranges and keep aside.
Step 2
Mix the sugar and water in a pan and place over low heat until the sugar dissolves.
Step 3
Mix into this the gelatine powder thoroughly.
Step 4
Take off the heat and mix the orange juice.
Step 5
Pour this mixture into individual moulds or a single large bowl and let the jelly set in the freezer.
Step 6
Check for the jelly’s consistency and serve cold once ready.
Nutritional Information
Calories
227 K cal
Proteins
1.9 g
Fats
0.2 g
Carbohydrates
59.1 g
Cholesterol
0 mg
Sodium
4 mg
Potassium
334 mg
Read more
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Speech Sound Disorders in Young Children
Speech sound disorders can be treated correctly if detected early. Know the causes of speech sound disorders in toddlers as well as the symptoms to watch out for, its diagnosis and subsequent treatment. The sooner the disorder is identified and treated, the more effectively will a child overcome it.
As your toddler grows, walking, communicating are just a few milestones he crosses. However, if he has difficulty at any stage, it’s important to take note and consult a doctor. Speech sound disorder is one condition that can be seen in growing toddlers.
Understanding Speech Sound Disorder
Slow or difficult development of a child's speech beyond a certain age is called a speech sound disorder.All children make mistakes while learning to communicate, however hose who make specific ones repeatedly over time may be suffering from speech sound disorder.
Types of Speech Sound Disorders in Toddlers
Speech sound disorders are classified basis the kind of speech impairment. These are:
1. Articulation disorder in toddlers
Inability to pronounce or articulate certain words. Example, the child says 'thebra' instead of zebra or 'wivvers' instead or rivers.
2. Phonological process disorder in toddlers
Inability to speak, read and write. It’s usually detected in children beyond 4 years.
3. Motor speech disorders
These are disorders that involve the brain's motor system.They include childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) or developmental verbal dyspraxia (DVD), and dysarthrias in children.
Causes of Speech Sound Disorders
While most causes of speech sound disorders remain unknown the following can cause the same:
Physical abnormalities like cleft lip
Brain injury
Hearing loss
Neurological disorders
Developmental disability
Symptoms of Speech Sound Disorders
1. Articulation disorder
Difficulty in articulating certain word and sounds
Pronouncing certain sounds differently like substituting ‘s’ with 'th', t with 'f' etc.
2. Phonological process disorder
Poor speech intelligibility
Difficulty in learning, using and understanding words, word meanings and sentences.
3. Motor speech disorder
CAS/DVD:
Searching for right articulatory gesture
Substituting words
Pronouncing same word differently
Dysarthrias:Evident difficulty in speech is the major characteristic of this disorder.The child's speech mechanism such as the larynx, lips, tongue, palate and jaw may be weak, have poor coordination or may even be paralyzed.
Diagnosing Speech Sound Disorders
A speech-language pathologist will have the child undergo tests for sound errors. A physical examination determines the health of the oral muscles. Evaluation and constant monitoring of language development are part of the diagnosis as well.
Assessment and Treatment of Speech Sound Disorders
1. Articulation disorder
Traditional articulation therapy is a commonly used method to treat speech sound disorders in psychology. It includes:
Behavioural learning techniques
Teaching children new sounds instead of error or omitted sounds
Repeating until the new sound is learned and accepted by the child.
2. Phonological process disorder
Phonological therapy aims at improving the cognitive skills of the child and includes:
Core vocabulary therapy
Cycles therapy (patterns intervention)
Imagery therapy
Metaphon
Minimal pair therapies
Parents and child together (PACT)
Phoneme awareness therapy
3. Motor speech disorders
These disorders are genetic, hence treatment is also based on traditional articulation therapy. Speech sound disorders in 15-month-old babies can usually be treated effectively with early diagnosis and treatment. Read more
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10 “Youth” Things you Should NEVER Stop Doing!
If you're constantly amazed by the roller-coaster pace of life, you're not alone. We age in a blink and before we know it, our kids are parents as well! In this crazy life, you can actually stay forever youthful – without cosmetics. This United Nations International Youth Day on August 12, refresh some of your youthful habits and resolve to adopt them all over again.
The International Youth Day 2015 theme is “Youth Civic Engagement” or teaming up with young people to improve global human development. As moms, you ensure your children are social citizens and young and free at heart. But this year, why not rekindle some of your own youthful habits and leave behind stress, fears and restrictions for once?
Youthful Habits you Shouldn't Ever Abandon
Read a bestseller novel, if only to join the discussion. While you're at it, watch those top rated movies you still haven't – even the notorious ones!
Listen to music and dance like no one's watching. It is perfectly okay to let your hair down once in a while and be the uber cool Mommy.
Say “I Love You” to your husband, just like that. Stay in bed, order in food, and let your well wishers take care of the children for once.
Eat exactly what you want but remember to exercise. After all, you have those gorgeous clothes to fit into and who said moms don't understand fashion?
Catch up on the news and join a volunteer group for a cause close to your heart. Rewind to how important politics, cultural programmes and debates were at a time.
Splurge on a beauty treatment – the wackier the better – or one of those dreamy spas you see on television. Your frayed nerves will really bless you!
Take a road trip or board a train to where you've never been. Don't plan everything down to a T but go with the flow.
Play with the children – in the mud, sand or the swings – without fretting over dirty clothes or wasted time (dump the clothes at a laundry service, for a change!)
Pick up new vocabulary or even better, a new language. Stay up to speed with all the new and trending words your kids use. After all, YOLO!
Sit by the window and do some soul searching. Are you in a place you love, or is there a dream you'd like to pursue? It is never too late for anything you really want.
Make this International Youth Day celebration an unforgettable one by teaming up with your little ones and embracing life like never before. Age is just a number and the young at heart is exactly who the world needs at this hour! Read more
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Sai Prasanthi R L has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
16 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
15 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
12 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
6 hours 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
12 hours ago
Q. can I take medicine pcm n citrazene in pregnancy fir sore throats n fever
Dr Disha Patel
Ayurvedic Physician
7 hours 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 .
Swati Kar Samanta has added a new answer
Mom of a 9 m old child
5 hours 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
Swati Kar Samanta
Mom of a 2 m old girl
4 hours ago
A. Yes but first give in very small quantity to judge the reaction of your baby.
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
3 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts is it okay that the baby is kicking less than usual?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
3 hours ago
A. Yes it is the what part is that your child is kicking if you feel that there is a movement of your child whether it is a cake or slight movement also you know that your child is doing fine so there is no problem in that if the movement is less it’s completely alright
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts what to do if the baby’s nose is blovked
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. Nasal blockage is very common, specially in small children because of the narrow nasal cavity. Any kind of saline drops like nasal clear will be helpful in dissolving the stuffy secretions, which can be taken out by vnasal aspirator gently also steam inhalation will be helpful also, try to avoid keeping the child directly under the fan.
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