Health and Beauty Guide to Water

THE BEVERAGE YOUR BODY NEEDS MOST

Health and Beauty Guide has taken a look at the beverage our need to survive. Our bodies are estimated to be 60 to 70% water. Blood is mostly water and our muscles, lungs and brain all contain a lot of water. Water is needed to regulate body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to all of our organs. Water also transports oxygen to our cells, removes waste and protects our joints and organs.

SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION

Our bodies lose water through urination, respiration and sweating. If you very active it follows that you lose more water then if you are sedentary. Diuretics such as caffeine and alcohol cause us to lose water by tricking the body into thinking that you have more water than you need. Symptoms of mild dehydration can include chronic pains in joints and muscles, lower back pain, headaches and also constipation. Your urine may have a strong odour and if the colour has changed to yellow or amber, this could also mean that you are not getting enough water. Feeling thirsty is, an all too obvious sign of dehydration, but you actually need water long before you feel the thirst.

Other signs of Dehydration include:
• Dry Eyes
• Dry Sticky mouth
• Nausea after exercise

HOW MUCH WATER TO DRINK

A good rule of thumb is to take your body weight in pounds and then divide that number in half. This equates to the number of fluid ounces that you need to drink per day e.g. if you weigh 160 pounds you should be drinking at least 80 fluid ounces of water a day. Obviously this amount will differ with exercise. Generally another 8 ounce glass of water should be drunk for every 20 minutes of exercise. When drinking caffeine or alcohol, you should equal the amount with water. Travelling can also affect hydration levels and if flying, 8 fluid ounces of water should be consumed for every hour you are on board. Likewise, the climate in which you live will also determine the amount you drink. From these facts, you can see your daily need for water can add up to quite a lot. The very best source of water is just plain, pure drinking water. Juices and carbonated drinks tend to contain sugar and can act as diuretics. Most sports drinks contain electrolytes which can be beneficial should you be exercising a lot.

HEALTH AND BEAUTY GUIDE TOP TIPS TO DRINKING WATER

1. Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day.
2. Drink water slowly, constantly sipping it throughout the day.
3. Don’t drink caffeinated drinks or alcoholic beverages which can dehydrate.
4. Drink water before, during and after exercise – slowly!
5. Carry a bottle of water where ever possible.
6. Remember fluids can be lost through perspiration as well as from diarrhoea
7. Sports drinks can help replenish lost electrolytes.
8. If your temperature exceeds 102 degrees – Call a doctor.

http://www.healthandbeautyguide.com

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Diabetes Linked to Depression During and After Pregnancy

During pregnancy one thing that is usually not on the expectant mother’s mind is her income. However, it has been shown that low-income women that have diabetes and are pregnant or have recently given birth face almost twice the risk of depression compared to the women who do not have a blood sugar disorder. It also did not matter whether the women developed diabetes before or during their pregnancy, or if they were taking oral medications or insulin; the risk of them developing depression was still much stronger for the women with diabetes.

The study’s lead author Katy Backes Kozhimannil, who is a research fellow in the department of ambulatory care and prevention at Harvard Medical School in Boston, stated that women who had never been depressed before appeared to be at risk also. She said, ”One in ten women who had no indication of prior depression received a diagnosis of depression within a year following delivery.” The results of this study will be published in the February 25th issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Although this study did not look at potential reasons for this association, Kozhimannil stated that there are biological changes that occur with diabetes that could increase the risk for depression. She also said that the stress of managing a chronic illness such as diabetes might contribute to the risk for depression.

Postpartum depression affects approximately 10 percent of new mothers, usually between two and six months after having given birth, according to the background information for the study. If it is left untreated, postpartum depression can affect the relationship between the mother and her child, as well as the child’s development.

The risk factors for postpartum depression include a history of depression, trouble in relationships, domestic violence, stressful events, financial problems, lack of emotional or social support, a difficult pregnancy or delivery, and health problems with the infant. According to the authors, previous studies conducted have linked diabetes to an increased risk of developing depression in general.

To assess whether or not diabetes is a fact in pre- and postpartum depression, Kozhimannil and her team reviewed data on approximately more than 11,000 women who gave birth between the years 2004 and 2006. All of these women were continuously enrolled in Medicaid during the period of the study. From this low-income population, the researchers found that 15.2 percent of the women who had diabetes developed depression during or after their pregnancy. In the women that did not have diabetes, the number was 8.5 percent. In the women who had never depressed before, 9.6 percent of the women with diabetes developed depression in comparison with 5.9 percent of those that did not have the blood sugar condition.

Kozhimannil said, “Health-care facilities need to pay particular attention for depression in women with diabetes during the post-partum period. Both diabetes and depression in the post-partum period are treatable.”

Dr. Robert Welch, who is the chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Providence Hospital in Southfield, Michigan, said that the new research is an interesting study, but he said that it left some important questions unanswered. For example, Dr. Welch wondered how many of the pregnancies were actually planned, and exactly how many of the women that had diabetes were newly diagnosed? He said that a new diagnosis of diabetes could be overwhelming for a lot of women. Also, in the population on Medicaid, it can be much more difficult to get their diabetes well monitored, which could also add to the stress that these women are already feeling. Diabetes can be quite an expensive disease, and this study is calling out the need for additional mid-level providers who have more time to assist in making a diagnosis of depression.

Both Kozhimannil and Welch said that while this particular study was done studying low-income women, the findings could be similar for women with higher income, though the stressors may be different. Welch recommended that no matter what your income is, if you are an expectant mother, you should try and set up a support system before the baby is born. Try and set up some extra help so that you are not alone with the infant day after day.

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Your new baby's first checks and tests

Immediately after birth, your baby will be given an Apgar score and within her first 24 hours, his first checks and tests. We tell you what it all means Apgar score The very first series of tests your baby will undergo is the Apgar score, just after birth. The score is taken twice, at one minute and five minutes after the birth, and is carried out by the midwife or doctor.

Your baby will be checked for:

• heartbeat
• breathing
• muscle tone
• reflexes
• skin colour

A score of 0, 1 or 2 will be given for each check, with a total of 10. A normal score is seven or over. If your baby has a low first score - for instance, she may be affected by Pethidine - but a normal second score, this is counted as normal. Your baby will also be weighed, the fontanelle (the soft spot on the top of her head) checked, and her head circumference and body length measured and checked for any obvious abnormalities or bruising that may have occurred during the birth. Physical examination Within her first 24 hours your baby will have a complete physical check-up. If you give birth in hospital this will be done by a doctor or paediatrician, if you have a home birth, it will be carried out by your midwife or GP. The examination will include:

• Heart and lungs Your baby’s heartbeat will be checked a stethoscope and her breathing pattern watched. Many babies have a heart murmur at birth, which usually disappears of its own accord.
• Abdomen The doctor will feel your baby’s tummy to check her kidneys, liver and spleen are in the right place and are the correct size.
• Ears and Mouth He will feel inside your baby’s mouth to make sure she does not have a cleft palate and inside the ears to check for any abnormal discharge.
• Hips Your baby’s legs will be rotated to check for ‘clicky’ hips. The doctor will push your baby’s knees up to her chest and then drop them down before opening them out into a frog-like shape. If the hip is dislocated, the doctor will feel a clunk or jerk. Congenital hip dislocation, if detected early, can be successfully treated.
• Spine The doctor will check for signs of spina bifida.
• Genitals He will make sure the genitals have developed properly and, in boys, that the testicles are inside the scrotum.
• Back passage This will be examined to make sure it’s open and you will be asked whether your baby has passed meconium yet.
• Features These will be checked for signs of Down’s syndrome. If your doctor or midwife is dissatisfied with the results of any of the checks done, further tests may be carried out or you may be referred to an expert in the field.
• Dressing When you first hold your baby and dress her, remember that her head needs constant support. The muscles in her neck are not capable of supporting it for around the first three months, so you must cradle it in your free hand to prevent it flopping back and forth. At first you may feel all fingers and thumbs when handling your baby, but you will soon be an expert! A vest and sleepsuit with enclosed feet is probably all she needs to wear, unless it is particularly hot.

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The First Hour After Birth

by Julie Snyder
Your baby is here! You've heard a first cry! The announcement of boy or girl has been made. The first test, the Apgar, has been administered and everything is great, but there's more.

Excited, tired, relieved and amazed are all normal feelings after delivery. As long as there have been no complications, your baby will probably be placed skin to skin on your tummy. For me, this was a wonderful time -- to see and feel and hear the little one I'd had "tucked away" so long. I could have stroked the tiny arms, touched the velvety forehead, drawn in the smell of that baby for hours.

Bringing the baby up toward my breast and snuggling seemed the most natural thing. If you feel this way, go ahead and see if baby is interested in nursing. Many will open their mouths and turn towards the stimulation when you stroke their cheek. For more information on helping your baby get started, see Anne Barne's Illustrated Guide to Latching On and Jack Newman's Starting Out Right. Sometimes a baby is more interested in just soaking in cuddles and staring at the surroundings. That's okay, too.

Usually within 30 minutes after the birth, the placenta detaches and passes from the womb. Some women's contractions continue until after the placenta is delivered. If you are uncomfortable, concentration and breathing may help. For many women, attention is focused so exclusively on the new baby that they barely notice the placenta being delivered.

• If you had an episiotomy or have a tear requiring stitches, your midwife or doctor will repair your perineum
• Someone will probably check your bladder and ask if you can go to the bathroom. A full bladder interferes with your uterus contracting properly. It was awfully hard for me to quit staring at the baby long enough to satisfy these health care providers.
• Or if you had an epidural catheter, it might be removed now.
• About every 15 minutes your midwife or the labor nurse will "massage your uterus" to help it contract and stop bleeding. To quote a midwife friend of mine, "the first hour after birth you can expect to have your uterus smashed, and have your baby nurse and sometimes to have the repair (if any) done." I found this process a bit uncomfortable but after the first time was ready to relax with my birthing techniques. When the nurse massaged, it felt like at least a gallon of liquid gushed out (I know it wasn't that much, but sure felt like it!). The next time there was less and then even less.
• Sometimes they'll teach you how to find the top of your uterus so you can self-massage.
• Probably your blood pressure and perhaps other vitals will be checked every few minutes. I'm really not sure because I was a bit focused on the baby. I do know that she had her respirations and temperature checked each time I had my vitals taken.
• If you haven't already had a chance to nurse the baby, your midwife or other provider may help you get started.

Looking back, two things surprised me. First, my daughter was so alert. She looked right at us with her intense blue-grey eyes, scanning first one and then the other and seemed to move her mouth to mimic our speech. My second surprise was to be so awake and vibrant. I had expected to be exhausted since she was born at 2:30 am. Instead I was too excited to sleep, even after she was contentedly snoozing, and totally in love with this tiny creature we'd been waiting to meet.

So how will you feel? You may feel like bouncing off the walls! You may be exhausted and euphoric all at the same time. You may be a little scared of the responsibility for this new life. You may not feel up to anything at all except sleep. It's okay. Just relax and enjoy this time with your baby, and your partner. You have a lifetime to get even better acquainted.

Julie Snyder is the mom of six, interested in kids, pregnancy, birth, people. She is Editor-in-Chief at Pregnancy.org and lives in the outlying Seattle area. Copyright © Julie Snyder and Pregnancy.org, LL

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Pregnancy symptoms: Top ten signs you might be pregnant

Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board

Could you be pregnant? Most likely you won't notice any symptoms until about the time you've missed a period — or a week or two later.

If you're not keeping track of your menstrual cycle or if it varies widely from one month to the next, you may not be sure when to expect your period. But if you start to experience some of the symptoms below — not all women get them all — and you haven't had a period for a while, you may very well be pregnant. Take a home pregnancy test to find out for sure!

10. Tender, swollen breasts

One of the early signs of pregnancy is sensitive, sore breasts caused by increasing levels of hormones. The soreness may feel like an exaggerated version of how your breasts feel before your period. Your discomfort should diminish significantly after the first trimester, as your body adjusts to the hormonal changes.

9. Fatigue

Feeling tired all of a sudden? No, make that exhausted. No one knows for sure what causes early pregnancy fatigue, but it's possible that rapidly increasing levels of the hormone progesterone are contributing to your sleepiness.

You should start to feel more energetic once you hit your second trimester, although fatigue usually returns late in pregnancy when you're carrying around a lot more weight and some of the common discomforts of pregnancy make it more difficult to get a good night's sleep.

8. Implantation bleeding

Some women have a small amount of vaginal bleeding around 11 or 12 days after conception (close to the time you might notice a missed period). The bleeding may be caused by the fertilized egg burrowing into the blood-rich lining of your uterus — a process that starts just six days after fertilization — but no one knows for sure.

The bleeding is very light (appearing as red spotting or pink or reddish-brown staining) and lasts only a day or two. (Let your practitioner know if you notice any bleeding or spotting, particularly if it's accompanied by pain, since this can be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy.)

7. Nausea or vomiting

If you're like most women, morning sickness won't hit until about a month after conception. (A lucky few escape it altogether.) But some women do start to feel queasy a bit earlier. And not just in the morning, either — pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting can be a problem morning, noon, or night.

About half of women with nausea feel complete relief by the beginning of the second trimester. For most others it takes another month or so for the queasiness to ease up.

6. Increased sensitivity to odors

If you're newly pregnant, it's not uncommon to feel repelled by the smell of a bologna sandwich or cup of coffee and for certain aromas to trigger your gag reflex. Though no one knows for sure, this may be a side effect of rapidly increasing amounts of estrogen in your system. You may also find that certain foods you used to enjoy are suddenly completely repulsive to you.

5. Abdominal bloating

Hormonal changes in early pregnancy may leave you feeling bloated, similar to the feeling some women have just before their period arrives. That's why your clothes may feel snugger than usual at the waistline, even early on when your uterus is still quite small.

4. Frequent urination

Shortly after you become pregnant, you may find yourself hurrying to the bathroom all the time. Why? Mostly because during pregnancy the amount of blood and other fluids in your body increases, which leads to extra fluid being processed by your kidneys and ending up in your bladder.

This symptom may start as early as six weeks into your first trimester and continue or worsen as your pregnancy progresses and your growing baby exerts more pressure on your bladder.

3. A missed period

If you're usually pretty regular and your period doesn't arrive on time, you'll probably take a pregnancy test long before you notice any of the above symptoms. But if you're not regular or you're not keeping track of your cycle, nausea and breast tenderness and extra trips to the bathroom may signal pregnancy before you realize you didn't get your period.

2. Your basal body temperature stays high

If you've been charting your basal body temperature and you see that your temperature has stayed elevated for 18 days in a row, you're probably pregnant.

And finally...

1. The proof: A positive home pregnancy test

In spite of what you might read on the box, many home pregnancy tests are not sensitive enough to detect most pregnancies until about a week after a missed period. So if you decide to take one earlier than that and get a negative result, try again in a few days.

Once you've gotten a positive result, make an appointment with your practitioner. Now head over to our pregnancy area. Also, don't forget to update your profile and sign up for our "My Baby This Week" newsletter. Congratulations!

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Mother Nature Never had Morning Sickness

by Colette Bouchez

Although it had long been considered the stuff of old wives tales and legend, using ginger as a remedy to treat morning sickness is rapidly earning a new respect. In new studies published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, doctors from the University of Adelaide in Australia proved once again this natural remedy is an extremely effective treatment for the nausea and vomiting that affects up to 90% of all pregnant women, usually in the first trimester.

But while many doctors still remain "on the fence" about natural treatments, according to pregnancy researcher and author Colette Bouchez, the wisdom of "Mom" has long been on the side of Mother Nature -- particularly in the treatment of morning sickness.

"When it comes to pregnancy, most women have incredibly sharp intuition and great natural instincts -- they know when something is wrong, and they sure know when something is right, and ginger has been one of those right remedies for generations," says Bouchez, the author of the brand new book Your Perfectly Pampered Pregnancy: Beauty, Health and Lifestyle Advice for the Modern Mother-to-Be.

In the new research, Dr. Caroline Smith reports ginger was compared to clinical doses of vitamin B6 (a common prescription for morning sickness) and was found to be as effective. although previous animal studies have revealed a potential link between very high levels of ginger and an increased risk of pregnancy complications including miscarriage, Smith reports that her studies found no such connection. She writes: "for women looking for a reduction in their nausea and vomiting... the use of ginger in early pregnancy will reduce the severity of their symptoms."

Bouchez, who notes that 3 previous studies on ginger found similar good results says ginger works thanks to two active constituents known as "gingerols" and "shogaols" both of which give this plant its pungent taste. Not coincidentally, she says, these same compounds also work directly on the gastrointestinal system to reduce the activity linked to nausea and vomiting.

If, however; you've tried ginger and it doesn't seem to help you, Bouchez advises skipping the gingerale and gingersnaps, and go for the "real stuff" instead.

"There is some research to show that it is the properties found in natural, fresh ginger that makes this a truly effective treatment -- so when possible, buy some fresh ginger root and use to make a tea, or sprinkle it on your cereal or bowl of fresh fruit," says Bouchez.

Six More Natural Treatments for Morning Sickness

If, in fact, ginger just isn't your "cup of tea" according to Your Perfectly Pampered Pregnancy, here are 6 more natural ways to beat morning sickness.

1. Switching to a low iron formula in the first trimester only (when the risk of anemia is very low) may squelch morning sickness. Also, take your vitamins late in the day and skip the glass of water. Instead swallow your vitamin in a spoonful of pudding or applesauce.
2. Limit fluid intake with meals. Instead drink between meals and try other tummy-soothing beverages such as peppermint iced tea or chamomile hot tea.
3. Massage your pressure points by applying pressure on what Chinese medicine experts call the P6 Nei Guan nerve located in the wrist. To stimulate this anti-nausea nerve use two fingers from your left hand to press the underside of your right arm two inches above your wrist. Hold for up to 60 seconds and repeat as needed.
4. Rise and shine...slowly. Whether it's getting up in the morning or after a nap, rising too quickly can throw off equilibrium and contribute to the queasies.
5. Have breakfast in bed. if you've heard that dry crackers is a treatment for morning sickness, you've heard right -- but the trick is to eat them in bed, twenty to thirty minutes before rising -- and don't drink any liquids, especially water, while munching.
6. Scent you hankies! To sidestep nausea caused by smells and odors outside your home, tuck a hankie doused with a combination of lavender and peppermint oil into a small plast bag and keep in your purse. At the first hint of nausea, hold the hankie to your nose and breathe deep for almost instant nausea relief.
   

Colette Bouchez is an award winning medical journalist with more than twenty years experience. She is the former medical writer for the New York Daily News, and the top selling author of The V Zone, co-author of Getting Pregnant and upcoming book, Your Perfectly Pampered Pregnancy. Currently a daily medical correspondent for HealthDay News Service/The New York Times Syndicate, and WebMD, her popular consumer health articles appear daily online, as well as in newspapers nationwide and in Europe and Japan. She is a regular contributor to USAToday.com, ABCNews.com, MSNBC.com and more than two dozen radio and television news stations nationwide. She lives in New York City.

Copyright © Colette Bouchez. Permission to republish retained to Pregnancy.org, LLC.

All content copyrighted © Colette Bouchez. Permission to republish granted to Pregnancy.org, LLC.

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Sleep Deprivation Increases Symptoms of ADHD

By: Heather Hajek

Recent research is beginning to show that some children with ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, may also have issues with sleep deprivation. ADHD affects a significant number of children in the United States, and while the disorder alone is something that can really affect a family and lend for some trying times without medical treatment, when you add sleep deprivation to the mix, things can get difficult for all involved.

Studies have shown that sleep is very important for children, and that lack of sleep can be detrimental to the learning process. A study performed by the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, released March 1 in the journal SLEEP, shows that many children suffering from ADHD may also be chronically sleep deprived and have sporatic REM sleep patterns. The new study evaluated 15 children suffering from ADHD who did not have comorbid psychiatric problems and 23 healthy children, all ranging in age from seven to eleven and not taking any medication. Researchers requested the children avoid caffeine for seven days prior to the study. The researchers were able to monitor the children in their own homes through portable polysomnography sleep recorders that recorded their overnight behavior. The children’s parents also completed a 113-item questionnaire that helped to detail each child’s behavior and emotional challenges. Researchers assessed the children while holding their socioeconomic status and parents’ marital status constant.

Dr. Reut Gruber, Director of the Attention, Behavior and Sleep Lab at the Douglas Medical Health University Institute said, “I do not believe that sleep per se is the cause of ADHD, but it may make the symptoms worse in children with sleep problems. There are reports in the literature in which treating sleep problems led to improvement in ADHD symptoms, but I suspect that these results were seen in children with sleep apnea.”

The study resulted in the children with ADHD sleeping 33 minutes less than the average time slept by the healthy children, not suffering from ADHD. The ADHD group also tallied 16 minutes less REM (rapid eye movement) sleep times than the healthy group. As previous studies have shown, sleep disruption can lead to symptoms seen in children with ADHD, such as concentration problems.

Based on the new study, ADHD children may suffer from sleep problems, which could reflect other underlying problems and further research is needed. Researchers will need to delve into the research and take things a little further, to determine if shorter sleep times in children with ADHD may lead to behavioral and neurocognitive problems. If researchers can determine a link or the cause of sleep deprivation in ADHD children, then they may be able to develop a therapeutic treatment to help the children sleep better.

http://www.healthnews.com/

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Negative Effects of Green Tea Leaves

Most people think only of positive benefits of green tea. However, while this type of tea does offer some excellent benefits, many directly related to health, it is also important to understand there are some negative effects of green tea leaves. Just as with many foods and drinks we consume, green tea may not be good for everyone. Therefore, we wanted to address some of the negative effects of green tea leaves so you can determine if this is right for you.

Green tea comes from a bush in the Camellia family, which is why the official name for green tea is Camellia sinensis, which is Latin. This evergreen bush has shiny, pointed leaves that have a wonderful aroma. This particular bush also produces beautiful white flowers. Today, green tea is grown in more than 50 countries to include Argentina, Brazil, and Russia, among others.

The exciting thing about this tea is that study after study shows positive effects on the body, meaning the negative effects of green tea leaves is minimal. For instance, green tea contains powerful antioxidants that have been proven to help fight various forms of cancer, as well as tooth decay, obesity, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Because of the amazing benefits, the level of consumption for green tea has skyrocketed throughout the globe.

Now, when it comes to the negative effects of green tea leaves, we want to start with pregnant women. Although most doctors agree that a small consumption of green tea is fine but when large amounts are consumed, caffeine can increase the risk of spontaneous abortion, low birth rate, and even growth retardation. Keep in mind that these risks are associated with the beverage of green tea, as well as supplements.

EGCG molecules, which are similar to a methotrexate compound, work by fighting off cancer cells by bonding with the dihydrofolate reductase enzyme, which is good in non-pregnant women. However, in pregnant women, the negative effects of green tea leaves involves involve the epigallocatechins, otherwise known as EGCG. In this situation, EGCG can affect the way in which the body uses folate, which is vital in the prevention of neural tube birth defects.

Nursing women should also consider the negative effects of green lea leaves. Remember, green tea is high in caffeine. Therefore, a woman who is breastfeeding and consuming green tea would be passing the caffeine on to the baby. Even small amounts or green tea powder used for baking, smoothies, and other foods should be avoided while nursing a baby.

In addition, negative effects of green tea leaves would link to individuals who have allergies. In this case, someone who is caffeine sensitive could develop problems such as hives and rash from consuming green tea. With caffeine being a stimulant that affects the central nervous system, other problems could result such as insomnia, excessive urination, reduction of potassium levels, and even incontinence. Just keep in mind that if you have any concerns about negative effects of green tea leaves for you, we recommend that you talk to your doctor or a health food specialist.

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