Sunday, December 25, 2011

Traditional Healthy Christmas Food

Dozing off in front of the television or feeling bloated following Christmas Dinner is not something that is sought-after. Similarly, it is not fun to snub everything that you are offered at a Christmas party. Here are a few healthy meals that can be easily made a part of any Christmas party or dinner

Nibbles

Replace fat and salt loaded food with homemade humus of beetroot dip and a bowl of raw nuts.

 

Main course

Turkey is a good source of protein and contains amino acids. It helps to drive one’s mood by moderating the happy hormone named serotonin. Avoid eating roasted turkey, especially one that has been roasted traditionally. If turkey is in the menu, choose light meat to enable lesser intake of fats. Avoid consuming the skin.

Trim the meal/s and add vegetable

Traditional Christmas meal includes meat, which you can replace by eating vegetables. Must you eat meat, take half of the original quantity and balance it with vegetables. Dark green leafy vegetables are in this season; you can consume them after steaming.

Saucy evening

Christmas dinner is laden with unhealthy sugars and fats though you can reduce the size of these by consuming less. Replace the unhealthy sauces with good and healthy oil.

Drinks

Drinks are a major part of the Christmas party, but what you must ensure is that you raise a healthy flag for not only yourself but also all the guests. Include lots of non-alcoholic drinks. Fresh fruit juice, almond nog, milk shakes etc can be laden in the drinks section for those not willing to consume alcohol. Do not forget to include water because however large quantity of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks you may have, water completes the list.

Remember not to overeat at the party. Control your diet by balancing the kind of food you consume.

Resource: onlymyhealth.com

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Breast Tenderness during pregnancy

Breast Tenderness during pregnancy
During the pregnancy state, you might have noticed your breasts feeling a little tender to touch. It may be difficult for you to walk up the stairs, jump at the gym, or even while sleep on the stomach. Breast tenderness is so annoying, and is quite painful sometimes; it is a part of pregnancy period.

How occurs Breast Tenderness during Pregnancy?

Breast tenderness is common during the pregnancy. It is one of the very first signs of pregnancy which resembles that you are pregnant. Breast tenderness implies the breast soreness, breast swelling, and sensitivity that you feel in your breasts at the time of pregnancy. Normally, this breast tenderness begins between the fourth and sixth week of pregnancy, which continues through the first trimester. Most of the women found that breast tenderness disappeared in the second and third trimesters, obviously you may notice your breasts do feel sore throughout your pregnancy.

What Causes Breast Tenderness during Pregnancy?

Breast tenderness occurs during pregnancy as a symptom of all the changes that your body is undergoing during pregnancy. Since your breasts should be prepared to feed your baby, and therefore they should grow and develop, which causes breast swelling and breast soreness of the breasts. Breast tenderness is caused due to increase in secretion of hormones occurring during the pregnancy. To prepare and feed the baby, body functions physiologically to increase its levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones. This increase in hormones causes the blood to get into the breasts thus making them more sensitive to touch.
The breast tissue also begins to modify physiologically such that it functions as required. This means that Milk ducts and milk-producing cells will begin to form to synthesize milk, causing your breasts to grow straight thus breast straighten and change breast shape. That is why most pregnant women have their breasts straightened. More fatty layers will begin to develop under your breasts, which will likely cause your breasts to increase in size. All these factors contribute to the breast tenderness, breast soreness, and breast swelling that most pregnant women experience. This increase in breast size and straightened breast with nipples projected out are the signs of breast tenderness at the time of pregnancy.

Symptoms and signs of Breast Tenderness during Pregnancy period

The severity and intensity of the Symptoms and signs depend upon the age and how many children you have given birth. Younger women and first-time pregnant women tend to experience more breast discomfort due to breast tenderness. Following are some symptoms that are experienced by the pregnant women:

1. Increase in size of the breast up to two cup sizes.

2. Noticeable veins are found crisscrossing the breasts which resembles more blood rush into the breast vasculature.

3. Highly sensitive nipples which are sensitive to touch and produce good feeling when touched.

4. Burning pain in the breasts due to rapid growth and breast straightening and blood rush.

5. Some sort of heaviness in the breast and nipples due to blood rush and breast straighten.

6. Breasts and nipples are itchy causing always to press and rub.

7. Breasts feel a sense of tingling and throbbing during sexual intercourse

How to Take Care of Your Tender Breasts during pregnancy?

Breast tenderness can really get you down sometimes,

One should follow the following tips to keep the breast comfortable without throbbing tingling sense and also to avoid the breast pain.

1. Wear the bras of actual size you need that fit properly.

2. Go to the professional at your department or maternity store to get an accurate measurement of the bra size that fits correctly and properly which relives to some extent and makes the breast comfortable.

3. Try to wear cotton bras, which allow the breasts to breathe easily than other bras do.

4. Don’t wear underwire bras – they can press into your breasts and restrict the blood flow which may more tenderness than making comfort.

5. Wear a bra designed specifically for working which is useful during the exercise.

6. During night when felt breast soreness, try wearing cotton sleep bra.

7. Buy a bra whose size is a couple of sizes larger than you need at the moment. Which correctly fits your breast into it due to breast tenderness and growth?

8. Always take a bath with warm to relieve from breast swelling.

9. When you feel throbbing or hot in your breast apply a cool cotton cloth at the area to relieve from the symptom.