All posts by Sumana Rao

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Eating Healthy this summer

Eating Healthy this summer

As summer holidays are approaching there is lot to look forward to and there will be lot and lots of yummy food to eat both at home and outside at restaurants. It’s easy to let healthy eating habits slide, but holidays can still be healthy.

Here are some tips to help you and your family stay on track with good eating habits.

For kids, so how do you make sure that your are eating healthy foods this summer? Here are few suggestions to make eating as healthy as possible.

  • Nibble on health snacks like whole grain crackers, fruit, or raw vegetables before the big feast. You’ll eat less.
  • When you are at a party or having a holiday meal, choose healthier foods like veggies or fruits.
  • It takes your brain some time to signal you are full. Wait 10-15 minutes before eating seconds. It’ll keep you from overeating!
  • It’s not rude to say no to food. Don’t be pressured to eat, if you aren’t hungry.
  • Eating holiday goodies like fudge, peanut brittle, cookies, and other baked goods is fine, but eat them in small pieces.
  • You can help make healthy holiday food with your parents. Look for low-fat recipes that substitute butter and oil with non-fat ingredients like applesauce or pumpkin.

For parents – how you can help your kid to eat healthy during holidays?

1) Make Fruit Visible: During summer holidays many fruits are available. Take kids for fruits picking – strawberry, cherry, apple, guava, mulberry, blueberry etc. Place pears, apples, bananas and citrus bowls on the table – living room and dining room.  Try mandarin oranges or Clementine, which kids love, because they’re easy to peel. Prepare a fruit salad or fruit popsicle and ask your kids suggestion too. If you make it attractive and creative kids will eat twice as much.

2) Varieties of colors: All fruits colors has something good in it. Encourage kids to snack on colorful fruits and veggies. Kids can snack on Clementine, sugar snap peas, antioxidant rich red peppers or any other colorful fruit or vegetable in lieu of a holiday cookie or chocolate truffle.  Give cracker with cucumber, sweet pepper, strawberry with little whipped cream or cheese. Kids always love cream and cheese.

3) Organic foods: Introduce children to organic food. Grow your own vegetable garden. Assign small portion of garden to your child to take care. When the vegetable grows encourage and get suggestion from them to prepare a dish from home grown veggies like veggie pizza, pasta with vegetables or rice with vegetables. They are more likely to take at least a little bite of broccoli or carrots if they’ve helped to plant and pick them.

4) Drinking water: Get attractive juice bottles and prepare fresh fruit juice at home. Encourage them to drink plenty of water.  Don’t provide soda and other artificial drinks. Instead introduce them to natural waters like coconut water and prepare juice out of exotic fruits – mango, pomegranate, papaya etc.

5) Lightly spiced cereal mixtures as snacks: Prepare mild spicy cereal mixture at home. Add dry coconut, almonds, cashew, raisins and other nuts for which your kid is not allergic to and store in an air tight container. Instead of giving them French fries or heavy burgers as snack items give them cereal mixture with fruit desserts.

6) Try to keep your cupboards stocked with healthier snacks such as fruit, air-popped popcorn, unsalted nuts and unsweetened yogurt.

Enjoy summer with your kids!!

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Reference: www.werindia.com

Image credit: Image by RitaE from Pixabay (Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: May 9, 2017
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Ketogenic diet for vegetarians

Ketogenic diet for vegetarians

Ketogenic diet, which was originally used to help control and prevent seizures in epilepsy patients, have grown in popularity in recent years as an effective fat-burning diet. This low carb, high fat diet also heavy in protein. Is Keto diet is a good diet to consider weight loss? It all depends on the type of protein and fat that you eat.

Let us understand what is a ketogenic or keto diet is?

Ketogenic diet is a low carbohydrate, high fat diet. Maintaining this diet is a great tool for weight loss. More importantly though, per an increasing number of studies, it helps reduce risk factors for diabetes, heart diseases, epilepsy types of conditions.  The word Keto is derived from Ketones which is an alternative fuel for the body, used when blood sugar is in short supply. These ketones are derived from fat and are much more stable. They supply steady source of energy than the glucose (which is derived from carbohydrates). On the keto diet, your body enters a metabolic state called ketosis. While in ketosis your body is using ketone bodies for energy instead of glucose.

On a ketogenic diet your entire body switches its fuel supply to run almost entirely on fat. Insulin levels become very low and fat burning increases dramatically. It becomes easy to access your fat stores to burn them off.

This is obviously great if you’re trying to lose weight, but there are also other less obvious benefits, like for example less hunger and a steady supply of energy.

Before going on keto diet one should understand whether the body has entered ketosis. A ketone strip will be used to test the ketone level in the urine. During ketosis, other body changes also expected to happen! Like there are other ways of telling you are in ketosis, -look for changes in your mood and alertness, as well as a stronger smell in your breath and urine. Many people also report better sleep and decreased appetite when they’re in ketosis.

CAUTION: This diet is not for you, if you have any of the following conditions: Diabetes, high blood pressure, if you are breastfeeding and trying to get pregnant.

One need to be careful if they have heart condition -because ketogenic diet uses many animal fats which can result in clogging of arteries and an increase in cholesterol level. Animal products are high in saturated fats. One should understand that the ketogenic diet is both high in saturated animal fats and low in protective antioxidants from plant sources. Antioxidants provide protection to organs such as the heart.

If you are not an animal product eater and a vegetarian, then what could be your choices in a keto diet? We are giving an alternate to animal products if you would like to follow ketogenic diet.

Breakfast:

  1. Start your day with 2 tbs butter
  2. 1 and ½ a banana
  3. 2 Tbs Cream (boiled milk kept overnight gathers thick cream in the morning)
  4. Cheese pakora
  5. Dosa with cheese or butter
  6. Cheesy Chickpea flour omelette with capsicum ​

Between Breakfast and Lunch:

  1. Mushroom Raw 2 cups
  2. Mixed Green Salad

Lunch:

  1. Grilled tofu (3 OZ)
  2. Olive Oil 2tbs
  3. Cream
  4. Raw Broccoli – 1 cup
  5. Simple salad (veggies topped with lots of cheese )
  6. Cream of palak soup with stir fried mushrooms/broccoli
  7. Kokum khadi (solkadi) and baked french beans with cheese
  8. Cauliflower curry in coconut milk and coconut oil

Evening Snack:

  1. 1 and 1/2 banana
  2. Curd 200 gms
  3. Coconut 100 gms

 Dinner:

  1. Mushroom raw 2 cups
  2. Mixed green Salad
  3. Baked spinach with cheese and cream
  4. Tofu paratha
  5. Paneer pakora
  6. Mixed vegetables cooked in cashew sauce
  7. Cabbage salad / Cabbage curry with coconut ​

How Much Should You Eat? : On a keto diet, about 65 to 75 percent of the calories you consume daily should come from fat. About 20 to 30 percent should come from protein. The remaining 5 percent or so should come from carbohydrates.

You can use our Keto Calculator to figure out exactly how many calories and which macros you should be eating every day!

https://www.tasteaholics.com/keto-calculator

The Ketogenic diet approach is simple: It’s about following a low-carb diet where the focus is on eating real food, not just food low in carbs. A ketogenic diet can be used to achieve weight loss, blood sugar control and other health-related goals. It can include a wide variety of nutritious, tasty and versatile foods that allow us to remain within daily carb range.

References:

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Tips to handle blisters

How to handle blisters?

A blister is a pocket of fluid between the upper layers of skin. The most common causes of blisters are friction, freezing, burning, infection and chemical burns.

Blisters are also a symptom of some diseases. The most frequent cause of blisters is excessive friction on moist skin.

As a blister forms, clear fluid accumulates in a pocket between the layers of the skin.

Friction of skin results in blisters.

  • Blisters caused by friction are the most common
  • Both burns and frostbite can produce blisters
  • Blood blisters occur when a small blood vessel bursts near the surface of the skin
  • Some medical conditions produce blisters, including eczema and epidermolysis bullosa
  • It is best to leave blisters intact to protect the underlying layers from infection

Exposures to certain chemicals can result in blisters: This is referred to as contact dermatitis and can occur in some individuals on contact with the following: cosmetics, detergents, solvents, nickel sulfate balsam of Peru (a flavoring), insect bites and stings, chemical warfare agents including mustard gas.

Some tips to handle painful blisters:

Cleaning and Protecting Your Blister

  1. Gently wash the area with clean water. Keep the blister clean with soap and water. You can dab on petroleum jelly or some other emollient to minimize further friction.
  2. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. Dab petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed. This reduces further friction
  3. Do not removed the flap of skin over the blister unless it is torn or dirty and has pus.
  4. You may cover the blister with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a nonstick bandage.
  5. Use non-sticky bandage and change bandage every day.
  6. Another great way to protect your blister is with a piece of moleskin-a soft, adhesive cushion that’s sold in pharmacies.

It is not a good idea to open the blister yourself. Better to see a doctor. If you do decide to drain your blister, be sure to follow these steps:

  • Wipe a needle with rubbing alcohol.
  • Gently puncture the edge of the blister.
  • Press the fluid in the blister toward the hole so it can drain out.

Remember: Using rusted needles or improper handling can only increase your pain and prolonged recovery from blisters.

Sometimes blisters may get infected.  Contact your doctor immediately for a checkup.  Signs of infection include:

  1. Increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around the blister.
  2. Red streaks extending away from the blister.
  3. Drainage of pus from the blister.

Remedies for blisters:

1. Apply Aloe vera gel on the blister and cover using a bandage. Aloe vera gel helps in healing and reduces pain.

2. Apply calendula ointment, It’s traditionally used as a soothing wound healer. To keep the ointment clean, cover it with an adhesive bandage or a gauze pad.

3. Use tea tree oil one part and three parts of vegetable oil mix. Apply it on blister area four times a day. This mix will keep away any type of infection.

4. Use a wet cloth and keep it on blister to relieve the pain. Soak the cloth in ice cold water, wring it out and place on blister.

5. In case your blister pops wash it using soap and water and cover using bandage.

6. Apply a mixture of vitamin E and calendula ointment to help your skin heal faster. Vitamin E comes in capsules. Ask your doctor for any brand recommendation. Open the capsule and mix vitamin E with calendula ointment and apply on opened blisters.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar: Dip a cotton ball into apple cider vinegar and swab it around the affected area and allow it to dry. If it stings, dilute the apple cider vinegar with water first.

8. Green Tea: Steep a green tea bag in 1 cup of hot water for about 5 minutes. Remove the tea bag and allow it to cool. Put the moist tea bag on the blister for a few minutes. Repeat 4 or 5 times daily for a few days.

9. Epsom Salt: Epsom salt is an easy and safe way to treat foot blisters. It helps dry out an un-popped blister and encourage it to drain.Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of Epson salt to a foot tub filled with warm water and stir it in thoroughly. Soak your feet in this water for about 15 minutes. Remove your feet, pat dry and then apply a coating of petroleum jelly. Being high in magnesium, it also helps reduce inflammation, pain and swelling. It also prevents infection. Discontinue Epsom use once the blister pops

10. Castor Oil: Smear some castor oil on the blister and leave it on overnight. Do this daily for 2 or 3 days and the blisters will soon dry out.

11. Air it out – if the blister size is increasing – expose them to air. Do not cover and hid in shoe or gloves. Air circulation helps it to heal.

How to prevent various types of blisters?

  • Avoid wearing shoes that are too tight or that rub your feet.
  • Keeping your feet bone dry can help prevent from blister forming. Slide the gel variety around the sides and tops of clean, dry feet before slipping on a new pair of shoes
  • Wear gloves to protect your hands when you are doing heavy chores or yard work.
  • During exercise and sports, specially designed sports socks can reduce the amount of available foot sweat.
  • Adequately breaking in walking or hiking boots before embarking on a long trek is also important.
  • Avoid contact with any plants or other substances that are known to cause blistery rashes.
  • Avoid contact with people who have infections that are known to cause blisters, such as: viral illnesses, including chickenpox, shingles, genital herpes infection, and cold sores.

Some health conditions like Diabetes, skin infections or skin conditions may need special attention.

Visit your doctor for full checkup and treatment..

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References:

  • http://top10homeremedies.com
  • http://www.besthealthmag.ca
  • http://www.activebeat.com
  • http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

 

Image credit:
Photo by Auskteez Tran on Unsplash (Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: May 4, 2017
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Is your child sleeping enough?

Is your child sleeping enough?

Is your child sleeping enough? It can be very tough to figure out exactly how much sleep your child needs and when he or she should go to sleep, especially because your child’s slumber needs will change as he or she gets older. With age the hours of sleeps will change too.

According to sleep pro Kristin Avis, Ph.D,  Children behavior and symptoms will be different when they don’t get enough sleep. Some adults suspects that their child might have ADHAD without checking the facts.

Including regular nap will help children to get back to normal activities similar to other kids of their age.

According to an expert “a  just 30 minutes of sleep a night can have a measurable impact on a child’s well-being,” (Lisa Meltzer, Ph.D., a sleep specialist).

Symptoms of not getting enough sleep in children:

In Young Children (Babies, Toddlers)

  • Is cranky, whiny, or fussy, especially in the late afternoon on a regular basis
  • Acts especially clingy, needy
  • Displays fidgety, antsy, or hyperactive behavior
  • Has trouble sharing, taking turns
  • Is not talkative, taciturn
  • Wakes up groggy; falls asleep after being woken up and needs to be woken again
  • Wants to lie down or nap during the day, snores
  • Probably falls asleep during very short car rides
  • Has difficulty changing from two naps to one nap a day

In kids who are in Elementary School

  • Is hyperactive
  • Falls asleep at inappropriate times
  • Needs to be woken in the morning, sometimes multiple times
  • Lacks interest, alertness, motivation, and/or an attention span
  • Seems drowsy at school or at home during homework
  • Has academic struggles
  • Falls asleep during short car rides
  • Experiences night terrors/sleepwalking for the first time
  • Needs regular naps
  • Exhibits loud snoring, breaks in breathing, or extreme restlessness at night
  • Has anxiety about being separated from you during the day and night

In preteens/teens

  • Has extreme difficulty waking up in the morning
  • Experiences mood swings
  • Has trouble concentrating
  • Feels unmotivated
  • Acts irritable in the early afternoon
  • Falls asleep easily during the day
  • Has academic troubles
  • Sleeps for long periods on the weekends
  • Is hyperactive or aggressive
  • Consumes excessive amounts of caffeine
  • Uses drugs
  • Seems “Out of it” or confused

How much sleep needed for children of different age group?

1. Newborns (up to three months): 14 to 17 hours

2. Infants (four to 11 months): 12 to 15 hours

3. Toddlers (one to two): 11 to 14 hours

4. Preschoolers (three to five): 10 to 13 hours

5. School-age (six to 13): 9 to 11 hours

6. Teens (14 to 17): 8 to 10 hours

How to make children sleep?

1. Create a routine for sleep: A routine time helps kids to get into sleepy mood. Books at bedtime help kids sleep much better or a short story can help too. With young children -give a snuggle and make them smile when they go to bed. This relaxes their mind and they will go to sleep. When the stress hormone cortisol levels are high, your child’s body won’t be able to shut down and go to sleep.

2. No TV, smart phones or any LED screens: The blue light emitted from all those modern gadgets can disrupt the kid’s ability to drift off. Shut off all electronics an hour before. Do not allow children to text before bedtime. Take the device and keep in a safe place. If you have installed a TV in your child’s room – remove it says experts. If you are not around when your child is watching TV – they may see contents that can interrupt their sleep.

3. No night time sweet or juice or sugar: Instead of giving sugary food, give some snacks with protein and low sugar content. Cheese stick or glass of milk is better option. This fulfills their stomach and they will not get up hungry.

4. A cozy room: Create a cozy cave!. Let there be dim, dull light with little cool air in the room. Darkness helps child to tap into his /her natural circadian rhythms. The reason is darkness tells body to produce more melatonin that makes child sleepy soon. Too many stuffed animals will make it hard for child to sleep. Leave one or two favorite toys with them. Leave the children bedroom door slightly open so that they know you are there in case they need you.

5. Don’t use bedroom as a timeout place – If you want to give time out chose a room that is not child’s bedroom. Tell them to sit in living room, dining hall but not in their room. Reason is child may see bedroom as the scary, timeout place and may not like sleeping in their bedroom. For teens create a soft room-darkening shades, and relative quiet room- this can help your child differentiate between day and night, making it easier to fall asleep.

6. If you know how much sleep your child needs and what time they go to bed, then set a wake up time. Allow your children to sleep few hours extra during weekends and holidays.

Watch your child for sleep disorders. Despite your best efforts if the child continues to have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep during the night or has nightmares or night terrors, they might have a genuine sleep disorder. Talk to your child’s pediatrician and get advice.

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References:

  • https://sleep.org
  • http://www.healthline.com
  • http://www.parenting.com

Image credit: Photo by Laura Lee Moreau on Unsplash (Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: May 2, 2017
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Summer fun for kids

Summer holiday fun bucket list for kids

Kids have you ever wondered what to do during long summer holidays?

Apart from spending time with your smart phone, computer and video games there are so many things to do during a beautiful summer.

Always be creative and make most of your summer holidays. Ultimately you should feel that your summer holidays was well spent, fun and very productive.

Some ideas for summer holidays are here:

1. Volunteer at a nature center.

2. Make a photo journal or a family yearbook.

3. Visit the beach and collect shells. Be creative with collected shells and design some art.

4. Make a fort out of cardboard boxes.

5. Visit a farmer’s market and learn names of vegetables and other farming related items.

6. Stage an A to Z scavenger hunt, where you have to find something that starts with every letter.

7. Grow your own garden – flower, herb and vegetable garden. Grow a pizza garden!

8. Go for a picnic with your friends and family.

9. Go canoeing, hiking, biking and small adventures with your elders/parents, siblings and friends.

10. Visit a beach and build a sandcastle.

11. Write article or a short story and submit for publication.

12. Participate in walkathon and show your support for a good cause.

13. Have a backyard campfire under stars. Sing and dance with friend and family.

14. Learn to cook – learn recipes, ingredients, small meals, help out in the kitchen- pizza, rice, vegetable rice, pasta, noodles, smoothie etc.

15. Go for a walk and then make a collage from nature objects you find along the way.

16. Identify the birds – take photos and share with your friends.

17. Visit local college, labs and understand what professors and researchers do.

18. Set up a lemonade stand and earn little money. Set up a car wash in the neighborhood. Learn how parents work hard to keep our lives safe.

19. Practice your origami skills and exhibit them.

20. Interview an expert – doctor, engineer, farmer, teacher, carpenter, scientist, plumber, shop keeper – and understand how their job works.

21. Visit the local library throughout the summer and try to read as many books as you can.

22. Practice making interesting shadow puppets and then put on a show with your characters.

23. Have an outdoor painting party using huge canvases or cardboard.

24. Plant a butterfly and bee garden with flowers.

25. Dress up in costumes, plan a treasure hunt and talk like a pirate, an actor, Disney character and develop your talent.

26. Turn the backyard into a carnival — set up a face painting area and games like ring toss.

27. Visit museums to understand history, geography, archeology of ancient era etc.

28. Make a giant hopscotch or Twister game on the lawn (with spray paint) or driveway (with chalk).

29. String beads into jewelry, learn to stitch, crochet , knitting and learn new designs. Design your own clothing

30. Be creative – make birdhouse, bird feeder using pop sticks and old wooden pieces.

31. Play mini-golf — or set up a course in your driveway by laying different size containers on their sides.

32. Make your own colored sand and create sand art.

33. Get a map of your country and learn all major cities, capitols and major places.

34. Set up a net and play badminton, volleyball or create your own cricket team.

35. Wade through a stream and search for minnows or tadpoles. Understand how amphibians live in river, ponds and lakes.

36. Investigate an ethnic grocery store and make lunch using interesting spices and kid-friendly international recipes.

37. Visit a zoo or an aquarium to learn about animals. Think how animals live in captivity.

38. Paint the sidewalk or patio with plain old water and sponge brushes. When the creation dries, start over agian.

39. Bake cupcakes in ice cream cones and then decorate them.

40. Assemble a family cookbook with all your favorite recipes.

41. Make popsicles in Dixie cups using fruit juices.

42. Create a backyard circus – kids can pretend to be animals and dress up as clowns.

43. Volunteer at an animal adoption organization.

44. Visit a retirement home and read stories to residents.

45. Visit caves, temples, tourist places and learn about historical places.

46. Make crafts with recyclable items like stickers using old photos, magazines and repositionable glue.

47. Have a game night with charades, Pictionary and bingo.

48. Learn various types of painting. Sign up for art classes.

49. Learn yoga, Pilates – try various different poses and be flexible.

50. Do not forget to visit your grandparents, relations and explore new things in new places.

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Have a enjoyable summer !

Reference: www.werindia.com

 

Image credit: Photo by Greyson Joralemon on Unsplash (Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: April 20, 2017
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Recommended for you

WIMS

Could You Have WIMS – Web-Induced Medical Stress?

What is this WIMS or Web-Induced Medical Stress? In the era of smart phones and readily available internet all information are available readily on our finger tips. Buying grocery, searching for house appliances, sports, clothing, instructions, foods to health conditions, ailments we can log into search engines and find information. When it comes to health if we read something that is similar to what we go through we take note of it and start assuming that we might have similar condition. Question is how reliable these sources are.

According to a 2012 survey by Pew Research, 72% of internet users say they looked online for health information. According to Silje Lier, a communication adviser for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services searching for possible causes of physical symptoms can be disastrous, causing fear and convincing people they have a rare illness.

We can explore many scenarios here. If there is body pain for many days and it is not going away, then you may have a discussion with your colleagues and friends. They might have similar symptoms and already undergone test to prove they have a condition and they disclose that to you.

Instead of consulting doctor, you will sit in front of computer and search for symptoms and find that your symptoms are similar to the condition what your friend expressed. Therefore, you decide that I also have same condition. Scenario two: You have some symptom and when you are on social media you will see some health related post that talks about similar symptom and cure for the same. It is on the internet and posted by someone – looks professional.

Now you decided that yes I have same condition and need same cure. You started looking for a product to cure your condition. Scenario three: You come across  health  product site and you see a product that is supposed to be a cure for the condition/symptoms you have. You take it seriously and buy the product.

In all three scenarios  just because you had some symptoms and confirmed it (yourself) on an “article” appeared on the internet, does not mean that the information is accurate. You ended up buying something that you don’t know whether it is safe for your body system or not. You don’t even know the ingredients! More importantly, you are now anxious and stressed out as you believe that you have something serious going on inside your body – this is what is known as Web-Induced Medical stress. You guessed and came to a conclusion that you have some kind of an ailment.

How to alleviate this WIMS  ?

1) Don’t delay or wait to see a doctor

2) Do not guess and do not take chances with health

3) Do not relay on search engine when it comes to your health.

4) If you are looking for information on the web – how do you know if it is a credible source?

5) Getting educated and trying to understand about symptoms or ailment that you have is okay. But, do not trust all sources. A few questions that one should explore and get answer before deciding if a site has true information are listed here:

  •  Is the site is selling a health or pharmacy product?
  • Do they use scare tactics to make their point?
  • Do they promise a “cure” for your ailment?
  • When was the information published? Is it old or new?
  • Is there any research evidence? Do they have proof?
  • Do they have About us and contact address?
  • Why is this information available? Are they trying to persuade or sell you something?
  • Who sponsors or hosts the website?
  • Is my privacy being protected? How will they use your personal information?
  • Have they referred to any other government health organization?
  • Is there a contact number or email address?
  • When you send an email -did they respond?
  • Are they asking for money?
  • Who is the charge of the website?
  • How is content selected?

If you feel something is not correct and get a red flag while answering these questions then do not relay on the site. It is better to seek doctor’s advice.

Remember: When you are looking for information on a site they can track you and trick you with pop ups and suggestions based on your search and what you looking for you. If you fall for it, then you will be a WIMS victim.

Watch this video about WIMS.

Don’t fall for false and baseless information in internet and assume that you have some ailment because you found the symptoms are similar to some condition. Don’t be a victim of WIMS. Many times, several conditions can share one or multiple symptoms. Or it may be a passing symptom and nothing serious. Always look for research based articles and collect the information. Get an appointment and share your thoughts with your physician. Your physician is the right person who can guide you with proper answer.

For free, reliable prevention and wellness guidance visit healthfinder.gov

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Image and reference source: https://healthfinder.gov

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: April 14, 2017
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Health alert: Stress during pregnancy can lead to autism in child

Health alert: Stress during pregnancy can lead to autism in child

Some experts believe that prolonged bouts of severe stress like death in a family, loosing job, fights, divorces can negatively impact a pregnancy, causing complications like preterm birth, low birth weight, and even sleep and behavioral disorders in young child. Research in the year 2010 (ref.4) suggested that offspring of mothers who experience high levels of stress during pregnancy are more likely to have problems in neurobehavioral development. The preliminary evidences suggested that prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) is a risk factor for both autism and attention, deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Moreover, stress during pregnancy has been linked to several conditions, including some instances of autism spectrum disorder. Now, (ref 1,2,3) researchers have observed a variant of a stress-sensitive gene and exposure to stress during pregnancy among two groups of mothers of children with autism. The finding could be a step toward helping identify women who have greater risks for having children with autism when exposed to stressors during pregnancy.

Researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine have observed a variant of a stress-sensitive gene and exposure to stress during pregnancy among two groups of mothers of children with autism. The study, “Maternal Serotonin Transporter Genotype Affects Risk for ASD with Exposure to Prenatal Stress,” recently was published by Autism Research, the journal of the International Society for Autism Research.

“Autism was thought to be largely a genetic disorder, but previous research has shown that environmental influences such as stress can play an important role in the development of the condition, though this was an observational study and future confirmation of this finding is needed, it’s possible we could, one day, identify women who may be at a greater risk of having a child with autism when exposed to stress,” said David Beversdorf, M.D., associate professor in the departments of radiology, neurology and psychological sciences at the University of Missouri and the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and senior author of the study. The researchers studied two separate groups of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder — a group of families at MU and a group of families at Queen’s University. The mothers surveyed the stress during their pregnancy, such as loss of a job, moving or divorce. The mothers’ blood was tested for a variation of the stress-sensitive gene known as 5-HTTLPR, which regulates the neurotransmitter serotonin in the nervous system. When a variation of the gene is present, the availability of serotonin is altered, causing an increased reaction to stress.

In both groups, mothers of children with autism who have the variation of the stress-sensitive gene reported experiencing more stress during the end of the second and the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy, compared to mothers who did not carry the altered gene.

The researchers believe the finding could be a step toward helping identify women who have greater risks for having children with autism when exposed to stressors during a specific time window during pregnancy.

References:
1. http://medicine.missouri.edu/
2. www.sciencedaily.com
3. http://www.whattoexpect.com/
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3153828/

Image credit: Photo by Anna Pritchard on Unsplash (free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: April 7, 2017
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KIds get active

Hello Kids! Get Active!!

Hi Kids! Do you know? It is very important to keep yourself active. You need to be active 60 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week, for 6 out of 8 weeks. Try to spend 60 minutes of your time outside in the garden or in a park every day. Get vitamin D directly from the Sun. Experience fresh air! Your bones and muscles need activities to keep them active and healthy. Mind should be active, so be creative.

1. Get some friends together and volunteer for a community gardening or playground renovation project.

2. Always be open-minded. Try something new! Attend free festivals, shows, and museum exhibits that are coming to your area.

3. Pack a picnic and take a hike! Find fun hikes and parks in your area. Ask adults to join you for your safety.

4. Learn a new activity, like tennis, volleyball, jumping rope, skate boarding, roller boarding or badminton. Try your hands in various sports. You can decide which sport is suited for you.

5. Try various varieties of veggies and fruit.

6. Plant a vegetable garden and watch your veggies grow! Help your mom in preparing pizza at home.

7. Trade in your morning oatmeal for some refreshing smoothies—a different one for each day of the week!

8. Don’t want to participate in school sports? No problem, consider joining a community league. Your area may have fun activities not offered by your school like kickball or swimming.

9. Be creative – sing, dance and have a sleep over with your best friends.

10. Do not forget to drink milk or soy milk, eat yogurt, drink water!

11. Practice yoga (for flexibility and focusing), Pilates, exercise, walk, run with your friends and siblings. You will feel good and develop confidence by these activities.

Do not lock yourself inside home. Do not be alone! Play with friends. Have fun! We will talk about four types of exercises that your body needs in our next article.

Read more at: Healthylife.werindia.com

 

Image credit: Photo by Bernard Hermant on Unsplash (Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: April 5, 2017
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