How to Prevent Neural Tube Defects in Newborns

A healthy baby is a dream of every expectant woman. Eating healthy food is essential to achieve this dream. One of the crucial nutrients in women diet is folate that is essential for baby’s healthy brain & spine. It is necessary to prevent Neural Tube Defects in infants.

What are Neural Tube Defects?

The embryonic structure that develops into the brain and spinal cord is called the neural tube. By the 28th day of conception, neural tube folds inward & closes. If it doesn’t close completely, Neural tube Defects (NTD) develops.
Neural Tube Defects are a group of severe birth defects which affect infant’s brain & spinal cord.  Two major neural tube birth defects are Anencephaly and Spina Bifida. In Anencephaly, the tissues that form the infant brain do not develop properly. As a result, they stillborn or die shortly after birth.

    Spina Bifida is the most common birth defeat in the United States, affecting about 1,500 babies each year. Babies with Spina Bifida have a defect of the spinal column that can result in paralysis, hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain, learning difficulties, and mental retardation, bladder & bowel problems. Many children with Spina Bifida are forced to live with devices like leg braces, clutches or wheelchair.

Folate & Folic Acid

                   Vitamin B is essential for embryonic and fetal nerve cell formation.  Folate is the natural form of Vitamin B, whereas Folic Acid is their synthetic forms which can be found in fortified foods & vitamin pills.
   It is sad that in most of the cases, these defects occur during the first few weeks of pregnancy, even before a woman knows that she is pregnant.

U.S. Public Health Service recommended that all women of childbearing age must take 0.4 mg of folic acid to prevent Neural Tube Defects.

To include Folate in the diet is easy as it found in a wide range of delicious food like citrus fruits, avocado, melon, beets, dark green leafy vegetables, chicken, beef, whole grains, and dried beans and peas. It is also available in fortified bread, rice, pasta, and cereals. Taking a Multi- vitamin pill containing 0.4 mg of folic acid daily, ensures of getting the recommended amount of folic acid.
        
                   In 1998, U.S Food & Drug Administration commanded cereal manufactures to fortify their products with folic acid, which resulted in a 43 % reduction of Neural Tube Defects in babies.
         
 Make eating a Folate-rich diet a habit & give your baby a healthy and blissful life.


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#Neural Tube Defects  #Folate #Folic Acid

Eating Out in Healthiest Way

By Shabnamahsan

To be fit & healthy, it’s essential to take healthy diet. But in Special occasion or festival season we can’t avoid dinning out with family & friends.  While eating out in restaurants specially fast food restaurants, it’s hard to resist the tempting delicacies which are not so healthy. They are usually packed with too much calories, sodium & trans fat.

           Don’t worry. I’ll show you some tricks to make your dining out tasty, healthy and memorable.

Plan Your Meal In Advance

Today we can find most of the restaurants online. Check their menu online, highlight healthy options & print it out for future reference. If you don’t get it online, take menu card when you go there. It will help you plan your meal wisely.

Eat Small Meals During The Day

Eat some fruits or healthy salad in the evening to curb your appetite so you don’t indulge into overeating in dinnertime.

Select You Meal Carefully

Read the menu carefully. Avoid the dishes containing the word fried, creamy, au gratin, crispy or basted as they are usually high in unhealthy fats & calories. Choose steamed, baked, grilled or poached dishes without mayonnaise and creamy sauces & you will cut a lot of calories & harmful fat.

Ask for the salad dressing & sauces to be served separately. You can use them at your choice or skip them

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Check Your Portion

Generally restaurants serve huge portions which make us eat more than we need. Ask for take home container & pack half of the meal in it before serving you. You will eat guilt free & get free meal for next day. Or you can share with your dining partner to save money & calories.

Healthy Dessert

Rounding up meal with yummy Chocolate Sundae or Berry Cheesecake can lead a rounded figure. Instead, order frozen fruity sorbet or yogurt ice cream sundae. These fruity desserts are nutritious & at the same time an absolute treat to your test buds.

                Do a little planning & a careful choice now & your body will thank you later

I Cry Silently- A Video Dedicated To Lovers

Have you ever loved someone deeply? This song speaks about “How it feels when that loved one goes away from our life?”. The words of this song really speaks about broken heart. The pain of broken heart is unbearable, the whole world looks shattered. We cry from inside and we couldn’t share our problem with others.

I cry silently
I cry inside of me
I cry hopelessly

Why did I ever let you slip away
Can't stand another day without you
Without the feeling
I once knew

And you are always ready to do everything for your lover just to get them back. You start trying to find all those reasons that have taken them away. Well I couldn’t explain all these feelings in words, they are full of emotions. I pray to God that no one has to face all such things. Till then spread love and spend more time with your loved ones.

Protien Sources for Vegetarians

 By Shabnamahsan

Protein is one of the most essential parts of our meal. It is the main substance in body’s tissues & vital organs. It works as building block of muscles. It is essential for repairing & building body tissues. Protein is vital for strong immunity & hormonal system.

One of the myths about our protein is that non vegetarian products are the best source of protein & vegetarian diet doesn't have adequate protein. It's just not true. It's not essential to include animal foods to get enough protein.

Here are some protein options for vegetarians

Soya Products

Soya protein is one of the few plants proteins which contain all of the essential amino acids, making it a complete protein. Soya foods are rich in calcium, potassium, iron & dietary fiber. They are rich in vitamins B1, B2, B6, E and folic acid. It reduces LDL cholesterol and coronary artery disease risk. You can use it in a variety of ways as tofu, soya milk, soya burger, and soya yogurt or soya ice cream.

Beans

The Love I Found In You- Dedicate this song to someone special

Usually I try to post something for everyone, today I thought to post something more special which you may dedicate to someone very special in your life.
The song name is The Love I Found In You sung by Jim Brickman. The best thing which I really liked about this song is its a heart touching, soothing and full of emotions. In the whole song, the singer is singing about its love.
Lyrics excerpt:

You are the air I need to breathe
the river of life inside of me
you are the half that made me whole
you are the anchor of my soul

Just hear it once and I am sure it will make you to remember about someone really special and loving. Till then keep smiling and spread more and more love :).

How To Clean Leather Furniture

By Shabnamahsan

Leather furniture gives a rich sophisticated look to any style of decor, whether it is modern or retro style. They are available in many colors & styles. The beauty of leather furniture can last a life time if you follow these simple rules in its maintenance, care & cleaning.

Leather varies with its place of origin so it is necessary to ask the seller about it. Read & carefully follow manufacturer’s caring instructions.

      To keep your leather furniture shine for a long time you must keep it clean. Daily dusting with soft dry cloths keeps its pore clean of dust particles. Clean its bottom & crevices with vacuum cleaner.

         Never use lots of water & soup to clean your leather furniture as it will speed up the cracking & breaking process. Strong solvents & ammonia bleach can bleach it so never apply it on your leather furniture.

Advantages of Sugarcane

 By Shabnamahsan

It is believed that sugarcane, the mother of all man made sweets, first discovered in India as its first written reference is found in the Vedas. Sugarcane juice is most popular juice in India, Brazil & South East Asia.

  According to Ayurveda , it is the mine of all virtues. It is said that just like a loving father protects his child, sugarcane protects human body from onslaughts of all types of afflictions. Sugarcane has almost all the necessary nutrients for healthy growth & maintenance of human body             

All the products of sugarcane right from its raw form to vinegar, jaggery, & other forms are beneficial to human body except white sugar that is injurious to human system, especially to the bones.

Strong Teeth

Cut sugarcane stalks with your teeth & suck its juice. It’ll give your teeth proper exercise & make them strong & white.

Energy Drink

Because of the Complex form of carbohydrates in sugarcane, it is digested & absorbed gradually & provided energy for longer period without harming the internal organs.

Memory loss

According to Ayurveda, eating jiggery is the most effective treatment of amnesia or memory loss. Use sugarcane juice frequently if you want to improve your memory’s retention power.