Does Fish Oil Help During Pregnancy?

October 20, 2010 in articles | 3 comments

Fish oil is a widely healthy food that has been known for some benefits. When you use fish oil, you can moisturize your skin, and studies have show that it can have indirect positive effects on mood. Some would say that it is especially beneficial during pregnancy. New studies are showing that while it’s healthy and necessary, it’s not as great as you may think. It’s not as great as has been previously advertised. It does not provide extra help after pregnancy.

When you take fish oil after birth, some would say that it decreases the chances of depression and post partum problems in both mother and child. Some also stated that fish oil would improve the child’s cognitive or language development. But a new study conducted in Australia suggest that it’s not quite that good. They showed that pregnant women who took DHA and omega 3 fatty acids developed postpartum depression at the same rate as other mothers who did not take these supplements. Children of those who took fish oil did not score any higher on language or cognitive tests.

Maria Makrides, deputy director of the Women’s and Children’s Health Research Institute suggests that there is nothing to suggest that pregnant women should take DHA or other health supplements. Of those who took fish oil, officially, 9.7% developed depression within 6 months. 11.2% of the placebo group experienced depression with the same period of time. All children were tested at the age of 18 months old.

There is no reason to give up on taking fish oil. Fish oil is still recognized as being an extremely healthy supplement. It could be said that it can still be even essential to the skin, body, and health. In some women, it has been linked to a decreased risk of breast cancer, and it improves circulation, lowers blood pressure, reduces inflammation and stiff joint pain, while also helping you to reduce the risk of heart disease. It can help to reduce the risk of having a pre-term baby. So it can be used during pregnancy for that purpose. But studies now show that it’s not quite the same as we may have once thought.

Healthy Foods For Kids

October 14, 2010 in Uncategorized | One comment

Recent studies have shown that kids actually taste things differently than adults. They think that vegetables taste bad in some cases because to them, they actually do taste bad. When they put an apple in their mouth, it tastes different to them than it would to you. It’s not surprising that as they grow older, tastes may change. Of course, some kids do not grow out of picky taste, because they remember their childhood experiences. It is always important to make sure that your kids get healthy meals while they are young. It will also help them to learn healthy habits early on.

1. Try to eat at home as much as possible
Just like adults, foods you will find at restaurants are not necessarily suitable for daily consumption in children. When you eat at restaurants, you generally get fattier foods, larger portion sizes, and of course you end up paying more. When you eat at home, you have quite a bit more control over what you are consuming.

2. Decorate fruits and vegetables
It may be as simple as peeling a little bit of the peel up on the head of an apple slice to make it look like a rabbit or putting peanut butter and raisins on a stick of celery. Whether they think they like it or not, the best way to get them to try healthier foods is often to make it more appealing. Whether you do this with unique taste or elegant presentation, it can be helpful.

3. Don’t make them clear their plate
Most kids know when they are full. When you tell them to finish their plate, regardless of the fact that they may well be full, you are actually disrupting that natural cycle. When you allow them to eat when they are hungry and avoid food when they are not, you allow them to maintain the right idea. Over-feeding your child will teach their body to become more accustomed to over-eating and can lead to obesity.

4. Give them snacks throughout the day
This encourages the small portions and 5 meals a day policy. When they are not desperately hungry at any given meal, you will find that they will eat more, but they will optimize their own bodies to burn more calories therefore naturally maintaining a healthier weight.

5. Encourage outside activity
Whether they are involved in a sports league, climbing trees, or just playing with their friends, it is important to encourage active and outdoor activity. This will encourage a more active lifestyle in the future with plenty of exercise and the enjoyment thereof.