Archive for June 2016

Ginger. Image via pixabay.

All around the world, people are using ginger in so many ways. People use ginger in foods and drinks. They even use it to treat certain illness- ginger has many medicinal uses. Ginger provides a natural remedy for many problems associated with the body. This is possible because as you will see below, the nutrients that it contains are very beneficial for the body. These nutrients are needed by the body and that's what makes ginger so effective in treating many conditions.

A bit about where ginger comes from

The rhizome of the Zingiber officinale plant produces ginger. This plant is a flowering plant that belongs to the Zingiberaceae family.

Ginger that is a year or more before harvest is more beneficial.

What does the flesh of ginger look like?

The flesh of ginger is light yellow in color.

Ginger is a fragrant hot spice and is one of my favorite spice to cook with!

Image via pixabay

Do you incorporate ginger in your diet? If no, you should because of the health benefits that you'll read about below.

Some nutrients that ginger contain are:

10 essential amino acids:

Leucine
Valine
Arginine
Phenylalanine
Tryptophan
Threonine
Lysine
Isoleucine
Methionine
Histidine

Vitamins

B vitamins
Vitamin C

Minerals

Iron
Manganese
Calcium
Zinc

Phytochemicals

Fatty acids

Natural oils

The health benefits of ginger are:

Ginger is used to:

- relief nausea and vomiting. This is most effective during pregnancy.

- treat headaches and migraines.

- help boost your body's immune system and help fight infections.

- fight indigestion.

- reduce the pain associated with menstruation.

- treat colds and diarrhea.

- lower cholesterol

Healthy living is the best way to go in order to obtain the best health that you possibly can. You can simply do this by implementing healthy foods into your diet. So start using ginger today. Some other healthy foods are chia seeds, coconut water, and avocados.

Read more about these:

Are you over the age of 35 and you're trying to get pregnant? At this time, it can be challenging, but it is possible. One might ask why wait so late? There are many reasons why one would. For example, career, financial problems, took longer to get married, didn't find Mr right, wasn't ready early on in their marriage, etc.

Tips to get pregnant after 35

Some tips to get pregnant after 35 are:
- Get in shape if you're not by exercising

Being underweight or overweight can lead to infertility and this goes for both male and female. So therefore if you're underweight, try gaining some weight and if you're overweight, try losing some. By doing these your chances of getting pregnant will increase.

- Get proper nutrition

Eat a healthy, balanced diet. This should consist of carbohydrates, proteins, fats (yes, fats), enough water, mineral salts, and vitamins. Also, you should ensure that you are getting all of the necessary requirements of vitamins and minerals that your body needs from supplements if you're not getting it from the foods that you eat. These nutrients are important for lots of things. One such thing is the production of healthy sperm and eggs.

- Avoid processed foods
Processed foods often contain preservatives and additives and these can interfere with your hormones.

- Eat organic foods (as much as possible, if not always)
Pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides) are not used in the production of organic produce (fruits and vegetables) and so these chemicals aren't on them. These chemicals can play a role in infertility by interfering with your hormones also.

- Be in the best health that you can be

This is very important! This goes for you and your partner. So both the male and female needs to be in good health because if you're not in the best health your body might put reproduction lastly.
Related post: 9 good lifestyle tips

- Know your fertile days

If you know the days that you're most likely to conceive you can try on those days. The best time is on those days that leads up to ovulation.

- Get plenty of sleep

A well-rested body is needed for overall good health.

- Avoid caffeine

Can lower your risks of getting pregnant.

- Check with a doctor if you have a medical condition (e.g. diabetes)
Certain medical conditions can decrease your chances of getting pregnant so you need to check with your doctor.

- Quit smoking and drinking

These can lead to infertility (both male and female).

- Have sex more often
This will increase your chances.

It is possible to be a mother after the age of 35 so don't stress about it!

Related post:Reasons why you're not getting pregnant

Chia seeds

A lot of healthy people are incorporating chia seeds into their diets! Do you know why? If you have never heard of chia seeds, then the questions that might pop into your head will be:
What are chia seeds? Is it beneficial to eat these seeds? What are the health benefits of chia seeds? What do they taste like? How can I incorporate them into my meals or how to prepare them?

Firstly, what are chia seeds?
Well, obviously they are seeds! The Salvia hispanica plant grows chia seeds and this plant is found in the mint family.

What do they look like?
They are tiny seeds that are either white or black in color and are oval in shape (see image above). The black variety is most commonly used.

What do they taste like?
They have an almost neutral (or mild nutty) flavor.
Chia seeds contain lots of nutrients like:

protein
fiber
omega-3 fatty acids
omega-6 fatty acids
antioxidants
calcium
manganese
phosphorus

Amazing fact:
Did you know that chia seeds contain more omega-3 fatty acid than salmon when compared in ounces? Now that's impressive!

Chia seeds are good for:

pregnant women
children
adults

They are a great plant-based protein for:

vegans
vegetarians

The health benefits of chia seeds are:

- They are excellent for weight loss

Why?

They have few calories.
The fiber allows these seeds to absorb water and it metabolizes slowly, which makes you feel fuller longer.
The protein that it contains will reduce your cravings for food often.

(Dhal is great for weight loss too and you can read about it here: The benefits of dhal)

- They increase your energy levels

- Improves digestion and regularity
Why?

Because chia seeds contain both soluble and insoluble fiber which is great for this.

- Lowers cholesterol levels

Why?

omega-3 fatty acids lower cholesterol levels

- The antioxidants that they contain will help protect against cancer and aging.

- It controls blood sugar

- The phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and protein that it contains will improve the health of your bones

3 ways to use chia seeds

Add it to smoothies
Mix some into your oatmeal, cereal or yogurt
Sprinkle over your salad

Yogurt with chia seeds and some fruit

If you want to live a healthy lifestyle then you should include chia seeds into your diet, you won't regret it.

All images in this post are via pixabay.

Image via pixabay

Menstruation is basically the shedding of a part of the uterine lining (endometrium) and the unfertilized egg (ovum) once every month. It is therefore composed of : the unfertilized egg
blood
tissue (broken-down uterine lining)
uterine fluids
cervical mucus
vaginal secretions

Hormones are involved in the process of menstruation. This time of the month is experienced by mature women all around the world, but each has varying degrees of pain or discomfort. This pain or discomfort is experienced before and during a menstrual period.

Want to know more about this time of the month? Then keep on reading!

The menstrual cycle will result as a result of an interaction among the:
Ovaries: Produces the eggs
Uterus or most commonly known as womb

Brain

Pituitary gland

Once a woman has had her menstrual period for the first time in her life she is said to have become a young woman! As long as women have their period then they are fertile (child-bearing time in their lives). So, therefore, they can reproduce. A woman's menstrual cycle is interrupted if she is pregnant.

How often does menstruation occur?
Menstruation occurs on a monthly basis (so every 4 weeks or 28 days). It can, however, occur earlier or later. It is temporarily interrupted by pregnancy.

What are the signs that indicate an incoming menstrual period?
As one's menstrual period approaches, there will be a feeling of discomfort in the lower part of the body.

What is the appearance of a menstrual period? Is the menstrual fluid actually blood?

A little rusty brown or yellow discharge will emerge on the first day, first. This discharge will be a combination of mucus and blood and the color is a result of the blood in it. The discharge on the second and third day will be red in color. After a certain number of days, this discharge will get smaller and smaller in quantity until it finally stops. The color will also change to the color in the beginning.

The menstrual fluid is not only blood. It is composed of blood, tissue (broken-down uterine lining), uterine fluids, cervical mucus and vaginal secretions as stated above. You can also tell this because the other stuff that makes it up causes its consistency and smell to be different from blood.

Where does the blood come from?
From the capillaries of the uterus.

When does menstruation begin?
Menstruation begins in the age of puberty (up to fifteen years of age). The age of puberty is the period when a woman's body matures and she becomes a young woman. Menstruation doesn't always begin at those ages for some girls.

How long will I get it for?
Up to about the age of forty-five or later.

What is the duration of menstruation?
From one to eight days.

Does it pain?

Some do experience menstrual cramps during their menstrual cycle.

Menopause
When your menstrual cycle stops.

Hygiene during menstruation

Women use tampons and pads during their menstruation and these are used to catch the menstrual flow.

Tips to get pregnant after 35

WELCOME

Follow Me

POPULAR POSTS

Blog Archive