Body Care Facts & Health Tips

Giving birth to a child is an experience of a lifetime. But there can be many complications even when you are on the verge of becoming a mother. And if you are obese, you are right in the firing line. Yes, a fat woman runs a very high risk of developing complications while giving birth. Not only that, the child too may be born with certain birth abnormalities. So, if you are too fat, your child will automatically inherit the risk of potential health hazards during or after birth.

Researchers have not been able to establish yet whether obesity has a direct negative impact on the mother and/or child during birth. However, there has been enough evidence to conclude that certain other health conditions (that follow obesity) have a telling impact on the mother and/or child at the time of birth. One such condition, Type 2 diabetes, which is related to obesity, can heighten the risk of birth defects.

Type 2 diabetes (in which blood sugar levels in the body are beyond normal) disrupts the delicate embryo to a large extent. The excess blood sugar is transferred to the embryo from the mother. This stimulates the production (or rather overproduction) of free radicals which are toxic for both mother and baby. Excess sugar can also trigger the formation of metabolic byproducts that derail the signaling mechanisms, essential for embryonic development.

While obesity is certainly not the only reason behind diabetes, it cannot be ruled out a potential cause of birth defects. So, if you are overweight, you need to understand that shedding a few kilos can curtail blood sugar levels in the body, if not absolutely cure diabetes. In fact, research says that women suffering from pre-gestational diabetes but with controlled blood sugar levels in the pre-conception period face a lower risk of transferring congenital abnormalities to the newborn child.

Being overweight can also have other serious repercussions on the child. You surely must be aware that extra fat deposited in blood vessels impedes blood flow to vital organs in the body. Well, you may contract heart disease as a result, but have you ever wondered that it affects your child as well? Your baby (scientifically an embryo) depends on you for life. While the baby is in your womb, important nutrients, body fluids and blood are conferred from your body to your baby. Due to extra fat in your blood vessels, even your baby will not receive regular inflow of blood. This can adversely affect the health of your baby.

Studies claim that obesity heightens the odds of birth anomalies such as cleft palate, spina bifida, heart abnormalities and hormonal defects. On many occasions, parents are left wondering about the reasons for their child’s health problems. One reason could be the mother’s obesity during pregnancy.

If you are too fat, your child’s delivery could also be complicated and complex. Most obese mothers have to undergo Cesarean sections to deliver their children. So, if you want to experience a normal, hassle free delivery and your child to be fit, lose weight FAST!

You will probably never pay more attention to what you eat than when you are pregnant. Between trying to do the right thing and fight food cravings what you eat is a huge part of pregnancy. There are some things that should be a part of your pregnancy diet and some things that are better avoided. Use this handy guide to help you choose the best foods for you and baby.

Foods to Avoid

Caffeine

Though a little bit of caffeine probably isn’t all that bad, high doses of caffeine have been linked to miscarriages and preterm labor. That aside caffeine causes your body to not retain nutrients at the same level that it would in its absence.

Caffeine is also typically linked to sodas that are full of high fructose corn syrup which has been linked to mercury poisoning. In addition to this sodas, as well as many coffee drinks, are full of empty calories that offer no nutrition and do not adequately affect the “full tummy” sensors in your body and brain. Excessive sugar consumption can lead to gestational diabetes and diabetes in your unborn child.

Honey

Some forms of raw honey have been linked to botulism. Though this disease is fairly rare it can be pretty devastating on a developing fetus. There really is no need in taking the chance.  For this same reason most honey comes with a warning label that it should not be fed to infants under one.

Fish

Fish from local sources that you know the mercury content of is usually fairly safe. Fish like shark and king mackerel have very high mercury contents on average and should always be avoided. You should also eat tuna in moderation.  Maintaining a low mercury level during pregnancy is more important than any other time in your life because high instances of mercury can lead to brain defects in your child. Mercury is one of the leading alleged culprits in the autism epidemic. It should be avoided as much as possible.

Cold Meat

It is generally best to avoid cold meat. This is because of the risk of listeria, a food borne illness that can have a detrimental effect on a fetus. Listeria is especially present in cheap processed meats like lunch meat and hot dogs.  Since these meats aren’t all that healthy and have also been linked to cancer they are probably best avoided. However, if you just have to have a hot dog or a ham sandwich, which is often the case in pregnancy heat it to steaming and you should be Ok.  Warm ham and cheese sandwiches can actually be quite comforting.

Raw Milk and Cheese

Here is the deal with raw milk and cheese.  It can give you toxoplasmosis which is very dangerous to developing babies. The thing is that if you have always had raw milk and cheese you have probably already contracted toxoplasmosis and developed immunity to it.

The same goes for cats, they often carry toxoplasmosis in their GI tract and so many women are afraid to change the litter box during pregnancy. If you’ve had cats for a long time, then you’ve probably already had toxoplasmosis.  Wearing gloves when changing the litter and gardening can offer protection from these sources of the disease.

The real threat is that toxoplasmosis can have terrible affects on a fetus and hardly any effect on the mother. The truth is that you likely have already gotten immunity especially if you fit into one of the categories above. So when it comes to these things use your best judgment.

Good Choices

The foods you should eat are a little bit less tricky than the foods you shouldn’t. You need about 300 extra calories a day during pregnancy. You want to get those calories from good sources of protein and vitamins. Make sure you include a variety of fruits and vegetables daily and drink 6-8 glasses of water. A balanced diet and a good vitamin regiment should be all you need to worry about when it comes to eating right during pregnancy.

Though you may feel like it, having diabetes does not mean that you are alone.  The opposite is actually true.  People who are diagnosed with diabetes often get very depressed right after diagnosis.  They imagine that they will never get to eat the foods they love again.  The truth is that there are some things you will have to give up, but it’s probably not as bad as you think. These are some guidelines that you should follow when planning for your new diabetes diet.

Alcohol and Diabetes

Alcohol is one of the things that you might have to give up after you receive a diabetes diagnosis.  This is because alcohol is absorbed by the body very similarly to the way fat is.  Many alcoholic beverages are also very high in sugar, but it is important that you realize that sugar is not the only food you will now have to avoid.  It is probably OK to have alcohol on a very rare basis and only if your blood sugar is low at the time, but you should always ask your physician’s opinion first.

Glycemic Index

Sugar is not the only food that causes your blood sugar level to rise.  In fact starches and carbohydrates can often cause as much of a rise in blood sugar levels as plain table sugar.  This is what the glycemic index is all about. It is a way of measuring different foods for their effect on your blood sugar level.

Because many carbohydrates and starches have the same effect on the human body as pure sugar, many physicians and scientists are taking a much more realistic approach to sugar consumption and the diabetic.  An occasional sugar snack is Ok as a part of a practical diabetes diet.  Always monitor your blood sugar accordingly when indulging in snacks and keep your consumption moderate.  It is also a good idea to replace a high carb food that you had planned to eat that day after you indulge in a sugary snack.  This will help you to maintain the balance.

Get Your Fiber

Make sure that you get whole grains and fiber in your diet every day.  Studies show that eating a high fiber diet can help to maintain blood sugar in diabetics.  This is especially true for those who have type II diabetes. You should always try to get your fiber from whole grains like brown rice and wheat bread.

Eat Plenty of Vegetables

Getting plenty of vegetables can help you to maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet.  You want to eat a variety of different vegetables.  A good way to pick out vegetables is by color, you want the most colors you can get on your plate.  Fruits are also great for the diabetic diet but you should be careful with fruit since some type so fruit will cause a significant rise in blood sugar, especially if you indulge too much.

Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners can be a good way for people following a diabetes diet to enjoy some of their former favorite snacks with fewer rises in blood sugar.  The only problem with artificial sweeteners is that many are unhealthy and even linked to cancer and other issues.  Also something that uses artificial sweetener is not necessarily low in carbohydrates so you should check the labeling before indulging even in artificial sugars.