Folic Acid....Folate and Your Fertility

Taking Folic acid when preparing for pregnancy and throughout pregnancy is very important...... It has been found to aid in:

- The development of and function of the fetal nervous system and the brain. It prevents spina bifida

- DNA formation and cell growth

- Protection against some cancers eg. Lung, Colon, Cervical....

- Proper cell division

- Amino acid formation. It helps to prevent heart disease, stroke and miscarriage by maintaining healthy levels of homocysteine because high levels cause excessive blood clotting.

- Supports the growth of the placenta and prevents several birth defects, low birth weight, preterm delivery and pregnancy loss

- It has also been found to improve sperm quality in men.

Some substances should be avoided while trying to improve fertility as you are taking Folic acid because it prevents or reduces its absorption from the gut. Examples are....Alcohol, Antibiotics, Green tea, Black tea, Aspirins, Antacids, Oral Contraceptive Pills.

Folic Acid can be gotten naturally from the following foods and you don't need to worry about overdose (if you are combining them with supplements) because the body can handle high doses..... Broccoli, Avocados, Grape fruits, Cucumber, Tomato, Okra, Cabbage, Liver, Papaya, Walnuts, Cauliflower, Bell peppers, etc.

Always consult your Doctor if you are trying to get pregnant.

-ChikaO

Benefits Of Losing Weight- The Motivation You Need.

Everyone has a reason for slimming down; from fitting into that new lovely dinner gown or tuxedo, to gaining energy and feeling better. Sometimes you may need an extra motivation when faced with that early morning workout, you might find it in these benefits of loosing weight.

It Improves Memory....
Your brain gets a boost. It has been found that even the patients that loose weight following surgery had an improved memory and increased mental abilities.

You Get To Breathe Better....
If you have seasonal allergies that cause you to sneeze and sniffle, loosing weight can help reduce the burden on your respiratory system, improving asthma and allergy symptoms.

You Lessen The Stress On Your Body....
With less weight, there is less pressure on your joints and bones and muscles. You tend to feel lighter and move better.

Your Skin Looks Better....
Excess weight and unhealthy eating can cause the unsightly look of skin tags and cellulite and loss of skin elasticity. Eathing healthy meals and losing weight helps improve the look of the skin.

Elevates Your Mood....
Being overweight has been linked to depression (maybe from dissatisfaction from the way you look). Slimming down helps, it improves energy levels, general mood and self-confidence...although fitting better into your clothes also helps too.

It Also Helps You Save Money....
Loosing weight, even as little as about 10% could help you reduce your medical cost as you are and feel more healthy, keeping at bay the chronic lifestlye medical conditions like Diabetes, Arthritis (with low back pain), Hearth conditions (eg Hypertension, Stoke) and the effects of increased blood Cholesterol etc.

*Everyday Health