agro

Research Bits

Misc

None of the psychotropic commonly prescribed to children have ever been approved for use in children. Antidepressant drugs boost diabetes risk by 200% – 300%.

7/18/06 : Extra co-host DAYNA DEVON is expecting her second child and first son with her husband, plastic surgeon Brent Moelleken. The new baby boy will join big sister Emmi Reese, 10 months, in mid-January.

EPA and Pesticide Industry Pressuring Scientists to Allow Continued Use of Toxic Pesticides according to the Organic Consumers Association.

Government scientists are blowing the whistle on the Environmental Protection Agency’s attempt to allow the continued use of 20 highly controversial organophosphate pesticides without conducting adequate safety testing. Previous research indicates that these pesticides pose serious health hazards, especially to babies in the womb, infants and children. EPA scientists report that they are being pressured to skip key risk assessment tests. This controversy comes on the heels of the EPA’s new rule which would allow the intentional dosing of pregnant women and children with pesticides.

ALLERGIES: researching the cause of allergies shows that non-genetic maternal influences such as C-section and high maternal age may increase the allergy of food allergies. It seems that babies born to allergic moms who deliver via C-section have a 7 fold increased risk of food allergies to egg, fish, or nuts. High maternal age above 30 also increases food allergies 3 fold.

CALIFORNIA BANS THIMEROSOL FROM VACCINES GIVEN TO PREGNANT WOMEN & YOUNG CHILDREN A California state law took effect this July, 2006, that effectively bans vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal from use in pregnant women and children under age three. It restricts the use of vaccines containing more than trace amount of ethyl mercury with these populations, because of concern that the mercury could damage the developing brains of fetuses and young children. However, the law does allow state officials to waive thimerosal restrictions in the event of a public health emergency, including a severe flu vaccine shortage. To comply with the law, California has ordered 50,000 thimerosol-free flu vaccine doses for children ages one to three and 15,000 such doses for pregnant women. Governor Schwarzenegger originally signed the legislation (AB 2943) back in September 2004.

ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS should be avoided, especially during pregnancy. SPLENDA is not made “naturally with sugar” as they portray. It is a highly processed chemical sweetener made with chlorine that the FDA approved despite health concerns. The biggest risk to pregnant women is galactosemia, characterized by anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (all potential dangers while pregnant) as well as an intolerance for dairy (not so bad). EQUAL or ASPARTAME made out of synthetic amino acids and methanol, poisonous neuroxins that turns into formeldahyde and formic acid (used as a paint stripper). Aspartame has been shown to cause uterine polyps, enlarged pituitary and thyroid glands, atrophied testes, brain and mammary tumors in animals and methanol destroys the optic nerve (may cause blindness) and fetal tissue cannot tolerate methanol. And SACCHARINE was banned in Europe back in the 60′s for causing cancer…… If you absolutely can’t kick the sugar habit, please try STEVIA, it is perfectly safe during pregnancy. A little more expensive and found in the “vitamin aisle” at your health food store (thanks to some old buddies; the artificial sugar industry who didn’t want the competition & the FDA).

9/05/06 : An autism study at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NY showed that children born from fathers older than 40 have a higher risk of autism.

9/03/06 : C-sections more than triple maternal death risk, compared with vaginal delivery, says a study in the Journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.

7/23/06 : Great News. With soaring liability costs, Hospitals are REDUCING CHILDBIRTH RISKS by curbing the use of drugs and other procedures to induce labor.The use of Oxycontin leads to 50% of birth trauma and complications. It is used to induce labor, but can hyper-stimulate the uterus causing tears and slow blood & oxygen supply to the baby. Doctors are at some hospitals now required to obtain permission before inducing delivery before 39 weeks, as babies born even a few days early has higher rates of Caesarian deliveries, neonatal intensive care, respiratory distress, other problems and and long-term health issues. Near term babies (c-section @ 35-37 weeks), have more jaundice, low blood sugar, respiratory & temperature problems. According to Carla Provost, assistant VP at Baystate Med. Cent. Mass, Pitocin is used like candy in the OB world which is a legal and medical risk.

Multiple Births, Except Twins, Decline in US According to the Disease Control and Prevention the number of triplets decline for the first time in a decade in the United States in 1999. Reports show that the number of multiple births soared 470% between 1980 and 1988 then dropped 4% in 1999. Twin births rose 3% in 1999 to about 29 per 1,000 live births. The research found that the rate of death for children and teenagers fell 4% between 1999 and 2000. The birth rate in 2000 rose 2%, the third annual increase after several years of decline.

The Germiest of all. Some 40 percent of people consider public bathrooms the germiest of all places, reported by consumer products company Kimberly-Clark. You know the drill: Wash your hands and use a paper towel to open doors, says microbiologist Philip Tierno, Ph.D., author of The Secret Life of Germs. If the toilet has a lid, close it before flushing – it can propel bacteria 20 feet into the air. No lid? Flush and run!

Pregnant Memory Loss. If things have slipped your mind lately, blame it on pregnancy. In a study of pregnant women in India, researchers found a significant decrease in brain chemicals that help transmit messages between brain cells. The expectant moms also displayed a loss of functional memory, especially during the second trimester, according to the Journal of Reproductive Medicine. This may be due to your baby gobbling up all your brains Omega 3 fatty acids, which may also lead to depression. Moms with higher levels of Omega 3 fatty acids suffer less depression and memory loss. Although pregnancy will remain pregnancy and a certain level of memory loss is to be expected – and it will come back. To ensure your Omega levels eat plenty of lead free fish (see Nutrition section) olive oil, almonds etc…. and take and Omega Fatty acid supplement.

More memory loss. In a test at the Simon Fraser U in British Colombia pregant women under went cognitive test showing that those carrying boys did better than those carrying girls. Go figure…

Diabetes prevention.According to Diabetologia, women who take cod liver oil during pregnancy may reduce her child’s risk of developing juvenile Type 1 diabetes by as much as 66%.  This could be due to the Vitamin D and Omega 3 fatty acid content, which has an anti-inflammatory effect.

How to avoid an episiotomy. A study from Obstetrics & Gynecology has shown that pereneal massage and stretching by mothers left them 60% more likely to deliver with an intact perineum than those who had no interventions.  Starting daily at your 34 week, place your clean, lubricated thumbs one-and-a-half inches into your vagina and press steadily down for two minutes, to the right for two minutes, then to the left for two minutes.  If your belly gets too big to reach under, ask your partner to do it for you.

Too many episiotomies. Episiotomies are often performed unnecessarily to ease delivery.  Women who are not surgically cut have less infection and pain after delivery.  The notion that the trauma of birth would lead to neurological disorders in the infant, is unfounded.  Obstetrics and Gynecology, April, 2000

Too many C-Sections. Doctors often perform c-section deliveries too quickly, according to studies, against professional guidelines.  Obstetrics and Gynecology 2000, Reuters Health

Anxious moms = low birth weight. Stressed moms who expect problems, get problems with a less developed baby says research from Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in London.
(See, the proof is in the pudding — Don’t worry, be happy! Positive thinking works in more ways than one — it’s more effective than most people imagine)

Night lights = nearsightedness. A study has shown that children who under the age of two slept with a light on have a much higher risk of needing glasses due to nearsightedness. The brighter the light, the higher the risk. Eye development slows at age two. Only 10% of infants who sleep in the dark become nearsighted, but 34% will with a night light and 55% with a room light. Pediatric MD and scientist Richard Stone thinks our eyes need darkness to develop properly.
- University of Pennsylvania

POST PARTUM

EXERCISE!! THE POOR MAN’S PLASTIC SURGERY!!

BREAST FEEDING & ALCOHOL: Monell Chemical senses center in Philadelphia found that drinking a glass of wine (any alchol) reduces breast milk by 13% by reducing lactation hormones. You may also kill brain cells in you baby….

Postpartum weight loss may be easier drinking GREEN TEA and EXERCISING. Mice that exercised and drank green tea lost more weight than those just exercising or just drinking green tea says the International Journal of Obesity.

Teariffic fat burner A Japanese study showed that the chemical in tea (Oolong, green or black) called teasponin prohibits fat buildup. Teasponin inhibits blood fat level and pancreatic lipase activity in mice. Pancreatic lipase is THE enzyme in fat digestion. When Teasponin deactivates it, fat can’t be absorbed – it just passes through until it goes to waste (potty No.) Teasponin also reduces both abdominal fat stores, and the size of the fat cells. Is it tea time yet?

Fish kills hunger pangs a Mayo study found that fresh water fish eaters have lower levels of the hunger hormone leptin. So besides lowering heart disease, cholesterol and cancer it’s also lowering your weight.

Postpartum Shape Up The six months following childbirth are the easiest time for a woman to lose weight. During pregnancy, your body’s levels of estrogen, progesterone, leptin, insulin and fat lipase reach al-time highs. They ensure that you will have adequate stores of fat to keep the baby growing. After delivery, your hormone hiatus causes an increased metabolism and resistance to weight gain. You’ll keep your weight loss advantage for as many as nine months if you breastfeed.

No More Red-Eye For New Moms: According to Dr. Perricone’s new book “The Perricone Prescription”, drinking green tea instead of coffee will help melt off pounds. Apparently coffee raises hormone levels of cortisol and insulin which accelerates aging and storage of body fat. Green tea’s catechin polyphenols boost your metabolism and reduce absorption of bad fats by 30%. So pregnant or not; avoid coffee.

Full BREAST FEEDING may lower hospitalizations for infections during first year of life among infants younger than 1 year within an industrialized country, according to researchers.
Relaxed milk. Research shows that meditations, and hypnotherapy visualizations of flowing milk, more than doubles milk production. It also reduces stress, increases recovery and immunity.
Breast betsNursing mothers no longer have to skip feeding after a workout (the common thought was held that lactic acid buildup soured the milk). According to new research from the University of New Hampshire at Durham, babies are no less likely to accept Mom’s milk one hour after she’s exercised.
Breast implants may be bad. A study published in the Obstetrics & Gynecology journal found 64 percent of new mothers who had breast implants were slower to breast-feed because of inadequate milk supply. There has also been studies linking silicon in implants to bronchial and pulmonary birth defects in children whether breast fed or not, whether implants were saline or silicone (the bag around the saline is still silicone).
Even more good news about breast feeding!Studies have shown that the longer you breast feed your child, the more intelligent the child could become. The IQ of the child increases while nursing, up to nine months. These studies indicate that your child has a better chance of growing into an intelligent adult with said nursing schedule.
Relax with breast feeding. A study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that mothers who breast feed their babies have lower blood pressure in stressful situations.
Nursing and cancer. Nursing seems to reduce moms likelihood of developing breast cancer later.
Nursing and diabetes. Nursing lessens women’s risk of diabetes by 15% per year per baby according to Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. Diabetes is caused by lack of exercise and nutrition.
More good news about breast feeding. Breast fed infants can have a 30% lower risk of developing certain forms of childhood leukemia, if breastfed for six months or longer. Journal of the National Cancer Institute

LABOR & DELIVERY

Episiotomis: Benefits and Risks

Benefits
Usually provides excellent pain relief
Small amount of medication is used, so you remain alert
Not very much medication reaches the baby
Safer than general anesthesia, if cesarean section is required

Disadvantage
May provide inadequate or patchy pain relief
Necessitates immobility, precluding walking or other movement that may help labor’s progress
Decreased pushing urge and ability
Possible shivering, itching
Usually requires urinary cauterization
Requires continuous monitoring to detect complications and/or progress
Reduces experience of birth; mother becomes observer instead of full participant
Potential Risks to the Mother
Fever
Serious drop in blood pressure
Malpresentation or malposition
Since it may interfere with progress, increased need for Pitocin
Increased need for forceps and vacuum
Increased need for cesarean section
Severe post-birth headaches
Severe complications are very rare but include paralysis and death
Potential Risks to Baby
Medication crosses placenta
Septic workup and NICU care if maternal fever develops
Complications due to forceps, vacuum or cesarean section delivery
Respiratory depression
Increased likelihood of fetal distress due to mother’s low blood pressure
Short-term neurobehavioral changes, including irritability and inconsolability.

News Episiotomis have in a new review of 26 studies been linked with higher risks of injury, more pain and trouble healing. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said since 1983 that episiotomis should not be done routinely during childbirth. Episiotomis does not seem to affect incontinence, muscle strength or sexual function. Do your Kegel’s to help prevent a perennial tear or the need for an episiotomy. Kegel’s also most certainly help prevent incontinence and improve muscle strength and sexual function.

PREMATURITY

WANT A FULL TERM HEALTHY BABY? Unload your work load. Stress is the the number one cause of premature delivery. Cut down to part-time work, exercise, eat healthy, meditate, take your vitamins, sleep avoid all things chemicals and last but not least women with a good social support and loving husband and family have healthier babies.

Worse than elective induction is PREMATURITY, which has been on a steady and dangerous rise of almost 10% since 1981. Prematurity is the main reason for infant mortality and birth defects and can be caused by uterine/cervical abnormalities, diabetes, hypertension, infections, obesity, previous preterms and multiple gestation as well as gum disease, bad nutrition, smoking, drug use, stress and lack of exercise. Please make sure to avoid all the lifestyle choices that could put you in premature labor. Eat super healthy and exercise. Studies have shown that fit women are more likely to carry a pregnancy to full term.

Prematurity, birth weight and age linked to breast cancer risk. A Nurses Health Study at Harvard Medical School found that prematurity, age of mother and higher weight of baby is linked with breast cancer risk. Nov. 21 2005. – Since prematurity means that the woman is unhealthy, lets enforce better nutrition and exercise habits and regular prenatal doctor’s visits.

Preeclampsia and exercise exertion. The Center for perinatal Studies and the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle studied preconceptional exercise intensity and prenatal exercise participation. They found that those with higher exercise intensity levels pre pregnancy had less incidence of preeclampsia. Also women who exercised while pregnant had less preeclampsia. Exercise reduces blood pressure which is a symptom of preeclampsia. Dec. 5 2005. Another study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Bethseda, Maryland found elevated urine insulin excretion in cases of preeclampsia, a sign of insulin resistance or diabetes. This forms the new conclusion that insulin resistance is more important risk factor than hypertension. Nov. 28 2005. – Exercise also prevents diabetes, gestational or otherwise as well as hypertension. Proper nutrition and avoiding processed foods and “white carbs” (sugar, white flour and rice) can also prevents gestational diabetes. <

Anchovies. A recent study published in the British Medical Journal reports that women who eat fish during pregnancy are less likely to have problems with premature labor. Women who have high levels of omega-3- fatty acids may experience a hormonal reaction that protects them from premature labor. Fish with substantial amounts of fatty acids include sardines, salmon, mullet, herring, trout, mackerel and anchovies. Vegetarians can substitute with soybean, flax-seed, canola oil, walnuts and wheat germ.

Prevention of premature delivery for those at risk. A study by Wake Forest University identified that injections of the hormone progesterone may decrease the risk of premature birth in women who have previously delivered premature infants, cutting the rate of such births by between 34% and 42%. The hormone progesterone is naturally produced by the ovaries and relaxes the uterine muscles. Premature births, which have increased 27% between 1981 and 2001, now account for approximately 12% of all live births in the United States. A premature infant in 2000 was $58,000 compared to $4,300 for a full-term infant.

SMOKING & DRUGS

An Asthma Surprise Widespread use of cleaning sprays may be one reason why asthma is 75 percent more common now than in 1980. According to a European study, people who use common glass- and furniture-cleaning and air-freshening sprays at least once a week are one-and-a-half times as likely to develop asthma symptoms as people who never use them; the risk doubles for people who use them four times a week. Particles sprayed into the air can be inhaled and cause ling inflammation, says Brian Smart, MD, an allergist with the DuPage Medical Group in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, who was not involved with the study. He recommends using sprays only in well-ventilated areas such as rooms where you can open windows. Or use non spray cleaning products such as wipes, which didn’t show the same negative effect. -Health.com November 2007

Naturally clean house:germs and pregnancy don’t mix. But before you grab that commercial cleaner, think what the chemicals may do to your baby… Here are some naturally homespun cleaners: Lavender oil with water cleans and disinfects cutting boards, 2/ apple-cider vinegar infused with lavender, rosemary, sage, rue and mint cleans countertops, 3/ baking soda eliminates odors, 4/ distilled vinegar in hot water is a great window cleaner, 5/ tea tree oil kills mold.

Pesticides and pregnancy. It’s best for pregnant women to avoid repellents that contain deet, advises Julie Neidich, M.D., medical director of Global TeleGenetics Medical Group in Palo Alto, California. High doses of chemical can be toxic. Deet-free products are recommended and lotions with citronella should be used only in moderation. Citronella’s safety during pregnancy has not been proven.

New information on birth defect causes.

• Living within 1/4 mile of a Superfund site may cause heart, spine, and brain defects.
• Contracting a urinary infection during pregnancy can cause cerebral palsy in child.
• Pesticides can cause spinal, heart, limb defects and cleft lips.
• Binge drinking can cause cleft lip/palette.
• An extremely stressful event (divorce, death, job loss) during pregnancy can cause spinal and heart defects, and cleft lip.
• Aspirin and ibuprofen can cause gastroschisis (abdominal defect) as well as poor nutrition and cocaine.
• Obesity can cause neural tube spinal defect, whether or not she takes vitamins.
• Smoking or taking cortical steroids may cause cleft lip.
• Vitamins can help reduce all these (except obesity, as noted).

-March of Dimes, Birth Defect Foundation

Father’s Drug Use = Pregnancy Disorders. Miscarriage and fetal abnormalities are common when the father takes the bowel drug 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) to treat bowel disease, according to US researchers at Reuters Health. Babies born from dads that use or even “used” drugs have a higher risk for mild to sever birth defects from behavioural and learning problems to congenital heart defects. Even years later.

Smoking Moms = Cleft Lip. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of having a baby with cleft lip or palette, say US researchers at Reuters Health.

Smoking moms = violent kids. Smoking during pregnancy is now associated with serious psychological problems in children. Girls are five times as likely to use drugs, and boys from smoking mothers are four times as likely to steal, lie, set fires, and act aggressively toward other children. Theoretically because nicotine may affect the developing brain.
- Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 7/99.

BIRTH DEFECTS

HUMAN FACE OF PESTICIDES:

Carlitos, child of farm workers, born with birth defects attributable to pesticides (PBP).
Source: Sarasota/Manatee Farm worker Supporters

The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Treasury Employees Union, Engineers and Scientists of California, risk managers and others, representing over 9,000 scientists in the EPA and government have publicly objected to the imminent approval of dangerous pesticides without completing the adequate hazard evaluations by EPA political appointees.www.organicconsumers.org

LOW BIRTH WEIGHT & MENTAL HEALTH:

a recent Cambridge U study in England found that mental health is intrinsically tied to birth weight. The lower the birth weight the worse mental health. Good mental health is tied to heavier birth weight. Lower weight babies also sat up, stood, walked, and talked for the first time later than heavier babies, and did poorly on cognitive tests at age 8 & 11. The study took into account major stress life events. but concluded that mental health is not straight forward and other reasons may be involved. But this shows risk. To ensure a healthy weight baby and a full term delivery, exercise, eat healthy and avoid smoking and any chemical exposure.

CAFFEINE KILLS:

a Danish study reports that pregnant women who drank 4-7 cups of coffee a day had 80% more still births, than women who drank no coffee. Those who drank more than 8 cups a day had 300% more still births. Caffeine, reduces iron absorption. Iron makes red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the baby, oxygen is what make your baby grow and fetal cells to multiply… So, no iron = no red blood cells = no oxygen = no baby… Make that No Caffeine! (coffee, cola’s teas and chocolate) Cesareans and asthma. In an article published in Pediatric Research, researchers found a small but intriguing connection between asthma and mode or delivery. Children delivered via cesarean section were more likely to develop asthma at age seven than those who were vaginally delivered. Even more compelling, 22% of the children delivered by cesarean reported having allergies, compared to only 11% of those delivered vaginally. Researchers speculate that the delivery by cesarean could diminish initial microbial exposure and thereby alter… cell development.” Risks of In Vitro. A pair of recent studies has linked in vitro fertilization and a related method called intracytoplasmic sperm injection, to a four-fold to six-fold increase risk for Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, an overgrowth disorder typified by children with enlarged tongues and other organs. There has been a recent possible increase in Angelman syndrome. Children with this syndrome may experience problems causing speech impairment extending to mental retardation. Dutch researches reported a four-fold to seven-fold increase in the rate of retinoblastoma, a rare cancer of the eye linked to assisted reproductive technology.

HOME BIRTH RISKS:

According to a study in Obstetrics & Gynecology home births carry risks not found in hospital births. They found that the rate of infant death was double among home births as was the rate of very low newborn assessment scores. Also, home-birth mothers had a 50 percent higher rate of prolonged labor and a 58 percent increase in the risk of postpartum bleeding.

FATHER’S DRUGS USE = PREGNANCY DISORDERS:

Miscarriage and fetal abnormalities are common when the father takes the bowel drug 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) to treat bowel disease, according to US researchers at Reuters Health. Smoking Moms = Cleft Lip. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of having a baby with cleft lip or palette, say US researchers at Reuters Health.

Exercise and labor trauma.According to American Journal of Obstetric Gynecology, exercise in general shortens the second stage of labor, and reduces the potential for pain.

FITNESS

Fit moms = happy kids. Mothers who continued exercise through pregnancy produce babies that are more alert, independent and less needy. Researches theorize that the exercise may trigger brain development.
- Metro Health Medical Center in Cleveland.
(My book, Expecting Fitness, explains my theory of additional brain development as a result of a bigger placenta creating additional blood/oxygen supply, as well as exercise induced endorphins)

Anxious moms = low birth weight. Stressed moms who expect problems, get problems with a less developed baby says research from Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in London.
(See, the proof is in the pudding — Don’t worry, be happy! Positive thinking works in more ways than one — it’s more effective than most people imagine)

NUTRITION

WARNING: PLEASE AVOID new shake and snack bar products by Ensure called “Healthy Mom.”They are being advertized in pregnancy magazines. As well as the “Prenatal Vitamin & Mineral Supplement Bars” by “Bright Beginnings” (more like devastating ending…). These products are both of course made by Pharmaceutical/ Formula companies and are made with nothing but sugar and fat with artificial additives and vitamins, which can potentially cause gestational diabetes, hypertension, and ADHD. They are far from “Healthy”. The BB Bar lists first ingredients : sugar, high fructose corn syrup (very dangerous), corn syrup, milk and saccarides….and it gets worse with trans fatty acids…

FOLIC ACID CORN FORTIFICATION. Gruma, one of the world’s largest producers of corn flour and tortillas, announced its plans to offer enriched corn products in the US by the end of 2006. Members of the National Council on Folic Acid were instrumental in making this happen. Fortification efforts have been extremely successful in reducing neural tube birth defects over the past several years. It is expected that the availability of these products will result in a significant reduction in birth defects among babies born to Spanish-speaking women, currently at the highest risk for having a child with spina bifida and anencephaly. – Judy Meehan, Executive Director, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies.

Commercial COW’S MILK increases uterine size in young ovariectomized and sexually immature rats, according the May 1st issue of the International Journal of Cancer. The weights of uteri were significantly higher in the rats that received commercial cows’ milk than in those that received hormone-free artificial milk, the author Dr. Sato from the Medical University of Yamanasshi in Japan report. He concludes that milk and dairy product consumption should be kept to a minimum. These products “contain sex steroid hormones, which promote the development of hormone-dependent cancers (prostate cancer in men, and breast and ovarian cancers in women).” Dr. Sato also does not recommend milk for prepubertal children.

SUMMER FRUITSare your best disease fighters and immune boosters to remain healthy through your pregnancy. Here’s how much “total antioxidant capacity or TAC, you’ll find in a piece or a cup of: wild blueberries-13,427, farmed blueberries-9,019, blackberries-7,701, raspberries-6,058, strawberries-5,938, cherries-4,873, black plums-4,844, plums-4,118.

Another great summer fruit is the AVOCADO. Dont be afraid of avocados. They are heart healthy and contain fiber, vitamin B, E, lutein, and folic acid – all vital for a healthy baby. It even has more potassium than a banana to help alleviate those nasty calf cramps..

DAIRY JUNK SCIENCEearlier this year claimed that milk prevents diabetes. The study replaced soft drink sodas with milk…Well, if you replace anything for soda (like water), you will see a lower risk for diabetes. The dairy industry in various ads, also falsy claims that milk helps weight loss, through studies that reduced participants total caloric intake by 500 calories….while still including 3 glasses of milk. Any reduction in calories will result in weight loss! The dairy industry has also had us all believe that that milk is good for our bones and for pregnant moms, even though we are barely able to absorb much calcium from milk (it’s made for really big cow bones, not for us). A Harvard study years ago showed that women drinking milk have more osteoporosis than women who don’t. Another case in point; Sweden who has the highest per capita intake of dairy, has the highest level of osteoporosis and breast cancer in the world. The reason lies in that milk protein prevents absorption of nutrients (just like milk protein prevents our body from absorbing poison, alcohol and antibiotics…. ), and therefore hampers our immune system. Much better sources of of easier to absorb calcium are all whole grains, green vegetables and all beans like soy etc… If you are pregnant and concerned with giving your baby optimum nutrition and immune system reconsider that “milk doesn’t do a body or a baby good”.

Vitamin C and Preeclampsia.According to a new study from the University of Washington, vitamin C may help prevent preeclampsia – a complication that causes high blood pressure which occurs in 10 percent of pregnant women and can lead to fetal distress or premature labor. Dr. Cuilin Zhang writes, “[Increased] intake of fruits and vegetable rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants may reduce the risk of preeclampsia.” The recommended daily dose of vitamin C is 85 milligrams. More that that can cause stomach cramps, diarrhea and negative effects on your baby’s metabolism.

Folic Acid and Iron. Folic acid and iron supplements taken during pregnancy doesn’t just prevent spina bifida birthdefects, but may help reduce the risk of your offspring developing the most common childhood cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, reports The Lancet. New research also shows that Folate cuts Alzheimer’s risk. An individual’s daily pregnancy vitamin should have 800 micrograms of folic acid and 27 milligrams of iron.

Strawberries – Healthy Pregnancy Snack Eight medium-sized strawberries provide 20% of your daily folic acid intake. They also are a great source of fiber, Vitamin C, and Potassium. All of these are essential to an easier, healthier pregnancy.

Fishy fish. Most fish is safe but FDA recommends that pregnant women avoid shark and swordfish, that contains high levels of mercury and/or PCB’s, which can cause brain damage (learning delays, cerebral palsy, seizures, and retardation).  The Environmental Working Group is also suspicious about all tuna.  Other fish with possible contamination: striped bass, and trout.

Soft Cheeses and Ready-to-Eat meat pose risks. Salmonella, listeriosis (food poisoning) causing miscarriage, defects, or stillbirth can be attributed to soft cheeses (brie, camembert, bleu, etc.), ready-to-eat meats (hot dogs, deli meat/cold cuts), unpasteurized milk, raw and undercooked meat, eggs, poultry, and fish, alfalfa sprouts, unwashed fruits, and vegetables.
Liver and Vitamin A. Vitamin A is important for normal fetal growth but liver may contain too much A, which could cause defects such as cleft lip, heart and brain defects.  Your prenatal vitamin should never contain more than 5000 iu’s of vitamin A.  3 oz. of liver can contain from 16,000 – 35,000 iu’s of A.  Paté has 724 iu’s.

Vegetarian diets during pregnancy. According to British researchers, vegetarian diets during pregnancy increases the risk five fold of giving birth to a boy with hypospadias, a birth defect of the penis.

Fatty acids in pregnancy and infancy = higher intelligence. “Omega n-3 fatty acids” from fish and breast milk don’t just prevent heart disease, auto immune disorders, cancers, and arthritis – it is important for proper vision and brain development in the fetus and infants during pregnancy and nursing, according to a study by Nutrition Health Reports.

More on fatty acids. Research by OmegaTech, Inc. shows that when Omega fatty acids are consumed by pregnant women, it may prevent premature labor.