“Pregnancy Nutrition - Chocolate Cravings, an Insatiable Appetite and What to Do About It!” plus 4 more

Pregnancy Nutrition - Chocolate Cravings, an Insatiable Appetite and What to Do About It!
Mother to Be? Here's What to Do to Prevent Stretch Marks!
4 Secret Ways to Avoid Stretch Marks in Pregnancy!
Should You Use Stretch Marks Cream? Pregnancy Tricks & Tips to Avoid Stretch Marks
How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Pregnant When Trying to Conceive

Pregnancy Nutrition - Chocolate Cravings, an Insatiable Appetite and What to Do About It!

Posted: 23 Oct 2009 09:48 AM PDT

One thing us women all have in common is our love of chocolate, sugary things and often wine too! We love these things so much we even get cravings for chocolate, sugar and wine, particularly around the time of our periods, or during pregnancy.

Have you ever been constantly hungry, so much so that all you want to do is eat?

And is your cravings for sugary things and chocolate so strong that you just HAVE to give in, no matter how hard you try?

This is something that nearly every pregnant women goes through at some point during pregnancy and most of us deal with it by trying to control the hunger, but what we are all failing to recognise is that our bodies and babies are trying to tell us that something is wrong!

The Hidden Warnings

1) Nutrient Deficiency If your body is lacking certain nutrients it will try and get those nutrients any way it can and the fastest and easiest way to get them is through food. So your body will tell you to eat. And eat. And eat. Until it gets what it needs. But unfortunately if the food you eat doesn't provide the nutrients your body is lacking, then you will find you have an insatiable appetite and you will want to eat all the time.

2) Hormone imbalance Hormones play a big part in regulating your appetite and this is a major factor in controlling pregnancy weight gain. Hormone regulation occurs during sleep. Pregnant women need a lot more sleep than non-pregnant women but the tendency these days is to squash pregnancy into an already hectic life. Getting to bed by 1030pm on at least 6 days of the week will get you back on track.

Chocolate cravings during pregnancy

Chocolate cravings during pregnancy or around the time of your period is often a sign that your body is in dire need of magnesium and iron. Magnesium helps your body to form bone, protein and fatty acids. It also relaxes your muscles and helps with blood clotting, (which can be useful if you suffer from leg cramps). Magnesium supplementation during pregnancy can also prevent premature contractions and is found to reduce the risk of low birthweight and premature babies.

Magnesium rich foods include pumpkin, squash, halibut, cooked spinach and black beans, but if you are deficient its a good idea to supplement with 200mg per day in tablet form. (RDA)

Iron is an important element as we need iron to make red blood cells and to transport oxygen around the body. If we are deficient in iron we cannot make new cells and our organs would be starved of oxygen. Iron deficiency is characterised by fatigue because the body is, literally, being starved of oxygen.

Pregnant women are routinely checked for anemia (iron deficiency) during pregnancy so you should not supplement your pregnancy diet with iron unless prescribed by your pregnancy professional, (it is possible to have too much iron which then becomes toxic).

Cravings sweet things or alcohol during pregnancy

Another common pregnancy food craving is the need to eat something sweet or the craving for alcohol. The craving for a glass of wine can be surprising for a lot of pregnant women but it doesn't mean you're an alcoholic!

In fact, the main component in wine or alcohol is SUGAR! So if you are depriving your body of sugar in other parts of your diet, your logical brain will tell you that alcohol is the key. It's an instant hit of sugar that is quickly metabolised and will give you the sugar rush your body is craving.

What it means...

1) You have a sugar dependency. Your pregnancy diet needs an overhaul. The only way to free yourself from sugar addiction is to not have any sugar in your diet for 30 days, so base your diet on clean foods that are untampered with and not denatured by manufacturing or processing.

2) If you already follow a clean food pregnancy diet, then it could be you are not eating enough complex carbohydrates. Pregnancy is not a time to follow a low carb diet, so balance your meals with complex grains like quinoa, brown rice, buckwheat and oats as well as root vegetables like sweet potatoes. Now is the ideal time to find out your Metabolic Type so that you can eat to your body's individual needs.

3) You need sleep. Hormone regulation, body repair and regeneration all happen whilst you sleep. If you don't get enough sleep your body is constantly playing catch-up. Your hormones are all over the place and your body is desperate for a quick energy fix to cope with everything that is going on

What You Should Do Next

The only way to be sure of what is going on with your body is to look for a pattern. So start a food, sleep and activity journal and watch closely for patterns.

Once you have 7 days worth of journals you will start to see a definite pattern that will point to what your body is crying out for, so now all you have to do is fill that need!

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Mother to Be? Here's What to Do to Prevent Stretch Marks!

Posted: 23 Oct 2009 09:45 AM PDT

It's a common question on every pregnant woman's mind...

"What to do to prevent stretch marks?"

I know it might sounds a little bit vain to some, but who wants to lose their smooth, healthy looking skin, right? The stark reality of the matter is that many women find it next very tough to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. But - there ARE some things you can do that will drastically improve your chances in the fight to prevent stretch marks. Here they are:

1. Eat a healthy balanced diet
This one should go without saying, but many women are left in the dark when it comes to diet. Like they say, common sense isn't always common practice. Eating a healthy diet will help you avoid stretch marks in 2 ways. First, it will help regulate the speed of your weight gain. The quicker your body expands, the harder it is to prevent stretch marks. Second, eating the right foods will keep your skin strong, elastic, and healthy. Specifically, you skin loves foods rich in vitamins A and C, zinc, and protein, so stock up now, and eat right...

2. Stay hydrated
Once again, not rocket science, but it's vital to keeping your body and skin in peak condition. When your body is dehydrated, so is your skin. I shouldn't have to explain that dehydrated skin is more likely to tear when it stretches. So drink at least 8 glasses of water through the day. Put notes around the house if you need to, but make sure you do it!

3. Moisturize regularly with a good cream
There are plenty of good "anti stretch mark" creams on the market that will help keep your skin strong and healthy, and improve it's elasticity. You'll want to get one of these creams and apply 2-3 times per day in all the areas on your body that are going to stretch. As a bonus, when you apply the cream, you'll be stimulating your blood flow to the area, which is great for your skin.

4. Go for prenatal massages (or get massages from your partner)
Prenatal massages are great not only because they're relaxing for you and your baby, but they help increase blood circulation to you skin cells, allowing them to regenerate easier to adapt to their changing environment.

So there you go...what to do to prevent stretch marks. Easy, right? Right. The key to remember is to be proactive - start early and make it into a habit, and you'll stand a much greater chance of preventing those stretch marks. Good luck!

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4 Secret Ways to Avoid Stretch Marks in Pregnancy!

Posted: 23 Oct 2009 09:44 AM PDT

It's the million dollar question every pregnant woman in the world desperately wants to know...

"What can I do to avoid stretch marks in pregnancy?"

Luckily, it's not hard, so there's no need to stress. If you're well prepared with these secret tips, you can greatly reduce the risk of pregnancy stretch marks and keep your beautiful skin!

Here are 4 great ways to avoid stretch marks in pregnancy:

1) Eat the right foods
You skin (and your baby) will love you if you eat the right foods. So make sure you look to include foods that are rich in zinc, vitamins A and C, and protein in your diet. Some examples of great foods for your skin include nuts and fish (for zinc), citrus fruits and carrots (for vitamin A) and eggs (for protein). Healthy skin starts with proper nutrition, so don't ignore this step.

2) Stay well hydrated
Drinking 8 glasses of water throughout the day (and especially right when you wake up in the morning) will help your skin stay healthy and elastic, and keep those pesky stretch marks away.

3) Get prenatal massages
Prenatal massages aren't only great because they're relaxing for you and your baby, but because they help improve the circulation to your skin, which help your skin cells regenerate and adapt to your growth. Talk about a double bonus!

4) Use anti stretch mark cream
Good anti stretch mark creams include all natural ingredients and are designed with pregnant women in mind, and can be very beneficial because of their ability to increase production of elastin and collagen, which improves the strength and elasticity of your skin. It's best to apply 2-3 times per day, and right out of the shower when you can.

There you have it, some great easy ways to avoid stretch marks in pregnancy. Doesn't seem so hard, does it? It isn't. For best results, make sure you get started early - being proactive and preparing your skin is key!

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Should You Use Stretch Marks Cream? Pregnancy Tricks & Tips to Avoid Stretch Marks

Posted: 23 Oct 2009 09:44 AM PDT

Anyone who's ever been through pregnancy before knows it can be quite overwhelming, and it seems like there are a million and one things to do so that you can be prepared...

That said, worrying about stretch marks shouldn't be one of them, so I'm going to share some of the best tips and tricks I know of that can help you avoid stretch marks. Not everyone can completely avoid stretch marks, but if you're proactive and take the proper preventative measures, you stand a much greater chance of keeping your skins smooth and free of pregnancy scars.

Your Diet Is Important
First off, we all know that the most important factor when it comes to nourishing yourself and your baby during pregnancy is eating a diet rich in healthy vitamins and minerals, and drinking plenty of water...

This goes for keeping your skin healthy and flexible as well. You want to be sure you're drinking at least 8 glasses of water through the day, and especially in the morning to keep your skin hydrated and elastic. Also, eating foods that your skin love (foods rich in zinc, vitamins C and A, and protein) will help keep your skin healthy and glowing, and reduce your chances of developing stretch mark scars.

Should You Use Anti Stretch Mark Cream?
If you want to increase you chances, yes. Stretch marks from pregnancy are essentially small tears in the skin formed when the tissue under your skin grows faster than your skin can keep up. Anti stretch marks cream works to prevent these tears from happening during your pregnancy by increasing your natural production of elastin and collagen, which makes your skin stronger and more elastic. So make sure you pick up an all natural anti stretch mark cream and apply 2-3 times a day in areas that are at risk of stretching (typically your abdomen, lower back, breasts and hips).

As an added bonus, massaging the stretch marks cream into your skin stimulates blood circulation to your skin cells, further promoting healthy skin and improving your chances in the fight against stretch marks.

Get Started Early
You can never start too early (or too late for that matter), when using anti stretch marks cream. Being proactive and preparing your skin is paramount to success.

Now that you're armed with these tips, all you have to do is follow them regularly, and you'll have one less thing to worry about. Good luck, and congratulations on your new baby!

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How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Pregnant When Trying to Conceive

Posted: 23 Oct 2009 09:40 AM PDT

When trying to conceive, you never know what to expect. Some people can get pregnant just like, some without any effort. Then there are cases where it may take longer than usual or there may some type of problem. It's best to know how to increase the chances of getting pregnant when you are trying to connive. This way you have a higher chance of getting pregnant.

One way to increase the chances of getting pregnant is by getting a preconception check up or paying a visit to your doctor. You can learn a lot from your doctor. They may be able to give some tips and more importantly, you will know that you are in good health to conceive.

Another way to increase your chances of conceiving is by actually knowing when you are the most fertile that way you can time sex. Ovulation is the time when your ovaries releases an egg to be fertilized. When you are aware of when you ovulate, you can time sex more accurately which increases the chances of the egg being fertilized, in result, getting pregnant.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is also very important when trying to get pregnant. If you want to increase your chances of getting pregnant, you should start taking up healthy habits and ditching the bad ones.

This includes getting the proper amount of nutrients, especially Folic Acid, watching your weight, reducing stress, and exercising but not too much. The bad habits that you should get rid of or avoid is the consumption of alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and limiting your caffeine intake. It may just be best to avoid it completely as it is said that it is linked to infertility.

Now you know some the things that can increase your chances of getting pregnant when trying to conceive.

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