Congrats to Cara Kent who won last week's featured product–a Chic Tots Bib.
Top stories this week
Eating Organic During Pregnancy
Thinking of going organic? Here are the top five organic food choices pregnant women should make.
by: Dr. Alan Greene
Pregnancy and Organic Food
- By going organic, you avoid exposing yourself to the antibiotics, artificial hormones, pesticides and genetically modified feed found in many non-organic foods.
- Meat from grass-fed, organically raised cattle tends to be leaner overall and has about five times the omega-3s of conventionally raised beef.
- Recent USDA monitoring data found that 27 percent of conventional milk samples contained synthetic pyrethroid pesticides.
- Conventionally grown apples are one of the most pesticide-contaminated fruits tested by the USDA.
- Many processed foods contain soy, which is often genetically modified and contaminated by organophosphate pesticides. By checking labels and choosing organic processed foods, you'll know any soy you're eating wasn't genetically altered or grown with pesticides.
regnancy is a good time to make the switch to organic foods. By going organic, you avoid exposing yourself to the antibiotics, artificial hormones, pesticides and genetically modified feed found in many non-organic meats, produce, grain and dairy products. Here's my take on the top five organic food choices a pregnant woman can make: To view the full story click here.
Prenatal exercise and your health
For most moms-to-be, working out has many health benefits. Here’s a look at the latest research on how exercise can improve your pregnancy.
by: Dr. Alan Greene
Prenatal Exercise
- Exercise can help relieve many common pregnancy discomforts, including backache, swelling and constipation.
- Studies show exercise reduces the risk of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.
- One study found pregnant women who did yoga daily were more likely to have an ideal weight baby, less likely to have preterm labor and less likely to develop hypertension than those who didn’t practice yoga.
- You should talk to your health care provider before starting any pregnancy fitness program but, once you get the green light, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week.
t may be tempting to take a nine-month sabbatical from the Stairmaster when you’re pregnant, but exercise during pregnancy has many important health benefits: it decreases the risk of urinary incontinence and can help reduce some of the common discomforts of pregnancy, including backache, swelling and constipation. A regular exercise program can also help ward off the baby blues and postpartum depression, while providing you with the endurance strength needed to help ease labor and delivery, as well as boosting the speed of your postnatal recovery. Here’s a look at some of the most recent research on the health benefits of prenatal exercise: To view the full story click here.
Should you do Pilates while pregnant?
With a few minor adaptations, Pilates can help prepare your body for labor and keep you in shape during your pregnancy. Here's what you need to know.
by: Tracey Mallett
Pilates
- Strengthening your abs with Pilates movements relieves back pain and helps with body alignment-which can help later with a faster and safer delivery.
- Activating pelvic floor muscles through Pilates keeps the muscles strong for the birthing process and also helps with any incontinence you may experience during and after pregnancy.
- Pilates exercises can be done at home on a mat with small props, such as pillows or cushions to support your head.
- Movements are low impact, so they won't increase your heart rate or put undue stress on lax joints.
et's face it, pregnancy is not easy on the body. When everything from your muscles and joints to your internal organs is changing shape and shifting, things can get a little uncomfortable. Pilates is a safe and effective way to help you ease some of that discomfort. It can improve your breathing, relieve back pain and keep you flexible. (It can also help you recover your body shape after birth.) Here's how: To view the full story click here.
