Guest Article: Pregnancy Health for Mother and Baby

All expectant mothers want to experience a healthy pregnancy and give their baby the best start to life that she can with a healthy delivery. When armed with the right information, all expectant mothers can do their part to contribute to the health of themselves and their babies. Listed below are several ways to maintain health during pregnancy.

The first step is to visit her doctor, throughout pregnancy, on a regular basis. At the beginning of her term, a doctor can make health recommendations, in terms of exercise, diet and overall healthy, for a mother’s pregnancy. A doctor can also guide a mother when she begins planning for what type of delivery she would like to have. With the amount of choices for a woman to opt in or out of during and after delivery, like pain medicines and umbilical cord blood banking for example, a doctor is the best resource for asking questions about how each of the medical processes work.

For most women, remaining active throughout pregnancy is key to maintaining health. Except for those with high-risk pregnancies, regular, moderate workouts can provide amazing benefits. These benefits include a boost in mood and energy, better quality of sleep and reduced risk of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. Studies have also shown that exercise during pregnancy can aid during labor and postpartum healing.

The best types of exercise for expectant moms are ones that aren't too strenuous or hard on the body. Exercises that involve heavy lifting, climbing and excess bouncing should be avoided, as should any dangerous or extreme sports where injury is possible. Walking is a great exercise option for expectant moms, and it can be done from the first trimester though the last. Swimming is another great choice, as it causes very little impact to joints and the rest of the body.

When it comes to pregnancy diets, a good rule of thumb is for moms to think about what they're eating, and ask themselves if they would feed that particular food to their babies. Foods high in fat and calories should be avoided whenever possible, as they can increase risk for diabetes and high blood pressure and decrease energy. Aside from the occasional indulgence, expectant mothers should stick to a balanced diet that is filled with lean protein, whole grains and fresh fruit and veggies.

Three meals a day is recommended, along with several healthy snacks between meals. Skipping meals is a major no-no during pregnancy, as it leads to fatigue and dangerously low blood sugar levels. Caffeine, artificial sweeteners and excess sugars should be eliminated from a pregnancy diet, as well as foods high in fat and cholesterol. In addition, fish that contains mercury, such as tuna and swordfish, should be avoided as well.

One surefire way for moms to get the vitamins and minerals needed during pregnancy is to take a daily prenatal supplement. These vitamins contain essential ingredients that will help ensure the health of both mother and baby. For example, prenatal supplements contain folic acid, or folate, which helps guard against birth defects, and calcium for healthy bone density. Prenatal vitamins are often associated with nausea and upset stomach, and should therefore be taken with meals.

With all of the resources and options available to a mother, working with her doctor to maintain her health to provide the best environment for a baby to develop in will be well worth the effort when she holds her newborn baby for the first time.

“Katie Moore has written and submitted this article. Katie is an active blogger who discusses the topics of, motherhood, children, fitness, health and all other things Mommy. She enjoys writing, blogging, and meeting new people! To connect with Katie contact her via her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter, @moorekm26.”

Updated website coming soon...

I apologize for any inconvenience, but our website is currently under construction. Thanks for your patience. Here's to your health and happiness!

First of its kind Weight management Program

 Although I have been so busy in my business that blogging has gone onto the back burner, I absolutely HAD to share this new product line that just launched in the States in January 2012! This first of its kind HEALTHY weight management program should be available in Canada next month, so I wanted to get the word out now! I know it will revolutionize the weight loss industry! Not only does it help first cleanse your body of toxins, it burns fat and builds muscle with ingredients such as CLA, Resveratrol and L-Theanine! The product line also contains all needed vitamins, minerals and nutrients needed to sustain a healthy way to manage weight and health! Oh, and did I mention that Chris Powell (the TV Star from Extreme Makeover Weightloss Edition) endorses it?! This truly is something to look into!

It is a 12-Week Transformation Plan is an innovative eating plan that, when used in conjunction with these products, is designed to create contrast in the body. The plan instills the habit of eating smaller meals more often to support results, thus giving you a satisfied feeling, instead of hunger or deprivation.

Each food cycle is seven days, which serves as a milestone that you can commit to and achieve, while offering flexibility to eat an array of foods you enjoy eating. Variety makes all the difference for your body transformation, because you begin to focus on eating smart proteins with smart carbohydrates to boost muscle and keep your metabolism in high gear. You even get to indulge once in a while!

Results from our Alberta team have been flying in....including one lady who has lost a total of 16 pounds in 13 days! We can't wait to see how everyone transforms over the 90 day transformation period!

 To learn more about this innovative and healthy weight management system, email to: thenutritionnurse@live.ca and I would be happy to answer your questions! 

Have a fantastic weekend full of health and happiness!

Our New Website Launch!

I know it has been awhile! It has been an incredibly amazing but BUSY summer! I hope you are all out there enjoying some time with your families in the sun!

So this post will be a little different than most of my "nutritional" posts! I wanted to share with you all the website that Daniel and I just recently created! I'll give you a bit of background on why...

Daniel and I have been so blessed in our lives. We have been able to be quite successful in the realms of Business, and Real Estate and things just keep going our way! Don't get me wrong, there have been struggles getting to this point, but that's all part of life. We realize now that if we were to do it all over again, we may choose a simpler route! That reminds me of I quote I love:

"Our ability to achieve success depends on the strength of our wings gained through knowledge and experience. The greater our knowledge and experience, the higher we can fly."
Catherine Pulsifer

Anyways, because we have been so blessed and are already starting to live out our dreams, one of our goals we've always wanted to accomplish is to help others reach their dreams! We both sat down and realized that we are ready and at a position in life that we are ready to help others achieve their desires as well! We want to show them that there are some amazing opportunities out there that don't take a lot of time or knowledge in order to succeed!

Check out our website HERE to read our story and more! I'd love to hear your feedback!

Have a great week full of health and happiness everyone!

Ready for a change? Food for Thought

I just returned from an amazing Leadership Weekend in San Diego! It was an absolutely inspiring weekend (not to mention the loads of fun we had the week prior hanging out in the California Sun)!
Out of all the teams out there,I am so blessed to be on Linda Proctor's team. She is the wife of Bob Proctor, the most inspirational man I have ever met when it comes to turning positive thinking into positive results. He starred in the movie "The Secret" and truly practices what he preaches. Our  team is blessed to hear from Bob on a regular basis via phone conferences, but this weekend he was the special guest at our Leadership Weekend. The entire group patrners (not just our team for once) were able to listen to Bob's words of Wisdom in person for the entire morning! Seeing him, a 76 year old man, full of life and so passionate about what he has researched for 50 years made me want to share some of his thoughts with anyone wanting to change their life! So here are some thoughts that stood out to me from Bob Proctor's message. It was hard to pick out what to share from my notes, it's all so great!

Here's a picture of Bob and me hanging out in his Hotel room before the Convention's "Welcome" Reception.

"The mind is the greatest power in all creation"
Bob mentioned a few key factors that are so important in life. Bob truly believes that sometimes these things don't always come naturally, but need to become a habit. As a Latter-Day Saint, I find it so neat just how similar Bob Proctor's messages are to the messages we often receive from our Church leaders.  These simple truths are the key to happiness and success:
-Don't Worry so much!
-Have an attitude of gratitude
-Keep your health: without health, you have nothing
-Always strive to lift and help others
-Have the courage to say "No": you don't want to stretch your limits
-Discipline!
-Surround yourself with positive people
 Bob obviously gets a lot more in depth when it comes to "thinking into results". To hear more from Bob, HERE is a video that he created specifically for this company I collaborate with. He personally knows and loves the people involved in the company so much and what they are all about, that he recommended to his wife that she should get involved! If you are looking for any kind of positive change, take notes! It's about 30 minutes, but well worth the watch! It will change your life! To gain access to the last video link, you will need to plug in my email as a referral:  thenutritionnurse@live.ca.
I'd be happy to sit down with anyone interested in learning more about the power of positive thinking and how you can change your life! If you are interested in the opportunity, please let me know what you think of the video. My team is lead by Bob and Linda Proctor and we (as a result?) are the most positive, upbeat and successful bunch of fun loving, supportive people I've ever met! We'd love to have you aboard! It's all about a desire for change....and we can make your dream a reality.

I truly hope this small parcel of information finds you all healthy and happy! I'll leave you with one last thought from Bob:

"Attitude are contagious! Let someone catch yours today!"

Vitamin D and Diabetes

Recently I came across an article about Viatmin D. I had to post it, especially because it was written by a fellow Nurse! We've all heard the known benefits of Vitamin D, such as bone health, cancer prevention, and fights infections, but this recent article was news to me! Thought I'd pass it on! Enjoy!

People at high risk of developing diabetes may benefit from consuming Vitamin D. According to WebMD, Tufts Medical Center physician Anastassios Pittas says in a recent study, "For every 5 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) increase in vitamin D levels, the risk of developing diabetes dropped by 8%." Although the results of this study are encouraging, Dr. Pittas acknowledges that other studies are needed to determine if vitamin D supplementation can indeed ward off diabetes. In addition to the diabetes study, other studies have shown that high levels of vitamin D in the blood stream can stave off certain cancers, boost immune function and improve mood.

The American Diabetes Association reports that an Australian study found that individuals whose blood revealed lower than the recommended vitamin D amounts had a dramatic 57% increase in the development of diabetes mellitus, or type 2 diabetes. Although the study is provocative, the American Diabetes Association is not recommending that persons at high risk for developing diabetes, nor diabetics themselves, start consuming vitamin D supplements without first consulting their physicians.

ClinicalTrials.gov, a website sponsored by the U.S National Institutes of Health is undergoing clinical trials to determine if vitamin D supplementation can prevent type 2 diabetes in individuals who are at risk for developing the condition. According to their website, ClinicalTrials.gov reports that "There are indications that Vitamin D is of importance in glucose metabolism, and that supplementation with vitamin D may increase both insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity." Persons involved in the clinical trial will receive an annual glucose tolerance test, and the endpoint of the study will be if subjects develop type 2 diabetes. The study began in March of 2008, and the estimated completion date of the study is March 2016.

Although the benefits of vitamin D supplementation have been touted for years, taking too much can cause vitamin D toxicity. Although rare, too much vitamin D can cause kidney failure and may even worsen heart disease. In addition, those suffering from autoimmune conditions such as lupus might experience an exacerbation in their symptoms when too much vitamin D is introduced to the system. As previously reported, people should not begin taking vitamin D supplements until they have reviewed the risks and benefits with their health care providers, as vitamin D can interact negatively with certain medications or health conditions. Too much circulating vitamin D can cause an excess production of calcium, which can contribute to substantial damage to soft tissues, kidneys and bones. 

Gina Pisano is a registered nurse with over 20 years experience in various clinical settings, such as emergency room nursing, labor & delivery, surgical services, intensive care, geriatrics, pediatrics and general medicine. To read full article, click here

Have a wonderful day full of health and happiness!

What do you know about Minerals?

Did you know that 95% of your body's daily functions rely on essential minerals, not vitamins?! Most people know minerals are important to their health; few people know exactly why or even that much about them. Most of us are deficient of minerals due to the trend toward fast foods….scary scary!

Although minerals comprise only a fraction of total body weight, they are crucial for body functions such as transporting oxygen, normalizing the nervous system and simulating growth, maintenance and repair of tissues and bones.

When studying the relationship of minerals to human health, it becomes increasingly evident that keeping a balance level of minerals in every organ, tissue and cell of the human body may be a prominent key to maintaining health.

As early as 1964, two mineral researchers wrote; "Even small departures from the normal mineral composition of the milieu interior [the interior of the cell] may have profound physiological consequences...."

Many of us take mineral supplements, but please be careful! Taking man-made, or synthesized supplements can be toxic to your body. The best form of mineral to consume is in its ionic form (has been broken down to its smallest form while still containing its nutrients). Minerals should also be consumed in their plant-sourced form (directly from the soil). 

Have a wonderful day full of happiness and health!