Cod liver oil: nature’s most potent superfood?

In general I think we should try to meet most of our nutrient needs by eating fresh foods.

After all, that’s the the way humans are adapted to absorbing nutrients.  Isolated, synthetic nutrients don’t have the same effect on our bodies, because most nutrients require co-factors and enzymes to be properly absorbed and activated.  These are not often present in supplements.

Cod liver oil is a notable exception.  In fact, even though most people think of it as a supplement, it’s more accurate to refer to it as a food – or perhaps “superfood”.

In particular, I recommend that all men and women trying to get pregnant, and all women that are pregnant and breastfeeding, take fermented cod liver oil (sold by Green Pastures – I have no affiliation with them).

Why cod liver oil?

It has large amounts of pre-formed vitamin A (retinol).  Vitamin A plays several crucial roles in reproductive health.  It promotes full-term pregnancy,  proper development of the face, kidneys and lungs and prevents prolonged labor, deafness and internal organ displacement – among other things.  As I mentioned in a previous article Why You Can’t Get Vitamin A From Vegetables, animal foods like liver and cod liver oil are the only significant sources of vitamin A in the diet.

It has more vitamin D per unit weight than any other common food.  Vitamin D is another important nutrient for fertility and pregnancy that up to 50% of women are deficient in.  Vitamin D promotes proper development of the bones, especially in the 3rd trimester when the fetal skeleton begins to grow rapidly.  It also plays a role in the development of the lungs, and protects newborns from tetany, convulsions and heart failure.

It has vitamin E, vitamin K2 (mk-7 form) and various quinones.  These fat-soluble vitamins are important to health and, in the case of K2 especially, aren’t commonly found in foods.

It has healthy amounts of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, EPA & DHA.  DHA is particularly important for fertility (both male and female) and pregnancy.  DHA is preferentially incorporated into the rapidly developing brain during pregnancy and the first two years of infancy, concentrating in the grey matter and the eyes.  It’s also crucial to the formation of neurons – the functional cells of the brain – and to protecting the brain from oxidative damage.

Why do I specifically recommend Green Pastures fermented cod liver oil?

It is cold-processed through fermentation.  This is important because processing with heat (which is what almost all other brands do) can damage the fragile long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, which in turn makes them potentially harmful to ingest.

It contains naturally occurring fat-soluble vitamins.  Most companies bleach and deodorize the cod liver oil in processing it, and before they do that, they have to remove the naturally occurring vitamins to prevent them from becoming damaged.  Then they add the vitamins back in afterward – except that when they do, they add back synthetic vitamins instead of the naturally occurring ones.

I recommend a dose of between 5 mL to 10 mL per day for women trying to get pregnant or who are already pregnant or breastfeeding, and a dose of 5 mL per day for men.

Author,
Chris Kresser

Health Tips for Pregnant Women for a Healthy Wealthy Baby

Pregnancy is a gift of nature that a woman is blessed with. After marriage pregnancy is a very important step in a woman's life. As this period starts, the mother needs to take care of the baby both mentally and physically. Any stress or unhappiness in her life has a direct impact on the baby in her womb. So pregnant mothers should keep their mind filled with good feelings and body fit, so that the baby gets a healthy atmosphere to grow in.

Here are some health tips for pregnant women, going through a beautiful phase of pregnancy.

1. Don't get angry, jealous or disappointed. Life is not a bed of roses, take it in a stride. Avoid quarrels with your hubby over unimportant topics. They can have a negative impact on the baby.
2. Take keen interest in reading religious and spiritual books. They help calm your nerves and provide inner peace - a must for your baby.
3. Avoid spicy food. Instead eat healthy, vegetarian and a balanced diet. Green leafy vegetables, fruits and protein are a must in your diet. Lack of these may cause diseases.
4. Don't take drugs as it leads to miscarriage.
5. Take proper rest and avoid long journeys.
6. Any exercise during pregnancy should be done with the advice of a doctor. Wrong exercises may lead to unnecessary complications and harm the child.
7. Get a Proper check up done every month. Monitor your weight regularly and make sure it's kept under check. Keep a record of your blood group, haemoglobin, sugar and blood pressure.
8. To know the proper growth of the baby ultra sound should be done. 

Author,

Siva L

Naturopathic Care for Your Baby

Complementary medical care has gained increasing popularity in recent years. More and more people are seeking natural alternatives to healing. It's no surprise, then, that families are also looking more often for natural therapies to newborn skincare and digestive problems. 

Naturopathic medicine is one approach to holistic healthcare. Naturopathy focuses on helping people achieve optimum health through natural processes, patient education, prevention strategies, and noninvasive therapies. Naturopathic doctors attend several years of specialized medical training at accredited naturopathic medical colleges. The profession, however, is regulated in just twelve states --Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. In those states, NDs must also pass medical board exams to become licensed.

Naturopathic practitioners provide complementary care for their patients. They take a comprehensive approach to health and spend a lot of time listening to their patients and helping them to become active participants in their healthcare. When you visit naturopathic doctors, you'll find they emphasize nutrition, dietary changes, and lifestyle modification in their treatment plans. Naturopathic doctors do not abandon or replace conventional medicine, though. Instead, they work cooperatively with other healthcare providers to provide a balanced approach to wellbeing.

Naturopathic treatment of babies can include homeopathy, herbal and physical medicine, and nutrition supplements. Practitioners seek the root cause of health problems and suggest natural, noninvasive therapies to promote healing. For newborns suffering from colic or irritability, they may introduce baby massage. Gentle herbal remedies may be used to heal conditions that affect baby's delicate skin or digestive disorders. And osteopathic manipulation may be offered to correct musculoskeletal imbalances.

Whatever the technique, the naturopathic practitioner ultimately seeks to improve and enhance baby's health naturally.

When looking for a naturopathic doctor, it's important to ensure he or she is properly trained. Your ND should have graduated from an accredited naturopathic college; and if you live in a state that regulates the profession, make sure he or she is properly licensed. A brief consultation with any prospective healthcare provider is advisable, as well, to ensure you feel comfortable with his or her approach to your health.

If you'd like to find out more on what naturopathy can do for your newborn, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians will help you locate a naturopathic doctor in your area through the organization's website www.naturopathic.org.

Author,

Jasmine Stone

Postpartum Care -- Look After Yourself As Well As Your Baby

Postpartum care is all about looking after yourself in the few weeks after the birth of your baby. If you're feeling relaxed and happy, chances are everyone in the family will be too. The postpartum can be difficult for some mums as their body recovers from the stresses of labour. So don't worry if the house isn't perfect or the dishes don't get done and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. 

Remember Superwoman is a myth!

Postpartum is the period of about six weeks from the time of birth until your body makes the adjustments it needs to return to normal. There are a few things that can go wrong and if you're aware of these you'll be prepared and they won't seem so frightening.

Postpartum hemorrhage ~ This may happen straight after the birth, but sometimes up to several hours later. There is a significant loss of blood which can be serious and needs instant treatment. 

Fortunately postpartum hemorrhage is rare, affecting under 20% of all births. Some blood loss is quite normal during this period and is nothing to be concerned about.

Postpartum preeclampsia ~ Although this is mainly a symptom of pregnancy, preeclampsia can happen after giving birth as well. Preeclampsia symptoms are high blood pressure and excess protein in the urine. The signs that you may have this condition are recurring headaches and/or blurred vision. Preeclampsia is serious if untreated. Fortunately it can be successfully treated if caught in time.

Postpartum depression ~ This is a very common complaint and can vary from mild to extreme. It's mainly caused by hormonal changes in your body. A feeling of loss of identity may also cause you to feel depressed.

What are the postpartum depression signs? Well you may be feeling overwhelmed, sad, excessively tired, uninterested and above all, guilty that you're feeling this way, Because, after all, this should be a happy time, shouldn't it?

Just be assured that you are perfectly normal and that thousands of women are going through this phase and have been since the dawn of time.

Understand that your body has been through a tremendous amount of stress and that it will take some time to recover. Giving birth poses both physical and psychological changes both at the same time. 

You may also be feeling excluded when family and friends are making a fuss of your baby and you're no longer the main attrraction. This feeling of loss of identity is quite normal and you're just being human.

You also have the huge responsibility of caring for a newborn while dealing with sleep deprivation at the same time. No wonder your feeling exhausted, scared and anxious. This is perfectly normal and will probably last for a week or two. If it persisits or gets worse, you may have to visit your doctor.

Although postpartum depression is a form of depression, it has a clinical cause so be wary of prescribed depression drugs. These have a low success rate and are totally unsuitable if you're breastfeeding. I'll leave you with one important natural way of handling postpartum depression.

Take Omega 3 supplements. Omega 3 is also found in fish, but with all the mercury contamination in some fish, supplements are the safest way to go. Omega 3 is a great way to boost your mood and is good for your and your baby's health as well.

 

Author,

 

Wendy Owen

Omega-3 Fish Oil For Baby Health - The Powerful Benefits of EPA & DHA Fatty Acids For Babies

More and more people are realizing that omega-3 fatty acid supplements can significantly improve their well-being and health for a very affordable price.

Fish oil for baby health is crucial, but make sure that you go for the best, purest, ultra-refined and highest-quality omega-3 fatty acid supplements.

DHA makes up about 30% of our brains. It is the food of choice for the human brain. DHA and EPA are two of the most vital omega-3 fatty acids that you should look for. Your body cannot produce these oils, so you have to get them from a high quality, external source.

DHA makes up about 30% of your brain. The human brain basically considers DHA to be its favorite food. The benefits of fish oil for baby health can be tremendous.

These oils can help with the development of your baby's brain, eyes and a lot of other things that are crucial when you're growing up. In effect, if you supplement with omega-3 fatty acids before, during, and after your pregnancy, your baby will become smarter than if you had not supplemented.

A study done in Germany on teen males showed that their school scores increased by 5 to 20% when they took a pure, high-quality omega-3 fatty acid supplement daily. This just shows one of the aspects of how good fish oil for baby health is.

You also have to be aware of how pure the product you're buying is. Look for something that is molecularly distilled and has been proven effective by independent studies. I've been using supplements for many years, and it took me a while to find a really good omega-3 supplement.

I've found that the best supplements out there combine hoki and tuna oil. When these two oils are combined, the effects double, compared to other products on the market. This has been proven by clinical trials and scientific data. I highly recommend that you look for a product that contains Hoki and tuna oil, as these are the most powerful today.

If you're interested in learning more about Fish Oil for Baby Health, visit my website, where I share what products I personally use and recommend.

Henri K. Junttila is a health researcher, and believer of using the best natural options to stay healthy and young. Visit his website http://www.fish-oil-advice.com/ today to learn more about the powerful benefits of omega-3 fish oils.

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