Everyone wants to know the secret to a good life and a healthy body is, of course, a necessary part of that ideal state. So what’s the secret to a healthy body? Well, there are no easy answers there. But blueberries are probably the closest thing you can have to one. Blueberries are a veritable treasure-trove of nutrients . Consuming a single cup of blueberries gives you Resveratrol, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Gallic acid, Vitamin C (25 % DV), Vitamin K (36 % DV), Manganese (25 % DV) and Fiber (17% DV). Bogged down by all the nutritional data above? Fret not! Read on to have the numerous health benefits of blueberries demystified for you. Health Benefits of Blueberries Helps you lose weight Blueberries are high in fiber , low on the glycemic index and low in calories – three factors that make them a powerful means of losing weight. Low glycemic index foods are absorbed in a slower rate by the body and remain in the digestive tract for longer (which has earned them the nickname ‘slow carbs’). Consequently, consuming them helps you control your appetite and restrain your hunger pangs. So consider having some blueberries if you want those (weighing) scales to shift in your favor!

It is said that ‘Old habits die hard.’ Habits that are inculcated right from childhood are harder to shake off. This is why it is important to introduce your child to good and healthy food habits, that they will practice their entire life. It’s particularly crucial to imbibe these habits in your children early in their life, given the worldwide obesity epidemic, which usually manifests itself during childhood. Providing nutritious food to children is as basic as providing them with good education and the comforts of life. Unfortunately, a comfortable life much too often comes with the drawbacks of unhealthy eating practices – like eating out frequently, having too many take-out dinners, and snacking on junk food. As a result, parents find it difficult to ensure that their kids eat healthy. However, you can change your lifestyle for the better, by introducing healthy food choices in your home. What are healthy foods for kids? A healthy diet provides all the nutrition needed for the physical and mental development of children. Nutritious and healthy food choices for children are not very different from those required by adults. Children need: Proteins – From dairy and meat; to build the body’s cells and to ensure the efficient functioning of the body.

Pregnancy is physically demanding. A growing fetus along with amniotic fluid exert a considerable amount of pressure on the abdomen and the surrounding organs. The resultant pressure falls on the lower back predominantly – on the sacroiliac joint, and this causes lower back pain. Usually, lower back pain can be self-resolving, as the fetus grows and occupies a higher position, but sometimes the pain can acute, especially if you have had a sedentary lifestyle. Muscles tend to be weak in this case and don’t provide much support, forcing the bones and joints to take up the pressure. Causes of lower back pain in pregnancy Apart from all the initial signs ,  growing fetus and the weight gain, there can also be other causes- namely stress, changes in posture, hormonal changes, and muscle weakness. Emotional stress leads to lower back pain due to increase in muscle tension. The pain will be exaggerated when the stress increases. Postural changes are common in pregnancy as the centre of gravity of the body shift more forward, which strains the back. There is always a slight postural correction in the spine during pregnancy. If the postural correction is high, it exerts a significant pressure on the lower part of the spine and the surrounding joints.

Every child goes through a picky eating phase – punctuated by loud tantrums, piled up food, and a lot of heartburn for the parents! As a parent, you’re always concerned about feeding your child and giving him/her the right nutrition . Parents often visit paediatricians to find answers and to figure out how to get the picky eaters to eat. Assess the situation The first thing that you should start doing is maintaining a food diary of everything your child eats over the course of a week. It might be possible that your child kicks up a fuss only at certain meal times, like dinner or breakfast, or only with certain foods. Once you carry out this exercise, you will understand the relationship your child has with food. These are some of the questions you will find the answers to- How often does your child eat? What are the kind of foods he/she enjoys eating? (Make notes about your child’s mood or energy level at the time). How does your child react to hunger? (Do he/she feel irritated and cranky, or sleepy?) Visit the paediatrician Share the food diary with your paediatrician and learn the normal growth development for your child.

From coitus interruptus to sterilization- an evolution of birth control practices The concept of family planning is not new to the human race. Ancient human civilization understood that the simplest way for birth control is to prevent the sperm from meeting the egg. So they placed herbal preparations inside the vagina and also practiced abortion when it failed to prevent fertilization. Coitus interruptus was practiced by the Jews and materials simulating modern day condoms were used during the pre-Christ era. Today, there are irreversible methods like sterilization. Though the practices have evolved over time, yet the underlying principles and the need for contraception have remained the same – enjoying sex without having to face the consequences. Today we have a better understanding of how conception, pregnancy and other related conditions work. This has enabled us to develop a number of birth control practices : Male condoms The most popular and universally used method of contraception is the male condom. It is a barrier method. It acts by preventing the sperm from meeting the ovum. It is very cheap and can be used easily. There are no side effects of male condoms and they come in a variety of materials, designs, and flavors.