More Scientists Against Vaccines

Stories of vaccine-injured children often start the same way. “I trusted my doctor. I didn’t know about vaccines then. I only wish I knew then what I know now.” Those with firsthand experience with vaccine side effects tend to learn a great deal about vaccines. Parents of vaccine injured children account for a large proportion of the anti-vaccine movement.

Many scientists are opposed to vaccines. Just like lay people, whether or not they are opposed to vaccines depends a great deal on how much they know about them and whether or not their livelihood depends on the vaccine industry.

Brian Hooker, PhD, PE

Brian Hooker is both a parent of a vaccine injured child and a vaccine researcher. As a scientist, he has devoted many years of his life to studying vaccines and corruption within the CDC.

Dr. Brian Hooker currently holds the position of Associate Professor and serves as the Math and Science Division Chair at Simpson University in California. He graduated from Washington State University in 1990 with a PhD in Chemical Engineering and is a licensed professional engineer in Washington. He is known for fighting against the CDC to reveal the data used in their studies on vaccines and helping to expose how the CDC has hidden data.

You know the CDC’s plan, not only their historic plan, but their ongoing plan, to absolve vaccines and vaccine components from anything related to the autism epidemic. You know, we don’t know what causes autism do we? But we know for darn sure tootin’ that it isn’t the vaccines and it can’t be the vaccines. Okay, which is completely illogical. There is no logic. If you don’t know what causes it, then it’s very, very, difficult to say that something doesn’t cause it.

Peter Fletcher, PhD

Dr. Peter Fletcher is a retired Chief Science Officer with the Department of Health in the United Kingdom. He also serves on the Committee on Safety of Medicine where he helped review drug safety trials and decide if new drugs, including new vaccines, were safe.

It appears that we are stuck with the term “autism” even though it is impossible to define with any precision. I suppose it does not matter as long as everyone understands that it is not a single abnormal condition but a cluster of different disorders having some signs and symptoms in common.

There is little doubt that what we might call “old fashioned” autism, as it was before 15 or so years ago, probably had predominantly genetic origins although even then other factors may have triggered the disorder.

There is absolutely no doubt that in the USA and the UK the number of cases of autism being diagnosed has reached epidemic proportions.

… The observed increase in autism in such a short period of time (15-20 years) therefore has to be real and to have external causality.

… It is of the utmost urgency that wide ranging research, with the aim of identifying possible external causal factors, be initiated without delay on an international basis.

… Instead of repeated denials of parents claims, could the skeptics of vaccination/toxic substances/immune challenge being causal discontinue their entirely negative attitude and give us something more positive? I could accept their disbelief if they supported it with convincing alternatives, but none have been forthcoming.

Shiv Chopra, PhD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL024246A37000FF12&v=X71F9UCdPN8#t=12

Dr. Shiv Chopra has been working in Canada for decades within the field of food safety. He holds a PhD in Microbiology from McGill University in Montreal. Dr. Chopra is known for his part in the successful fight to have bovine growth hormone banned in Canada. He continues to speak out on matters of public health including food safety and vaccines.

…the first vaccines that landed on my desk were rubella and later on, mumps, and some later versions of measles. I objected to it. I said, ‘I see problems in these because these are minor diseases and most people get immune by age 15. Why are we going to give these vaccines that have never been tested?’

I knew they were made in monkey kidney tissue and we have had problems with the polio vaccine…

… My suggestion was, why don’t we test women at the age of 15 and 16? Those who are not yet immune then may be given the vaccine?

Of course, the companies didn’t want that. They wanted 100 percent or at least 80 percent of the children vaccinated. That was the only way they were going to make money.

… We now know from history that those vaccines have been used for more than 40 years and the diseases, all of them, are still here. Meanwhile, autism, diabetes, and all kinds of autoimmune diseases have increased.

We don’t know what damage we’re doing — actually we know that in association with those vaccines, chronic diseases in children have increased. But nobody is paying attention. Everybody is denying that.

… Ironically, those vaccines have never been removed from the ledgers and DPT was never talked about. Again, medical people know, a lot of scientists know, the CDC, U.S., FDA, other departments, medical departments, medical professionals, they are all denying that all these infectious diseases had started to decrease in the early 1940s.

… Veterinarians are effectively toxicologists.

Unlike medical people, we learn comparative medicine. So therefore, this is a way to compare and see what species do. The law is that every drug, any product that directly or indirectly gets into the human body, must be tested in at least two species of animals, one of which must be non-rodent. It must also be tested in pregnant animals. Then it also must be tested to see whether it produces cancer by lifetime studies in rats and mice and so forth.

[Recently] the United States Supreme Court said that if people get damaged, if the children get damaged due to vaccine, they can’t sue either the government or the companies — by what right?

Who is to decide to shove vaccines into people who don’t want it?

Theresa Ann Deisher, PhD

Dr. Theresa Ann Deisher holds a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Physiology from Stanford University. She has worked as a research scientist for more than two decades and currently presides as the President of the Sound Choice Pharmaceutical Institute and as the CEO of AVM Biotechnology. Her research over the years has focused on human therapeutics.

Vaccines manufactured using human fetal cells contain residual DNA fragments (50-500 bp) (Table I). It is possible that these contaminating fragments could be incorporated into a child’s genome and disrupt normal gene function, leading to autistic phenotypes

…Not only damaged human cells, but also healthy human cells can take up foreign DNA spontaneously. Foreign human DNA taken up by human cells will be transported into nuclei and be integrated into host genome, which will cause phenotype change. Hence, residual human fetal DNA fragments in vaccines can be one of the causes of autism spectrum disorder in children through vaccination. Vaccines must be safe without any human DNA contaminations or reactivated viruses and must be produced in ethically approved manufacturing processes.

Tetyana Obukhanych, PhD

Dr. Obukhanych holds a PhD in Immunology from Rockefeller University and completed postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School as well as Stanford University.

I hold a PhD in Immunology. I am writing this letter in the hope that it will correct several common misperceptions about vaccines in order to help you formulate a fair and balanced understanding that is supported by accepted vaccine theory and new scientific findings.

Do unvaccinated children pose a higher threat to the public than the vaccinated?

It is often stated that those who choose not to vaccinate their children for reasons of conscience endanger the rest of the public, and this is the rationale behind most of the legislation to end vaccine exemptions currently being considered by federal and state legislators country-wide. You should be aware that the nature of protection afforded by many modern vaccines – and that includes most of the vaccines recommended by the CDC for children – is not consistent with such a statement.

… IPV (inactivated poliovirus vaccine) cannot prevent transmission of poliovirus (see appendix for the scientific study, Item #1). Wild poliovirus has been non-existent in the USA for at least two decades.

… Tetanus is not a contagious disease, but rather acquired from deep puncture wounds contaminated with C. tetani spores.

… Vaccinating for diphtheria cannot alter the safety of public spaces; it is likewise intended for personal protection only.

… In summary, a person who is not vaccinated with IPV, DTaP, HepB, and Hib vaccines due to reasons of conscience poses no extra danger to the public than a person who is. No discrimination is warranted.

How often do serious vaccine adverse events happen?

It is often stated that vaccination rarely leads to serious adverse events. Unfortunately, this statement is not supported by science. A recent study done in Ontario, Canada, established that vaccination actually leads to an emergency room visit for 1 in 168 children following their 12-month vaccination appointment and for 1 in 730 children following their 18-month vaccination appointment (see appendix for a scientific study, Item #5).

When the risk of an adverse event requiring an ER visit after well-baby vaccinations is demonstrably so high, vaccination must remain a choice for parents, who may understandably be unwilling to assume this immediate risk in order to protect their children from diseases that are generally considered mild or that their children may never be exposed to.

… Studies of measles outbreaks in Quebec, Canada, and China attest that outbreaks of measles still happen, even when vaccination compliance is in the highest bracket (95-97% or even 99%, see appendix for scientific studies, Items #6&7). This is because even in high vaccine responders, vaccine-induced antibodies wane over time. Vaccine immunity does not equal life-long immunity acquired after natural exposure.

… elimination of vaccine exemptions, currently only utilized by a small percentage of families anyway, will neither solve the problem of disease resurgence nor prevent re-importation and outbreaks of previously eliminated diseases.

1)…due to the properties of modern vaccines, non-vaccinated individuals pose no greater risk of transmission of polio, diphtheria, pertussis, and numerous non-type b H. influenza strains than vaccinated individuals do. Non-vaccinated individuals pose virtually no danger of transmission of hepatitis B in a school setting, and tetanus is not transmissible at all; 2) there is a significantly elevated risk of emergency room visits after childhood vaccination appointments attesting that vaccination is not risk-free; 3) outbreaks of measles cannot be entirely prevented even if we had nearly perfect vaccination compliance; and 4) an effective method of preventing measles and other viral diseases in vaccine-ineligible infants and the immunocompromised, immunoglobulin, is available for those who may be exposed to these diseases.

Taken together, these four facts make it clear that discrimination in a public school setting against children who are not vaccinated for reasons of conscience is completely unwarranted as the vaccine status of conscientious objectors poses no undue public health risk.

Stephanie Seneff, PhD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3P6wVUH0pc

Dr. Stephanie Seneff is employed by MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory as a Senior Research Scientist. She holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT. Her research has largely focused on nutrition and health through computer analyses of large datasets.

I’m a computer scientist so I can go look at the number crunching, looking at the words, statistical distributions and whatnot. You can find a lot of things out, looking at VAERS.

…I confirmed in my studies on VAERS database that MMR is associated with autism. I wrote a paper on that and I proposed at the time that possibly, and it was something that somebody else had also proposed, which was that the acetaminophen, it was given just to control the fever, kids are often given that around the vaccine, and that can become toxic to certain kids who can’t metabolize it properly.

… the glutamate in the vaccine that’s causing the problem and that the glutamate is much more toxic now because of the glyphosate. So all this is connecting up. And the same thing is true for the aluminum in the vaccines as well and people have talked a lot about the mercury and the mercury certainly is an issue and its very toxic. I look at the aluminum because that’s the one that’s gone up quite a bit. We have a lot of aluminum containing vaccines now that we didn’t have before so that fits with what’s going up in step with the autism increase, lots more aluminum containing vaccines. For example the HPV, which has just been introduced, the Gardasil they’re giving that to these kids, teenagers. That’s loaded with aluminum. And that’s a very nasty vaccine. I’ve looked at that one too and it has much, much more severe reactions to that one than to other vaccines that these kids are getting. Its a very toxic vaccine and totally unnecessary in my opinion and they can’t even prove that its actually doing what its claiming to do because its like 60 years later when you’re going to get this cervical cancer that its supposedly protecting you from, you know. I don’t know why anyone would think it’s a good idea to get that vaccine. Young girls’ lives are being destroyed. People are dying or they’re getting some debilitating autoimmune disease, you know, from that vaccine. It’s very clear from the data.

Conclusion

When researching scientists’ recommendations for public health policies in regards to vaccines, it is surprising how few of them support vaccination unless they work for the pharmaceutical industry.

In order for vaccines to be truly safe and effective, adverse reactions would be rare and breakouts of vaccine-preventable diseases among vaccine compliant populations would be rare or non-existent. Clearly, neither outcome is reality. The science does not support the statement that vaccines are safe and effective. This is not a scientific finding. This is a marketing slogan taught to doctors in medical school. If vaccine damage is a concern of yours, check out How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children. 

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Web MD’s Ties with Monsanto and Big Pharma

When we look for medical information, whether or not we embrace alternative medicine, there are a few primary sources we tend to check out for the conventional treatment and the low down on any given illness. WebMD is at, or near, the top of that list, and it is clearly one of the most popular sites on the Internet.

We expect the information given on this WebMD to be clear, correct (within the limits of conventional medicine), and unbiased. Anyone with any knowledge about the way things really work will expect Big Pharma to have undue influence over the information presented because they have undue influence over doctors and every aspect of conventional medical treatment. We don’t expect to find Monsanto and the FDA also hiding behind the curtain.

But first, more about Big Pharma. In 2010, Dr. Mercola wrote about a self-test for depression that was presented on WebMD by Eli Lilly. The problem was, even if you marked no to every indicator, the test came up with the same result – “You may be at risk for major depression.” The test was completely bogus, unethical, and irresponsible. WebMD presents itself as the unbiased 3rd party, but it isn’t.

When an article is written by a sponsor, such as Monsanto, it is labeled as such. It says, “This content is from our sponsor. The sponsor has sole editorial control.” Does the typical reader realize they are reading an article that is clearly company propaganda and not content that WebMD necessarily supports? What site that was created to give its readers information publishes content they do not agree with? We don’t!

In addition, the site is used and abused by companies like Monsanto as shown by series of emails exchanged between Monsanto and Dr. Kevin Folta of the University of Florida. Monsanto approached Folta, asking him to publish their biotech propaganda as if it were his own on WebMD. Of course, he agreed – Monsanto gives his programs money.

The final surprise is the relationship between WebMD and the FDA. According to Dr. Mercola, the FDA’s first public-private partnership was with WebMD. The FDA states on their website:

  • FDA’s Public-Private Partnerships allow the FDA to partner with any number of a wide range of other organizations including, but not limited to, patient advocacy groups, professional societies, charitable foundations, industry members, trade organizations, academic institutions and other government and state entities.
  • FDA’s Public-Private Partnerships are science-driven, aim to improve the public health, and are structured to uphold the principles of transparency, fairness, inclusiveness, scientific rigor, and compliance with Federal laws and FDA policy.

The FDA does not, however, offer a list of their partners. But that’s a bit creepy, isn’t it? That a government agency created to provide oversight actually partners with private industry? Who’s watching who?

It’s always a good idea to follow the money connected to any source. WebMD makes lots and lots of money. Averaging 210 million unique users a month with 4.25 billion page views, WebMD reported a profit of $10 million from a revenue of $143.3 million for the first quarter of 2015. So if you choose to use the site in the future, keep these facts in mind, especially if you are seeking information on any controversial subject in which the pharmaceutical companies, the biotech companies, or the FDA may share an interest.

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Danger – Poisonous House Plants to Be Aware Of

Houseplants vary in shape, size, colour, and looks and can be added to your home to enhance any interior theme. They also purify the air, providing a great health benefit. But there is one thing every homeowner should be cautious about when it comes to selecting plants. Some of them are poisonous.

If you have pets or children, poisonous plants could present a real threat if their parts are ingested. Some plants may even cause skin irritation and other problems if you touch them. Be careful around the following plants:

Dieffenbachia

DieffenbachiaThis is definitely one of the most popular house plants. The fact that it requires low-light conditions and little maintenance means that it can easily thrive in every home. However, the nickname of the plant – Dumb Cane – comes from the symptoms it causes when eaten. The plant sap usually leads to tongue swelling, which in turn presents a danger to both pets and humans if ingested.

Oleander

OleanderCertainly beautiful to the sight, but equally dangerous in that all of its parts are quite poisonous. You need to be careful when it comes to pruning and other garden care tasks. Always wear gloves and thoroughly wash your hands after tending to this plant.

Philodendron

Philodendron XanaduThis selection is probably among the most widely used indoor plants, featured in both homes and offices. However, the plants of this type are poisonous to both pets and humans if ingested.

Easter lily

Easter lilyThis plant is mostly dangerous to pets, cats in particular. Serious issues have been reported by veterinarians, who state that even small parts of the plant may cause cat death. The main damage occurs in the form of kidney failure, which is lethal if not treated promptly.

English ivy

English IvyWhile it is true that severe problems will occur only after ingesting large quantity of plant parts, there have been reports of skin irritation and rash in some cases. That is why you have to be careful around blooming ivies, especially during your gardening rounds, when it is easy to come into contact with the plant.

Most plants are safe to grow around children and pets. It is the aforementioned types you need to be careful about. It is better to look for alternatives, than be sorry later.

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New Study Shows Children Should Eat Organic to Reduce Pesticide Levels

For a long time, we have known that organophosphorus (OP) pesticides, like chlorpyrifos and diazinon, are bad for humans, as well as pests. Almost two decades ago, they began to be phased out for residential use due to the risks. Unfortunately, they’re still heavily utilized in agriculture, and researchers in California decided to identify how much of these, and other, harmful pesticides, children are actually ingesting.

The Study Focused on Low-Income Children in Urban and Agricultural Areas

If it feels like you’ve already heard this information, you probably have, but not quite in this way. Previous studies have focused on pesticide levels of children in non-agricultural and suburban areas. As most of us know, these studies have shown that children have lower levels of pesticides when they go organic. The difference with this new study is that children in urban and agricultural areas are exposed to more pesticides in the environment, especially those in low-income families. Therefore, the question was not whether organic diets reduce pesticide levels- we know that they do, but whether children who are exposed to environmental pesticides have reduced levels when they go organic as well. For this reason, the study included participants from the Fruitvale area of Oakland, California, an urban area, and also from Salinas, California, a largely agricultural region.

Children Between the Ages of Three and Six were Analyzed

The study lasted only 16 days, but the results were incredibly apparent. For the first four days, 40 kids between the ages of three and six ate their normal diet, were monitored by an in-home personal trainer before or after extracurricular activities. They then ate an organic diet for seven days and switched back to their regular diet for the remainder of the study. Urine samples were collected every day of the study, and scientists analyzed the samples for pesticide residue and markers.

The Amount of Two Pesticides Reduced By 50% on an Organic Diet

The study revealed that reside for two specific pesticides was cut in half when children went on an organic diet. Levels of a common herbicide also dropped by about one-fourth. Asa Bradman, an author of the study and Associate Director of the Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health at the University of California, Berkeley, acknowledges, “There’s evidence that diet is one route of exposure to pesticides, and you can reduce your exposure by choosing organic food.” However, she cautions people not to cut regular fruits and vegetables out of their diet, because they both provide health benefits.

Sadly, Levels of Three of the Most-Common Pesticides Did Not Decline

The study showed that pesticides commonly used in residential applications did not decline. So although there is benefit in going organic, it’s only part of the solution to an overall problem. However, the study did uncover another remarkable find. Because food diaries were also kept, researchers noted that kids ate more healthy grains and produce when they were on the organic diet. In other words, choosing to stick with an organic diet can have other unexpected health benefits.

Pesticides are Linked to Childhood Cancer and Low IQ, Among Other Issues

There is a laundry list of issues that scientists have linked to pesticides. Recently, a study published in the October issue of Pediatrics linked pesticides with a higher risk of developing leukemia and lymphoma. Though that particular study focused on children who were exposed to insecticides indoors, a 47% and 43% increase in cancer rates were noted, respectively. Chensheng Lu, of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who headed up the study, said that instances of other cancers, like bladder and prostate, may also increase with exposure to insecticides. Additional studies link pesticides to low IQ and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as minor conditions like nausea, skin irritation, and headaches. The same issue of Pediatrics that features this study also covers the story of a seven-month-old victim of SIDS. Analysis of her brain tissue revealed high levels of a pesticide known as DBNP, which she may have been exposed to two weeks prior to her death when her father sprayed the house for flies.

These cases are not rare. Pesticide use can cause acute health issues, and the compounds can build up over time undetected, resulting in long-term health consequences. Keeping children on an organic diet is an essential part of limiting exposure to dangerous and deadly chemicals. However, it’s also clear that parents should take steps to limit environmental exposure as well.



Natural Cleaning Solutions For Your Home

Cleaning is crucial in any home, but regular cleaners take their toll on the environment. Instead, wouldn’t it be nice if there was a cheap, effective way to do housework without using harmful chemicals? Fortunately, there is! And most of the items you will need are already in your home.

Lemon Deodorizers

When it comes to natural cleaners, the humble lemon is your best friend. Why use expensive lemon scented fragrances when a real lemon does just as good a job? Simply take a lemon, cut it in half and leave one half with the cut side exposed (preferably in a dish). Not only will this hide odors, you’ll get a fresh lemon scent wherever you place it.

Vinegar Spray

Vinegar is highly acidic, which makes it useful for cleaning dirt on a variety of surfaces. More specifically, it’s great for cleaning windows and polishing metal. If you have a spray bottle, you can create a mixture that’s 3 or 4 parts water and 1 part vinegar. Then, simply use the spray as you normally would – you’ll quickly find it’s no trouble at all to remove various tough stains around the home.

Peace Lillies

A plant is just a plant right? Wrong – plants having many uses in the home, often acting as natural filters. Not only will you help oxidize the room, plants can absorb some of the harmful agents in the air, making them a great companion to lemon deodorizers. Better yet, try using a peace lily where possible. Peace lilies are great at preventing mold, and it’s always better to prevent a difficult task where possible!

Boiled Potato Water

The next time you boil potatoes, don’t throw out the leftover water. This water has a combination of a high temperature and the starchy extracts left from the potatoes. As a result, its perfect for cleaning silver, whether its cutlery or ornaments. Just make sure to use it when its hot. ( It can always be reheated, of course.)

Nut Shells

As a more unusual solution, Indian nut shells are great for washing a variety of things. It’s no surprise then, that they’re often called soap nuts in some parts of the world. Crush around 2oz of shells in a 3-5 cups of water. Bring the water to the boiling point to create a simple soap. This can be used to wash glasses, dishes, counters, and the car! You can even use this soap in the dishwasher, or just add a few of the shells in as they are. You can also put the shells in a bag and throw it in with the laundry.

Baking Soda

If you bake, chances are you have a spare bag or box of baking soda. If you’re not planning a cake anytime soon, it makes a great all-purpose cleaner, similar to vinegar. Mix 4 spoons of soda into one warm cup of water for an effective agent, perfect for surfaces and kitchen appliances. As with any cleaning chemical, use it with a cloth or wipe and you’ll have no trouble at all.  It also works well as a scrubbing agent. Shake it on a surface and use a wet rag to scrub.

Ground Coffee

If you are a coffee drinker, you have the makings of a good dish scrubber. Using an elastic band or string, use your cleaning cloth to make a ‘bag’ full of coffee beans. The rough texture, combined with warm water and the natural ingredients inside coffee make for an effective scrubbing assistant – perfect for tough dishes!

As an added bonus, you can sprinkle used coffee grounds outside, around the perimeter of your house to repel ants and other insects and you can put coffee beans in plant pots and other areas where pests might gather.

Natural Oils

Various types of natural oils have additional cleaning applications. For example, peppermint, tea-tree, lavender, and even eucalyptus oils all make effective bacteria killers. This makes them ideal for use in the kitchen. Due to their potency, you need only add a few drops of such an oil to a 50/50 mixture of water and white vinegar. On a similar note, the various plant-based oils used in cooking – such as sunflower or olive oils – are great at removing gritty dirt. Add a few teaspoons of salt to these vegetable oils to great a basic paste. Then, simply rinse with hot water and scrub away!

Salt

Salt is, of course, a natural product, and it’s course nature makes it great for scrubbing or scouring. This is best used for dishes, as the rough nature of salt helps to break away dirt, yet it won’t scratch precious glassware. It also works well on stubborn surfaces, such as wooden counters and the dreaded oven. So don’t be afraid to add a little salt when dealing with difficult stains.

Lemon Scrub

Finally, there’s one more use for lemons! Aside from being a good spray and deodorizer, you can also use it as a simple scrub. Squeeze and rub a lemon onto your cleaning cloth and then use it as you normally would. This acts just like a cleaning agent – thanks to the acidic, citric nature of the fruit – and doesn’t harm the environment.

Conclusion

As you can see there are more than a few ways to keep your house sparkling clean without harming Mother Nature or your family’s health. The next time you’re ready to reach for a cleaning product, take a look in your shelves first. You might just be pleasantly surprised.

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Seven Ways To Avoid Gaining Too Much Pregnancy Weight

Discovering that you and your partner will soon have your first baby is probably one of the most euphoric moments in your life, especially if you’ve been trying to conceive for a long time. Earlier, you made all your life decisions keeping only yourself and your partner in focus. Now with the much-anticipated arrival of your little one, there’s almost nothing you do without thinking about how it will impact the angel growing in your womb.

As you accustom yourself to these changes, there’s one huge (pun intended) change that worries you the most – your weight gain. Though it is normal for women to gain weight during their pregnancy, you surely don’t want to end up looking like a human version of Godzilla. Well, here are seven ways to avoid gaining too much pregnancy weight:

Drink A Lot Of Water

When everybody, from your doctor to your fitness trainer and nutritionist harps about the importance of drinking plenty of water, you have to believe that there’s some truth to it. Apart from keeping you well-hydrated and energetic all day long, drinking water also curbs your cravings at odd times of the day that may have you pile on free calories. Since, during pregnancy, your digestive system slows down, drinking enough water can also contribute to healthy bowel movements and therefore prevent bloating. Water is also important for the formation of the amniotic fluid that surrounds your fetus.

Stay Active

Staying active throughout your pregnancy is also a great way to prevent excessive pregnancy weight gain. It also makes the process of postpartum weight loss a lot faster and simpler. Practice low to moderate intensity exercises like walking, swimming, kegels, yoga, etc. for an hour every day. Apart from helping you maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy, exercise can also help elevate your mood and ease pregnancy-related discomforts according to a study conducted by Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise reports. Avoid exercises that can make you susceptible to falling, and do consult your doctor before adopting an exercise regimen.

Eat Often (But Eat Healthy)

As counter-intuitive as it may sound, eating frequently can also contribute to the maintenance of healthy weight during pregnancy. The key is to watch what you eat. Include generous portions of fiber-rich foods like fruits and vegetables in your diet that will do a wonderful job of providing you and your little one with wholesome nutrition while keeping you full for long periods. Opt for lean meats, fish (choose varieties low in mercury) and low-fat dairy foods to meet your protein, omega-3, and calcium requirements, respectively. Eat a lot of leafy greens rich in folic acid, vitamin C, calcium and vitamin K. For snacks, stick to healthy options like nuts, pomegranates, Greek yogurt, sprouts, etc. Of course, you are allowed to give in to your cravings once in a while, but keep a check on the portion sizes.

Avoid Eating Out

Love eating out? Unfortunately, during pregnancy, you may have to cut down on your restaurant indulgences, especially fast foods. Unless you’re opting for soups or salads, food available in restaurants can be pretty high in calories and low on nutrition. If not cooked properly, it can also make you susceptible to food poisoning that can be harmful to both you and your little one. As far as possible, minimize your intake of outside food. If you are planning to eat out, do a prior check on the ingredients, calories and possible allergic reactions caused by the dish you’re planning to order.

Team Up

It always helps if you team up with someone sailing the same boat as you. Instead of joining a regular gym or yoga class, join one dedicated solely to expectant mothers so there’s greater motivation for you. Join a pregnant women support group to share ideas on nutrition and fitness for better results.

Get Enough Sleep

Not sleeping enough can also get in your way of maintaining a healthy weight during pregnancy. A study conducted by The Journal of Women’s Health reports that inadequate sleep can contribute to excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Though sleep troubles are common during pregnancy, certain measures like regular physical activity, a routine sleep pattern, dietary improvements, and the right sleeping postures can help you get a good night’s sleep.

Cut Out Stress

Stress is another crucial factor that can contribute to increased pregnancy weight gain. It can negatively impact your dietary choices, making you crave for foods high in fats and sugar. Practice calming exercises like deep breathing, meditation, and yoga to keep your stress levels in check.

Though these tips will help you sustain your recommended body weight during pregnancy, always remember that you should not compromise on your required nutritional intake to lose weight as it could hamper your baby’s development. The key is to adopt a healthy balance in your lifestyle and eating habits. Congratulations on the great news.

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Gluten Sensitivity – Fact or Fiction?

Gluten, found in many staple foods, is a substance that gives elasticity to dough. Until recently, a strict gluten-free diet was only of interest to people with celiac disease, an autoimmune disease in which proteins from grains (such as wheat, rye and barley) damage the small intestine. However, more people are now finding that they feel better on a gluten-free diet. So, is this a psychological “placebo effect”, or do people actually benefit physically from a gluten-free diet?

Research has now confirmed that gluten sensitivity does exist. Some experts say that gluten sensitivity is much more common than celiac disease. In celiac disease, the intestine is damaged, but in gluten sensitivity, it is not. Symptoms for both can be similar (including stomach aches and pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, IBS) so it is important to get tested. Symptoms of gluten sensitivity can affect any organ or tissue in your body, and can include muscular and joint pain, fatigue, anaemia, and tingling in hands and feet.

Why are more people now reacting to gluten when we have been eating grains for 10,000 years? First of all, to make those lovely fluffy white breads, modern grain has been cultivated so that it contains much more gluten than it did in the past. Secondly, our diets have changed significantly in the past few decades. We now eat gluten in most meals, unlike in the past. Wheat flour is used in a vast range of modern, mass-produced “ready-made” meals and sauces. (Even your mustard can have it). So we are consuming far greater quantities of gluten, more frequently, than our ancestors.

When our bodies digest gluten, the lining of the intestine is temporarily damaged. This makes it permeable to gluten proteins (hence ‘leaky gut’), which is the mechanism behind both gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. For most people this inflammation is healed relatively quickly after eating but for some it takes much longer. Other aggravating factors include modern additions from the food chain, including pesticides and GMO foods, which have been linked to ‘leaky gut’. To ensure there are no pesticide residues or genetically modified substances, which may affect your gut health, choose organic food.

If you feel that you suffer from symptoms that may be caused by gluten, get tested for celiac disease. Then you can try going gluten free for a minimum of 4 weeks, then reintroduce gluten to see the difference in how you feel. Take good care of your general gut health, as the gut is the basis for your overall health. Feed the good bacteria in your intestine by eating plenty of organic vegetables and fruit every day. Also, introduce fermented foods, such as sauerkraut and probiotic yogurts. Avoid damaging your intestinal lining with unnecessary antibiotics, drugs or alcohol.

Author: Marika Walker graduated in Nutritional Therapy from CNM (College of Naturopathic Medicine) the UK’s largest training provider in natural therapies.

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