10 Risk Factors that Every Pregnant Woman Should be Aware of

1. Smoking - Smoking is not only bad for you, but bad for your baby as well. Smoking during pregnancy reduces amount of oxygen that baby receives and increases risk of miscarriage, bleeding, and morning sickness. Chemicals inhaled while smoking may lead to other health problems with baby. Reduced birth weight, premature birth, increased risk of SIDS, and stillbirth are other possible consequences. Pregnant women should also avoid second hand smoke.
2. Alcohol - Drinking can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, including symptoms like low birth weight, medical problems, and behavior abnormalities. As soon as you know you are pregnant, stop drinking. For more detailed information on problems that can be caused by alcohol, visit http://www.nofas.org.
3. Caffeine - There are many conflicting studies about caffeine and pregnancy and some believe that caffeine is not as harmful as it was once thought to be. Nevertheless, FDA warns against caffeine consumption during pregnancy and suggests quitting or reducing consumption at very least. Caffeine has been shown to affect fetal heart rates and awake time (fetuses grow when sleeping). Decaffeinated coffee can also be harmful since producers often add additional chemicals to remove caffeine. Caffeine can also increase risk of stretch marks. Suddenly quitting coffee intake can cause headaches; so most experts recommend gradually reducing amount consumed.
4. Drugs and Herbal Remedies - Always be careful about drugs or herbal remedies that are not prescribed by a doctor. These substances may affect development of your unborn child.
5. Nutrition - Good nutrition is crucial to a developing child, particularly getting enough folic acid. Lack of folic acid can cause birth defects. At least 400-1000 micrograms of this B vitamin is suggested (about ten times more if you've already had a child with neural tube birth defects) starting one month before pregnant and throughout entire pregnancy. Leafy vegetables, orange juice, and beans are some natural sources of folic acid. Many stores sell vitamins with folic acid.

Lowering Cholesterol for busy People – Part 1

"Autopsy studies have revealed that many signs of atherosclerosis including scarring are now found in arterial walls of babies in this country; that by age of ten, half children have coronary arterial lesions; and that 100 percent of them have mild atherosclerosis by age 15."

How this can be? Your Diet during your pregnancy is very important for your unborn child. And if you are breastfeeding… your breast milk can have high fat/hormone content, partially reflecting your diet.

The truth is brutal I must admit, which is even more compelling to face this problem today, before it is too late for them.

Cholesterol Victims… looks like millions of Children are neglected, but in reality… they are not neglected at all. You see toady's Children with High Cholesterol are tomorrows CVD (Cardiovascular Disease) patients for life in most cases, and are facing higher risk of atherosclerosis early in life. Sick children are creating a new business for 'Health Industry' for years to come.

But why? Food Industry created this problem and there is no way out. As Donald Trump is saying: "It is nothing personal… It is business." And for Food Industry it is an easy business to market junk food to children. In end… we all are victims.

Often high Cholesterol is ignored because there are no visible symptoms. American children are overweight, and often their Cholesterol is high. When I looked under microscope blood simple of 13-year-old boy – it was as thick as car oil.