Domestic Violence

Domestic violence (closely related to domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence and intimate partner violence) is a pattern of behavior which involves violence or other abuse by one person against another in a domestic context, such as in marriage

Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone, yet the problem is often overlooked, excused, or denied. Domestic violence often occurs because the perpetrator believes that abuse is justified and acceptable, and may produce intergenerational cycles of abuse and cultural systems that condone violence.

Victims of domestic violence may be trapped in domestic violent situations through isolation, power and control, insufficient financial resources, fear, shame or to protect children. As a result of abuse, victims may experience physical disabilities, chronic health problems, mental illness, limited finances, and poor ability to create healthy relationships. Victims may experience post-traumatic stress disorder. Children who live in a household with violence may continue the legacy of abuse when they reach adulthood. Domestic violence often happens in the context of forced and child marriage.

Domestic violence can take many forms, including physical aggression or assault (hitting, kicking, biting, shoving, restraining, slapping, throwing objects, battery), or threats thereof (verbal abuse); sexual abuse; emotional abuse- controlling or domineering; intimidation; stalking; passive/covert abuse (e.g., neglect); and economic deprivation. It can also mean endangerment, criminal coercion, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, trespassing, and harassment.

Physical abuse
Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause pain, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm. It includes hitting, slapping, punching, choking, pushing, burning and other types of contact that result in physical injury to the victim.  Acid attacks, also seen in domestic violence, occur when acid is thrown in anger or vengeance at the victims, usually at their faces, burning them, and damaging skin tissue, often exposing and sometimes dissolving the bones. This can result in long term blindness and permanent scarring of the face and body. Denying the victim needed medical care, depriving them of sleep or other necessary functions, forcing the victim to engage in drug or alcohol use against their will, or creating any physical harm are forms of physical abuse. It can also include inflicting physical injury onto other targets, such as children or pets, in order to cause emotional harm to the victim.

Sexual abuse
Sexual violence, or sexual abuse, is defined by World Health Organization as any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim. It also includes female genital mutilation. Aside from initiation of the sexual act through physical force, sexual abuse occurs if a person is unable to understand the nature or condition of the act, unable to decline participation, or unable to communicate unwillingness to engage in the sexual act. This could be because of underage immaturity, illness, disability, or the influence of alcohol or other drugs, or due to intimidation or pressure.
Sexual abuse in the family can take the form of incest between an adult and a child, which is a form of child sexual abuse.
Reproductive coercion (also called "coerced reproduction") are threats or acts of violence against a partner's reproductive rights, health and decision- making; and includes a collection of behaviours intended to pressure or coerce a partner into becoming a parent or ending a pregnancy. Reproductive coercion is associated with forced sex, fear or inability of negotiating condom and contraceptive use, fear of violence after refusing sex, and abusive partner interference with access to healthcare.
Marital rape is non consensual sexual intercourse or penetration perpetrated by a person against his or spouse. Marital rape may be experienced through patterns of physical abuse, force, or demeaning sexual behaviour by the perpetrator.

Emotional abuse
Emotional abuse (also called psychological abuse or mental abuse) can include verbal abuse and is defined as any behavior that threatens, intimidates, undermines the victim’s self-worth or self-esteem, or controls the victim’s freedom. According to the Istanbul Convention, psychological violence is "the intentional conduct of seriously impairing a person’s psychological integrity through coercion or threats". This can include threatening the victim with injury or harm, telling the victim that they will be killed if they ever leave the relationship, isolating them from others, and public humiliation. Controlling behavior includes monitoring the victim's movements, or restricting their access to financial resources, employment, education or medical care. Constant criticism, devaluing statements, and name-calling are emotionally abuse behaviours. Emotional abuse may include conflicting actions or statements which are designed to confuse and create insecurity in the victim. These behaviours also lead the victims to question themselves, causing them to believe that they are making up the abuse or that the abuse is their fault.
People who are being emotionally abused may feel that their significant other has nearly total control over them. Isolation damages the victim's sense of internal strength, leaving them feeling helpless and unable to escape from the situation. Victims often suffer from depression, which puts them at increased risk for suicide, eating disorders, and drug and alcohol abuse.

Verbal abuse
Verbal abuse is a form of emotionally abusive behaviour involving the use of language, which can involve threats, name-calling, blaming, ridicule, disrespect, and criticism. Less obviously aggressive forms of verbal abuse include statements that may seem benign on the surface that are thinly veiled attempts to humiliate, falsely accuse, or manipulate others to submit to undesirable behavior, make others feel unwanted and unloved, threaten others economically, or isolate victims from support systems.

Economic abuse
Economic abuse is a form of abuse when one intimate partner has control over the other partner's access to economic resources. Economic abuse may involve preventing a spouse from resource acquisition, limiting the amount of resources to use by the victim, or by exploiting economic resources of the victim. The motive behind preventing a spouse from acquiring resources is to diminish victim's capacity to support his/ herself, thus forcing him her to depend on the perpetrator financially, which includes preventing the victim from obtaining education, finding employment, maintaining or advancing their careers, and acquiring assets.
In addition, the abuser may also put the victim on an allowance, closely monitor how the victim spends money, spend victim's money without his/her consent and creating debt, or completely spend victim's savings to limit available resources.

A woman who has been abused should seek help from women support groups against domestic violence. If action is not taken to stop the abuse, it will continue and may lead to severe damage to the woman or even lead to death. Wisdom is profitable to direct.

We need you alive!

Teach your child the Underwear Rule and help protect them from abuse.

The Underwear Rule is a simple way that parents can help keep children safe from abuse - without using scary words or mentioning sex.

Talk PANTS and you've got the Underwear Rule covered

PANTS is an easy way for you to explain to your child the key elements of the Underwear Rule:

PRIVATES are private.
Be clear with your child that the parts of their body covered by underwear are private. Explain to your child that no one should ask to see or touch their private parts or ask them to look at or touch anyone else's. Sometimes doctors, nurses or family members might have to. Explain that this is OK, but that those people should always explain why, and ask your child if it's OK first.

ALWAYS remember your body belongs to you.
Let your children know their body belongs to them, and no one else. No one has the right to make them do anything that makes them feel uncomfortable. And if anyone tries, tell your child they have the right to say no. Remind your child that they can always talk to you about anything which worries or upsets them.

NO means no.
Make sure your child understands that they have the right to say "no" to unwanted touch - even to a family member or someone they know or love. This shows that they're in control of their body and their feelings should be respected. If a child feels confident to say no to their own family, they are more likely to say no to others.

TALK about secrets that upset you.
Explain the differences between 'good' and 'bad' secrets. Phrases like "it's our little secret" are an abuser's way of making a child feel worried, or scared to tell someone what is happening to them. Good secrets can be things like surprise parties or presents for other people. Bad secrets make you feel sad, worried or frightened. Your child needs to feel able to speak up about secrets that worry them and confident that saying something won't get them into trouble. Telling a secret will never hurt or worry anybody in your family or someone you know and love.

SPEAK up, someone can help
Tell your child that if they ever feel sad,anxious or frightened they should talk to an adult they trust. This doesn't have to be a family member. It can also be a teacher or a friend's parent- or even ChildLine. Remind them that whatever the problem it's not their fault and they will never get into trouble for speaking up.
Source: www.nspcc.org

Female Genital. Mutilation

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is the ritual removal of some or all of the external female genitalia. Typically carried out by a traditional circumciser with a blade or razor, with or without anaesthesia, FGM is concentrated in 27 countries in Africa, as well as in Yemen and Iraqi Kurdistan, and practised to a lesser extent elsewhere in Asia and among diaspora communities around the world. The age at which it is conducted varies from days after birth to puberty; in half the countries for which national figures are available, most girls are cut before the age of five.

HOW?
The procedures differ according to the ethnic group.
Female genital mutilation is classified into four major types.

1. Clitoridectomy: partial or total removal of the clitoris (a small, sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals) and, in very rare cases, only the prepuce (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoris).
2. Excision: partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora (the labia are "the lips" that surround the vagina).
3. Infibulation: narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the inner, or outer, labia, with or without removal of the clitoris. In this procedure, a small hole is left for the passage of urine and menstrual blood, and the vagina is opened for intercourse and childbirth.
4. Other: all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.

DANGERS
FGM has no health benefits, and it harms girls and women in many ways. It involves removing and damaging healthy and normal female genital tissue, and interferes with the natural functions of girls' and women's bodies.

Immediate complications can include severe pain, shock, haemorrhage (bleeding), tetanus or sepsis (bacterial infection), urine retention, open sores in the genital region and injury to nearby genital tissue.

Long-term consequences can include:

*recurrent bladder and *urinary tract infections;
*cysts;
*infertility;
*an increased risk of childbirth complications and newborn deaths;
*the need for later surgeries. For example, the FGM procedure that seals or narrows a vaginal opening (type 3 above) needs to be cut open later to allow for sexual intercourse and childbirth. Sometimes it is stitched again several times, including after childbirth, hence the woman goes through repeated opening and closing procedures, further increasing and repeated both immediate and long-term risks.

WHY?
The practice is rooted in gender inequality, attempts to control women's sexuality, and ideas about purity, modesty and aesthetics. It is initiated and usually carried out by women, who see it as a source of honour, and who fear that failing to have their daughters and granddaughters cut will expose the girls to social exclusion.

WHO IS AT RISK?
Procedures are mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and age 15, and occasionally on adult women. In Africa, more than three million girls have been estimated to be at risk for FGM annually.
Over 125 million women and girls have experienced FGM in the 29 countries in which it is concentrated. Over eight million have been infibulated, a practice found largely in Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan.

OUR STANCE
FGM has been outlawed or restricted in most of the countries in which it occurs, but the laws are poorly enforced. There have been international efforts since the 1970s to persuade practitioners to abandon it, and in 2012 the United Nations General Assembly, recognizing FGM as a human-rights violation, voted unanimously to intensify those efforts.

FGM is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women. It is nearly always carried out on minors and is a violation of the rights of children. The practice also violates a person's rights to health, security and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to life when the procedure results in death.

Know Your Blood Type (group, genotype, rhesus factor)

Save yourself the stress that can be caused by ignorance. Make sure you know your blood type. Sometimes ago, I asked a lady what her blood group was and she said "S". I ask you too today, "What's your blood group, genotype and rhesus factor?" There is a difference between your blood group and your genotype.

It's very important to know what they are (so you identify the red zones). Before you go too far with that man, towards marriage, go for a blood test together. (There is a recent case of a man who lied about his genotype to his fiancee. They got married and the truth was revealed when one of their children started falling sick because he was a sickle cell carrier). So be watchful. Ignorance can cost you a whole lot. Be sure that your blood types are compatible. And that the combination of your blood types would not give your child a problematic blood type. Love is not blind at all.

Ignorance has led to some women loosing pregnancies over and over (and thereby labelled witches). It has led to poverty and lack of peace in some homes. Knowing your blood type also matters when it comes to blood transfusion.

If your genotype is AS, I beg you in the name of the Lord, don't marry someone whose genotype is also AS or worse still SS or SC (except you are very sure that the Lord Himself has assured you of safety on that road). Think of the children you will have. The pains that sickle cell carriers go through is unbearable. Spare those children please. And spare yourselves the horror too. I tell you, having sickly children will test that love you say is the reason you are marrying that person and damming the consequences.

There is some evidence that certain components having to do with fertility can be shown to be under the influence of blood type, in particular, the level of antibodies a woman secretes into her vaginal tract that are directed toward other blood types can be shown to be under the influence of secretor status and diet. The rejection of the man's sperm can often be the result of blood type incompatibility (Dr D'Adamo).

The Blood groups: A; B; O; and AB. Group O is the universal donor(they can give every group blood). Group A can donate to A's and AB's. Group B can donate to B's and AB's. AB can donate to AB's but can receive from all others.

Your blood type is inherited from both of your parents. Each parent carries TWO "alleles" for both blood group and Rh factor, of which only ONE is passed to each offspring. What alleles they possess constitutes their genotype. Some alleles dominate over others. For example, a parent with type A+ may have 2 "A" alleles, or, they may have one A and one O. In the latter case, the O will be dominated by the A, and that person will be blood type A, but can still pass the O trait on to a child. Similarly, a person who is Rh+ may have either two + alleles, or one Rh+ and one Rh-, with the Rh+ dominating. Again, in the latter case, they may pass either an Rh+ or Rh- allele to their child.

An A or B allele will dominate over an O, so if your genotype is AO, you will be type A, and if it is BO, you will be type B. People with both an A and B allele have type AB, since neither dominates the other. Since the O allele is recessive, people with type O blood will always have the genotype OO. The Rh+ allele dominates Rh-, so a person with a positive Rh factor may be ++ or +-. Those who are Rh negative are always --.

Knowledge is power!

Why You Should Take Folic Acid Before & During Pregnancy

Taking a prenatal vitamin with the recommended 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid before and during pregnancy can help prevent birth defects of your baby's brain and spinal cord.

What Is Folic Acid?
Folic acid, which is also called folate, is a B vitamin. The best food sources of folic acid are fortified cereals. Folic acid plays an important role in the production of red blood cells and helps your baby's neural tube develop into her brain and spinal cord.

When Should I Start Taking Folic Acid?
Birth defects occur within the first 3-4 weeks of pregnancy. So it's important to have folic acid in your system during those early stages when your baby's brain and spinal cord are developing.
One study showed that women who took folic acid for at least a year before getting pregnant cut their chances of delivering early by 50% or more.

The CDC recommends that you start taking folic acid every day for at least a month before you become pregnant, and every day while you are pregnant. However, the CDC also recommends that all women of childbearing age take folic acid every day. So you'd be fine to start taking it even earlier.

How Much Folic Acid Should I Take?
The recommended dose for all women of childbearing age is 400 mcg of folic acid each day. If you take a multivitamin every day, check to see if it has the recommended amount. If for some reason you don't want to take a multivitamin, you can take folic acid supplements. But you should not take both.

Here's how much folic acid is recommended each day in terms of pregnancy:
• While you're trying to conceive: 400 mcg
• For the first three months of pregnancy: 400 mcg
• For months four to nine of pregnancy: 600 mcg
• While breastfeeding: 500 mcg
-Nobledoctors

Underweight

Underweight is a term describing a human whose body weight is considered too low to be healthy. The definition usually refers to people with a body mass index (BMI) of under 18.5 or a weight 15% to 20% below that normal for their age and height group. BMI  is a key indicator of healthy weight. Although being lean can often be healthy, being underweight can be a concern if it's the result of poor nutrition or if you are pregnant or have other health concerns. So, if you're underweight, see your doctor or dietitian for an evaluation. Together, you can plan how to meet your goal weight.

Research studies show that underweight is deadlier than overweight. People who are clinically underweight face an even higher risk for dying than obese individuals, the study shows. Compared to normal-weight folks, the excessively thin have nearly twice the risk of death, researchers concluded after reviewing more than 50 prior studies.

Obesity has occupied center stage under the public health spotlight, but "we have [an] obligation to ensure that we avoid creating an epidemic of underweight adults and fetuses who are otherwise at the correct weight," said study leader Dr. Joel Ray, a physician-researcher at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.

Causes
A person may be underweight due to genetics, metabolism, lack of food (frequently due to poverty), or illness.

Being underweight is associated with certain medical conditions, including hyperthyroidism, cancer, or tuberculosis. People with gastrointestinal or liver problems may be unable to absorb nutrients adequately. People with anorexia nervosa become underweight due to self-starvation (often accompanied by excessive exercise).

Problems
Underweight might be secondary to or symptomatic of an underlying disease. Unexplained weight loss may require professional medical diagnosis.

Underweight can also be a primary causative condition. Severely underweight individuals may have poor physical stamina and a weak immune system, leaving them open to infection. According to Robert E. Black of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, "Underweight status ... and micronutrient deficiencies also cause decreases in immune and non-immune host defenses, and should be classified as underlying causes of death if followed by infectious diseases that are the terminal associated causes." People who are malnutrative underweight raise special concerns, as not only gross caloric intake may be inadequate, but also intake and absorption of other vital nutrients, especially essential amino acids and micro-nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.

In women, being grossly underweight can result in amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), infertility and possible complications during pregnancy. It can also cause anemia and hair loss.

Being underweight is an established risk factor for osteoporosis, even for young people. This is a particularly insidious consequence, because the affected persons do not notice the danger. After the occurrence of first spontaneous fractures the damage is often already irreversible.
Although being underweight has been reported to increase mortality at rates comparable to that seen in morbidly obese people, the effect is much less drastic when restricted to non-smokers with no history of disease, suggesting that smoking and disease-related weight loss are the leading causes of the observed effect.

Some healthy ways to gain weight when you're underweight:

DIET
Underweight individuals may be advised to gain weight by increasing calorie intake. This can be done by eating calorie-dense foods, such as dried fruits, cheese, and nuts.

Eat more frequently. When you're underweight, you may feel full faster. Eat five to six smaller meals during the day rather than two or three large meals.

Choose nutrient-rich foods. As part of an overall healthy diet, choose whole-grain breads, pastas and cereals; fruits and vegetables; dairy products; lean protein sources; and nuts and seeds.

Try smoothies and shakes. Don't fill up on diet soda, coffee and other drinks with few calories and little nutritional value. Instead, drink smoothies or healthy shakes made with milk and fresh or frozen juice, and sprinkle in some ground flaxseed. In some cases, a liquid meal replacement may be recommended.

Watch when you drink. Some people find that drinking fluids before meals blunts their appetite. In that case, it may be better to sip higher calorie beverages along with a meal or snack. For others, drinking 30 minutes after a meal, not with it, may work.

Make every bite count. Snack on nuts, peanut butter, cheese, dried fruits and avocados. Have a bedtime snack, such as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or a wrap sandwich with avocado, sliced vegetables, and lean meat or cheese.

Top it off. Add extras to your dishes for more calories — such as cheese in casseroles and scrambled eggs, and fat-free dried milk in soups and stews.

Have an occasional treat. Even when you're underweight, be mindful of excess sugar and fat. An occasional slice of pie with ice cream is OK. But most treats should be healthy and provide nutrients in addition to calories. Bran muffins, yogurt and granola bars are good choices.

Body weight may also be increased through the consumption of liquid nutritional supplements. Other nutritional supplements may be recommended for individuals with insufficient vitamin or mineral intake.

EXERCISE
Another way for underweight people to gain weight is by exercising. Muscle hypertrophy increases body mass. Weight lifting exercises are effective in helping to improve muscle tone as well as helping with weight gain. Weight lifting has also been shown to improve bone mineral density, for which underweight people have an increased risk of deficiency.
Exercise itself is catabolic, which results in a brief reduction in mass. The gain in weight that can result of it comes from the anabolic overcompensation when the body recovers and overcompensates via muscle hypertrophy. This can happen by an increase in the muscle proteins, or through enhanced storage of glycogen in muscles. Exercise can help stimulate a person's appetite if they are not inclined to eat.

APPETITE STIMULANTS
Certain drugs may increase appetite either as their primary effect or as a side effect. Antidepressants, such as mirtazapine or amitriptyline, and antipsychotics, particularly chlorpromazine and haloperidol as well as tetrahydrocannabinol (found in cannabis), all present an increase in appetite as a side effect. In states where it is approved, medicinal marijuana may be prescribed for severe appetite loss, such as that caused by cancer, AIDS, or severe levels of persistent anxiety. Other drugs which may increase appetite include certain benzodiazepines (such as diazepam), sedating antihistamines (such as diphenhydramine, promethazine or cyproheptadine, or B vitamin supplements.

The message yet again is to go calculate your BMI (Ref. Post on obesity for how to calculate your BMI) . God desires that we be in health. Stay healthy!

Obesity

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have a negative effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems.

Obesity is most commonly caused by a combination of excessive food energy intake, lack of physical activity(sedentary living), and genetic susceptibility, although a few cases are caused primarily by genes, or endocrine disorders. Certain physical and mental illnesses and the pharmaceutical substances used to treat them can increase risk of obesity. Medical illnesses that increase obesity risk include several rare genetic syndromes as well as some congenital or acquired conditions: hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, growth hormone deficiency,  and the eating disorders: binge eating disorder and night eating syndrome. However, obesity is not regarded as a psychiatric disorder, and therefore is not listed in the DSM-IVR as a psychiatric illness. The risk of overweight and obesity is higher in patients with psychiatric disorders than in persons without psychiatric disorders.

Certain medications may cause weight gain or changes in body composition; these include insulin, sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, atypical antipsychotics, antidepressants, steroids, certain anticonvulsants (phenytoin and valproate), pizotifen, and some forms of hormonal contraception.

Malnutrition in early life is believed to play a role in the rising rates of obesity in the developing world.  Endocrine changes that occur during periods of malnutrition may promote the storage of fat once more food energy becomes available. Make sure to feed your children with nourishing foods, you'll be reducing their risk of being obese in future.

Obesity increases the risk of many physical and mental conditions. These comorbidities are most commonly shown in metabolic syndrome,  a combination of medical disorders which includes: diabetes mellitus type 2, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and high triglyceride levels.

Complications are either directly caused by obesity or indirectly related through mechanisms sharing a common cause such as a poor diet or a sedentary lifestyle. The strength of the link between obesity and specific conditions varies. One of the strongest is the link with type 2 diabetes. Excess body fat underlies 64% of cases of diabetes in men and 77% of cases in women.

Health consequences fall into two broad categories: those attributable to the effects of increased fat mass (such as osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, social stigmatization) and those due to the increased number of fat cells (diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, non alcoholic fatty liver disease). Increases in body fat alter the body's response to insulin, potentially leading to insulin resistance. Increased fat also creates a proinflammatory state, and a prothrombotic state.

Dieting and exercising are the main treatments for obesity. Diet quality can be improved by reducing the consumption of energy dense foods, such as those high in fat and sugars, and by increasing the intake of dietary fibre. With a suitable diet, anti-obesity drugs may be taken to reduce appetite or decrease fat absorption. If diet, exercise, and medication are not effective, a gastric balloon may assist with weight loss, or surgery may be performed to reduce stomach volume and/or bowel length, leading to feeling full earlier and a reduced ability to absorb nutrients from food.

Obesity is a leading preventable cause of death worldwide, with increasing rates in adults and children. Authorities view it as one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century. Obesity is stigmatized in much of the modern world (particularly in the Western world) (and we in Africa are not left behind anymore), though it was widely seen as a symbol of wealth and fertility at other times in history and still is in some parts of the world.  In 2013, the American Medical Association classified obesity as a disease.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is defined as the subject's weight divided by the square of their height and is calculated as follows.

BMI = m ÷ (hxh)

where m and h are the subject's weight in kilograms and height in meters respectively.
BMI is usually expressed in kilograms per square metre.

BMI.               Classification
<18.5               Underweight
18.5-24.99.     Normal weight
25-29.99.       Overweight
30-34.99.       Class I Obesity
35-39.99.       ClassII Obesity
40- >40.         Class III Obesity

Grab a calculator and calculate you BMI to see if you're okay; I just did!

Oral Health

Oral health is an important component of general health and should be maintained through a woman’s lifespan. Maintaining good oral health may have a positive effect on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other disorders.

Being a woman is extraordinary, fun and fulfilling, but it’s not always easy. A woman’s body goes through so many changes that good oral hygiene is especially important. These changes are mostly contributed to fluctuating hormone levels throughout different stages in a woman's life such as puberty, pregnancy and
menopause. The use of oral contraceptives can contribute to these changes as well.

Women rate their general health significantly better than their oral health and attribute more importance to healthy teeth for their babies than for themselves. This is not supposed to be so. Research also has it that a certain saliva test could detect breast cancer. See how important our mouth is?

Changes That Affect Oral Health

Puberty
As if puberty isn’t hard enough, the surge of hormones that accompany puberty can also contribute to dental problems. Girls going through puberty are very likely to experience swollen, sensitive and bleeding gums, especially during their menstruation cycle. It's also not unusual for ulcers and Herpes type lesions to occur on or in the mouth during puberty.

Pregnancy
The increase of hormone levels during pregnancy can cause dental problems to be intensified. One of the most common dental problems associated with pregnancy is a condition known as pregnancy gingivitis, which usually occurs during the first trimester.
If you’re pregnant, your dentist needs to know about the first signs of gum disease symptoms. Pregnant women are at increased risk for periodontal disease because the increased levels of progesterone that come with pregnancy cause an exaggerated response to plaque bacteria. As a result, pregnant women are more likely to develop gingivitis even if they follow a consistent oral health care routine. Gingivitis is most common during months two to eight of pregnancy.
Symptoms of pregnancy gingivitis are usually bleeding, swollen, red and tender gums. Morning sickness can also contribute to dental problems because tooth erosion can occur from the acid that is caused by vomiting.

Menopause
Some women going through menopause experience a burning sensation in their mouth as well as red, swollen and tender gums. It's also not uncommon to experience dry mouth during this time. Some hormone medications taken during menopause can also contribute to dental problems.

Use of Oral Contraceptives
Since oral contraceptives contain estrogen and progesterone, they imitate pregnancy. With the body believing it’s pregnant, women taking birth control pills may experience gingivitis. Women who take birth control pills are also twice as likely to develop a dry socket, according to the Academy of General Dentistry.

What can you do?
■ Visit your dentist for regular check ups and cleanings.
■ Be sure that you inform your dentist of all medications that you are taking, as well as any of the life changes mentioned above.
■ Brush your teeth properly at least twice a day to remove plaque.
■ Floss your teeth daily. Flossing will remove food debris from in between the teeth that a toothbrush can't reach.
■ Use an antimicrobial mouth rinse. Antimicrobial mouth rinses can help prevent gingivitis.
■ Brush or scrape your tongue daily to help remove bacteria.
■ Eat nutritious meals and healthy snacks.
■ Talk with your doctor about possible side effects of any hormonal medications that you are taking.
■ Tell your dentist when you are pregnant — he or she may recommend more frequent dental cleanings during the second trimester or early in the third trimester to help combat the effects of increased progesterone and help you avoid gingivitis.

Understanding how these body changes affect your oral health can give you a head start against preventing dental problems before they occur.

Enjoy oral health!

Good Nutrition

Good nutrition means eating a wide variety of foods every day. A healthy diet gives you energy, supports your mood, maintains your weight, and keeps you looking your best. It can also be a huge support through the different stages in life. Healthy food can help reduce PMS, boost fertility, combat stress, make pregnancy and nursing easier, and ease symptoms of menopause.
Good nutrition starts with the basics: a well- rounded diet consisting of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and lean sources of protein. These kinds of foods provide women with plenty of energy, the means for lifelong weight control, and the key ingredients for looking and feeling great at any age.
A balanced diet is a cornerstone of health. Women, like men, should enjoy a variety of foods, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, low-fat dairy and lean protein. But women also have special nutrient needs, and, during each stage of a woman’s life, these needs change.

Healthy Eating for Women Nutrient-rich foods provide energy for women’s busy lives and help to prevent disease.

*Focus on whole, plant-based foods. Fill most of your plate with fruits and leafy green vegetables. Also include a variety of whole grains, beans, and legumes to give you filling fiber and keep you going throughout the day. Try to find minimally processed or locally grown foods whenever possible, and make these foods the mainstay of your diet.

*Bone up on calcium. Women are at a greater risk than men of developing osteoporosis, so it’s important to get plenty of calcium to support your bone health. While dairy products are high in calcium, their animal fat and protein can accelerate bone loss. So also consider plant-based sources of calcium like beans, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, and collard greens.

*Don’t eat too much protein. Protein is an essential part of any healthy diet, but eating too much animal-based protein—such as the levels recommended in many low-carb, high- protein diets—is particularly dangerous for women. Eating lots of protein causes calcium loss. Over time, this could lead to a decrease in bone density and osteoporosis.

*Make sure you get enough iron. Iron is one of the keys to good health and energy levels in women. Many women don’t get enough iron in their diet. On top of that, women lose a lot of this important mineral during menstruation. Boost your intake by eating iron-rich foods such as lean red meat, dark poultry, lentils, spinach, almonds, chicken, turkey, pork, fish, spinach, beans, lentils and iron-fortified breads and cereals. Plant based sources of iron are more easily absorbed by your body when eaten with vitamin C-rich foods.

*Vitamins, minerals and women.
Eating healthily during pregnancy is important to meet the nutritional needs of the developing baby and for the mother’s own wellbeing. However, this doesn’t mean ‘eating for two’ – it is the quality of the diet that is important, not the quantity of food eaten. Eating a variety of foods from each of the key food groups is generally enough to meet both mother and baby’s requirements. Special attention should be given to calcium, folic acid (folate), iron, zinc. Iodine and vitamin C.
Folic acid during the reproductive years are important. When women reach childbearing age, they need to eat enough folic acid to decrease risk of birth defects. The requirement is at least 400 micrograms of folic acid a day. Be sure to consume adequate amounts of folic acid daily from fortified foods or supplements, in addition to food forms of folate from a varied diet. Citrus fruits, leafy greens, beans and peas naturally contain folate. There are many folic acid fortified foods such as cereals, rice and breads.
Vitamin D increases calcium absorption and is required for normal bone metabolism. The main source of vitamin
D for most people is sunshine. Women who have very low levels of sunlight exposure or have naturally very dark skin are at risk of vitamin D deficiency. Those affected may include women who cover most of their body when outdoors, shift workers, those who cover most of their body when outdoors, shift workers, those who are unable to regularly get out of their house or women in residential care. Women who have certain medical conditions or are on some medications may also be affected. It is important to balance the need to maintain adequate vitamin D levels with the risk of skin cancer from too much sun exposure. A sensible balance of sun protection and exposure can ensure that women are not at risk of vitamin D deficiency. Good dietary sources of vitamin D are margarine, eggs and oily fish (such as mackerel and sardines).
Vitamin C is important for normal gum, tooth, bone and body tissue formation. One of the best sources of
Vitamin C is oranges, but it is also found in other fruits,
particularly papaya, strewberry and other citrus fruits, and a variety of vegetables.
Iodine is needed for normal mental development of the baby when pregnant, but it can be difficult to get enough from food. Ways of increasing iodine intake include using iodised salt, eating fish and seafood weekly (see your health professional for advice about safe types and amounts of fish), or using a multivitamin supplement that contains iodine and is safe for pregnancy.
Zinc is needed to maintain the health of cells. Taking iron supplements may interfere with the absorption of zinc, so women taking iron supplements should continue to eat iron rich foods, which are also a good source of zinc.

Foods to Limit
-To keep weight in check at any age, women should avoid a lot of excess calories from added sugars, fat and alcohol.
-Limit regular soft drinks, sugar-sweetened beverages, candy, baked goods and fried foods.
-Opt for low-fat dairy and meat products instead of their full-fat counterparts. Eat fewer foods that are high in saturated fat — the kind found in fatty meats, sausages, cheese and full-fat dairy products, baked goods and pizza.
-Cut back on caffeine. Caffeine consumption interferes with hormone levels and also increases the loss of calcium. Try to reduce caffeine consumption to one cup a day.

Eating disorders

All too often, society associates being "thin", with "hard-working, beautiful, strong and self-disciplined." On the other hand, being "fat" is associated with being "lazy, ugly, weak and lacking will-power." Because of these harsh critiques, rarely are women completely satisfied with their image. As a result, they often feel great anxiety and pressure to achieve and/or maintain an imaginary appearance. Eating disorders frequently develop during adolescence or early adulthood, but can occur during childhood or later in adulthood. Females are more likely than males to develop an eating disorder.

Eating disorders are serious medical problems. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge- eating disorder are all types of eating disorders.
Anorexia Nervosa is a disorder characterized by (a) the refusal to maintain body weight of at least 85% of normal expected weight; (b) intense fear of weight gain; (c) distorted body perception; and (d) amenorrhea (absence of menstrual cycle).
Many anorexics deny having a problem; however, some do recognize their eating disordered behavior, but do not know what to do to fix it.
Bulimia Nervosa is defined as
(a) recurrent episodes of binge eating experienced as out of control;
(b) regular purging, fasting, or excessive exercise to prevent weight gain;
(c) at least two episodes of binging and purging per week for at least three months; and
(d) persistent over-concern with weight and shape.
Binge-eating disorder is characterized by uncontrollable binge eating without compensatory behaviors.

Complications from eating disorders:
Complications from starvation and severe dieting:
Amenorrhea (absence of menstrual cycle)
Osteoporosis
Electrolyte imbalances, which lead to fatigue, diminished reflexes, kidney damage, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, death
Cognitive impairment (i.e. clouded or distorted perception or thinking, difficulty concentrating, difficulty comprehending)
Dangerously low heartbeat and blood pressure
Severe abdominal pain
Sustained starvation can even lead to death

Complications from purging methods:
Vomiting: electrolyte imbalance that can lead to cardiac arrest and death; abdominal cramping; anemia; dehydration; headaches; tooth decay; tears in esophagus; chronic sore throat; difficulty swallowing
Diuretic Abuse: electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, muscle weakness or cramping, headaches, fatigue
Laxative Abuse: electrolyte imbalance, constipation, dehydration, muscle weakness or cramping, headaches, fatigue

Complications from compulsive overeating:
Diabetes
Hypertension
Cardiac problems

Eating disorders are more than just a problem with food. Food is used to feel in control of other feelings that may seem overwhelming. For example, starving is a way for people with anorexia to feel more in control of their lives and to ease tension, anger, and anxiety. Purging and other behaviors to prevent weight gain are
ways for people with bulimia to feel more in control of their lives and to ease stress and anxiety.

Although there is no single known cause of eating disorders, several things may contribute to the development of these disorders:
Culture. In the United States extreme thinness is a social and cultural ideal, and women partially define
themselves by how physically attractive they are.
Personal characteristics. Feelings of helplessness, worthlessness, and poor self-image often accompany eating disorders.
Other emotional disorders. Other mental health problems, like depression or anxiety, occur along with eating disorders.
Stressful events or life changes. Things like starting a new school or job or being teased and traumatic events like rape can lead to the onset of eating disorders.
Biology. Studies are being done to look at genes, hormones, and chemicals in the brain that may have an effect on the development of, and recovery from eating disorders.
Families. Parents’ attitudes about appearance and diet can affect their kids' attitudes. Also, if your mother or sister has bulimia, you are more likely to have it.

Dieting
The earlier a woman starts to diet, the more prone she will be to health problems such as eating disorders and alcohol misuse, scientists have warned. Researchers noted the earlier a woman started to diet, the more likely they were to suffer long-term health consquences. One possible reason was 'there is already something different' about women who start dieting at an early age in terms of their social environment or genetic make-up.
Eating disorders are often driven by social, psychological and biological factors, said Professor Keel. She said discouraging weight loss diets in young girls may reduce risk for eating, alcohol and weight-related problems in adulthood.

Over-exercising
Too much of a good thing can be very bad for you. Just like eating disorders, societal pressures to be thin can also push women to exercise too much. Over-exercise is when someone engages in strenuous physical activity to the point that is unsafe and unhealthy. In fact, some studies indicate that young women who are compelled to exercise at excessive levels are at risk for developing eating disorders.
Eating disorders and over exercising go hand-in-hand — they both can be a result of an unhealthy obsession with your body. The most dangerous aspect of over- exercising is the ease with which it can go unrecognized. The condition can be easily hidden by an emphasis on fitness or a desire to be healthy. Like bulimia and anorexia, in which persons deny themselves adequate nutrition by restrictive eating behaviours, over exercising is a controlled behaviour that denies the body the energy and nutrition needed to maintain a healthy weight.
According to the American Journal of Sports Medicine, a host of physical consequences can result from over- exercising — pulled muscles, stress fractures, knee trauma, shin splints, strained hamstrings, and ripped tendons.
Remember, fitness should be done within limits and integrated into your lifestyle, done in moderation like everything else in life. If exercising is getting in the way of your daily activities or relationships, you may need to slow down.

Love your self; Love your body!