Storks just love ice cream
What you eat, including ice cream, can help you get pregnant, shows a Harvard School of Public Health study. It found that a few changes in your diet can help you avoid inconsistent or absent ovulation, which causes infertility in 25 percent of couples, according to a report in the October issue of Shape.
In their upcoming book, “The Fertility Diet,” researchers Jorge Chavarro and Walter Willett list the following foods you should consume to increase your odds of getting pregnant:
* Foods with a lot of iron, such as veggie burgers, raisins or nuts, rather than meat sources. Iron helps egg development before ovulation. But the type of fat and protein in meat and poultry can negatively influence hormone levels and undo the beneficial effect of iron.
* Lentils rather than white beans. Lentils have twice as much folate, a B vitamin that may stimulate ovulation and reduce the risk of birth defects.
* Ice cream rather than low-fat yogurt. Two servings a day of full-fat dairy products contain fertility-boosting estrogen and progesterone. But be sure to go back to the low-fat version after you conceive to keep cholesterol levels in check.
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Young athletes need a break
Athletics are important for kids, but if they practice every day, they greatly increase their risk of injury.
Up to half of all injuries seen in pediatric sports medicine are related to overuse, says a recent report from the American Academy of Pediatrics. In the Oct. 2 issue of Woman’s Day, the academy offers this advice for young athletes:
* Take one or two days a week off from any organized sports.
* Slow down or stop training if you feel any pain or discomfort.
* Take breaks of a week or more every two to three months to let injuries heal and to work on conditioning and strength training. Besides helping to reduce injury risk, it lets kids have a psychological break to prevent burnout.
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Germs are out there, waiting
Some surfaces are clearly germier than others. In the October issue of Women’s Health, medical experts weigh in on the “ick” factor of common things:
* Doorknob of a public restroom — Cold viruses can live for three days on hard, inanimate surfaces, so open the door with a paper towel.
* Makeup counter samples — Those packaged for individual use are fine, but avoid the ones set out to share, which could harbor germs from cold sores (in lip gloss) to conjunctivitis (in mascara).
* Yoga mat at the gym — Shared mats could lead to athlete’s foot or plantar warts. Wipe them down with disinfectant before use or bring your own.
* A friend’s toothbrush — If you simply must share, first soak the bristles in a cup of mouthwash for three minutes to dissolve germs.
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Mom group crusades on HIV
Mothers2mothers is a group whose aim is to have a world without HIV-infected babies, and where mothers with HIV/AIDS live long, healthy lives.
Founded in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2001, the innovative outreach, education and support program offers comprehensive support for HIV-positive pregnant women and new moms. Equally important, the group helps prevent transmission of HIV from women to newborns by administering a single dose of medicine, which can cut transmission nearly in half.
For more information or to make a donation, go to the Web site m2m.org.
