11 Most Common Myths About Male and Female Infertility

1. 'He doesn't have any fertility problems; he's already a dad.'
Contrary to popular belief, male fertility is finite. Similar to female fertility, male fertility decreases with age, particularly after age 40.

Researchers have found a direct link between paternal age and an increased risk of autism and schizophrenia. Men pass along as many as four times more genetic mutations compared with mothers. As a man ages, the concentration of mobile, healthy semen and semen volume overall will decrease.

2. 'All the women in my family had more babies in their 40s, so I am fine.'
Although family fertility history is taken into account during treatment, it can neither help nor hinder fertility potential. Previous successful pregnancies also do not signify a bump-free conception route.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11% of couples experience secondary infertility, which is defined as a couple with a child being unable to conceive again after a year. Once a woman hits 40, there is a less than 5% chance (PDF) she will get pregnant in any given month (compared with 20% at age 30).

3. 'I smoke, but I don't have to give it up until I'm pregnant.'

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The American Society for Reproductive Medicine estimates that up to 13% of female infertility diagnoses are due to smoking. Believe it or not, smoking as few as five cigarettes a day each has been associated with lower fertility rates in both men and women.

4. 'We have sex within 24 hours after ovulation.'

After ovulation has ended, becoming pregnant is impossible. Ovulation -- when an egg drops from the ovary into the fallopian tubes -- occurs once a month, roughly seven to 10 days before a woman's period. For pregnancy to occur, sperm must meet an egg during this one- to two-day time period.

To boost your odds, have sex before and during ovulation, as sperm can survive in the reproductive tract for three days. If a woman's monthly cycles are irregular, visit a specialist to discuss ovulation. Ovulatory disorders are the most common infertility diagnosis for women.

5. 'I don't have to worry about my eggs until I'm 40.'

At birth, a woman has 7 million eggs, which slims down to 400,000 at the onset of puberty. During a woman's lifetime, approximately 400 to 500 eggs will be released. As a woman ages, the ovarian reserve declines. A woman's egg supply takes a rapid decline in the late 20s, again in the 30s and then most notably after age 35.

6. 'I do yoga and exercise. I'm in great shape. Age won't affect my fertility.'
A healthy body and mind can boost fertility, but it cannot reverse the age of ovaries and semen. For both men and women, age is a critical component of fertility potential.

7. 'I know we could stand to lose weight, but ...'

When men or women carry extra weight, hormonal shifts occur in the body that can affect ovulation and semen production. The great news is that couples can team up to lose weight, become active together and boost their fertility.

Although it is estimated that 70% of women with infertility are also obese, losing as little as 5% to 10% of body weight can boost fertility in men and women.

8. 'Only women need to take supplements before a pregnancy.'
It has long been known that women should take folic acid to prevent certain birth defects, but folic acid is now known to be an important supplement in male fertility.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley found that men had a higher rate of chromosomal abnormalities in their sperm when their diet was low in folic acid. Coenzyme Q10 has also been found to increase sperm count and sperm motility, and vitamin E also improves low sperm count.

9. 'STDs affect my health, but they don't affect trying to have a baby.'

For both men and women, sexually transmitted diseases can affect the ability to have children. STDs can cause scarring and blockage of the male reproductive structures. If STDs go untreated in women, they can lead to an episode of pelvic inflammatory disease, which is a leading cause of infertility.

10. 'It doesn't matter how much coffee I drink.'

Believe it or not, that venti at Starbucks might be working against you. One study found that "women who consumed more than the equivalent of one cup of coffee per day were half as likely to become pregnant, per cycle, as women who drank less."

Caffeine can decrease fertility, so be sure to limit intake. It's better to opt for decaffeinated or half-caffeinated coffee, and remember there is caffeine in tea, colas and chocolate.

11. 'We have sex every single day so we can get pregnant faster.'

Having sex every day only slightly increases pregnancy when compared with having sex every other day, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine. If a man has a normal sperm count, sperm concentration does not decrease during daily sex.

Source: CNN

The Essentials of Drinking Green Tea

What is Green Tea? 

Green tea is a type of tea that is harvested and preserved very quickly. Black tea is allowed to oxidize after it is picked, but green tea is immediately heated up to prevent this oxidation process. You can see this oxidation process happen on an Apple that is been sliced (The brown of the apple). 

Green teas are usually processed using a type of source such as steam or dry heat. This process is completely different than the other key types. 

Green tea is extremely popular in Japan and parts of China. It is only become more popular within the last decade for its antioxidant and health benefits.   

What are the Benefits of Green Tea? 

There are some great reasons why Asian countries have been drinking green tea for thousands of years. Not only does green tea quench the thirst, but it also has many antioxidant properties which can ward off cancer as well as protect your cardiovascular system. 

1. Antioxidant Booster – Green tea is loaded full of antioxidants. Antioxidants are called this because they protect your body against the oxidizing process. They help you fight off disease and help slow down the aging process. The main types of antioxidants in green tea are called Catechins and polyphenols. These antioxidants stop the inflammatory response which is associated with damaged DNA, cancers, and other diseases. These antioxidants also help actors dilators to the blood vessels, which helps lower blood pressure and reduce the chance of clogging of your arteries. Green tea tends to have more antioxidants than other teas such as black tea. This is because green tea goes through very little processing which allows the antioxidants to remain intact.   

2. Heart Health – Green tea has a great ability to lower your blood cholesterol. It is also very beneficial at helping the body burn harmful forms of fat. Since these are two of the main contributors to heart disease, studies have shown that green tea can prevent heart disease from forming. The more green tea you drink in a day, the better the effects. Some Japanese studies have shown that if you drink at least 4 cups of green tea a day, it can lower your chance of developing heart disease by over 50%.   

3. Liver Health – Green tea is also a great detox or for the liver. In studies, green tea has been shown to protect the liver from toxic substances such as alcohol. Green tea can also protect the liver against inflammation. There are many other types of foods that help cleanse the liver, but green tea is a big player in the cleansing process.   

4. Digestive Aid – This next reason to drink tea hits closer to home. A point in my life I had extreme acid reflux and had gas pains often. I noticed when I drink green tea, these symptoms would subside significantly. After doing more research, I discovered that green tea is very well known at reducing intestinal gas and is also good at treating inflammation of other digestive disorders such as ulcers and other diseases such as Crohn’s disease. As stated earlier, it is also good at helping with acid reflux.  

5. Cancer Prevention – Asian countries that drink a lot of green tea tend to have significantly lower cancer risk than other countries that do not drink green tea. Studies have shown that green tea has great potential to fight off many forms of cancer. Green tea can lower your cancer risk anywhere from 20 to 50% depending on the type of cancer.   

6. Weight Loss – more studies need to be done on how effective green tea is on weight loss, but is thought that the Catechins that are found in the green tea create a thermogenic response in the human body. This helps the body burn calories at a faster rate. More green tea that is drank, the higher the body’s metabolic rate.   

7. Immune System Booster – Green tea acts as a general immune booster. Many of the chemicals in green tea have been used for thousands of years to reduce the symptoms of flu and colds. Evidence is also piling up about how green tea can slow the aging process by boosting the immune system. 

Now reading this isn't a mistake at all... Wouldn't be nice to see you drink a cup of green tea. However stay turned to our next blog on "How To Make Green Tea"

From me to you... Stay healthy, ciao!

-bosydeprincessa

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THE EBOLA VIRUS!

The Ebola virus  is a rare and deadly infection that causes bleeding inside and outside of the body. I am sure you have heard of it lately on the news and the media. Ebola strikes mainly in remote villages of Central and West Africa, but it has spread to some African cities, too. The disease, also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever or Ebola virus disease, kills up to 90% of people who are infected. Since the outbreak of the deadly strain of Zaire Ebola in Guinea in February, around 90 people have died as the disease has traveled to neighbouring Sierra Leone, Liberia and Mali. The outbreak has sent shock waves through communities who know little of the disease or how it is transmitted. The cases in Mali have added to fears that it is spreading through West Africa. There was a scare recently that the deadly virus has found its way in Ghana but health authorities in Ghana has debunked the rumour after testing a 12 year old girl who died of a viral fever and was rumoured to be Ebola Virus. Could People in the U.S. Ever Get Ebola? So far serious Ebola cases have only shown up in Africa. Ebola can spread from country to country when people travel. So it is possible for Ebola to reach the U.S. if someone who is infected travels here on a plane. But there are safety measures in place to prevent people from coming to U.S. airports with the disease. Airline crews are trained to spot the symptoms of Ebola in passengers flying from places where the virus is found. Crews are told to quarantine anyone who looks infected. 

How Do You Get Ebola?

You can get Ebola by coming into contact with the blood or body fluids of an animal or person who is infected such as handshakes, kissing and hugging of infected human and animals. People often get sick with Ebola when they care for or bury a person who has the disease. Someone also can catch the virus by touching contaminated needles or surfaces. 

What Are the Symptoms of Ebola? 

Symptoms of the Ebola virus show up 2 to 21 days after someone is infected. As the virus spreads through the body's cells, it damages the immune system and organs. Ultimately, Ebola causes levels of blood-clotting cells, called platelets, to fall, which can lead to severe bleeding. 

Many of the early symptoms of Ebola look like the flu or other mild illnesses. They include: Fever Headache Muscle aches Sore throat Weakness Diarrhea As the disease gets worse, people who are infected may develop: Bleeding inside and outside of the body Rash Trouble breathing.

How Can You Tell if Someone Has Ebola? 

Sometimes it's hard to tell if a person has Ebola from the symptoms alone. Doctors may first test for other diseases that have the same symptoms as Ebola, such as: Cholera Hepatitis Malaria Meningitis Typhoid feverTests of the blood and tissues, such as the ELISA test, also can help diagnose Ebola. If someone might have Ebola, they should be isolated from the public immediately to help prevent the spread of Ebola. 

How Is Ebola Treated? 

Right now there is no real treatment or cure for Ebola. Doctors try to manage people's symptoms by giving them: Fluids and electrolytes through a vein Nutrition Oxygen.

How Can You Prevent Ebola? 

There is no vaccine to prevent Ebola. People can avoid catching the disease by not traveling to areas where the virus is found, avoid bush meat, contact with bats, Health care workers can prevent infection by wearing masks, gloves, and goggles whenever they come into contact with people who may have Ebola. 

What Causes an Ebola outbreak? 

Usually an outbreak starts when someone comes into contact with the body fluids or waste of infected animals, such as monkeys, chimps, or fruit bats. Once a person is infected, he or she can then spread it to others. 

There are five different types of Ebola virus that cause the disease. Four of them are known to cause the disease in humans. The Ebola virus first appeared during two 1976 outbreaks in Africa. Ebola gets its name from the Ebola River, which is near one of the villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo where the disease first appeared.

However the best way to deal with the virus here before it get it's take in our country is to take the following precautions: 

1. Wash your hands frequently

2. Get hand sanitizers for people to use in your offices and homes. And let them know why.

3. Get one for your kids to use in schools and public places frequently, and if possible one for their class. Let them know why.

4. Be careful with hand railings, doors and other utilities used by the public.

5. Most importantly, this is the time to avoid bush meat of which you don't or are not sure of its source.

6. Lastly, watch out for people with flu like symptoms such as fever and malaria.

* please note it has no cure yet, so the best way to staying healthy is prevention. It sure make sense to share this information around. YOUR HEALTH IS YOUR WEALTH.

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10 Foods That Burns off Your Fat

List of 10 Foods That Burns off your excessive Fat: 

1. Oats : Its not only tastes great but also reduces your hunger. Oats contains fiber which helps and stabilizes the levels of cholesterol.

2. Eggs : Eggs are the rich sources of proteins and low in calories. Eggs helps us to build the muscles and develops the good cholesterol. Hope you didn't roll off your seat seeing my crazy artistic eggs...hehehe

3. Apples : Apples are enriched with powerful antioxidants and other supplements. Most importantly it contains Pectin which helps to reduce the fat cells in the body. 

4. Green Chillies : Green chillies contains Capsaicin which helps to develop the body growth cells and burns the calories in quick time.

5. Garlic : Garlic contains Allicin which has anti-bacterial properties helps us to reduce the fat and removes the bad cholesterol.

6. Honey : Honey is the best one to burn fat. Add honey in warm water and take it daily in the early morning.

7. Green Tea : Green Tea is the most effective one which helps you to lose weight. It contains Antioxidants which helps and stabilizes our body weight.Take daily 2 cups of tea for a better results.

Stay tuned for more info about the green tea... Indeed they are essential to help our immune system.

8. Wheat Grass : It boosts our metabolism and helps to reduce the fat.

9. Tomatoes : Tomatoes helps us to burn the fat in quick time. It also helps us to stay away from cancer. So Take tomatoes in your diet regularly.

10. Dark Chocolate : Dark chocolate contains Flavonoids, anti-inflammatory properties which helps to reduce the cholesterol levels in the blood. It boost the growth of serotonin in the blood and also burns the fat." Though I rarely take Choclate, reading this really has indeed added the needed knowledge to know what kinda of chocolate to eat and look out for....hehehe!

Hope you enjoy, feel free to Comment, share and Like!

-Bosyde 

Photo credit: Internet materials aside my own egg artistic customized...:)

10 Food Resolutions For THe Start of The Year

Food, like love, is best enjoyed when shared and that explains the concept of potluck. If you have never arranged a food party, 2014 is your year to bring on the yummy-ness.  

Here are a few tips to take note;

1. Thou shall go on a Kitchen Detox

Take a good look at your kitchen, wear a pair of cleaning gloves and start the detox. Get help to assist you in the process and clear out the cobwebs. Throw away (things) that have crossed the expiration date, or anything that smells like it has, check if you need more storage (we always do), and it’s best to discard anything with stubborn stains and cracks. Place some potpourri and allow good culinary chi to flow in.

2. Thou shall colour the menu

One of the best ways to eat healthy and nourish your love for food is by adding more colour. Paint your plate with red, yellow and green capsicum, beetroot, carrots, peas, beans, sprouts chillies…got the drift? The menu is your script and you own the vocabulary of the ingredients.

3. Thou shall host food parties

But if you can’t host one, attend one. Food, like love, is best enjoyed when shared and that explains the concept of potluck. If you have never arranged a food party, 2014 is your year to bring on the yummy-ness. You don’t even have to cook; just tell the ladies who lunch to get some food while your arrange your home like a picnic spot and prepare the drinks.

4. Thou shall choose smoothies over coffee

A coffee a day…erm, keeps sleepiness away!  That’s a bad rhyme, and too much coffee isn’t good for you. We won’t wax eloquent about its many demerits, especially when we have to focus on something as healthy and filling as smoothies. Smoothies and shakes make the best use of the season’s freshest fruits. Replace the sugar with honey, or jaggery, and drink away.

5. Thou shall be food social

Parties aside, we have the razzmatazz of Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter. Make sure you know who to follow to add to the repertoire of your menu. Of late, we have been a little more than obsessed with Rachel Khoo http://www.rachelkhoo.com/, and websites like Cooking Light and Oh My Veggies. Then, there’s iFood too!

6. Thou shall never judge food

Didn’t mamma tell you to not complain at the dining table? It’s impolite to look at the menu in a restaurant or a party and go on a calorie critique. At such a place, be as mindful of your words as you will be of your weight and health. We have vowed to maintain this decorum just to respect all things we eat and the people who put food on our plate.

7. Thou shall be calculative about restaurant numbers

Will you check out the hottest restaurant in town? Yes, ma’am! Will you try most things a la cart? Oh yes, ma’am! Will you pay attention to the bill? We need a triple ‘yes’ for this one. Most times we are unaware of the taxes and all the extras that we have to pay on our bill. It’s good to be aware so that we know whether we are getting our money’s worth.

8. Thou shall be Miss Cook Imperfect

It’s not so much about the recipe or the freshness of the ingredients, or even the correct measurements, per say. Because, cooking is all about you, you and you. Allow your eyes to feast on the colours and textures, take in the aromas and watch how the curry unravels itself. Make a commitment to enjoying cooking and not so much on sweating the small stuff or learning new recipes.

9. Thou shall watch out for the Sugar Patrol

They were right when they said to limit the intake of sugar, refined and processed foods. What you eat should make your skin glow, turn your hair lustrous and take your soul to a happy place. Why don’t you literally harvest your energies and plan a mini kitchen garden? It would be lovely to watch your plants and health grow.

10. Thou shall maintain a food calendar

While cooking is mostly spontaneous, a food calendar should be part of your support system. It just takes the pressure of last-minute distress, not having enough groceries and unannounced guests. A well stocked refrigerator is a good indicator of a happy home.

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