Friday, October 30, 2009

Diagnosing Malnutrition

It is very important that malnutrition is detected as early as possible to prevent it from getting worse and to devise an appropriate nutritional treatment programme.

Medical Symptoms Of Malnutrition

Malnutrition is a medical condition, which arises due to low intake of nutrients into the body. It is even seen as the greatest epidemic in the developing countries as there are no adequate food supplies. However, very few people know that Malnutrition can occur by both undernutrition as well as overnutrition. Undernutrition takes place, when the body is deprived of essential nutrients due to lack of food, poor diet or malabsorption. On the other hand, over nutrition occurs, when the body is taking too many nutrients, resulting in an imbalance in nutrient level. Though there are many causes for its occurrence, its diagnosis is of prime importance. Given below are the symptoms of Malnutrition.

Prevention of Malnutrition

Prevention of malnutrition in children starts with an emphasis on prenatal nutrition and good prenatal care. Health care providers should emphasize the importance of breastfeeding in the first year of life. Promotion of breastfeeding is particularly crucial in developing countries where safe alternatives to human milk are unavailable. In addition to the promotion of breastfeeding, health care providers should counsel parents on the appropriate introduction of nutritious supplemental foods. Health care providers should continue to provide age-appropriate nutritional counseling at every opportunity.

* Children who have chronic malnutrition, especially those with intrauterine growth retardation and with onset at an early age, do not achieve their full growth potential or regain cognitive deficits. Although malnutrition is rare in the United States and other industrialized countries, over half of childhood mortality in developing countries is either directly or indirectly secondary to malnutrition.

Hunger and Malnutrition

Everyone feels hungry at times. Hunger is the body's signal that it needs food. Once we've eaten enough food to satisfy our bodies' needs, hunger goes away until our stomachs are empty again.

Malnutrition is not the same thing as hunger, although they often go together. People who are malnourished lack the nutrients needed for proper health and development. Someone can be malnourished for a long or short period of time, and the condition may be mild or severe. People who are malnourished are more likely to get sick and, in severe cases, may even die.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Aloe Vera Herbal Remedies

Aloe Vera is a species of aloe plant native to northern Africa. It is commonly used in Japan and Mexico as a popular ingredient in various beverages. In India and Pakistan it has traditionally been uses as a digestive aid. Western medicine has long used aloe Vera to treat skin cuts, burns and eczema, and some research suggests it may also help to treat bowel problems.
Aloe Vera-is a succulent plant, the many parts of which have been used as far back as ancient Egypt and Greece. Aloe has multi-purpose actions. Its content makes it a usually safe and effective external and internal treatment for a variety of ailments and conditions.

Breast Feeding

Breast feeding offers many benefits to your baby. Breast milk contains the right balance of nutrients to help your infant grow into a strong and healthy toddler. Some of the nutrients in breast milk also help protect your infant against some common childhood illnesses and infections. It may also help your health. Certain types of cancer may occur less often in mothers who have breastfed their babies.

Health Care Reform

Health care reform is a topic discussed everywhere in the United States, by any adult who has tried to access decent, affordable health care in the past decade. Understanding the roots of the dysfunction,and how it all relates to cost is an integral part of health care reform.