We’ve talked about flu vaccines, seasonal tips, and the mother of all anti-flu shots, but what about a population that isn’t supposed to get flu shots?

Babies under 6 months of age are not recommended to receive the vaccine, but a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has shined light on a nice loophole: get yourself vaccinated while your pregnant.

Inactivated influenza vaccine reduced proven influenza illness by 63% in infants up to 6 months of age and averted approximately a third of all febrile respiratory illnesses in mothers and young infants.

Yes, this not only protects you from the flu while pregnant (which protects your baby then too) but it also gives your child immunity for months after birth.

Tags: flu, pregnancy, vaccines

Many people are completely addicted to substance. Caffeine. Some can’t wake up without it. You might be surprised at some of the other things it does to you.

• Increases the rate of calorie burn for a few hours after consumption
• In high amounts, can adversely affect fertility
• It leeches calcium out of your bones (makes them weaker)
• Increases endurance and speed

Like most things you put into your body - moderation is key. Caffeine has mixed effects: some good, some bad. There are a few groups who shouldn’t partake of the Javajuice at all - namely small children and pregnant women will be given a variety of advice. Some doctors will tell you to limit your intake to less than 100mg/day (about 2 cups of tea) or skip it all together.

Enjoy your jolt in moderation. Try a new way to wake up. Maybe move your exercise to a brisk walk immediately after you wake. Maybe try some tea, which has half the caffeine, instead of coffee. Mix it up!

Tags: caffeine, coffee, Healthy Living, pregnancy, tea

It is important to take care of yourself while pregnant. You should eat healthily, exercise and get plenty of rest. You shouldn’t gorge yourself to a 100 pound weight gain. But, you shouldn’t swing the other way either.

There’s a growing trend of women who are so obsessed with their weight gain in pregnancy that they go too far and become what some are calling “pregorexics.” They exercise obsessively and nearly, or even truly, starve themselves in a bid to gain as little weight as possible.

Pregnancy is not the time to diet or push yourself so hard.

Dr. Holly Phillips said women cross the line into pregorexia “when they start to change their behaviors and really focus only on that number on the scale, only on their weight. That’s when it gets dangerous. … Everything you do during pregnancy, including your diet and exercise, should be for your health not for your weight.”

Excessive calorie restriction can cause a host of complications for your unborn child. Pregnancy is a time to nurture the growing baby. Take care of yourself and your unborn baby, expect to gain some weight and most of all just focus on being as healthy, overall, as you can.

Tags: baby, diet, Exercise, healthy eating, pregnancy, pregorexic, weight loss

For many people, the word dentist brings immediate thoughts of pain and discomfort. The poking, and the prodding, and the scraping…not to mention the drilling! But despite the irritations, the dentist can be nearly as good as a doctor for spotting warning signs for some of the biggest health problems facing men and women today.

Most people don’t realize how closely oral health is linked with a host of other issues.

Receding or inflamed gums, cavities, tooth loss, gingivitis, and other dental dilemmas in adults can indicate the presence of serious health problems — including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, vitamin deficiencies, and even the risk of having a premature or low-birth-weight baby

Problems in the mouth are intimately connected with other system in the body, especially circulatory. The mouth is an easy ‘in’ for bacteria that can complicate any major surgery and even pregnancy. Bottom line: suck it up and see your dentist regularly!

Tags: cancer, dentist, diabetes, oral health, pregnancy, surgery, teeth, vitamin deficiencies