Understanding and Managing Colic Effectively

You have just brought your new born baby home and you can’t stop admiring the tiny human being that you have given birth to. But just then your baby lets out a shrill ear shattering wail and whatever you do just does not seem to comfort your little one. His clenched fists and red face makes you wonder what you did wrong. Your baby may just be showing the signs of a condition called colic.

Colic in babies basically refers to an otherwise healthy baby crying inconsolably for long stretches of time. Symptoms of colic may include frequent spitting up, poor eating and irritability during and after feeds.

While the exact cause of colic is still unknown, some theories include:

The immature digestive system of an infant makes it more susceptible to some of the substances in breast or formula milk.

In the case of breastfed babies, colic may be a reaction to specific foods in the mother’s diet.
    Excessive air in the baby’s gastrointestinal tract

Some studies also indicate a imbalance in the gut micro-organisms to be a probable cause of colic. It has been seen that babies with colic had lower counts of good bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacilli as compared to healthy babies.

Addressing colic in infants is not only important for the babies overall health in both short and long term but also to reduce its adverse effects on maternal mental health and the family quality of life.

Tips to Improve Digestion in Infants

A baby is born with an immature gut which may lead to digestive discomfort in otherwise healthy infants. The initial days of an infant are crucial for the development of a healthy and well-functioning digestive tract. A healthy gut microbiota contains a balance of many classes of bacteria that have health promoting functions. An imbalance in gut flora has been found to be associated with asthma and allergy, infantile colic and gastrointestinal disorders, infections, inflammatory bowel disorders and obesity.

Studies indicate that external stimuli such as nutrition and environment play an important role in the development of the infants gastrointestinal (GI) system. As colic is a problem associated with the baby’s gut and that a low amount of good bacteria could be a probable cause for development of colic in the baby, it would be beneficial if ways to increase the count of these beneficial micro-organisms are looked at. As is widely known, human breast milk is the best form of nutrition for infants. It contains two important factors that helps shape the baby’s gut micro-organism in terms of diversity and stability. It acts as an important source of beneficial bacteria and contributes to the establishment of a well-balanced gut flora in a baby. With this, it is also a rich source of oligosaccharides, the third largest component of breast milk after carbohydrates and fat .These oligosaccharides have a prebiotic effect on infant gut health, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria like bifidobacteria and lactobacilli which may help in reduction of colic in babies.

Prebiotics are basically non digestible carbohydrates that travel to the colon intact and have the ability to selectively stimulate the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria in the colon.

Some other Benefits of Prebiotics are:

    Decreases incidence of falling sick.
    Promotes softer stools.
    Reduces incidence of allergic symptoms like skin allergies.

With little or no role of medication for colic, studies indicate that use of certain probiotic strains, prebiotic oligosaccharides in babies along with a low allergen diet (no consumption of milk and dairy products, etc.) by the mothers in case she is breast feeding may bring relief from colic for the baby. Calming measures like soothing motions, more frequent burping during feeds, offering pacifiers, swaddling, limiting stimulation, carrying baby around in a carrier, massaging the baby’s back or belly, cuddling or holding the baby close and playing music can help soothe the baby.

It is always advisable to check with your health care professional regarding the requirement of any dietary changes for a breastfeeding mother and also rule out any underlying medical condition that is triggering the crying. Also, in cases where breast feeding is not possible, check with your doctor to know alternate ways to manage colic in babies.

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5 science-backed tips to improve your gut health

Numerous gut bacteria live inside your body that plays a pivotal role in ensuring your overall well-being. A couple of years after birth, gut bacteria starts to develop inside your body. Some of these bacteria are healthy for your body while others can cause damage. The common function of these bacteria is helping you digest food, battle diabetes and obesity. This is because your gut bacteria affect your body’s metabolism and excess gut bacteria inside your body can lead to the build-up of fat around your liver. When your liver gets surrounded with fat it paves the way for cardiovascular ailments, type 2 diabetes and obesity. To ensure a healthy gut, eating probiotic foods can be a good option. According to a study, people living with anxiety symptoms can get relief by opting for probiotic foods. Here, we tell you some of the science-backed tips that can help you manage your gut health.

1) Avoid artificial sweeteners: Artificial sweeteners are widely used alternate for sugar. In a study, it was found that artificial sweeteners lead to changes in the microbiota and surged the blood sugar levels of the participants.

2) Opt for fermented foods:The process of preparing a fermented food include the involvement of bacteria or yeast that converts the sugar in foods to organic acids or alcohol. These foods are known to be rich in lactobacilli, a type of bacteria that can work wonders for our gut health. The common fermented food that you can include in your dietary is yogurt.

3) Eat high-fibre foods: High-fibre foods are difficult to digest, but certain bacteria in your gut can easily break down these foods that stimulates their growth. The prominent source of high-fibre food is whole grain.

4) Drink green tea: Green tea is rich in polyphenol content which is a plant compound that curbs your blood pressure, inflammation and cholesterol levels.

5) Following plant-based diet:Plant-based diet are good for your overall well-being, you can also improve your gut health by regularly eating plant-based foods. In a study, it was found that a vegetarian diet helped in reducing disease-causing bacteria in those who were overweight.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/    

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A cup of yogurt a day... . is a way of keeping the doctor away.

A cup of yogurt a day... . is a way of keeping the doctor away.

Research proves that yogurt is not just a food accompaniment, a dessert or merely a diet food. There is growing Evidence to show that it is packed with microscopic warriors -

Beneficial bacteria that are essential for good health. It is also a nutritional goldmine.

A cup of yogurt (250 mg) contains 370 mg of calcium (compare that with 300 mg in 250 ml of milk). This is 30-40 per cent of most adults' daily needs.

Besides, at eight grams of protein per cup, yogurt meets 20-25 per cent of an adult's average daily needs. It is also a good source of Vitamin B (including folacin) and phosphorus. And, a cup of yogurt contains 250 mg of potassium - almost as much as a banana does.

If you want to have your own stockpile of B vitamins without having to buy them, eat yogurt.
By a strange chemistry, it sets up an efficient  little factory in the intestinal tract and manufactures B vitamins for you.

Besides, yogurt also provides lactic acid, which aids protein, calcium and iron assimilation.

For those on a low-calorie diet, yogurt is a boon in any case. "Easily  available anywhere, it is a snack that tastes great at any time of the day; it is low in calories and can be sufficiently filling when combined  with a high-fibre vegetable or fruit.

The benefits of yogurt go beyond its nutritional value and low-calorie appeal.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, in an article published in 2000, says, "Increased yogurt consumption may enhance the immune response, which would in turn increase resistance to immune-related diseases."

In addition, yogurt plays an important role in restoring the digestive  tract to its normal condition after a course of antibiotics.

"The drugs often wipe out every bacterium in their path, good and bad,  altering the natural balance of the digestive tract.

When harmful bacteria dominate the intestine, essential nutrients are not produced and the levels of damaging substances like carcinogens and toxins rise. By killing the harmful `bugs',
Yogurt helps maintain a healthy balance of intestinal bacteria,"

Doctors and practitioners of alternative medicine often recommend yogurt to patients recovering from diarrhea, and help ease other intestinal tract ailments.

Elixir for women Women stand to benefit immensely from yogurt. For instance, women are often prone to vaginal candidosis, which causes itching and possibly a thick, white discharge.
The risk of this infection increases during pregnancy, diabetes or when a woman is on birth control pills. Eating yogurt that contains natural bacteria and yeasts helps re-establish the
Equilibrium.

A study conducted by E. Hilton et al (Annals of Internal Medicine) in 1992 found that yoghurt consumption decreased vaginal infections  three-fold. "A particular feature of vaginal infection is the reduction  or absence of lactobacilli in the vaginal flora. Yogurt is full of lactobacilli, hence the logic in its use.

Then of course, there is osteoporosis, especially in women. Studies have shown that most people consume far less calcium than the recommended daily levels, which could cause osteoporosis. While there are many calcium supplements that are not readily or effectively absorbed, yogurt provides an excellent source of easily absorbed calcium.

That's not all. Daily consumption of yogurt also helps improve  complexion, making it more radiant.

A word of caution, though. The fruited varieties of yogurt are high in  calories, even though it has a low-fat profile. "The jams and fruit concoctions added for flavour can dump in as much as seven teaspoons of sugar per cup and more than double the calories. So go easy on these, particularly when calories are a concern. If you want a fruit flavour but do not want to lose out on calcium or gain calories, mix chopped fruit with yogurt. You'll get all the calcium, and also the extra vitamins and fiber from the fruit.

However, to be effective, yogurt must contain sufficient amount of `live' lactic cultures, meaning it must be `fresh'.

Make it at home,  Or, when buying it, look for packing as close to the date of manufacture as possible to get maximum beneficial bacteria.  "Always keep it cold, as the helpful bacteria in yogurt cannot withstand high temperatures."