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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Research unveils how dietary interventions can significantly enhance cancer treatment

Diet is already a key part of managing diseases like diabetes and hypertension, but new research adds to a growing body of evidence that it could help cancer treatment too. The study found restricting intake of an amino acid found in red meat and eggs significantly enhanced cancer treatment in mice, slowing tumour growth.

"These are very strong effects, and they are effects that are as strong as we would see with drugs that work," said the lead researcher.

"What this study is showing is that there are many situations where a drug by itself doesn't work, but if you combine the drug with the diet, it works. Or the radiation therapy doesn't work well, but if you combine... with the diet, it works well," he told.

The study focused on restricting intake of the amino acid methionine, which is key to a process called one-carbon metabolism that helps cancer cells grow. Methionine restriction has already been associated with both anti-aging and weight loss, but its importance to cancerous cells suggested it could also be a promising way to enhance cancer treatment.

The researchers first tested methionine restriction in healthy mice to confirm it was having the desired effects on metabolism and then moved to testing it in mice with colorectal cancer and soft tissue tumours known as sarcomas.

They found that a low dose of chemotherapy, which on its own had no effect on colorectal cancer, led to "marked inhibition of tumour growth" when combined with methionine restriction. Similarly, combining methionine restriction with radiation therapy in the case of the soft tissue sarcoma reduced tumour growth.

"You're starving the cancer cells of certain nutrients, at a very basic level," explained the researcher. He cautioned that the results should not be extrapolated beyond the cancers tested so far, and that the research was far from being tested in humans.

"This is certainly not a be-all, end-all to cancer. This is not some panacea," he said. Independent experts also warned against reading too much into the study just yet.

"Before drawing any conclusions about the potential for dietary restriction as an approach to treating cancer, human studies are needed," said  a professor of Cancer Epidemiology.

The researchers extended the research by testing a methionine-restricted diet in six healthy humans, and found that the effect on human metabolism appeared similar to that seen in mice. That suggests that the diet could have a similar effect on certain tumours in humans, though he warned it was far too early to draw any definitive conclusions.

And a professor emeritus of nutrition and dietetics, warned that "there is no evidence from this study to suggest following a vegan diet will help patients with cancer." The Prof. said he hoped to eventually test the research in humans with cancer, but noted that nutrition research often struggles for funding because it proposes treatments that are not obviously profitable.

Still, he said the work adds to a body of research that suggests diet may play an important role in cancer treatment. Last year, a study showed one type of chemotherapy drug was more effective in combination with a diet low in sugar and high in protein and fat. Other cancers appear to be better combated in combination with low-sugar diets alone.

"Research like this can lead to studies in people," said a professor of cancer medicine and oncology. "How dietary interventions influence cancer... is likely to be really important in years to come."

The researcher agreed, calling the field a "really exciting area right now... where we're seeing that diet has a huge effect on human health." He hopes for a future where doctors will eventually be able to advise cancer patients to follow specific diets to assist their treatment. "We're not there yet, but the goal is to eventually get there."

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/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                      FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                    

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Onions could improve blood sugar control and lower cholesterol

People with diabetes need to keep their blood sugar levels under control. Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, left untreated, can both be life-threatening, according to the doctors. Diet plays a key role when it comes to managing your diabetes. A healthy diet rich in nutrients and low in fat and calories can help avoid complications associated with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Foods like onions are a great addition to your diabetic diet as they can help reduce blood sugar levels.

Part of the Allium genus of flowering plants, including garlic, leeks, and chives, onions are one of the healthiest vegetables that are widely cultivated across the globe. They are low in calories yet loaded with vitamins, minerals, and potent antioxidants that can help lower your risk of several health conditions, including cancer, heart disease, obesity, etc.

How onions help manage blood sugar in diabetes

According to a research, onion bulb extract could lower high blood glucose (hyperglycemia) and cholesterol levels in diabetic rats, indicating that the vegetable can be an ideal choice for people with diabetes. Some evidence suggests that certain chemicals in onions may also help control blood sugar.
Onions contain high amounts of fibre, iron, potassium, vitamin C, and various essential micronutrients that promote health in a number of ways. Quercetin, a flavonoid antioxidant that’s highly concentrated in onions, has been shown to reduce symptoms of diabetes. Further, one study  suggested that consumption of fresh onions may reduce blood glucose levels among type 1 and type 2 diabetics. 


So, adding onions to your daily diet may be an excellent food choice to maintain blood sugar control. You can use them as the main ingredient, condiment and garnish, onions add a savoury flavour to a variety of dishes.

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/       
                                                                                                                                                                      FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/           
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