That old adage, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” certainly applies to end-user entrepreneurs, that is, those people who face a problem, solve the problem, then market the solution.
Month: April 2012
Popcorn: A fertility superfood?
One of the best ways to boost fertility and have a healthy pregnancy is to make careful food choices. Nothing is more intimate than to swallow something and then digest it so that it becomes part of you. Yet most of us give little thought to what we eat. In today’s fast-paced lifestyle it’s critical that we also find tips that are practical so that people can incorporate healthy changes with less effort. That’s why when a good study comes along, I feel compelled to share it.
Recently, a study was presented at the American Chemical Society that revealed the potential health benefits of popcorn. Researchers found that popcorn contains more concentrated healthy antioxidants than fresh fruits and vegetables. Whole grains contain a group of chemicals called polyphenols which are able to capture free radicals and therefore protect your DNA and the proteins in your body from damage. More noteworthy, since these polyphenols are not soluble in water, they are more concentrated in dehydrated foods like uncooked popcorn so you get more of them with fewer calories. These are the same chemicals that make wine, tea, and chocolate of interest to health-conscious foodies.
What prompted researchers to investigate popcorn is that now that we know grains contain high concentrations of healthy chemicals and dietary fiber. In fact, popcorn is a completely unprocessed whole grain. As a result, one serving provides people with more than 70% of the minimal recommended daily intake. That’s more than most people in the U.S. get on a daily basis! So that’s another health benefit of this easy-to-find snack.
It is important to pay attention to how popcorn is prepared since that can be its downfall from the wellness promotion aspects. Using too much oil or covering it with the unhealthy fake butter—a.k.a. “movie theatre style”—are the worst ways to prepare a serving of popcorn. Air-popped popcorn is best since it is lowest in calories. Microwave popcorn often contains unhealthy trans fats as well as more calories. A healthy compromise is to cook popcorn on the stove in healthy canola/olive oil blend; about half the calories and the addition of some healthy omega-3 fats. Enjoy!
Robert Greene, M.D., FACOG, is a physician at the CNY Fertility Center in central New York and the author of Perfect Hormone Balance for Fertility, Perfect Hormone Balance for Pregnancy, and Happy Baby, Healthy Mom Pregnancy Journal. You can read Dr. Greene’s blog, The Greene Guide, and follow him on Twitter. This post was first published on Dr. Greene’s blog, and he kindly shared it with ConceiveOnline.com.
Last Ditch Effort to Pass Personhood Legislation Fails in Oklahoma
Legislation to define an unborn child to include “the offspring of human beings from the moment of conception until birth at every stage of biological development” never made it to a final vote in the Oklahoma House. SB1433, was approved by the Oklahoma Senate in February and later amended by a House committee, but Republican House leaders refused to bring the controversial bill to a vote late last week after an unprecedented number of amendments were filed on the bill in attempts to protect vital forms of reproductive care.
Early Menopause May Pose Mortality Risk
Menopause before age 47 significantly increased the risk of osteoporosis, fragility fractures, and premature mortality over the next 30 years, Swedish investigators reported.
In Stem Cell Suit Appeal, Arguments Over Technicalities
Opponents of federally funded human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research returned to a U.S. appeals court today to argue that such research should be banned, despite two earlier court decisions that it is legal. The discussion suggested that the three-judge panel’s decision may turn on a technical question: whether the court is obliged to defer to its own previous ruling.
National Infertility Awareness Week Kicks Off with the Diane Rehm Show
Today, on National Public Radio’s Diane Rehm Show, a panel of experts including Barbara Collura, Executive Director of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Awareness Association and Paul Gindoff, MD, Director of The Fertility & IVF Center at The GW Medical Faculty Associates, discussed patients’ experiences and ways of coping with infertility and a variety of approaches to treatment.
Infertility Linked to Childhood Leukemia
Children born to mothers who had trouble getting pregnant for more than a year or who were given fertility drugs to stimulate their ovaries may be more likely to develop leukaemia, new research suggests.
Health Tip: Recognize Common Symptoms of Menopause
Menopause — the point at which a woman’s menstrual cycle stops for good — usually occurs when the ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
The Global Culture of Infertility
by Iris Waichler, L.C.S.W.
Being in the midst of National Infertility Awareness Week I have been thinking a lot about the impact of infertility. I was just visiting a …
New Fertility Microscope Allows Parents to Watch Baby from Conception
A sophisticated new microscope makes it possible for fertility doctors to monitor the developing fertilized egg continuously for up to five days. It means any abnormal changes can be spotted and the egg discarded so only the best quality ones with the best chance of creating a healthy pregnancy are transferred to the womb.