Moms-to-be, take care of your health. Your immune system may influence baby’s brain

The state of a woman’s immune system during pregnancy may shape the connectivity of her child’s brain, suggests a study, emphasising the influence of maternal health on a child’s susceptibility to psychiatric disorders later in life. The findings showed that short and long-term brain functioning can be influenced by immune system activity during the third trimester of gestation. Infections, stress, illness, or allergies are commonly known to trigger immune responses. When the body’s immune system detects one of these factors, two proteins namely IL-6 and CRP are released as part…

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Beware, surgery and anaesthesia may affect your immediate memory

Turns out, surgery and anaesthesia can slightly affect the memory of patients. According to a new study, patients may score slightly lower on certain memory tests after having surgery and anaesthesia. In the study of 312 participants who had surgery and 652 participants who had not (with an average age in the 50s), surgery between tests was associated with a decline in immediate memory by one point out of a possible maximum test score of 30 points. Memory became abnormal in 77 out of 670 participants with initially normal memory…

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Sipping On Your Favourite Beverages With Plastic Straws? You Must Stop!

We all love to sip on our favourite beverages using a plastic straw. Be it a smoothie or a soft drink, an energy drink or a cold coffee – using a straw is a super convenient and fuss-free way of enjoying any cold drink. Many like to enjoy their drinks this way because using a straw reduces the exposure to sugary and carbonated drinks in the mouth, preventing acid erosion of the teeth out enamel. While it may be convenient to drink beverages using plastic straws, it might not be an eco-friendly option. Moreover,…

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Your grandmother was right: Mosquitoes remember human smells, but also swats

Your grandmother’s insistence that you receive more bug bites because you are ‘sweeter’ may not be that far-fetched as a study claims that mosquitoes can rapidly learn and remember the smells of hosts. Researchers at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the US said dopamine is a key mediator of this process. Mosquitoes use this information and incorporate it with other stimuli to develop preferences for a particular vertebrate host species, and, within that population, certain individuals, they said. However, the study also proved that even if an individual…

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Ladies, hormones are not the only reason you crave chocolate during your periods

Many women would know the intense feeling of craving chocolate during those monthly days when the disaster of nature strikes. All you could think of is chocolate, pampering, and conditioning. The little indulgence in the form of chocolate helps keep your mind off of stomach cramps and breakouts. Not many women are aware why they specifically crave chocolate during their Bloody-Mary days. According to The Independent, many people believe that it all bottles down to hormonal imbalances during your period. As progesterone and estrogen levels drop at the beginning of…

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Take these 6 easy fitness resolutions to make 2018 your healthiest year

A few basic lifestyle changes can bring a long-lasting desired difference for a healthier and happier you, suggest experts. Saumya Satakshi, Senior Wellness Consultant, Healthians, shared the following tips: * Eat a rainbow everyday: Opt for colours. Make sure you eat your greens, reds, whites, purples, and oranges because these coloured fruits and vegetables contain key chemicals. These help us to fight off diseases and strengthen the immune system and keep us in good shape. * Go vegetarian once a week: Going vegetarian for one day a week for dietary…

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