Postnatal depression is also known as postpartum depression, is a type of clinical depression that often affect women (less in men), which usually appears after childbirth. Postpartum depression occurs in women after they have carried a child.

Unlike the ‘baby blues syndrome’ scientists believe is lighter and shorter, symptoms of postnatal depression include sadness, fatigue, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, reduced libido, crying episodes, anxiety, and irritability. Although a number of risk factors have been identified, the causes of PPD are not well understood. Many women recover with a treatment consisting of a support group or counseling.

It is known that around two week after giving birth, about 14 percent of women experience postnatal depression. For this reason, scientists are hoping that they could develop a blood test in order to identify the possibility of a mother to experience the condition.

“Current screening policies rely on the opportunistic finding of postnatal depression cases using tools such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score, but such tests cannot identify women at risk, ahead of them developing the condition,” Grammatopoulos said.

“We think that we have made an important step forward in characterizing the prospective risks and are therefore paving the way for timely, appropriate medical treatment for women who are likely to develop postnatal depression,” expleained study researcher Dimitris Grammatopoulos, from the University of Warwick, in the United Kingdom.

The researchers say that postnatal depression is a really serious health problem. the postnatal depression could show signs of sadness even crying, reduced libido, eating and sleeping pattern changes, anxiety, and even irritability.

The postnatal depression certainly has negative effects for the children. The children will experience lack of attention from their mothers. Mothers who are depressed certainly will tend to avoid their children, this could provide negative impact on the child’s learning and could effect the child’s emotionally later in their lives.

The research, which was presented at the joint 15th International Congress of Endocrinology/14th European Congress of Endocrinology, was conducted two to eight weeks after the mothers gave birth to their children. There was a group of 200 women that was tested by the researchers. The scientists then compared the scores with the genetics.

From the research, scientists found that women who developed postnatal depression had a specific genetic variants that controls a pathway in the brain named the HPA axis. These are hormones that are activated in response to stress.

From the findings of the research that took place in Florence, Italy on May 5 to 9, 2012, it was also known that genetically, some women could be more reactive to environmental factors that could trigger depression. This is because postnatal depression is a specific subgroup of depression with a distinct genetic element.

“We believe that we have made a discovery with important clinical and social implications. If we can identify women likely to suffer from postnatal depression in advance so that they can be treated appropriately and at an early stage, we will have improved the lives not just of the parents, but also of their children,” Grammatopoulos said.

The researchers focused on high-fructose corn syrup, which is 6 times sweeter than sugar cane. Corn syrup is often added to processed foods such as soft drinks, spices, applesauce and baby food. Fructose, or fruit sugar, is a simple monosaccharide found in many plants, like in in honey, tree and vine fruits, flowers, berries and most root vegetables. All forms of fructose, including fruits and juices, are commonly added to foods and drinks for palatability, taste enhancement and improved browning of some foods, such as baked goods.

“Foods rich in fructose in the long run will change the brain’s ability to learn and remember information, but with added omega-3 fatty acids in the diet, it can help minimize the damage,” said Fernando Gomez-Pinilla from the University of California, Los Angele, according to Live Science.

The research was published in the Journal of Physiology. The study was conducted in rats, but researchers believe that rat brain chemistry is similar to humans that can be generalized to humans.

Before starting the experiment, rats in the experiment were taught to find a way out of a maze using a specific marker for the given path. The researchers then separated the rats into two groups. One group were given fructose and and the other were given fructose  and omega-3 fatty acids. After 6 weeks, the researchers tested the memory of rats in remembering the route of a maze.

“The rats who received omega-3 got out of the maze faster. Brains of rats that were not given omega-3 showed a decrease in synaptic activity of brain cells that interfere with signaling between brain cells, thereby interfering with the ability to think clearly and remembering the route which was learned six weeks before , “said Gomez-Pinilla.

Insulin resistance because fructose consumption may have changed the way cells store and use sugar into energy needed to process thoughts and emotions.

Sugar is the only fuel known how it is used by brain cells. If the brain cells can not use insulin properly, then how it works would be affected.

“Insulin is important in the body to control blood sugar, but may have different roles in the brain. Insulin appears to interfere with memory and learning. Our study suggests that fructose-rich foods damage the brain and body,” said Gomez-Pinilla.

This study also suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may help protect the brain from this damage. But researchers are not sure how this protective effect occurs at the molecular level in the brain.

To counteract the effects of sugar, the researchers recommend consuming 1 gram of omega-3 every day.

Previously it was also known that soda drinks may trigger stroke. It is also known from a research that two glasses of sweet drinks makes the heart vulnerable to attacks. So it is important to avoid these types of beverages for the sake of your health.

Well, according to experts, regular headaches actually comes from what you consume daily. So the best way to avoid the headache attack is to avoid foods that can trigger headaches. Here are four types of foods that can trigger headaches:

1. Cheese
Cheese contains high protein content. In the body, protein produces tyramine, a substance that causes headaches. When tyramine-rich foods are ingested in conjunction with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), tyramine is responsible for the so-called “cheese effect”. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors it self are a class of antidepressant drugs prescribed for the treatment of depression. They are particularly effective in treating atypical depression. So, make sure the type of cheese you eat and the amount of consumption that is not too much.

2. Chocolate
If you have allergies to cocoa then you may feel pain in you head, even if you only consume it in small amounts. Phenylethylamine and theobromine are two components in chocolate that may cause dilation of blood vessels so that the head pain may appear immediately after you consume it. phenylethylamine functions as a neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. While theobromine has a similar, but lesser, effect than caffeine in the human nervous system.

3. Coffee
Interestingly, coffee can work in two opposite ways. This drink can cure a headache, and can also be the main reason for a headache trigger. A mixture of caffeine and magnesium can cause a headache.

4. Junk food
The main components of junk food is mono sodium glutamate, which is one of the triggers of headaches. In addition, junk food takes extra time to digest. It makes blood flow go more quickly to the brain so that headache appears.

There are also some foods that could treat headaches. As reported before, it was known that ice cream can treat migraines. There are also five foods that can relieve migraines.

So overall, you will lose bone strength each year. This will further increased when the age reaches 45 years old.

In women, thinning is triggered by the fewer hormone estrogen produced. While in men, it is because of decreased testosterone.

According to health, the female hormone estrogen is actually served to protect against bone loss. Decrease in estrogen not only occurs in women who have entered menopause, but also in those who have irregular menstrual cycles because the ovaries does not work properly.

This bone loss is not only caused by physical inactivity and lack of vitamins for bones. Many other factors also cause osteoporosis in both men and women.

- Osteoporosis can also be genetically inherited. Consider whether your family has a history of it. If they have, fill in the prevention of bone nutrients.

- Your lifestyle also determines whether you will experience osteoporosis or not. In those who smoke they will experience bone loss faster than those who do not smoke. Likewise, alcohol can lower immunity level of bone.

- Do you still provide time to exercise? For those who regularly exercise, bone strength will be stronger because it is trained. Perform light exercise such as brisk walking, running, lifting weights. Such exercises also increases the body’s equilibrium.

- In addition to the above factors, diet may also lead to osteoporosis because it allows the lacking intake of calcium and vitamin D.

This is the conclusion of a study which has been published in the NutraIngredients Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. The study showed that chewing gum can damage short-term memory.

Researchers from Cardiff University in the UK asked 40 students to memorize a random sequence of letters – for example, P, V, B, C, D, G, T – while chewing gum.

A second group was then asked to do the same thing, but were instructed to chew naturally. In the third test, participants were asked to find missing letters in random order while chewing gum.

The study found that chewing gum in all situations cause short-term memory problems in all participants. The same findings occurred when chewing gum was replaced by biting fingers.

However, the researchers warned that chewing gum with a certain sense may be able to remove the negative impact of memory impairment.

There are actually many advantages of chewing gum. Another study found that chewing gum can help reduce your calorie intake throughout the day by snacking desires. This is corroborated by the findings of chewing gum to help patients who recovering from digestive disorders surgery to recover more quickly. You can even get slim by chewing gum.

But most people surely already know that vegetables are a source of fiber that is very important for human health. One of its benefits is to maintain the health of colon cancer. For that reason, do not hesitate to eat vegetables. For people who do not like to eat vegetables, they could trick it simply by changing their cooking style.

Here are some tips that are quoted from the Times of India so that you do not hesitate again every time you want to eat vegetables:

Add vegetables in your favorite dish
If you love lasagna, add spinach, broccoli, or carrots with zucchini slices and mix it into the pasta of the lasagna. Broccoli itself is known to be a super vegetable to prevent cancer. The hidden vegetables are not going to intimidate because its taste will be covered by the delicious mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Or, macaroni sauteed with asparagus, mushrooms, bell peppers with olive oil. Sprinkle the surface with a generous grated cheese. Hmmm … the vegetables will be more delicious when eaten.

Make a colorful salad
Put all the vegetables you like into the salad bowl. There are many vegetables that are compatible with a variety of lettuce, like romaine lettuce, salad bowl, or lettuce. Combine the vegetables, like onions, radishes, grated carrot, cucumber, cauliflower, or canned beans. Pour it with dressings like thousand island or french dressing. Delicious!

“Slip” vegetables in comfort food
When hungry during midnight, put greens or bok choy tuck into a bowl of boiled noodles. Or, when making a sandwich, do not forget to add lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers in it.

Vegetable + fruit  = fresh juice
Combine oranges, strawberries with green mustard and blend until it is smooth. Or blend broccoli with mango and add a little of lime juice. Fresh!

Roast the vegetables
Feel free to cultivate vegetables to be grilled vegetables. It can be baked, such as peppers, mushrooms, or zucchini. Brush the vegetables with olive oil first and give salt and pepper. Then, serve with mayonnaise and sauce.

So there is no need to avoid vegetables because it turns out that there many ways you can try to make vegetables more delicious. It was also known that consuming fruits and vegetables makes your skin beautiful.

Because of this problem, many fast food restaurants showed their innovations by creating drinks that are made from fruits. This type of drinks are claimed to be healthy and becomes a part of the five daily servings of fruit.

But, did you know that a glass of this ‘healthy’ drink in fact contains up to 12 spoons of sugar, more than the recommended daily intake of sugar which is 8 tablespoons a day.

However, a large glass of around 500 ml contains 200 calories and 49 grams of sugar. In the meantime, health experts advise that children should eat no more than 50 grams of sugar per day.

According to dietitian from the London’s Bupa Cromwell Hospital, Christina Merryfield, “A big glass of this beverage contains more sugar than a can of soda,” she said, according to The Sun.

“Drinks that contain high levels of sugar can cause tooth damage, erosion, and also causes weight gain. Water is an excellent choice, and milk is also the right choice, because it is full of calcium, vitamins, and minerals, ” she said.

Tam Fry from the UK National Obesity Forum said, “Healthy drinks that are created for kids with this much sugar content is very terrible. The danger is very high.”

Berry family, for example, could stop hunger but the fruit is also rich in antioxidants and vitamins. Some examples of the berry family that are often found on the market are blueberries, strawberry, and raspberries.

In addition, apples, pears and avocados can also be other options for hunger. Not only do they contain vitamin C, these fruits are also rich in fiber which are good for digestion.

Although the fruit looks healthy, but not all fruits are good to be consumed as snacks in a spare time. According to the Times of India, apparently there are some kind of fruits that is not good to be served as a snack.

A. Melon and Watermelon
Both melon and watermelon have very high sugar content. It is recorded that both reaches number 65 on the glycemic index. It’s good that you do not eat melon or watermelon in large numbers to avoid risk of diabetes.

2. Pineapple
Pineapple has a very high sugar content. However, this fruit also contains important nutrient, which is bromelain, an enzyme that is proven to reduce inflammation and swelling.

3. Mango and Papaya
Although not as sweet as pineapples, these fruits are better enjoyed once in a while. As the best option, bananas can replace the sense of fullness when eating mangoes and papayas. Although the banana has a high sugar content, but bananas are a good source of energy.

Basically, all fruits are good for the body. But, consuming too much can give a negative impact on health.

Before this story, we also have heard about the story of the world’s most obese child.

The parents, Cheng Lichao and Feng Xiaochun , are very concerned of Dan Dan’s condition, and do not know the cause of their baby’s excess weight. His over sized body is one of the cause why Dan Dan is not yet able to walk.

This toddler was taken a Children’s Hospital in Hunan Province. However, despite having visited various hospitals, the doctors could not explain the obesity of their second child.

Feng said, Dan, was born in a normal birth weight. “He began to grow rapidly at the age of one month,” she said, as reported by The Sun.

She added that Dan Dan’s weight, began to skyrocket since then. “When he was one year old, his body weight reached 15 kg, heavier than her sister who weighs 13 kilograms at the age of five years.

As a toddler, Dan, and has a big appetite. “Every meal he needs to eat a big bowl of rice and drink lots of water.”

There are some researches about obesity in children. One of them shows that women who gets pregnant during a diet, tends to have obese child.

According to researchers, the bustle and demands of a job makes a lot of people suffer the condition of social jetlag, which could contribute to cause sleep problems and even obesity.

It is obvious that obesity could lead to various health problems. In women, it was even known that obese women are more prone to blood clotting.

This condition is caused by a biological clock mismatch associated with bedtime and routine work.

“As a result, they experience difficulty to sleep. These people also tend to drink more alcohol and coffee,” said Till Roenneberg from the University of Munich in Germany.

Roenneberg  also explained how a social jet lag can have a negative impact on human health and can even lead to obesity. In a previous research it was also known that lack of sleep cause obesity.

According to him, every man has their own biological clock, and they can not set the clock as like a wrist watch. A biological clock itself is set by the sun, both light and dark to give time to sleep and do activities smoothly.

“In society, we tend to forget time when I we have to do work. Biological clock is a conflict with work hours,” Roenneberg said, according to the Daily Mail.

To find the scale of this problem, a research team led by Dr. Roenneberg collected database of sleep and waking behavior. The research was conducted for 10 years.

The results of the study published in the ‘Current Biology’ journal found that those who experience social jetlag are likely to be overweight.

In other words, to live by opposing the biological clock could be a supporting factor of the obesity epidemic that is happening right now. So it is important for people to perform the right biological clock for their health. Avoiding obesity gives many benefits for the human body. It is also known that students who loses weight gets higher scores at class.