Health & Beauty

Pickled Cauliflower

Serve this unique cauliflower side dish with seafood or with Indian entrees.

Ingredients

Cook:45 Min (cooking time)Preparation

1. Combine the water and vinegar in a saucepan. Stir in the cauliflower. Stir in the turmeric, pepper flakes, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until cauliflower is tender, about 12 minutes.
2. Transfer the cauliflower and its liquid to a stainless steel bowl. Place the bowl in a larger bowl of ice water and allow to cool.

Nutritional Analysis

Technorati Profile

Headaches

Types of headaches

The most common types of headaches usually are not serious but may occur again and again.

• Tension headaches are the most common type of headache and are often caused by stress and emotional strain. Most adults have tension headaches from time to time. See an illustration of possible areas of pain from a tension headache.
• Cluster headaches
• Migraine headaches. Approximately one-third of people who have migraine headaches first began having them as teenagers.

Common causes of headaches

Common causes of headaches include:

• Alcohol, caffeine, or other drug use or withdrawal.
• Changes in the levels of chemicals in the body (neurotransmitters).
• Coughing or sneezing.
• Dehydration.
• Dental problems or procedures, such as pain from grinding the teeth or from a root canal.
• Eating or drinking cold foods and fluids.
• Emotional stress.
• Exposure to smoke or fumes from chemicals, including carbon monoxide.
• Eyestrain.
• Fever.
• High altitude. Lower oxygen levels at high altitudes can cause headaches.
• Medical procedures, such as the aftereffects of a lumbar puncture (spinal tap).
• Medications. Many medications can cause headaches.
• Muscle strain in the neck, upper back, or shoulder muscles.
• Upper respiratory infections.

Hormonal Birth Control Methods

How It Works

Combination (estrogen and progestin) hormonal methods—pills, skin patch, or vaginal ring—help to prevent pregnancy by preventing eggs from being released from the ovaries (a process called ovulation). These methods also thicken cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering the uterus.

Birth control pills

Birth control pills come in packs, each containing 3 weeks of hormone pills. The 28-day packs include a 4th week of no-hormone sugar pills. The 21-day packs do not—after finishing a pack, you take 7 days off, which is when you have your menstrual period. After the 7 days off, you start a new 3-week pack.

Seasonale contains 12 weeks (84 days) of hormone pills followed by 7 days of no-hormone pills. You have your menstrual period while taking the no-hormone pills, which is every 3 months. This dosing schedule changes your menstrual cycle to only 4 periods per year.

The Yasmin birth control pill contains a new progestin that reduces water retention (bloating) during the menstrual cycle. For this reason, Yasmin cannot be used by women who have kidney, liver, or adrenal gland disease.

Contraceptive skin patch

The transdermal patch is an adhesive patch [about 1.75 in. (4.4 cm)] that is prescribed by your health professional. You can wear it on your lower abdomen, buttocks, or upper arm. Each patch releases estrogen and progestin through your skin for 7 days. Over a 4-week period, you use 1 patch per week for 3 weeks, then no patch for 1 week. During this week, you have your menstrual period.

For more information, see how to use the patch.

Patch warnings. The patch delivers more estrogen than low-dose birth control pills do. In general, more estrogen raises the chance of blood clots in the legs and lungs, heart attack, and stroke. It is not yet known whether women who use the patch are more likely to have these serious problems.

Direct sunlight or high heat can increase, then lower, the amount of hormone released from a patch. This can give you a big dose at the time and leave less hormone for the patch to release later in the week. This increases your risk of pregnancy. Avoid direct sunlight on the hormone patch. Also avoid using a tanning bed, heating pad, electric blanket, hot tub, or sauna while you are using a hormone patch.

Contraceptive vaginal ring (CVR)

The vaginal ring is small [about 2 in. (5.1 cm) in diameter], flexible, and colorless. It releases a continuous low dose of hormones into the vagina to prevent pregnancy for that month.

You insert the vaginal ring at home and leave it in place for 3 weeks. This gives you continuous birth control for the month. On the first day of the fourth week, you remove the ring and you have a menstrual period. The exact position of the ring in the vagina is not critical for it to work because the ring is not a barrier contraceptive and therefore cannot be incorrectly inserted.

Pregnancy and exercise

Pregnancy seems like a perfect time to sit back and relax. You may feel more tired than usual, your back may ache, and your ankles may be swollen. But unless you’re experiencing serious complications, sitting around won’t help. In fact, pregnancy can be a great time to get active — even if you haven’t exercised in a while.

Exercise can help ease or even prevent discomfort, boost your energy level and improve your overall health. Exercise also helps you prepare for labor by increasing your stamina and muscle strength. Being in good shape may even shorten your labor and speed your recovery.

Getting the OK

Before you begin an exercise program, make sure you have your health care provider’s OK. Although exercise during pregnancy is generally good for both mother and baby, you’ll need to proceed with caution if you have a history of preterm labor or various medical conditions, including:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Placenta previa, a problem with the placenta that can cause excessive bleeding before or during delivery

Pacing it for pregnancy

For most pregnant women, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most, if not all, days of the week. But even shorter or less frequent workouts can help you stay in shape and prepare for labor.

Walking is a great exercise for beginners. It provides moderate aerobic conditioning with minimal stress on your joints. Other good choices include swimming and cycling on a stationary bike. Avoid contact sports, scuba diving, exercises that require you to lie flat on your back, and activities that may lead to falls or abdominal injuries.

If you exercised before pregnancy, you can probably continue to work out at the same level while you’re pregnant — as long as you’re feeling comfortable and your health care provider says it’s OK. If you haven’t exercised for a while, begin with as little as five minutes of physical activity a day. Build up to 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and so on, until you reach at least 30 minutes a day.

Remember to stretch before and after each workout. Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, and be careful to avoid overheating. No matter how dedicated you are to being in shape, don’t exercise to the point of exhaustion.

How Does Pregnancy Affect My Oral Health?

How does a build-up of plaque affect me?

If the plaque isn’t removed, it can cause gingivitis-red, swollen, tender gums that are more likely to bleed. So-called “pregnancy gingivitis” affects most pregnant women to some degree, and generally begins to surface in the second trimester. If you already have gingivitis, the condition is likely to worsen during pregnancy. If untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontal disease, a more serious form of gum disease.

Pregnant women are also at risk for developing pregnancy tumors, inflammatory, benign growths that develop when swollen gums become irritated. Normally, the tumors are left alone and will usually shrink on their own. But if a tumor is uncomfortable and interferes with chewing, brushing or other oral hygiene procedures, the dentist may decide to remove it.

How can I prevent these problems?

You can prevent gingivitis by keeping your teeth clean, especially near the gumline. You should brush with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day and after each meal when possible. You should also floss thoroughly each day. If toothbrushing causes morning sickness, rinse your mouth with water or with anti-plaque and fluoride mouthwashes. Good nutrition-particularly plenty of vitamin C and B12-help keep the oral cavity healthy and strong. More frequent cleanings from the dentist will help control plaque and prevent gingivitis. Controlling plaque also will reduce gum irritation and decrease the likelihood of pregnancy tumors.

When should I see my dentist?

If you’re planning to become pregnant or suspect you’re pregnant, you should see a dentist right away. Otherwise, you should schedule a check-up in your first trimester for a cleaning. Your dentist will assess your oral condition and map out a dental plan for the rest of your pregnancy. A visit to the dentist also is recommended in the second trimester for a cleaning, to monitor changes and to gauge the effectiveness of your oral hygiene. Depending on the patient, another appointment may be scheduled early in the third trimester, but these appointments should be kept as brief as possible.