I get a lot of questions about dietary supplements, so I thought it might be helpful to talk about what you need, and may not need, in the way of extra vitamins and minerals.

When I was having my three daughters, I received a prescription for prenatal supplements as soon as the pregnancy tests were positive. And, while they were a source of some minor discomfort, I took those huge pills every day without hesitation. I knew they had plenty of benefits, for me, and for my baby.

But when I started researching my latest book, Expect the Best, Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During, & After Pregnancy, I found that, despite the seemingly automatic prescription of prenatal supplements by obstetricians, there is no agreement from any government health agency that the majority of pregnant women actually need them.

That was news to me!

Don’t get me wrong - I am a big fan of multivitamins because they fill in small nutrient gaps in your diet. Iron, and the B vitamin folic acid, which helps to prevent birth defects, often when a woman does not realize she’s pregnant, are two nutrients supplied by multivitamins that can head off a whole lot of problems during pregnancy. (Women who have had a pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect should speak with their doctor before conception for prescription level doses of folic acid to prevent a recurrence.)

Because of the emphasis on prescription (and over-the-counter) prenatal supplements, it may come as a surprise to find out that you will probably get all the nutrients you need before, during, and after pregnancy by taking a multivitamin that provides about 100% of the Daily Value for a wide variety of vitamins and minerals (including folic acid and iron) combined with a balanced diet with adequate calories for your activity level.

Even so, some women, benefit from a prescription prenatal pill, because they require additional nutrients they may not get through food. They include women:

• carrying more than one baby
• whose diet was poor at the outset of pregnancy or for months before conception
• whose diet is poor at any point during pregnancy

Always tell your health care provider about all the dietary supplements, including herbs and herbal teas, that you’re consuming, especially when you’re pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or nursing. You don’t want to overdo it, or take too little, and you may be taking something that’s not been proven safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding.

If it makes you feel like your doing the best thing for you and your baby, go ahead and take a prescription prenatal pill, but know that for most women, it’s probably not necessary to take such a big pill.
If you’re not taking the prenatal pills that have been prescribed for you for any reason, be sure to let your provider know. You may be able to switch to a smaller pill, a regular multivitamin, or a chewable vitamin with iron. Large doses of supplemental iron may cause constipation, so follow a high-fiber diet and get plenty of fluid. If dietary supplements make you queasy, take them at night or after meals, or cut them in half and split up the dosage during the day.

Do you have a nutrition question? Visit www.expectthebestpregnancy.com and I will answer it.

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and
parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.{amen!!!]
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey
is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never
blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up
to you and no one else
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d
grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come…
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.”

There’s Hope”

Back when I had a little
I thought that I needed a lot
A little was over rated,
but a lot was a little too complicated
You see-Zero didn’t satisfy me
A million didn’t make me happy
That’s when I learned a lesson
That it’s all about your perception
Hey-are you a pauper or a superstar
So you act, so you feel, so you are
It ain’t about the size of your car
It’s about the size of the faith in your heart

There’s hope
It doesn’t cost a thing to smile
You don’t have to pay to laughYou better thank God for that

There’s hope

Off in the back country of Brazil
I met a young brother that made me feel
That I could accomplish anything.
You see just like me he wanted to sing
He had no windows and no doors
He lived a simple life and was extremely poor
On top of all of that he had no eye sight,
but that didn’t keep him from seein’ the light
He said, what’s it like in the USA,
and all I did was complain
He said-livin’ here is paradise
He taught me paradise is in your mind
You know that

Every time I turn on the T.V. (There’s Hope)
Somebody’s acting crazy (There’s Hope)
If you let it, it will drive you crazy (There’s Hope)
but I’m takin’ back my power today (There’s Hope)
Gas prices they just keep on rising (There’s Hope)
The government they keep on lying
but we gotta keep on surviving
Keep living our truth and do the best we can do

Stand up for your rights
Keep shining your light
And show the world your smile

If you want to teach your child about determination, acceptance and inspiration, watch this video about Adam Bender

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFpM7QHpQ4s

This was sent to me and seemed to have good tips about the Swine Flu.

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions.While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced

1. Frequent hand-washing

2. “Hands-off-the-face” approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don’t trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*

5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C. *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6.* Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

Know the Difference between Cold and Swine Flu Symptoms
Symptom Cold Swine Flu
Fever Fever is rare with a cold. Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100° F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
Coughing A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold. A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to asdry cough).
Aches Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold. Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
Stuffy Nose Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week. Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
Chills Chills are uncommon with a cold. 60% of people who have the flu experience chills.
Tiredness Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold. Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
Sneezing Sneezing is commonly present with a cold. Sneezing is not common with the flu.
Sudden Symptoms Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days. The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
Headache A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold. A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
Sore Throat Sore throat is commonly present with a cold. Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu.
Chest Discomfort Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold. Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.

I will be on George Chamberlins’ Money Matters tomorrow night at 5:30 p.m. pst.

Thanks George for highlighting Stroller Strides in San Diego!