Bersihkan seluruh organ tubuh Anda dari racun yang membahayakan dengan detoksifikasi.
Ibarat mesin yang tidak rajin dibersihkan, fungsinya akan berkurang. Bahkan kerusakan serius dapat terjadi karena bertumpuknya kotoran yang menyelinap dibagian utama mesin. Begitu juga dengan tubuh kita, kalau malas merawat, terutama membersihkannya dari racun yang menumpuk, maka sistem kinerja tubuh kan menurun dan rentan terhadap timbulnya penyakit kronis.
Akibat kelebihan racun
Saat ini, kita dikepung oleh berjenis makanan yang menggunakanbahan pengawet, pestisida, zat pewarna, serta penyedap buatan. Ketika kita memakannya, racun yang terkandungpun ikut termakan pula dan mengendap di organ dalam tubuh kita. Selain itu, racun juga dapat masuk ke dalam tubuh melalui jalur pernapasan dan kulit. Biasanya penyebab utama adalah kualitas udara yang tercemar polutan kimia seperti asap kendaraan bermotor, rokok dan asap industri.
Racun yang dibiarkan menumpuk di dalam tubuh kita dan tidak segera dihilangkan berpotensi merusak organ-organ seperti hati, ginjal, pembuluh darah hingga jantung. Kalau sudah demikian, penyakit-penyakit berat akan timbul. Berbagai macam penyakit yang diakibatkan penumpukan racun, antara lain alergi, radang sendi, obesitas, diabetes,aterosklerosis, PMS, masalah pencernaan, pengerasan hati, gangguan ginjal, jantung, serta kanker.
Apa yang harus dilakukan?
Sebenarnya tubuh kita memiliki mekanisme yang mampu menetralisir dan membuang racun yang masuk, yaitu oleh hati dan ginjal. Hanya saja saking banyaknya racun, membuat kedua organ tersebut kewalahan dan akhirnya tidak bekerja secara optimal. Karena itu diperlukan usaha lain dalam mebuang racun yang dikenal dengan detoksifikasi.
Beberapa cara untuk melakukan detoksifikasi sendiri:
1. Berpuasa
Puasa merupakan cara alami yang cukup efektif membuang racun yang menempel di organ tubuh. Tidak adanya makanan yang masuk membuat sistem pencernaan beristirahat sejenak guna melakukan regenerasi sel.
2. Kurangi asupan beracun
Kalau belum mampu menghindari sebaiknya kurangi makanan berlemak jenuh dan lemak trans, minuman alcohol, daging, kafein,gula, dan garam. Dengan demikian cara kerja ginjal menjadi lebih ringan.
3. Makan buah-buahan dan sayuran
Rajin mengkonsumsi buah dan sayur beraneka ragam seperti papaya,nanas, anggur,melon, tomat,wortel, brokoli,selada dan lain sebagainya. Buah dan sayur tersebut kaya antioksidan yang berguana untuk membuang racun.
4. Minum suplemen yang berasal dari sumber alami

We all have moments when we think, 'Never again!' during pregnancy: perhaps morning sickness is making you miserable or you're 10 days overdue with not even a hint of a contraction. To remind you that being pregnant can be fun, we've rounded up some of the nice things about being an expectant mum.

And why not share the things that have made pregnancy wonderful for you - just scroll down to the parents' tips box, below.

1 Relishing the early weeks when only you and your partner know your special secret.

2 Knowing you've got nine whole months to plan, dream and fantasise.

3 Choosing maternity clothes - they've never been more practical or more sexy.

4 Now you've got the perfect excuse to pamper yourself - spending hours in a scented bath, enjoying a massage or rubbing soothing lotions into your growing bump.

5 Maternity rights in the UK are getting better all the time. You can take up to 52 weeks off work, and if you are eligible for statutory maternity pay, you get the first six weeks on 90 per cent of your pay, followed by 33 weeks at £123.06 per week.

6 You can join an antenatal class and find a whole new bunch of friends (and don't forget our BabyCentre birth clubs: another great way to meet people due at the same time as you).

7 For once in your life you need to get heavier - pregnancy is Nature's way of making you feel good about putting on weight.

8 If this is your first baby, enjoy the next nine months sleeping late at weekends: you won't get many chances later on.

9 At last you've got the bosom you've always wanted, which means you also have...

10 ...a great excuse to buy lots of pretty new bras.

11 From now on and until your baby is a year old, you can get free dental treatment - phone your dentist now!

12 At last you'll have something more than potplants and cats to care for and nurture!

13 Suddenly you'll find you're getting lots of extra attention from parents, aunts and uncles, not to mention your partner.

14 You may find you develop a closer relationship with sisters, cousins or friends who are parents themselves. Congratulations, you've just won free admission to the parents' club!

15 Telling your mum, dad, sister, brother, aunt, dog the good news and watching their faces light up.

16 New talents! Whether it's knitting bootees or assembling a flat-pack cot, you'll suddenly find yourself trying out all sorts of new skills.

17 Suddenly you'll feel a new appreciation for your own mother and all she went through having you.

18 Decorating the nursery: one of the most exciting things you'll ever do.

19 Feeling those first fluttering kicks and thinking, 'Is that what I think it is? Or is it just wind?'

20 Feeling OK for sending your partner out for chicken tikka masala followed by double-choc chip ice cream.

21 Your parents digging out your old cot or pram, which they've kept safely all this time 'just in case'.

22 Going for healthy walks with your partner and getting fresh air in your lungs because it's good for you and good for your baby.

23 Enjoying the extra-vivid dreams you get in late pregnancy - and laughing about them with your friends.

24 Feeling a little pair of heels prodding under your diaphragm and knowing you'll soon be meeting the little person they belong to!

25 Choosing baby clothes - or just phoning round for all the catalogues, leafing through them and planning what you're going to buy.

26 Writing a pregnancy diary for your baby to read in the future.

27 Getting someone to take photos of you smiling over your enormous bump so that, one day, you can look back and be amazed you were ever that size.

28 Finding out how many people there are out there ready to care for you: doctors, nurses, midwives, health visitors, breastfeeding counsellors...

29 Lying in bed with your partner's arms around you and your bump, knowing that love has created a new life.

30 Enjoying indulgences, such as evenings out, weekends away and anything else you might not be able to do so easily once the baby arrives.

31 Knowing that from now on, whatever happens, you'll never be bored again.

32 Making new friends whenever you go shopping - everyone has a pregnancy story to share.

33 You can spend whole evenings debating whether to call your baby Hermione or Cleopatra, Fritz or Stanley... (don't forget to try our BabyCentre baby namer if you get stuck!)

34 Imagining what he or she will look like. Your sweet little ears, of course, and his sexy eyes!

35 Dreaming about, "My daughter the prime minister/pop star/brain surgeon."

36 Looking at your growing bump in the mirror and realising there's a person in there!

37 Making out a squirmy outline on the ultrasound monitor. Asking for the pic to take home and pinning it up next to your work station, or just keeping it in your bag to sneak looks at.

38 The expression on your partner's face as he sees the test strip turn blue, looks at your growing bump or feels the baby kicking.

39 Buying that first little cuddly toy for your baby, not somebody else's.

40 Making that phone call to your partner to tell him that - we're off! - labour has started.

41 Trying out all those exercises you learned at antenatal class and finding out that they actually work!

42 Being held and supported throughout a contraction by your partner/midwife/labour companion and knowing that you can trust them totally.

43 Finding out, as the contractions get tough, that your repertoire of swear words is far more extensive than you ever realised!

44 Making an informed choice about pain relief and finding that it's right for you at that stage in labour.

45 That huge rush of pleasure and relief when, suddenly, all the pain and effort stops.

46 Looking into your newborn's eyes and falling utterly in love.

47 Watching your partner kiss the midwife, the doctor, cleaning lady, delivery man and anyone else he can find because his joy and pride are overwhelming.

48 Opening a bottle of bubbly to celebrate, whatever the time of day or night.

49 Making all those phone calls to announce the arrival. Telling everyone the news and hearing the excitement in their voices.

50 Waking up to see your baby sleeping next to you and thinking, 'Wow! This is real. I'm a mum!'

What is pregnancy sickness?
No-one knows why the first sign of pregnancy for many mums-to-be is an early morning dash to the bathroom. With about eight out of 10 pregnant women feeling sick, and half of them actually vomiting, many women spend the early weeks of pregnancy feeling awful rather than "blooming".

Pregnancy sickness is the most common medical condition of early pregnancy, but how bad it is varies widely from woman to woman. You may get the odd bout of mild queasiness when you first wake up, or find that certain smells trigger waves of nausea throughout the day. You may have to endure weeks or even months of feeling or being sick morning, noon and night.

"Morning sickness" is misnamed. It may be worse in the morning, but most sufferers get it throughout the day and into the evening. Pregnancy sickness can take over your life for a time. If you get it badly you may find yourself unable to work, to care for your toddler or other children, to cook, shop or run your home. When you should be feeling happy and excited about your pregnancy you may feel miserable and ill, and your relationships with your partner, family and friends may become strained.

Women with unrelenting pregnancy sickness often feel that nobody really understands what they are going through. Not suprisingly, this can lead to depression. Talking to a fellow sufferer can help you feel less alone. Get in touch via our community.

The most severe form of pregnancy sickness is called hyperemesis gravidarum (literally "excessive vomiting in pregnancy"). If you are vomiting many times a day, are unable to eat and drink without vomiting, and if you are losing weight then you probably have hyperemesis. Unlike normal pregnancy sickness, hyperemesis can affect your health and that of your baby, so talk to your doctor or midwife as soon as you can.
Why am I feeling sick?
Although it won't help your nausea, feeling sick is actually a good sign that your pregnancy hormone levels are high. The cause of pregnancy sickness is unknown, but it is thought to be connected to the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). This is produced in large quantities until your placenta takes over the job of maintaining and nourishing your baby at around 12 to 14 weeks. Other hormones such as oestrogen and the thyroid hormone thyroxine are also thought to be responsible.

If you also suffer from travel sickness, your symptoms may be linked to a disorder in the balancing mechanism in your inner ear. Other, rare, causes of pregnancy sickness include a disturbance to one of the brain's "feel good" chemicals, serotonin, or a digestive infection called helicobacter pylori.

If you are tired, hungry, or stressed the nausea may be worse, and if you are expecting twins or triplets you will have higher levels of pregnancy hormones, and may get more severe sickness.

An evolutionary theory is that a pregnant woman's increased sense of smell and nausea is a protective measure, making her less likely to be harmed by poisons or toxins in the environment.

Whatever the cause, it can be a shock for a previously healthy woman to find herself overwhelmed by pregnancy sickness. No-one understands why some women get it and others escape, but seeing your pregnant friends "blooming" can feel horribly unfair. It may help to remember that nothing you have done is causing your symptoms.

Some doctors still believe that pregnancy sickness is a psychological condition, but a recent review of studies found no evidence for this.
How long will it last?
Pregnancy sickness usually starts at around five or six weeks of pregnancy and improves for most women by 14 weeks. Some women find it persists until 16 weeks, whereas others experience varying degrees of nausea or vomiting for the whole nine months until the birth. Fortunately, this is unusual, especially if you get help early on.

If you have pain, a fever or a headache, or if you get nausea and vomiting for the first time after nine weeks of pregnancy, see your doctor as you may be suffering from another condition.
Will it affect my baby?
Pregnancy sickness won't threaten your baby's well-being as long as you're able to keep some food down, and drink plenty of fluids.

Eat a balanced diet if you can, but if you are feeling very sick, eat whatever you can cope with. Your baby can catch up on his nutrients later on in your pregnancy when you're feeling better.

Your food choices may be odd for a while - you might only be able to manage potatoes and Lucozade for a month - but try not to worry about it, and catch up on the healthy eating later. Your liver stores many of the nutrients your baby will need to develop normally, so it won't matter too much if you are not eating. It's important that you take a folic acid supplement though, as this will help your baby's spine and nervous system develop. Take it at the time of day when you're most likely to keep it down.

If you are vomiting many times a day, are unable to eat and drink without vomiting, and are losing weight, see your doctor early on or you may become dehydrated. There are treatments that can help you at home, or you may need to be admitted to hospital.
Getting help and support
You may find that a combination of dietary changes, self help and natural remedies mean you can tolerate your sickness until it eases off. If nothing works, and you are still suffering, see your doctor or midwife as early as possible. Treatment becomes more difficult the longer you leave it. They can discuss other ways of coping, including medication.

Tell your partner, your family and your friends how you're feeling, and what you need, as they may not know how to help you. There's no need to feel guilty about asking for help with practical things like shopping, cooking and chores – you're ill! You may have to tell the people you work with about your pregnancy (and your sickness) earlier than you wanted, to get the support you need.

If you had pregnancy sickness with your first baby, there are things you can do to prevent or lessen it second time around. Again it's important to start early.

It can sometimes be hard to get help for pregnancy sickness. Pregnancy books and magazines often skim over the issue, as do medical textbooks, and you may find that your doctor or midwife doesn't have all the information you need. The internet can be invaluable. There are many useful websites with information for women and health professionals on this subject.
Useful websites

www.pregnancysicknesssupport.co.uk - information and telephone helpline.

www.hyperemesis.org.uk - "Blooming Awful". Information and support on extreme pregnancy sickness.

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Free radicals are unstable oxygen atoms which have lost one electron. They become free radicals and attack the nearest atom in the cell to acquire the electron and in the process creating more free radicals. This may lead to a chain reaction. Free radicals lead to oxidative damage inside the body. It can go on to create more volatile free radicals, damage the cell wall, vessel wall, proteins, fats, and even the DNA nucleus of our cells. Chemically this reaction has been shown to be so volatile that it actually causes bursts of light within our bodies!.

If free radical damage occurs in the eyes, someone may get cataract. If it occurs in the joints, the person may get arthritis. If it occurs in the heart, the person may get heart challenges. etc. etc. This is similar to rusting of iron. Or when an apple is cut and exposed to air, it turns brown.

Free radicals are generated inside the body during normal metabolic process where 98% of the time the process goes well and rest of the time it leads to generation of free radicals. They are also generated by stress, pollution and smoking.

Anti-oxidants have extra electrons and they neutralize the free radicals and therefore provide protection against free radical damage inside the body. The best anti-oxidants are

Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Selenium (ACES). Nutrilite Bio-C provides Vitamin C from acerola cherry. Nutrilite Parselenium-E provides Vitamin E and Selenium. They synergistically work together to regenerate each other.

Vitamin C is water soluble and acts outside the cell and Vitamin E is fat soluble and acts inside the cell giving all round protection to the cell. Therefore it is important that for best anti-oxidant protection both Bio-C and Parselenium-E should be taken together.

Health Benefits of Vegetarian Diets
Recently, there has been a renewed interest in vegetarian diets. Today there are countless books, cookbooks, and magazine articles promoting vegetarian diets and providing guidance for those who wish to follow a meatless diet.
A Short Historical Perspective on Vegetarian Diets
In the past, many viewed vegetarianism as strange and faddish but appropriately planned vegetarian diets are now recognized by many, including the American Dietetic Association, as being nutritionally adequate, and providing healthful benefits in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases (1).

Choosing a nonvegetarian lifestyle has a significant health and medical cost. The total direct medical costs in the United States attributable to meat consumption were estimated to be $30-60 billion a year, based upon the higher prevalence of hypertension, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, gallstones, obesity and food-borne illness among omnivores compared with vegetarians (2).

A large body of scientific literature suggests that the consumption of a diet of whole grains, legumes, vegetables, nuts, and fruits, with the avoidance of meat and high-fat animal products, along with a regular exercise program is consistently associated with lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, less obesity and consequently less heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and mortality (1,3, 4). In African-Americans, the frequent consumption of nuts, fruits and green salads was associated with 35-44 percent lower risk of overall mortality (5).

Distinguishing Feature
A vegetarian diet is distinguished from an omnivorous diet by its content of dry beans and lentils. These take the place of meat and fish as the major source of protein. And there are so many different kinds of beans you can choose from - kidney, lima, pinto, cranberry, navy, Great Northern, garbanzo, soy beans, and black-eyed peas. These can be served with rice, added to soups, stews, and salads or a variety of casseroles, and made into different ethnic dishes.

Tofu, or soy bean curd, can be used in dips and spreads, or served with pasta or stir-fried vegetables. Soy protein contains isoflavones, such as genistein and daidzein, that act as phytoestrogens and inhibit tumor growth, lower blood cholesterol levels, decrease the risk of blood clots, and diminish bone loss. These benefits clearly translate into a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and osteoporosis (6).

Cancer Protection
A major report published by the World Cancer Research Fund in 1997 recommended we lower our risk of cancer by choosing predominantly plant-based diets rich in a variety of vegetables and fruits, legumes and minimally processed starchy staple foods, and to limit the intake of grilled, cured and smoked meats and fish. These methods of preparing meat produce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic amines which are carcinogenic (11).

Over 200 studies have revealed that a regular consumption of fruits and vegetables provides significant protection against cancer at many sites. People who consume higher amounts of fruits and vegetables have about one-half the risk of cancer, especially the epithelial cancers (7). The risk of most cancers was 20-50% lower in those with a high versus a low consumption of whole grains (8).

About three dozen plant foods have been identified as possessing cancer-protective properties. These include cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower), umbelliferous vegetables and herbs (carrots, celery, cilantro, caraway, dill, parsley), other fruits and vegetables (citrus, tomatoes, cucumber, grapes, cantaloupe, berries), beans (soybeans), whole grains (brown rice, oats, whole wheat), flaxseed, many nuts, and various seasoning herbs (garlic, scallions, onions, chives, ginger, turmeric, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, and basil)(9).

These foods and herbs contain of host of cancer-protective phytochemicals such as carotenoids, flavonoids, isothiocyanates, isoflavones, ellagic acid, glucarates, curcurmins, liminoids, lignans, phenolic acids, phthalides, saponins, phytosterols, sulfide compounds, terpenoids, and tocotrienols. These beneficial compounds alter metabolic pathways and hormonal actions that are associated with the development of cancer, stimulate the immune system, and have antioxidant activity (10).

Heart Disease
Regular fruit and vegetable consumption reduces the risk of ischemic heart disease. A recent survey of 47,000 Italians found that persons in the highest tertile of vegetable consumption had a 21and 11% reduced risk of myocardial infarction and angina, respectively, compared with those in the lowest tertile of vegetable consumption (12).

A British study found that daily consumption of fresh fruit was associated with a 24 percent reduction in mortality from heart disease and a 32 percent reduction in death from cerebrovascular disease, compared with less frequent fruit consumption. Daily consumption of raw salad was associated with a 26 percent reduction in mortality from heart disease (13).

In another study, lifelong vegetarians had a 24 percent lower incidence and lifelong vegans (those who eat no eggs or dairy products) had a 57 percent lower incidence of coronary heart disease compared to meat eaters (14). Healthy volunteers who consumed a vegetarian diet (25% of calories as fat) that was rich in green, leafy vegetables and other low-calorie vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, celery, green beans, etc.), fruits, nuts, sweet corn and peas experienced after two weeks decreases of 25, 33, 20 and 21 percent in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total/HDL cholesterol ratio, respectively (15).

Various factors exist in fruits and vegetables that provide possible protection against cardiovascular disease. These factors include folic acid, dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium, carotenoids, phytosterols, flavonoids, and other polyphenolic antioxidants. Typically, vegetarian diets are also somewhat lower in saturated fat and cholesterol. Vegetarians typically have lower blood cholesterol levels. Plant diets rich in soluble fiber (such as found in dry beans, oats, carrots, squash, apples, and citrus) are useful for lowering serum cholesterol levels.

The many flavonoids in fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains, have extensive biological properties that reduce the risk of heart disease. Flavonoids are among the most potent antioxidants. They protect LDL cholesterol from oxidation; inhibit the formation of blood clots; and have hypolipidemic effects and anti-inflammatory action (16). European studies found that those who had the highest consumption of flavonoids had 60 percent less mortality from heart disease and 70 percent lower risk of stroke than the low flavonoid consumers (17,18).

The yellow-orange and red carotenoid pigments in fruits and vegetables are powerful antioxidants that can quench free radicals and protect against cholesterol oxidation. Persons with high levels of serum carotenoids have a reduced risk of heart disease. The recent EURAMIC study found that a high intake of lycopene (the red pigment in tomatoes, pink grapefruit, and watermelon) was associated in men with a 48 percent lower risk of a myocardial infarction compared with a low intake of lycopene (19). Cholesterol synthesis is suppressed and LDL receptor activity is augmented by the carotenoids beta-carotene and lycopene, similar to that seen with the drug fluvastatin (20).

Berries, Beans and Grains
Anthocyanin pigments, the reddish pigments found in fruits, such as strawberries, cherries, cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, grapes, and black currants, are very effective in scavenging free radicals, inhibiting LDL cholesterol oxidation and inhibiting platelet aggregation. Various terpenoids in fruits and vegetables, and tocotrienols in nuts and seeds facilitate lower blood cholesterol levels, by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase (21). Garlic, onions and other members of the Allium family, contain a variety of ajoenes, vinyldithiins, and other sulfide compounds that have antithrombotic action and may lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

A number of studies have shown that legumes lower blood cholesterol levels, improve blood sugar control, and lower triglyceride levels. Since beans are good sources of soluble fiber, vegetable protein, saponins, phytosterols and polyunsaturated fat, consuming a diet rich in legumes will lower risk of heart disease.
In the Nurses' Health Study, the highest consumption of whole grains was associated with about a 35-40% reduction in risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. In the Adventist Health Study a regular consumption of whole wheat bread was associated with a 40 to 50% reduced risk of fatal and non-fatal heart disease.

Nut Studies
Epidemiological studies have consistently reported that frequent nut consumption is associated with a 30-60% reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease (22). A number of clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of diets containing almonds, pecans, peanuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, or walnuts to significantly lower LDL cholesterol levels by 7 to 16 percent, without much change in HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels (22).

While nuts are high in fat, they are naturally low in saturated fat and most are quite rich in monounsaturated fat. Nuts also contain a number of vitamins, minerals and other substances important for cardiovascular health, such as potassium, magnesium, vitamin E, folic acid, copper, and dietary fiber. In addition, most nuts contain phytosterols, tocotrienols, and protective polyphenolics such as ellagic acid and flavonoids (23).

Stroke and Diabetes
Data from two prospective studie supports a protective relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of ischemic stroke (24). Cruciferous and green leafy vegetables and citrus fruits were the most protective. Data from the NHANES study revealed that consuming fruit and vegetables three or more times a day compared with less than once a day was associated with a 27% lower incidence of stroke, a 42% lower stroke mortality, a 27% lower cardiovascular disease mortality, and a 15% lower all-cause mortality (25). In the Adventist Health Study, non-vegetarians had a risk of fatal stroke that was 20-30% higher than the vegetarians. Data from population studies and human trials provide evidence that vegetarian dietary patterns lower blood pressure (26). Lower systolic blood pressures in elderly vegetarians has been reported to be best accounted for by their lower body weight (27). Vegetarians living in northern Mexico, were found to have lower body weights, higher potassium and lower sodium intakes, and lower mean blood pressures than non-vegetarians (28).

Higher consumption of nuts (29) and whole grains (30) has been associated with lower rates of diabetes. In a large prospective study, fruit and vegetable intake was found to be inversely associated with the incidence of diabetes, particularly among women (31). Men and women who reported seldom or never eating fruit or green leafy vegetables had higher mean HbA1C levels than those who had more frequent consumption (32). An increased consumption of fruit and vegetables appears to contribute to the prevention of diabetes.

Summary
The consumption of a generous supply of whole grains, legumes, nuts, fruits and vegetables provides protection against chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. A plant-based diet is rich in its content of health-promoting factors such as the many phytochemicals.

References

1. Messina V, Burke K. Position of The American Dietetic Association: Vegetarian Diets. J Am Diet Assoc 1997; 97: 1317-21.
2. Barnard ND, Nicholson A, and Howard JL. The medical costs attributable to meat consumption. Prev Med 1995;24:646-55.
3. Snowdon DA, Phillips RL. Does a vegetarian diet reduce the occurrence of diabetes? Am J Publ Health 1985;75: 507-512.
4. Dwyer JT. Health aspects of vegetarian diets. Am J Clin Nutr 1988;48: 712-38.
5. Fraser GE, Sumbureru D, Pribis S, et al. Association among health habits, risk factors, and all-cause mortality in a black California population. Epidemiology 1997;8:168-74.
6. Setchell KDR. Phytoestrogens: the biochemistry, physiology, and implications for human health of soy isoflavones. Am J Clin Nutr 1998;68(suppl):1333S-46S
7. Steinmetz K, Potter J. Vegetables, fruit and cancer, I. Epidemiology. Cancer Causes Control 1991;2(suppl):325-57.
8. Jacobs DR, Marquart L, Slavin J, et al. Whole-grain intake and cancer: an expanded review and meta-analysis. Nutr Cancer 1998;30:85-96.
9. Caragay AB. Cancer-preventative foods and ingredients. Food Tech 1992;46(4):65-8.
10. Craig WJ. Nutrition and Wellness. A Vegetarian Way to Better Health. Golden Harvest Books, Berrien Springs, MI, 1999.
11. World Cancer Research Fund. Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective. World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research, Washington DC, 1997.
12. Kafatos A, Diacatou A, Voukiklaris G, et al. Heart disease risk-factor status and dietary changes in the cretan population over the past 30 y: the seven countries study. Am J Clin Nutr 1997;65:1882-6.
13. Key TJA, Thorogood M, Appleby PN, et al. Dietary habits and mortality in 11,000 vegetarians and health conscious people: results of 17-year follow up. BMJ 1996;313:775-79.
14. Thorogood M, Carter R, et al. Plasma lipids and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in people with different diets in Britain. Br Med J 1987;295: 351-3.
15. Jenkins DJA, Popovich D, Kendall C, et al. Effect of a diet high in vegetables, fruit, and nuts on serum lipids. Metabolism 1997;46:530-7.
16. Manach C, Regerat F, Texier O, et al. Bioavailability, metabolism and physiological impact of 4-oxo-flavonoids. Nutr Res 1996;16:517-44.
17. Hertog MGL , Feskens EJM, Hollman PC, et al. Dietary antioxidant flavonoids and risk of coronary heart disease. Lancet 1993:342:1007-11.
18. Keli SO, Hertog MG, Feskins EJ, et al. Dietary flavonoids, antioxidant vitamins, and incidence of stroke: the zutphen study. Arch Intern Med 1996;156:637-42.
19. Clinton SK. Lycopene: chemistry, biology, and implications for human health and disease. Nutr Rev 1998;56:35-51.
20. Fuhrman B, Elis A, Aviram M. hypocholesterolemic effect of lycopene and beta-carotene is related to suppression of cholesterol synthesis and augmentation of ldl receptor activity in macrophages. Biochem Biophys Res Comm 1997; 233: 658-62.
21. Pearce BC, Parker RA, Deason ME, et al. Hypocholesterolemic activity of synthetic and natural tocotrienols. J Med Chem 1992;35:3595-606.
22. Kris-Etherton PM, Zhao G, Binkoski AE, Coval SM, Etherton TD. The effects of nuts on coronary heart disease risk. Nutr Rev 2001 Apr;59(4):103-11
23. Dreher ML, Maher CV, Kearney P. the traditional and emerging role of nuts in healthful diets. Nutr Rev 1996;54:241-5.
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Author: Winston Craig, MPH, PhD, RD.

Masa kehamilan merupakan masa yang paling penting dalam pembentukan janin. Tentu saja hal ini juga berhubungan dengan pola makan ketika masa hamil. Namun tak sedikit ibu hamil kurang hati-hati terhadap pola makan, termasuk mengkonsumsi junk food yang cenderung merugikan pertumbuhan janin dan kesehatan ibu hamil. Bagaimanakah pengaruh konsumsi junk food pada masa kehamilan? Tulisan dibawah ini mengulas konsumsi junk food dan pengaruhnya terhadap kesehatan bayi.

MENGONSUMSI makanan tak sehat seperti junk food selama masa hamil atau menyusui tidak hanya berpotensi merugikan kesehatan ibu. Suatu riset terhadap binatang mengindikasikan, konsumsi makanan tak sehat selama hamil dan menyusui juga dapat menimbulkan kerugian jangka panjang pada bayi.

Hasil penelitian para ahli dari Royal Veterinary College dan London's Wellcome Trust menunjukkan, keturunan tikus yang diberi makanan olahan berlemak ternyata mengalami penumpukan lemak pada pembuluh darah dan organ-organ penting lainnya, bahkan hingga mereka menginjak dewasa. Alhasil, tikus ini memiliki risiko tinggi mengidap diabetes, bahkan kalau mereka diberi diet yang sehat.

Sejumlah riset sebelumnya oleh tim yang sama juga menunjukkan bahwa tikus lahir dari ibu yang diberi junk food selama hamil dan menyusui cenderung ketagihan jenis makanan yang sama. Namun begitu, perkembangan barunya adalah ketika mereka lepas dari diet tak sehat, kerusakan sudah kadung terjadi.

"Tampaknya kebiasan diet ibu selama hamil dan menyusui sangat penting bagi kesehatan anak untuk jangka panjang. Kami selalu mengatakan 'You are what you eat', namun pada faktanya mungkin ada benarnya bahwa Anda sekarang ini adalah apa yang Ibu Anda makan," ungkap pimpinan riset, Dr Stephanie Bayol yang mempublikasikan temuannya dalam Journal of Physiology.

Hal lain yang menjadi perhatian adalah lemak yang terkumpul dalam organ-organ penting, yang tentunya berimplikasi pada perkembangan penyakit diabetes tipe II. Tikus-tikus yang lahir dari ibu yang tak sehat cenderung mengalami hal ini, meskipun mereka terbebas dari kebiasaan mengonsumi junk food.

Temuan lain yang menarik adalah adanya perbedaan dalam hal jenis kelamin, di mana tikus jantan dari keturunan ibu yang tak sehat memiliki kadar insulin yang lebih tinggi dan kadar gula darah normal. Sedangkan kebalikannya terjadi pada tikus betina, yang juga cenderung lebih gemuk.

Professor Neil Stickland, salah seorang peneliti lain, menyatakan bahwa prinsip yang sama mungkin juga bisa berlaku pada manusia.

"Manusia dan tikus memiliki sejumlah sistem biologis fundamental yang sama, oleh karena itu ada alasan yang baik untuk mengasumsikan bahwa dampak yang kita lihat pada tikus mungkin akan terjadi pada manusia," tegasnya.

Ia juga mengatakan bahwa sejumlah riset lain pada manusia telah menemukan adanya hubungan antara berat badan orang tua dengan berat badan anak-anaknya.