How to Avoid Mouth Odour During Ramadan

How to Avoid Mouth Odour During Ramadan

Ramadan, the best month of the year is just a few days away and perhaps you are already thinking about how to do away with the unpleasant mouth odour that usually accompanies the fast. Well, you’re in the right place, as this article seeks to tell you how to prevent mouth odour during fasting.

First of all, what causes mouth odour while fasting?

Causes of Mouth Odour

Mouth odour is much more common while a person is fasting rather than when he is at liberty to eat and drink at intervals. This is because the mouth easily becomes dry due to reduced saliva production.

Apart from keeping the mouth moist, saliva also contains substances that are toxic to bacteria in the mouth, thus a decrease in saliva will provide a more comfortable environment for the bacteria to wine and dine.

Other causes of mouth odour include eating food containing onion and garlic during sahur (the predawn meal) and iftar (the meal taken after breaking the fast), consumption of sugary food, and most importantly, poor teeth hygiene.

Now that you know the causes, here’s

How You Can Avoid Mouth Odour During Fasting

1. Keep Hydrated

Dryness of the mouth promotes the survival and growth of bacteria in your mouth. By drinking enough water and avoiding diuretics (substances e.g. coffee, that increases urine production) during sahur and iftar, you help to reduce the bacteria, thereby, preventing the unwanted odour they produce.

You can also stimulate saliva production by chewing gum at night.

A person drinking water

2. Brush Twice a Day

Brushing one’s teeth is one of the ways to prevent mouth odour during fasting. Fasting does not prevent you from brushing your teeth. Ensure that you brush thoroughly with fluoride toothpaste before going to bed at night and after eating your sahur meal. And hey! Don’t forget to floss the hard-to-reach areas of your teeth. Here’s a quick guide on how to floss.

3. Use a Miswak (Chewing Stick)

“Although chewing sticks can be made from many commonly occurring plants, such as olive trees, Miswak is most generally associated with the Salvadora persica tree, commonly known as ‘arak’ in Arabic”. It has so many health benefits aside from just getting your mouth clean.

According to a study, the miswak, due to its many mouth-cleaning benefits is said to be superior to toothbrushes. An added advantage is that it can be used round the clock without fear of swallowing toothpaste in the process.

4. Don’t Forget the Tongue

Several people tend to rush while brushing their teeth, usually ending up not cleaning their tongue. Well, it will interest you to know that the tongue is a good breeding place for bacteria due to the food remnants that remain attached to it eat after eating. To prevent this, use your toothbrush, tongue scraper, or floss to clean it thoroughly.

5. Watch What You Eat

Ramadan is a month where many families get to prepare a variety of meals for iftar. It is important to be cautious not to eat food that will lead to one having an unpleasant mouth odour during the day. Avoid fresh onions and garlic and also cut down on foods that are too spicy, salty, or sticky.

Conclusion

Avoiding mouth odour is a good habit worth inculcating, not only during Ramadan or when you are fasting. Whenever your mouth oozes, it makes people around you uncomfortable, thus, making it necessary for you to ensure its cleanliness. Well, the above ways will go a long way in guiding you on how to prevent mouth odour during fasting or the month of Ramadan or any other time.

If you find this article of help, kindly leave a comment in the comments section. You could also tell if there are other ways one can ensure they don’t have mouth odour in the comments section as well. Thank you.

21 Foods that Increase Breast Milk Supply

21 Foods that Increase Breast Milk Supply

If you are looking for foods that increase breast milk supply, it means you are worried that you are not producing enough. You are most likely worried that your baby is not getting enough milk he deserves. Or you are worried that you are not well nourished for your body to produce enough breast milk. 

You are worried and stressed out trying to understand what to eat and what not to eat to increase the milk supply. Mothers want to know they are doing their best for the health of their babies. Certain foods are known to induce lactation and they are called Galactagogues. Below are some of the foods we found useful for you:

Foods that Increase Breast Milk Supply

1. Fenugreek

It is a natural herb that can be used to increase lactation. Fenugreek is known to be an excellent galactagogue for women trying to increase their milk supply.  They also have phytoestrogens that are essential in boosting lactation.

To benefit from this herb, drink it before sleeping and it will not only increase your milk supply but also the quality of your milk.

Fenugreek

2. Garlic

Apart from being nutritious and a healthy spice we add to our meals, it is also a galactagogue that helps women boost their milk supply. It has been used as a natural lactation aid and for other health benefits.

Furthermore, garlic may alter the taste of milk which may trigger colic in babies. You should try to notice if your baby reacts after you consume garlic. You will know if your baby is allergic or not by doing so.

Garlic

3. Papaya

Papaya contains lactogenic effects and its leaves can increase breast milk supply. It is a fruit that can be eaten as it is, added to foods when cooking or in soups. The fruit contains phytochemicals and enzymes responsible for breast milk supply. It can improve digestion, enrich you and your baby with vitamins and minerals.

4. Carrots

Carrot is a rich vegetable that provides nutrients. It increases breast milk due to the presence of phytoestrogens that have lactogenic effects in carrots. Carrots are also rich in Vitamin A and potassium, they help to improve the quality of the milk you produce. It can also help you to lose weight as well. You can eat carrots raw, in salads, juices, foods, dessert as it is a delicious orange rich vegetable.

Carrots

5. Basil

Basil leaves have a soothing effect and are rich in antioxidants. It is common in some countries for using basil leaves to increase breast milk supply since it is a medical herb. In addition, it is added to tea for a calming effect. It is also added to foods when cooking to boost milk supply in nursing mothers.

Basil

6. Sesame Seeds (Egusi)

It is rich in calcium, protein, fibre, essential nutrients. Egusi has quercetin a phytochemical that increases prolactin secretion and breast milk supply. You can add it to your salad as toppings, in soups (like Egusi Soup), pasta to increase breast milk supply in lactating mothers.

Sesame Seeds

7. Sweet Potato

It is rich food that has fibre, micronutrients, and has phytochemicals that are responsible for promoting your health. This food is known as a superfood that increases prolactin and breast milk supply. In addition, sweet potatoes are rich in potassium, energy, vitamins, minerals that are required by your body.  It can be eaten boiled, fried, in porridge, and salads.

Sweet Potato

8. Milk

It is a nutritious liquid that has more water content, no fibre, fat, proteins, sugar, carbs, and calories. It is also a rich source of protein. Casein present in milk can lower blood pressure. And it also contains all the best foods that increase milk supply. Apart from quenching your thirst, it is highly nutritious and important to take more liquid like water and milk to increase your milk supply. Try to avoid liquids that will dehydrate you when nursing or eat as a snack.

MIlk

9. Moringa (Zogale)                                                                                                                    

Zogale is beneficial in lowering blood sugar levels, weight loss, improving digestion, improving the cardiovascular system, and much more. It is widely used in Africa and Asia. The plant is rich in amino acids, antioxidants, carotenoids, calcium, and iron and can help in increasing breast milk supply when used as a lactating diet. It can be eaten as salads, in soups, foods, and juices to increase breast milk supply.

Moringa

10. Tofu (Awara)

Awara is a delicious food that can be eaten fried with pepper or eaten after being boiled. It is widely available in Northern Nigeria sold by street vendors. It is made from soybeans and is rich in protein micronutrients. This snack contains phytoestrogen and it can increase breast milk supply. It can also be eaten in soups and salads too.

Tofu

11. Watermelon

Watermelon is a nutritious fruit that is high in water content. It contains potassium, vitamin C, A, B6, and gluthionine. It also contains fibre and fructose. The water content helps to keep your breast milk flowing when feeding your baby as it has a lactogenic effect. You can eat it as it is or in juices, smoothies, or deserts.

Watermelon

12. Lentils

They are rich in proteins, fibre, magnesium, and folate. It can boost your breast milk supply, lower your blood sugar level and digestion. You can add them to soups, stews, or snacks.

Lentils

13. Green Tea

Green tea is rich in antioxidants and nutrients, vitamin B, folate and manganese, and magnesium. Taking green tea can help you, relax your body. When taken in moderation and also boost milk supply the caffeine content in green tea will not affect your baby. If you take too much instead of increasing your milk supply. It can reduce it so always drinks it a few hours after meals for the best effect.

Green Tea

14. Barley

It contains beta-glucan which is responsible for increasing prolactin levels in your body. It is also rich in fibre. The beta-glucan is the sole reason why this polysaccharide is considered as food that increases breast milk supply. You can add it to rice, salads, stews, and vegetable meals to boost your breast milk production.

Barley

15. Oats

This food is rich in iron fibre, magnesium, zinc and has a great nutritional profile. Women fall back to oatmeals to increase their milk supply. Since it is rich in iron and low mineral that helps in increasing their milk supply. It can relieve stress, improve digestion and relieve stress, improve digestion. As a nursing mother, you get the nutrients required in a short period of time since it takes little time to prepare. The way it increases breast milk supply is by increasing the oxytocin hormone levels in your body. You can eat it as a meal, in cakes, porridge, cookies or even on bread.

Oats

16. Fennel

It is a leafy vegetable that is a galactagogue and has estrogen that helps increase your breast milk supply. It has a lactogenic effect too and contains phytoestrogens. Fennel is a lactation cookie for most women. You can eat it raw or cooked since it is a vegetable. You can add it to soups, stews, cookies, or even teas.

Fennel

17. Almonds

Almonds are sweet, healthy, and packed with proteins and calcium. It is a good example of foods that increase breast milk supply because of its estrogenic activity. It also contains vitamins and minerals. Let us not forget, it is rich in vitamin A, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids. Drinking almond milk increases the sweetness, creaminess, and quality of your breast milk as a nursing mother. Almonds can be eaten like nuts, in smoothies, juices, milk can be extracted from it, almond butter, and almond flour too. And it can also be added to food.

Almonds

18. Flaxseed

This also contains phytoestrogens which are needed in boosting breast milk supply. Flaxseed contains protein fibre and omega-3 fatty acids (especially flaxseed oil). Flaxseed also has a lot of benefits from reducing the risk of cancers, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, blood glucose control, and weight loss. You can take it roasted, in soups, stews, salad dressing, and in warm water.

Flaxseed

19. Water

​Water is life! Water is very essential to humans. More than half of your body and the earth you live in is water. Breast milk has more water content than nutrients. The best and easiest way to increase milk supply is by taking more water to keep you hydrated and replace lost fluids. Take more water for a steady milk supply.

Water

20. Salmon

This food is important during pregnancy and also during your lactation. Salmon is rich in protein, vitamins, and omega-3-fatty acids. It is low in mercury, boosts milk supply improves your immunity, and provides you with the required nutrients you and your baby need. You can eat it fried in soups, stew, and foods.

Salmon

21. Green Vegetables

These vegetables add colour to foods and are packed with nutrients mostly calcium. They are rich in phytoestrogens too, which is important in boosting breast milk supply. They also contain fibre and micronutrients. You can add them to your foods, stew, soups, or salads.

Green Vegetables

Conclusion

There are certain foods that increase breast milk supply and help your body boost milk production and constant flow of breast milk. They are rich in phytoestrogens, recognised as galactogogues, and are rich in essential nutrients.

What are the foods that boost your milk supply when you were nursing? Kindly leave your comments below to let us know what your go-to foods were.

9 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Stomach Ache

9 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Stomach Ache

Stomach ache is a very common misnomer for abdominal pain; it is just one of the several causes of abdominal pain. Your abdomen comprises all the organs between the front part of your thorax (chest) and the pelvis, therefore, pain from any of these organs is termed abdominal pain. Nevertheless, we will still refer to it as stomach ache for the purpose of this article.

Stomachache is very common, and everyone must have experienced it at some point in time. While severe stomachache is a medical emergency that needs to be treated by your doctor, you can easily treat mild aches by just making good use of the things available in your kitchen.

Are you ready to explore the several options of home remedies for stomach pain available for you? Let’s ride on!

Home Remedies for Stomach Pain

When you are busy with some projects in the office or lying down peacefully at home, you might start to feel some uneasiness in your stomach.

This could be because there has been an accumulation of excess gas in your stomach, heartburn from peptic ulcer or gastroesophageal disease, cramping from diarrhoea, constipation, or just a bad reaction from the food you ate a few minutes or hours ago.

Whichever one it is, there are several home remedies for stomach pain that you can try to get immediate relief before going to the hospital for appropriate evaluation and treatment. Thus:

1. Give It Some Time

Stomach aches are sometimes mild and all you need to do is to give it time. A good example is a diarrhoea from mild food poisoning or from eating food that your stomach is not used to. In such situations, by allowing your body to flush itself of the offending food, you will be okay in no time.

2. Drink Enough Water

Water is necessary for a lot of functions in the body. This includes digestion and absorption of food. In cases of stomach pain due to diarrhoea or constipation, it is imperative to take enough fluids. Adequate water intake helps in preventing and relieving constipation.

Furthermore, dehydration due to diarrhoea or vomiting could be very dangerous if body water is continuously lost without being replaced. Taking adequate water in such situations, therefore, comes in very handy.

Apart from the water lost to vomiting and diarrhoea, some important substances in your body, known as electrolytes are lost as well, therefore doctors recommend taking Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) in such situations since they also contain glucose, salt, and other electrolytes needed by the body.

Here is a quick guide on how to prepare ORS at home.

3. Take a Warm Bath or Use a Heating Pad

The use of heat as a natural remedy comes in handy especially when the pain is a result of muscle cramps. In this case, taking a warm bath or applying a heating pad or bag to the aching area will relax the tense muscles and ease your symptoms. Heat therapy can also be used for indigestion.

Be careful not to use excessive heat to avoid causing harm to yourself.

READ ALSO: 7 Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Menstrual Cramps

4. Add Some Ginger to Your Tea and Cooking

Ginger has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral properties that make it a good natural remedy for a lot of diseases.

Adding ginger to your tea and cooking can be very helpful for treating your upset stomach. It helps with nausea, indigestion, and other symptoms as well.

5. Increase Your Fiber Intake

Constipation, as earlier mentioned, is an important cause of stomachache. This can be prevented, as well as treated, by incorporating a good amount of fibre-containing foods into your diet. There are several options available. These includes:

  1. Fruits like apple, banana, citrus, strawberries
  2. Potatoes
  3. Barley
  4. Oats
  5. Dried beans
  6. Whole grains
  7. Most vegetables etc.

6. Potash Used to Be a Wonder Drug

The popular kanwa (potash) in Northern Nigeria has been used for ages to ease symptoms of stomach aches, especially if it is due to acid reflux, constipation, or spasm.

According to research, potash has many other uses e.g. in fertilizer production, toothache treatment, as a preservative, fire extinguishing, cleaning purposes, etc.

Nevertheless, medical experts have warned that its excessive use could result in decreased sperm production, kidney failure, and heart diseases (arrhythmia), so it is best to use safer alternatives.

7. Peppermint Helps to Relax Your Tense Muscles

The menthol content in peppermint helps to ease your symptoms of a stomachache. It has also been shown to relax muscles when a person is having abdominal cramps.

However, it is not recommended for you if you are suffering from a peptic ulcer or any acid reflux disease.

8. Aloe Vera Juice Can Ease Several Symptoms of Stomachache

The juice from the Aloe Vera plant contains substances that may ease your symptoms by reducing inflammation, encouraging bowel movements to treat constipation, improving digestion of proteins, reducing excessive stomach acid, removing toxins, etc.

9. You Can Use Over-the-Counter Medication

There are several over-the-counter medications available, depending on the symptoms you are having.  This includes laxatives for constipation, loperamide for diarrhoea and cramps, antacids for reflux disease, and pain relievers like paracetamol.

Nevertheless, you should always consult with your doctor before you buy and take any medication.

Things You Should Avoid When You Have a Stomach Ache

  1. Avoid lying down too quickly after a meal: this is especially important for people experiencing acid reflux. Lying down immediately after a meal will push the acidic contents of your stomach upwards, eventually causing heartburn.
  2. Avoid carbonated drinks: carbonated drinks can easily cause an increase of gas in your system, resulting in burping and flatulence. Excessive amounts of gas will likely cause stomachache, so it is preferable to reduce your intake of such drinks and swap them with water, fruit juice, or the likes
  3. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol
  4. Avoid foods that are difficult to digest
  5. Avoid improperly cooked food

When Should You Seek Medical Care?

Using the above home remedies for stomach pain might be all that you need for a mild ache, but sometimes it can be severe or be associated with some symptoms that will necessitate you to see a doctor as soon as possible for specialized evaluation and treatment. These include:

  1. Blood in stool
  2. Bleeding from the anus or rectum
  3. Severe pain
  4. Effortless weight loss
  5. Yellowing of the eyes
  6. Severe vomiting and/or diarrhea
  7. Difficulty swallowing
  8. Stomachache during pregnancy
  9. Heartburn that does not get better after taking over-the-counter antacids

FAQ

Q: Should I take antibiotics for a stomach ache?

A: There are several causes of stomach ache and each is treated differently. Antibiotics should only be used when it is evident that harmful microorganisms are responsible for causing the ache. This will be confirmed by your physician.

Q: Should I be worried if I experience recurrent stomachache?

A: Recurrent stomach aches could mean that you have an underlying problem that needs to be treated. You should consult your doctor for immediate and appropriate investigations and treatment.

Conclusion

We believe that by reading up to this point, you are now enlightened on several home remedies for stomach pain that you can easily try at home. However, this should not stop you from going to the doctor for professional treatment if your symptoms persist.

Have you tried any of these methods before? Please share your experience with us in the comments section below.