One common fact in life is that with age, you often become more conscious of protecting your health and preventing the development of diseases. If you are a postmenopausal woman with these concerns, you will be happy to know the latest research that drinking 1 to 3 cups of coffee each day will protect your heart.

This 15 year study was recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition to show that there were fewer deaths as a result of non-cancerous inflammatory diseases and heart disease among women who were postmenopausal. This group of women consumed 1 to 3 cups of coffee each day. This showed that coffee was responsible for these health benefits, especially since it is the second most consumed beverage worldwide. Coffee is the main source of antioxidants for many Americans within their daily diet, which will help to reduce heart disease and inflammation, as confirmed by Lene Frost Andersen, PhD, who works in the nutrition department at the University of Oslo in Norway.

The results of the study were drawn from 27,312 postmenopausal women participating in this study done by Iowa Women’s Health. The study commenced in 1986, and all of the participants were 55 to 69 years old. They had not yet been diagnosed with any conditions like diabetes, cancer, or heart disease, excluding skin cancer. All of the women completed a 127 question survey about their regular habits, including coffee consumption, alcohol use, and smoking. None of the women changed their coffee drinking habits for the purpose of the study. The groups of women in the study were tracked for 15 years, and in that time, 1733 passed away from cancer, 1411 passed away from heart disease, and the remaining 1211 died from other causes. The women who consumed 1 to 3 cups of coffee each day had less of a risk of dying from heart disease or inflammatory diseases, not including cancer, as opposed to the other women studied.

The women consumed 1 to 3 cups of coffee each day and were less likely to die from heart disease by 24% compared to the women who didn’t drink coffee. The women who drank 1 to 3 cups of coffee each day had a 28% less risk of passing away from non-cancerous inflammation, compared to those who abstained from coffee altogether. Death from cancer was not related to coffee drinking.

These results were not seen for the consumption of other beverages, like tea, sugary drinks, fruit juice, diet soda, and milk. The study did not conclude that drinking coffee was completely responsible for a lowered risk of heart disease, but the results were consistent to confirm that drinking 1 to 3 cups of coffee each day provides protection against inflammatory disease and cardiovascular issues in women who are postmenopausal.

Massage has got its name and fame since years as each and every individual enjoy the touch by hands. It is sure to bring about a change in aches and pains of the body. Pregnancy is the period where a lot of hormone changes take place. This effect in shown in body with a lot of discomfort and pain in particular areas of the body such as hips, stomach, breast etc. The most important part of pregnancy is labor and it seems to be a night mare in case of most of the carrying mothers. But with pregnancy massage the labor could be made easy by decreasing the labor pain.

Pregnancy massage has been found to reduce stress, decrease swelling in the arms and legs, and relieve aches and pains in muscles and joints. It’s a popular complementary therapy during pregnancy for back pain, when choices for pain relief, such as medication, are often limited. Not only can massage be physically beneficial, but the human touch can be comforting and provide emotional support during pregnancy.

Massage relieves many of the normal discomforts during pregnancy, such as backaches, a stiff neck, leg cramps, headaches, edema, and sore, swollen ankles and feet. Massage increases local and general blood circulation, which brings more oxygen and nutrients to the cells of both the mother and fetus. This means greater vitality and less fatigue for mom and better nourishment for her baby.

Massage stimulates glandular secretions, which helps stabilize hormone levels. Massage can help relieve depression or anxiety caused by hormonal changes mom is experiencing. It relaxes tense muscles and tones loose muscles, and can also increase muscular flexibility. Flexibility will be most helpful during the last trimester and during the birth itself. Massage helps to soothe and relax nervous tension, which helps the mother sleep more easily and more deeply. Incidentally, doctors all agree that a relaxed mother will have a happier, healthier pregnancy and possibly an easier childbirth experience, too.

Pregnancy is the most wonderful period of your life; but it is also a great challenge for your body… You have to be prepared to go through the birth moment when you make a lot of effort and you need a lot of strength. Pregnancy is not all about being extremely careful with yourself and sleeping and eating a lot; physical exercise are a ‘must do’ during this period…you and your baby need them.