healthbriefs


Yoga Reduces Depression in Pregnant Women P


regnancy hormones are known to cause myriad physical and


emotional symptoms, includ- ing unexplainable mood swings. The fluctuations are more serious for one in five expectant moms because they also experience major depression. Now, a ground- breaking study by the University of Michigan offers new hope. Preg- nant women identified as psychi- atrically high-risk that participated in a 10-week mindfulness yoga intervention experienced signifi- cant reductions in their depressive symptoms. Mothers-to-be also reported stronger attachment to their babies in the womb.


Midwife-Led Birth Centers Improve Outcomes W


S


MAY IS ASPARAGUS MONTH


ometimes referred to as the aristocrat of vegetables,


asparagus has been cultivated for more than 2,000 years. It was prized by ancient Greeks and Romans for its taste and reputed medicinal qualities, and 19th-century French bridegrooms, believing it was an aphrodisiac, frequent- ly ate several helpings on the eve of their nuptials. The crop reaches its peak during April and May. Packing a fiber-filled punch of vita-


mins A and C, this princely veggie also delivers significant helpings of folate and rutin, which help to strengthen blood vessels. Its delicate flavor is best pre- served by stir-frying or light steaming.


Source: FruitsAndVeggiesMatter.gov T


omen that receive care at midwife-led birth centers incur lower medical costs


and are less likely to have Caesarean births than women that give birth at hospitals, according to new findings by the American Association of Birth Centers (AABC). The rising number of Cesarean births in the United States (32 percent in 2010, according to the National Centers for Disease Control National Vital Statistics Report) has generated concern due to short- and long-term health implications for women, their newborns and future pregnan- cies. The AABC study, which included more than 15,500 women that received care in 79 midwife- led birth centers in 33 states from 2007 through 2010, found that fewer than 6 percent of the par- ticipants required a Caesarean birth, compared to


nearly 24 percent similarly low-risk women cared for in a hospital setting. Birth centers—homelike facilities functioning within the health care system— are based on a wellness model of pregnancy and birth personalized to individual needs. “They are uniquely positioned to provide healthy women and their new- borns with maternity care, avoiding unnecessary Caesarean births,” advises AABC President-Elect Lesley Rathbun, a certified nurse midwife and family nurse practi- tioner. “Americans need to learn about the high-quality care that midwife-led birth centers offer.”


Source: American College of Nurse-Midwives 12


Knoxville TNNaturalAwakenings.com


THE EXERCISE ADVANTAGE


aking a brisk walk or bike ride may stave off


cognitive decline better than reaching for the dai- ly crossword puzzle, says a new study published in the journal Neurology. Researchers at Scotland’s University of Edinburgh reviewed the medical records of more than 600 Scots born in 1936 that were given MRI scans at age 73. “People in their 70s that participat-


ed in more physical exercise, including walking several times a week, had less brain shrinkage and other signs of aging in the brain than those that were less physically active,” says study author Alan J. Gow, Ph.D. Surprisingly, the study showed that participating in mentally and socially stimulating activities, such as visiting family and friends, reading or even learning a new language, did little to ward off the symptoms of an aging brain. Study participants will undergo a second MRI scan at age 76, and researchers plan to compare the two scans to see if the links between exer- cise and better brain health hold up.


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