Dr. Kalpana M Patrawala

Good morning
During winters, it is very important to eat food (like tomatoes, oranges, strawberry, etc) that are rich source of vitamin c as these help in improving immunity and fighting infections.
High vitamin c foods are 
Bell peppers, dark leafy greens, kiwifruit, broccoli, berries, citrus fruits.

Eating disorders can be defined as conditions that influence your eating behaviour significantly and which may give rise to serious health issues. Eating disorders are associated with behaviours like compulsively counting calories, puking after meals, living on a rigid diet etc. which often leads to a feeling of self-loathing and obsessive thoughts about food and weight.

Here are the three most common eating disorders and the symptoms by which they can be identified.

1. Anorexia nervosa - This disorder is considered to be a mortally dangerous condition in which the body weight reduces drastically. An individual is terrified about gaining weight and can take extreme steps to maintain their weight and shape, often leading to starvation, vomiting and many other health problems.

Common symptoms include:

-Reducing the amount of food to be consumed to cut down the calories
-Exercising beyond capacity to burn calories
-Recurrently monitoring your shape, weight and appearance
-Skipping meals
-Avoiding social gatherings where you will be offered food
-Irregular menstrual cycles in women
-Erectile dysfunction in men

2. Bulimia nervosa - Mostly observed among people in their mid-teens, Bulimia nervosa is a serious type of eating disorder associated with episodes of bingeing and purging with the individual being unable to regulate their eating habits. Moreover, the person suffering from this disease often feels guilty and horror-struck about weight gain and forces himself/herself to vomit.

Normally, people suffering from this condition exhibit the following habits:

-Binge eating
-Use of laxatives or throw up forcibly to get rid of calories
-Feeling exhausted and guilty
-Experiencing irregularity in their menstrual cycles
-The inability to maintain normal weight, in spite of trying to eliminate calories

3. Binge-eating disorder - This disorder is characterised by overeating, eating even when you don't feel hungry and continuing to eat even after feeling full. People suffering from this disorder cultivate a feeling of guilt inside them for overeating but do not try to nullify its effect by vomiting or exercising intensely. Some of the most prominent symptoms of this disorder include:

-Eating alone to hide the embarrassment caused due to overeating
-Eating quicker than normal people
-Being overweight
-Binge eating at minimum one instance every week

Related Tip: Eating disorders - What do they even mean? And what are its causes? 

As couples prepare for pregnancy, it is easy to focus only on the woman's health. However, there are several habits men need to be forming during these critical months of preparation too. Issues of fertility do not rest solely on the female.

'agents that may cause birth defects do not reach the developing fetus through the father as they do from the pregnant mother,' but we do know that male exposure to certain substances can lead to some preliminary problems with fertility and also slightly elevate the risk of certain birth defects.

Male infertility alone accounts for approximately 1/3 of all infertility cases. Should fertility issues arise, you should plan ahead to be in the best physical condition to conceive.

Clean out the medicine cabinet

Eliminate as many medications from your routine as possible. Talk with your physician about your prescription medications. You may need to discontinue use or try something new.

The following medications have been known to impact male fertility:
 

• Tagamet (cimetidine), sulfasalazine, and nitrofurantoin are used to treat ulcers, gastrointestinal problems, and urinary tract infections. These medications may impact sperm production and sperm count.
• Steroids, such as prednisone and cortisone, which are used to treat asthma, arthritis and skin conditions, impact male fertility.
• Chemotherapy and radiation could cause sterility or a significant change in sperm quality and quantity.

Take a good look at your work environment

Your work environment may be a contributing factor to your fertility. Ongoing exposure to certain agents such as pesticides, chemical fertilizers, lead, nickel, mercury, chromium, ethylene glycol ethers, petrochemicals, benzene, perchloroethylene, and radiation can lower sperm quality, quantity and possibly lead to infertility or miscarriage.

Eat and sleep

What you eat can make a difference. Find out what your proper weight range should be and make the necessary dietary and exercise changes to get there. Studies suggest that some men with low sperm count also have a zinc deficiency.

The following foods are high in zinc and could increase your fertility:
 

• Meat
• Wholegrain cereals
• Seafood
• Eggs
• Selenium, which is found in brazil nuts
• Mushrooms

Adding more vitamin e may also help the process along. There are male fertility supplements available containing vitamins, minerals and other ingredients designed to help improve overall reproductive health.

Also, keep in mind getting plenty of rest is good for everything that ails you, even low sperm count and sperm quality.

Avoid alcohol and other substances

Eliminate alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and any illicit drugs. Too much alcohol may reduce zinc levels, and drugs decrease sperm quality. There is some research that may link smoking and certain rare heart defects, but further studies must be done to make an accurate conclusion. Marijuana has been proven to affect sperm quality and sperm count, but there is no evidence that shows that marijuana causes birth defects.

Keep your testicles cool

Heat from hot tubs, saunas, long showers (more than 30 minutes), heating pads, electric blankets, and tight clothing like briefs and spandex could cause your testicles to become too hot, which decreases sperm quantity.

Stay away from cycling

Cycling can cause a lot of friction and jostling, which increases the temperature of your testicles. The rise in temperature and possibility of injury may cause a low sperm count.