10 Foods Pregnant Women should Avoid

Pregnant women should avoid:

1. Liver and liver products: These foods are very high in vitamin A, and too much vitamin A can harm the unborn child.

Pregnant women should also avoid supplements containing vitamin A, including fish liver oils, except if you are advised to take these by your doctor.

2. Raw or undercooked Meat: Uncooked seafood and raw or undercooked beef or poultry should be avoided in pregnancy because of the risk of contamination with coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella.

3. Unpasteurized Dairy Foods: These are best avoided in pregnancy. These foods are prone to Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that causes listeriosis, which may result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or other serious health problems.

4. Processed meats like Hot Dog: Many processed meats contain listeria. Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby leading to infection or blood poisoning, which can be life-threatening. Make sure that any milk you drink is pasteurized.

5. Unwashed Vegetables: Vegetables are safe to eat,however, it is essential to make sure they are washed to avoid potential exposure to toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis may contaminate the soil where the vegetables were grown.

6. Raw Eggs: Avoid raw or undercooked eggs and any foods that contain them, such as homemade mayonnaise.

Make sure that eggs are thoroughly cooked until the whites and yolks are solid. This prevents the risk of salmonella food poisoning.

7. Cheese: Cheeses like this are made with mould and can contain listeria bacteria that cause listeriosis. Although an infection with listeria is rare, even a mild form of this infection in a pregnant woman can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or severe illness in a newborn baby.

8. Certain Seafood and Fish: Large fishes such as swordfish, shark, tilefish, and king mackerel have very high concentrations of mercury, compared to other fish. Mercury is a byproduct of coal-burning plants that interferes with the normal development of a growing child's brain and nervous system.

Fishes such as Cat fish, Tilapia, Crabs, Croaker and Shrimps have lowest mercury levels and are safe for consumption.

9. Herbal Teas and Supplements: Herbal teas are caffeine-free, but their safety is unclear when you’re pregnant. So it’s better to avoid them. Many supplements such as St John’s worth and gingko biloba

10. Caffeine: Although most studies show that caffeine intake in moderation might be okay, there are others that show that caffeine intake may be related to miscarriages. Avoid caffeine during the first trimester to reduce the likelihood of a miscarriage.

A FATHERS ADVICE

Muhammed Ali's advice to his daughters...

An incident transpired when Muhammad Ali’s daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were quite revealing. Here is the story as told by one of his daughters: “When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father’s suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day. My father took a good look at us.

Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them.

” He looked at me with serious eyes. “Your body is sacred. You’re far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.” From the book: More Than A Hero: Muhammad Ali's Life Lessons Through His Daughter's Eyes.

A RICHER LIFE

A RICHER LIFE - Culled from Gemwoman magazine

When I said I wish above all things that you prosper,
It is to let you know that prosperity is good and rightfully yours
But when you focus on the wealth and forget the source,
You open yourself up for the enemy's use.

I desire that you live a rich life,
Not necessarily of material things alone,
But in health, body, soul and spirit,
When you have this combination, the devil cannot manipulate you.

You see, the reason people have a challenge understanding you when you get blessed,
Is because you do not know how to manage wealth and character,
So you make it easy for the world to say 'Money is the root of evil'
Whereas, it is the 'lust' for money that us the root of evil.

Haven't you read in my word how my children built me temples and were blessings to all?
Did you think I rained down furniture and precious metals from heaven?
I empowered them to be so blessed that the resources were available for their use,
So you can be blessed and be a kingdom enhancer if you can manage the combo well.

Even though I desire that you are rich, I am particular about the essence of your richness,
I need you to be exceedingly great so people can understand you have a complete life in me.
They need to know that when they seek me first, every other thing would be added unto them,
I have selected you to be my 'specimen' for this cause, can you manage it well?

Can you enjoy my numerous blessings and remain humble, patient and unselfish?
Can I trust that you won't get carried away and miss the intended mark?
Can I look on earth for someone to meet the needs of the needy and find you?
Can I search for people who will build me temples of worship and point to you?

I died already and took your sufferings away,
Don't let anyone fool you to say 'the poorer you are, the closer you are to God',
Do you know you can be so poor that desperation makes you seek other means of wealth?
At the same time, you can be so blessed and greed will make you lose focus.
You must find the balance and the only way you can do that is constantly looking unto me.

I alone have the power to make you wealthy and give you grace to enjoy it.
I alone can bring you from a low estate and place you where no one can boast of taking you to.
I alone can change your path instantly, erase your past and make you a wonder!
I alone can empower you to be wealthy and holy at the same time,
I alone can make you enjoy life and give you blessings without measure
I alone can make you enjoy A RICHER LIFE! You need me to complete your 'package.'.......

10 Most Powerful Men in Africa

Forbes magazine has released its 2014 list of The
10 Most Powerful Men In Africa and 3 Nigerians made it. They are;

1. Simdul Shagaya: Tech Entrepreneur and Founder of Konga.com and DealDey.com

2. Chinedu Echeruo: Tech Entrepreneur & Founder of Hopstop.com and Tripology.com

3. Kola Karim, Nigeria, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Shoreline Energy International.

4. January Makamba, Tanzania, Deputy Minister of Communication, Science & Technology and Member of Parliament

5. Ashish Thakkar, Uganda, Founder and Managing Director of Mara Group, Mara Foundation and Mara Online

6. Mamadou Toure, Cameroon, Founder and Executive Director of Africa 2.0

7. Amadou Mahtar Ba, Senegal, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the African Media Initiative

8. Ben Magara, Zimbabwe, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Lonmin

9. Komla Dumor, Ghana, Lead Presenter on “Focus On Africa” and BBC World News’ European morning segment

10. Mohammed Dewji, Tanzania, Group Chief Executive Officer of Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Limited