Folic Acid

Folic acid (also known as vitamin B9, vitamin Bc or folacin) and folate (the naturally occurring form), as well as pteroyl-L-glutamic acid, pteroyl-L-glutamate, and pteroylmonoglutamic acid are forms of the water-soluble vitamin B9. Folic acid is itself not biologically active, but its biological importance is due to tetrahydrofolate and other derivatives after its conversion to dihydrofolic acid in the liver.

Vitamin B9 (folic acid and folate inclusive) is essential to numerous bodily functions. The human body needs folate to synthesize DNA, repair DNA, and methylate DNA as well as to act as a cofactor in biological reactions involving folate. It is especially important in aiding rapid cell division and growth, such as in infancy and pregnancy, as well as in "feeding" some cancers. While a normal diet also high in natural folates may decrease the risk of cancer, there is diverse evidence that high folate intake from supplementation may actually promote some cancers as well as precancerous tumors and lesions. Children and adults both require folic acid to produce healthy red blood cellsand prevent anemia. -From wikipedia.

Foods rich in Folate

• Black-eyed peas
• Lentils
• Okra
• Kidney beans
• Great Northern beans
• Broccoli
• Iceberg lettuce
• Beets
• Lima beans
• Sunflower seeds
• Spinach
• Brussels sprouts
• Corn
• Cereal
• Asparagus
• Baked beans
• Green peas
• Baked potato
• Cabbage
• Avocados
• Peanuts
• Romaine lettuce
• Tomato Juice
• Orange juice
• Strawberries
• Oranges
• Eggs
• Bananas

PREGNANT WITHOUT A PARTNER

Millions of women each year find themselves pregnant without a partner. Sometimes relationships end during pregnancy and sometimes before the pregnancy was discovered. Whatever the reason for the situation, being alone and pregnant can be a scary time. 

Women often feel isolated when they are pregnant without a partner. Childbirth preparation classes, parenting classes and baby stores are filled with happy couples waiting for their little bundle. If you are waiting alone for your little bundle, it can feel like a lonely time. 

The woman's partner is the natural choice for sharing the ups and downs of pregnancy. When you are without a partner, you may feel like you have no one to share the joy of your pregnancy with you. While pregnancy may seem scary at times, it is also a happy and miraculous time of your life. Don't let your single status prevent you from enjoying this amazing time in your life. 

You may be hoping for a reconciliation before or after the baby is born. This may happen and if it's what you want, I hope it works out. However, in many cases it does not. A baby won't heal a relationship. Even in the healthiest marriages, a baby adds stress. Rather than dwelling on what may be in the future, focus on the present. 

The first thing you need to do is find a support network for you and the baby. You will need someone with you during labor. You will need some help after the baby is born. This could be the same person, or a few different friends and family members. You may love your mom and want her around when you get home, but not in the delivery room. If this is the case, ask a friend to be your coach and your mom to bring you and the baby home from the hospital. 

The first days at home with a baby are a unique mixture of sheer joy, sheer exhaustion and sheer panic. You are madly in love with your new baby, but question every decision you make regarding her care. You will be exhausted, but very happy. Be sure you have help for the first few weeks, while you adjust to motherhood. 

Support groups, such as this group, may be a good place to connect with other single parents. These groups are a good source of support. You will find people to talk with who have been through similar situations. Some communities even have support groups for single people alone during pregnancy.

by: Rowena Joy Gonzales Sagayo

Women Then and Now

Once upon a time, women were expected to stay home and do all the household chores while serving her husband and taking care of her children; do laundries, iron clothes, wash the dishes, prepare food three times a day or more. We were weak by nature, uncompetitive, unadventurous, unexciting and boring. We are very blessed to live in this present generation; where women are able to do what men can do. Compete with higher ranking politicians; get promoted to our jobs, clever, driven, and the best thing of all braver. We have unparallel senses; we are able to multi- task and think of many different things at the same time. We have to be proud of ourselves for being so special and gifted with such talents, skills and good personalities.

-Esvee Jane Sangalang

Single Lady

Being single doesn’t mean that nobody wants you or being alone. You're just being wise. To be single is an advantage, because you have your find time to discover yourself. You can focus on what you want in life. Take note of this: once you get married there are things that you won’t be able to do anymore because someone is controlling you. Also, you can control your money. Plus, you can spend more time on socializing with different people and with that, you will learn a lot of things. Singlehood is like being an independent person. It means that you are strong enough to face all the challenges in life. Just ENJOY BEING SINGLE!

by: Michaella Penalosa Roxas

CAREER WOMAN : LIFE BEING A WORKAHOLIC

'A career woman is closely to be a working girl who has a certain profession as well as a position considering big and small companies. As we can see nowadays there are couple that holds a career position we may think that the two has greater plans in the future that the both of them must have a certain profession. Upon looking at this, when you saw a career woman, people can say that this girl is more likely to be called a workaholic chique or a focused woman. People look at a career woman as a host or model in a way that a career woman may inspire them to be a better individual, that they can be like her. Being a career woman considers your time and effort. You must give everything that you've got in order to qualify the target position, not just as simple as that, but you have to give an extra and be an "expert" as other may say. Forget holidays, social life, special gatherings, volunteer a lot in projects, be more jolly, always think of the positive side, choose the RIGHT thing and never forget to OBEY the RULES or just do your thing to be one of the highest, those are the stuffs that a career woman MUST consider most of the time. Make yourself busy, learn and know how to manage your time. Adjustments are usual, you must know how to handle them. Being a career woman and a proffessional you may be proud of your achievements, you can say that you've been there, done that, you can share your learnings through teaching the new in a company and inspire others that they may lead themselves to their goals. Once you have surpassed all the challenges you can say that I have fulfilled myself that I have come to an end and let others continue what I have done. Always remember that all good deeds done wholeheartedly has a corresponding brighter rewards at the end of the day.

Just be who you are and everything will follow.

Jamie Milcah Y. Sotto