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Nutrition

Solving infertility issues: Women selling their eggs for quick money?

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The thought of a woman to sell her eggs because of financial challenges may seem too easy a way to make money.

The motivation to do this could be stronger because after all, the eggs are “wasted” every month in a woman who has no plans to conceive and so what is the farce about making some cash out of them.

Currently, there are women or couples who are willing to pay sub­stantial sum of money as compen­sation to women willing to donate their eggs, and the financial reward offered to an egg donor may often be bait many potential donors can­not resist.

This results in their participation in the egg donation process, obliv­ious of the risks relative to their health and safety, including loss of fertility and sometimes the death of the donor.

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According to a Specialist Ob­stetrician Gynaecologist with the Women’s Health Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr Dixie Constantini, in an interview with The Spectator last Friday, said egg donation, med­ically, was the process by which a woman was given medication to stimulate ovulation and her eggs harvested.

She explained that the choice by a woman to be a recipient of a donor egg generally fell into three categories.

She said that the first were women who were unable to pro­duce viable eggs of their own. The second category included women above the age of 40 opting for as­sisted reproduction, and the third comprised women who had genetic conditions and wished not to pass on to their children, or who had multiple pregnancy failures which could not be medically explained.

The Obstetrician Gynaecologist said in some cases, the recipient might be a surrogate mother who had offered to carry the baby on behalf of another person or family.

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“The recipient could also choose to carry the baby by herself after the donated egg has been fertilised by the semen of her partner. This usually happens when she intends to keep the baby and wants to experience pregnancy on her own” she explained.

She said each month women who had reached puberty and had not gone past menopause released egg from their ovaries, and on rare oc­casions released two.

“The egg if healthy can be fer­tilised by an equally healthy sperm. The union of egg and sperm is termed as fertilisation and this is key to any pregnancy occurring. The womb of a woman has a special lin­ing that can increase and decrease in thickness in response to signals received from the body,” DrCon­stantini said.

She said that while some women donated their eggs purely for mon­etary benefit, a few others were motivated by altruism.

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She said the collected eggs were stored and could be used by other women for the purposes of having a baby by a process known as assisted reproduction.

“Healthy Women between the ages of 18 and 32 are usually con­sidered suitable candidates for egg donation. This criterion is, howev­er, country-specific. A limit to the number of times an individual can donate eggs exists. These limits, set by health authorities of various countries, are intended primarily to safeguard the health of the donor” she said.

She said in some countries the upper limit for donations by an indi­vidual was six during their lifetime, however, in other jurisdictions, the upper limit was 10 donations per individual during their lifetime.

DrConstantini cautioned women who wished to donate eggs to be well informed and also go to trust­ed heath facilities.

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“Not all monies are worth it,” she cautioned, as she explained that a person could have fertility problems later in life or even lose her life during egg retrieval if not done well.

She said, it was important that before a person made the decision to become an egg donor, she should know that as much as the process could be complication free, the hormones given before this proce­dure could have side effects includ­ing headaches or bloating.

The Specialist Obstetrician Gy­naecologist said the hormones could also come with side effects such as mood changes , extreme enlarge­ment of ovaries, fluid filling the lungs and abdomen of the donor, increased blood clot formation and having a stroke.

She, therefore, advised women to make sure they are thoroughly informed of the risks that come with the procedure,s as they can encounter post procedure and think seriously about the decision to donate egg before they agree to go ahead with signing consent forms to undergo a procedure as such”.

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Meanwhile, in an interview with some members of the public in re­action to a question as to whether they would be willing to do an egg donation or be a recipient, there were divergent views.

A student of a public university who spoke on condition of anonym­ity said she would like to donate her eggs because she was not ready to get married now and felt instead of losing them every month, she would rather give to someone who was desperate.

“I see nothing wrong with it. I feel it is just like donating blood to someone who is in dire need of it. The person will be eternally grateful to you and even bless you. I would like to do it for free than sell it. It would make me feel bet­ter “ she said.

“Under this economy I wouldn’t mind selling my eggs. I will make good money and I don’t think this is a crime or sin” a trader also said.

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A 40-yea-old nurse said if she had found herself desperate to have a child as a younger person, she would have gladly gone for the op­tion of being a recipient of another person’s egg.

She was, however, concerned that there was not “straight for­ward “ laws in the country regulat­ing the practice and so might give room to abuse by young girls or women which would and compro­mise their health.

From DzifaTettehTay, Tema.

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Nutrition

Benefits of vegetables

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Vegetables are important part of our daily food. They are foods that provide the body with many nutrients needed to stay healthy and strong. Examples of vegetables include cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, spinach, garden eggs, okra, cucumber, lettuce, green pepper and onions. Vegetables can be eaten in many different ways, such as in soups, stews, salads and sauces. Eating vegetables regularly can improve our health and help protect us from many diseases.

One of the main benefits of vegetables is that they give the body important vitamins and minerals. Different vegetables contain different nutrients. For example, carrots contain vitamin A, which is important for healthy eyes and good vision. Green vegetables such as spinach contain useful vitamins and minerals that help the body grow and function properly. Tomatoes and peppers also contain vitamins that support the body. This is why eating different types of vegetables is better than eating only one type.

Vegetables also help to strengthen the immune system. The immune system protects the body from infections and diseases. Some vegetables contain vitamin C and other nutrients that help the body fight illness. Eating vegetables as part of a balanced diet can therefore help the body maintain a strong natural defence system. However, vegetables are not a medicine and should be combined with other healthy foods and good health habits.

Another important benefit of vegetables is that they help the digestive system. Many vegetables contain fibre. Fibre helps food move properly through the digestive system and can help prevent constipation. It also supports a healthy stomach and bowel. People who eat enough fibre may have an easier time passing stool. Drinking enough water along with eating fibre-rich foods is also important for good digestion.

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Vegetables can also help people maintain a healthy weight. Most vegetables contain a lot of water and fibre and are not very high in calories. This means that they can make a person feel full without adding too many calories to a meal. For example, adding cabbage, carrots, lettuce or cucumber to a meal can make the meal more filling. Choosing vegetables instead of eating too many highly processed foods can support healthy eating.

Eating vegetables may also help protect the heart. Some vegetables contain potassium, fibre and other nutrients that support heart health. A diet that includes plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and other healthy foods can help reduce the risk of some health problems. Vegetables can also be useful for people who want to reduce the amount of unhealthy foods in their diet.

Vegetables are also important for children and young people because their bodies are still growing. Children need enough nutrients for healthy growth, strong bones, good eyesight and proper development. Parents and caregivers should therefore encourage children to eat vegetables from an early age. Making vegetables attractive and including them in meals that children enjoy can help them develop healthy eating habits.

Vegetables can also contribute to healthy skin. Some vegetables contain vitamins and other natural substances that support the health of the skin. For example, vegetables rich in vitamin C can support the body’s production of collagen, which is important for the skin. Eating vegetables, drinking enough water and maintaining good personal hygiene can all contribute to overall health and appearance.

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Another benefit is that vegetables can provide the body with antioxidants. Antioxidants help protect the body’s cells from damage caused by harmful substances known as free radicals. Many colourful vegetables contain these protective substances. This is one reason health experts often encourage people to eat vegetables of different colours, including green, red, yellow and orange vegetables.

Vegetables can also improve the quality of our meals. They add colour, taste and variety to food. A meal containing vegetables can be more attractive and enjoyable than a meal made up of only one or two types of food. Vegetables can be added to rice, yam, plantain, beans, pasta, soups and stews. This makes it easy for people to include them in their normal meals.

In conclusion, vegetables provide many benefits to humans. They give the body vitamins, minerals, fibre and other useful nutrients. They support good digestion, help the immune system, contribute to healthy weight, support heart health and can help protect the body from some diseases.

WHO- “Healthy diet” Jan 26

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Nutrition

Boiled yam with chicken and vegetable stew

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Delicious vegetable stew and yam
Delicious vegetable stew and yam

Ingredients

  • -1 medium tuber of yam
  • -500 grammes of  chicken
  • -3 large tomatoes
  • – 2 large onion
  • -1 green pepper
  • -2 carrots
  • -1 small cabbage
  • -1 handful of green beans
  • -2 cloves of garlic
  • -1 small piece of ginger
  • -2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • -1 teaspoonful of  curry powder
  • -1 teaspoonful of  dried thyme
  • -Salt to taste
  • -Water

Method

-Wash, peel and cut the yam into medium-sized pieces.

– Put the yam in a saucepan, add water and a little salt, and boil until tender.

– Wash and cut the chicken into suitable pieces. Season with salt, garlic, ginger and curry powder

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-Heat a small amount of vegetable oil in a saucepan and lightly brown the chicken.

-Blend or chop the tomatoes, onion, garlic, ginger and green pepper.

– Add the blended mixture to the chicken and allow it to cook for about 10 minutes.

-Wash and chop the carrots, cabbage and green beans into small pieces.

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-Add the vegetables to the stew and cook for another 5–7 minutes, ensuring they do not become overly soft.

-Add the seasoning cube and adjust the salt to taste.

-Allow the stew to simmer until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and the sauce has thickened.

– Drain the boiled yam and serve hot with the vegetable chicken stew.

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By Desmond Aidoo

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