White rice, white bread, refined sugar, dairy, refined oil & refined salt, can all cause constipation. Give your body rest from food inbetween meals. Salads are good as are fruits (on an empty stomach only). Once you eat brown rice, you can never suffer from constipation unless emotionally you are holding onto stuff that you infact need to let go.

Whether pregnant or not people need to eat well to remain well. Switch to whole unrefined natural (preferably organic) foods. Brown rice is a must. Dried fruit is a must. Ghee & cold-pressed oil is a must. Rock salt instead of refined salt is essential. Include all colors of food in your diet. Initially the mother-to-be will not feel like eating. Her body will want to cleanse in preparation for the new life. Nature plans for perfection. Once the appetite is back, she needs to eat according to her desire but best kept within the range of whole foods. No need to eat for two but she must eat as much as hunger demands. Sour foods are a must to be able to absorb calcium. Junk & refined foods to be avoided. Keeping her in good spirits is as important as the food she eats. For more pregnancy info & diet articles, go to www.birthindia.org and www.consciousfood.com

A lactating mother needs everything that a pregnant mother needs (read above). She can do with more ghee & liquids like juices & soups. She can avoid milk & other dairy because often this causes colic in babies. Remember a cow does not drink milk to produce milk ! For more info on lactation, go to www.llli.org

Make him delicious non-fried foods or at least ensure that only cold-pressed (ghani) oil is used.

Have tea with jaggery or golden sugar. Once you begin to start cleansing your diet, you will find that it will not need tea. Try green tea. If you must drink tea. At least have the organic version of even dust tea (which is the kind used to make strong Indian tea). You will realise the difference in taste: drinking non-organic tea is like drinking a cup full of chemicals ! And I am only talking about the pesticides in the tea !!