Do you suffer from heartburn frequently? It could be a case of Acid Reflux Disease, also known as GERD, i.i., Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Normally, during the process of digestion, there is a sphincter at the mouth of the stomach, that closes once you’ve finished eating. Then, the contents move into the stomach, where it is digested with the help of digestive enzymes. During the digestion process, acids are released. If the sphincter does not seal itself completely or opens too often, the acid flows back into the esophageal tract and causes heartburn. If this condition persists, you are suffering from acid reflux. Causes A stomach abnormality known as hiatal hernia is a common cause of acid reflux. Lying on your back or bending over the waist, after eating a heavy meal. Being overweight and obese. Consuming certain foods can cause acid reflux. These include tomatoes, garlic, mint, onion, spicy and fatty foods. Smoking. Consumption of alcohol, coffee, tea and carbonated beverages. Snacking just before retiring for the night. Pregnancy. Blood pressure medication, certain muscle relaxers, common drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen also cause acid reflux Symptoms The common symptoms are heartburn, where the burning sensation extends from the chest to the throat and regurgitation. A bitter-tasting and sour acid backs into your throat and mouth. Other symptoms that show up include nausea, bloating, continuous hiccups, burping, bloody/black stools, vomit covered with blood, dysphagia, unexplained weight loss, dry cough, wheezing, hoarseness, and chronic sore throat. Diet and lifestyle changes can help in reducing the symptoms of acid reflux disease. A diet for acid reflux is crafted by excluding foods that can trigger the symptoms and make them worse. Dietary Changes Acid reflux disease can cause a lot of discomfort. Dietary changes help to reduce the symptoms by excluding certain foods. Eating small and frequent meals rather than eating three large meals in a day, can greatly help in alleviating the symptoms.

Do you suffer from heartburn frequently? It could be a case of Acid Reflux Disease, also known as GERD, i.i., Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Normally, during the process of digestion, there is a sphincter at the mouth of the stomach, that closes once you’ve finished eating. Then, the contents move into the stomach, where it is digested with the help of digestive enzymes. During the digestion process, acids are released. If the sphincter does not seal itself completely or opens too often, the acid flows back into the esophageal tract and causes heartburn. If this condition persists, you are suffering from acid reflux. Causes A stomach abnormality known as hiatal hernia is a common cause of acid reflux. Lying on your back or bending over the waist, after eating a heavy meal. Being overweight and obese. Consuming certain foods can cause acid reflux. These include tomatoes, garlic, mint, onion, spicy and fatty foods. Smoking. Consumption of alcohol, coffee, tea and carbonated beverages. Snacking just before retiring for the night. Pregnancy. Blood pressure medication, certain muscle relaxers, common drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen also cause acid reflux Symptoms The common symptoms are heartburn, where the burning sensation extends from the chest to the throat and regurgitation. A bitter-tasting and sour acid backs into your throat and mouth. Other symptoms that show up include nausea, bloating, continuous hiccups, burping, bloody/black stools, vomit covered with blood, dysphagia, unexplained weight loss, dry cough, wheezing, hoarseness, and chronic sore throat. Diet and lifestyle changes can help in reducing the symptoms of acid reflux disease. A diet for acid reflux is crafted by excluding foods that can trigger the symptoms and make them worse. Dietary Changes Acid reflux disease can cause a lot of discomfort. Dietary changes help to reduce the symptoms by excluding certain foods. Eating small and frequent meals rather than eating three large meals in a day, can greatly help in alleviating the symptoms.

The high blood sugar levels can increase the risks of heart disorders, diabetes, eye problems, and other symptoms considerably. Therefore, it is necessary to check them regularly in a clinic for reducing major health problems. Those who are having high blood sugar should focus more on controlling them effectively in order to eliminate the risks. There are some ways available for controlling the sugar levels naturally which help to minimize potential threats. One can follow them properly for keeping health in a better condition. Moreover, they show ways to control blood sugar levels effectively to increase the quality of life. A majority of people these days face high levels of blood sugar affecting their normal lives considerably, and the following tips are useful for lowering them efficiently. Increasing the intake of fiber foods Fiber foods play an important role in slowing down the sugar absorption successfully which give ways for living a better life. The high fiber diet can help to reduce symptoms of diabetes by improving the blood sugar levels. Most vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains are rich in high fiber enabling people to focus more on their health. Monitoring blood sugar levels It is an important one to monitor the blood sugar levels regularly for controlling them without any troubles. Another thing is that it shows ways for determining the change of medications and diet plans for making a right decision. Ensuring enough sleep Lack of sleep and sleep deprivation might trigger high sugar levels. Therefore, one should focus more on having a good sleep for taking control over them efficiently. It is necessary to make sure that a person is getting a high-quality sleep in beds for gaining more advantages. Consuming mineral rich foods Foods that have a high content of minerals such as magnesium and chromium will help to control the blood sugar levels.

Apple cider vinegar is a very common weight loss remedy among people active about weight loss. Apple cider vinegar has a number of health benefits and must be included by most of us in our diets. It helps in leading a probiotic life, acts as a tonic for your body, and allows you to lead a healthy life. Even as many people did not trust apple cider vinegar for weight loss in the beginning, it has grown in popularity. Apple cider vinegar weight loss plans are being used widely by people, and it has also proved to be a strong method for gradual weight loss. Apple cider vinegar belongs right in your weight loss plan as it is high on acetic acid, and acetic acid has many properties that lead to weight loss. Acetic acid dissolves into acetate and hydrogen in the human body as it is a small-chain fatty acid. Here is why and how apple cider vinegar could be the protagonist of your weight loss plans. Lowers blood sugar levels : Acetic acid is said to improve the sugar taking ability of the liver and muscles. This, in turn, reduces the blood sugar levels. Effectively reduces insulin levels : Lower insulin to glucagon is said to result in body fat burning; acetic acid reduces insulin levels to glucagon. Higher metabolism : A higher metabolism means that your food gets digested faster than usual and you burn a lot more calories; acetic acid contributes to speeding your metabolism thereby inducing weight loss. Minimal fat storage : Acetic acid, in a study, proved that it could help in increasing the expression of genes that reduce belly fat storage. It also reduces the liver fat, hence leading to evasion from obesity. Reduces appetite : In a study performed to test acetic acid, there was a claim that acetic acid has the ability to push down centers in the brain that control appetite, hence reducing your food intake.

Treatment plans and medications for depression According to the World Health Organization, the estimated number of people around the world affected by depression are around 350 million. It is the most common illness worldwide and is a leading cause of disability. WHO states that it is a common mental disorder that is characterized by persistent sadness and a loss of interest in activities that a person usually enjoys, accompanied by an inability to carry out daily activities for at least two full weeks. What causes depression? While the cause of depression is not fully understood, it is likely to be a complex combination of genetic, environmental, and biological and psychosocial factors. Also, while depression can affect people of all ages from all walks of life, poverty, unemployment, life events like the death of a loved one or a relationship break-up, physical illness, and problems caused by alcohol and drug use are likely to increase the risk. The symptoms involve losing interest in doing things that one would usually enjoy, change in appetite and sleep patterns, and feeling sad for at least 2 weeks. Approaches to treat depression If the symptoms persist for more than two weeks, patients are advised to get professional help from a therapist who can evaluate the symptoms and recommend the right approach for treatment. It is a condition that can be treated by therapy, medication, or both, and the treatment approaches vary depending on the type of depression. Here are some psychotherapy approaches to know about: Interpersonal therapy (IPT) This approach focuses on the past and present social roles and interpersonal interactions of the patient and attempts to help them find better ways to deal with their current problems. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) It focuses on helping patients understand the thoughts and feelings that influence behavior.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) describes lung diseases which include refractory asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. The disease causes increased breathlessness. Eating foods that help boost your energy if you have COPD is essential. You can still eat some comfort foods if you are losing weight, as breathing also burns more calories when you have COPD. Those who wish to watch their weight can eat energy or nutrient-packed foods. This will keep the calories in check and also help you feel good. If you get tired more often while eating or have trouble breathing, eat 4 to 6 smaller meals than 3 large meals. Additionally, you should eat enough but not completely fill your stomach so that you can relax. Breakfast is an important meal, those suffering from COPD get easily tired during the day. In this case, they can have a heavy breakfast, as it could work as an energy booster. Moreover, keep snacks which are healthy at hand, like nuts, to avoid saturated fats and unhealthy cholesterol. Oatmeal You can start your day with oatmeal which is rich in vitamin A, iron, calcium, and fiber. Having it with milk makes it more nutritious. The fiber content makes you feel fuller with fewer calories; you can also add berries instead of adding artificial sweeteners. Cheese You can add cheese to your vegetables, along with rice and potatoes, to increase the calorie count and nutrient value of any meal. The extra calcium is great as most medicines prescribed for COPD make the bones brittle. Look for a cheese that is labeled as reduced-fat or part-skim. Milk Milk provides vitamin D and calcium which keeps your bones strong. Try drinking more milk than water. Fiber You need at least 30 grams of fiber. You can go for lentil soup, split pea soup with low sodium, eat fresh vegetables, fruits, bread, whole grain cereals, brown rice, bran, and dry beans.

Arthritis, in simple language, refers to joint disease causing joint pain. Arthritis is not a single disease; doctors have been able to discover more than 100 types of arthritis. Arthritis is not age-specific, which means it can happen to anyone, at any age, any sex, and any race. In America, it is the major cause of disability where more than 300,000 children and 50 million adults suffer from arthritis. The body of a person suffering from arthritis is in an inflammatory state. Certain foods are to be avoided with arthritis as they not only increase inflammation but also push the person towards obesity and other chronic diseases such as heart attack and disabilities. Even though arthritis does not have a specific diet cure, certain foods to avoid with arthritis have shown to trigger inflammation, affect bones, and damage the immune system. There are different kinds of food that have the ability to promote or control inflammation. When anti-inflammatory food options are made a part of daily diet, pain resulting due to arthritis can be crushed to a great extent. Certain inflammation triggers in foods that can lead to arthritis and attached pain and swelling. Here is a list of foods to avoid with arthritis. Fried and processed foods – Researchers have proved that by lowering consumption of fried food and frozen meals, inflammation can be reduced and natural defenses of the body can be restored. Red meat – Red meat is loaded saturated fats well as omega-6 fatty acids and can trigger inflammation. This food should be avoided if you have arthritis. Patients have reported that after avoiding red meat, they have noticed a drastic improvement in the symptoms. Sugar and refined carbs – High sugar level results in inflammation. It is best to avoid processed food, candies, cakes as well as cold drinks loaded with soda.

If you suffer from a burning sensation or acute discomfort that travels up from your stomach into your chest and the regurgitation of food that you recently ate along with a sharp and sour taste of acid, these symptoms are native to acid reflux. While the occasional experience of acid reflux need not worry you, if it becomes regular, more intense, and disturbs your sleep, you must visit your doctor. Food that enters the stomach is retained by means of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is a muscular ring, and it must close immediately as it may become weak or damaged. If it doesn’t close fully or remains open too often, it causes digestive acids to move up into the food pipe or esophagus. This causes the typical symptoms of heartburn, sour taste in the mouth, regurgitation, dyspepsia or burning sensation in the stomach, nausea, upset stomach, bloated feeling, difficulty swallowing, burping, dry cough, and a sore throat. Sometimes, the symptoms are so severe that they can be mistaken for a heart attack. If symptoms persist and are left untreated, you can develop gastroesophageal reflux disease. Relationship Between Food and Acid Reflux Your diet has a significant impact on acid reflux. Foods that are acidic in nature contribute to the increase of acids in the stomach and there are more chances of these causing reflux through a weak or damaged LES. There are many such trigger foods, and along with the medication, exercise and lifestyle changes that your doctor recommends, avoiding such foods can help you manage and eliminate your symptoms. Eating heavy meals close to bedtime and lying down immediately after a meal can trigger an attack. Being obese or pregnant, bending over after a meal, snacking close to bedtime, smoking, and taking over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen and muscle relaxants, certain antibiotics, and blood-pressure medications can set off acid reflux symptoms.

You are not alone in the struggle of losing belly fat. The Lancet recently reported that about 160 million people in the country are currently struggling with overweight or obesity. This is probably the biggest lifestyle health problem in the country. For many people, being a little overweight is of little concern, but belly fat is a big concern if you are image conscious. For people trying to lose weight, getting rid of belly fat is always the primary objective. However, this is usually easier said than done. A common false belief is that it is possible to target belly fat alone with exercises like crunches, but the fastest way to lose belly fat is with a comprehensive exercise and lifestyle adjustment program. There is no magic pill or routine to get rid of stubborn belly fat but a need to change your calorie intake and utilization. Here are some tips on how to lose stubborn belly fat at a faster rate. Create a 20%-25% Calorie Deficit A calorie deficit occurs when you take in fewer calories than you need. A calorie deficit helps burn stomach fat because the body has to fill the deficit by burning fat. A study was done at the University of Jyväskylä, which involved two groups of athletes. One group of athletes creating a 10%-12% deficit, or about 300 calories, while the second group created a 20%-25% calorie deficit (approx. 750 calories). After one month, the group with the larger deficit lost fat at an average of 4.4 pounds, while the first group had much less success. Creating a calorie deficit requires careful tracking of your diet including portion control. Consult a dietician as the first step in answering your question on how to lose stubborn belly fat. Create Weight and HIIT Workout Plans Creating an appropriate workout plan must be the head start in the fastest way to lose belly fat .

Hyperglycemia or high blood sugar is one of the most common lifestyle-associated disorders. It is characterized by a high level of blood sugar level called hyperglycemia. In a healthy person, the normal range of blood sugar is 70-130 mg/dL between meals which can spike to 180 mg/dL 1–2 hours post meals. A chronic hyperglycemia can be detrimental to the blood vessels, nerve tissues, and several other body organs. According to a new study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the country alone, more than 100 million adults are suffering from high blood sugar. There are several ways in which the question of how to control blood sugar can be answered. However, before looking into that, let us know about the complications that high blood sugar can lead to. Complications caused due to high blood sugar Uncontrolled high sugar levels can lead to nerve and kidney damage, cardiovascular disorders, damage to eye lens, damage to retina which may cause complete blindness, higher chances of skin infections, infections in teeth and gums, and slow healing of an injury. Smart ways to control blood sugar The following tips can help one on how to control their blood sugar. However, an expert advice or consultation must be sought before starting any medication or natural treatment. Avoid huge meals : A diabetic patient is advised to keep his/her meal size small. This helps in effective regulation of blood sugar. However, one should not skip a meal. Add resistant starch to diet : The addition of resistant starch in the diet is one of the best ways to control blood sugar. Resistant starch bypasses the small intestine and subsequently gets digested by the “good bacteria” present in the large intestine. This helps in lowering the blood sugar effectively. This phenomenon is often referred to as the “second-meal” effect.

One may have come across the concept of keto recently or rather seen in recipes, food packing and all over the Internet. It is the form of diet that is unique in nature because of the food items that it contains. They have a mix of highly fatty foods and low carb foods. This kind of diet involves the reduction in the amount of carbohydrates that one consumes and replaced with the fats. The reduction in the amount of carbs that are taken into the body puts the body in a metabolic state that is termed as ketosis. In such a state the body becomes very efficient at burning down the fats in order to derive energy. In the liver the fats are converted into ketones that supply energy to the brain. Advantages of the keto foods Initially this diet was used in the treatment of seizures and it has been successful in reducing seizures for several years. When a person begins this sort of diet there are many metabolic changes that one experiences. Studies have proved that the parameters of health that are linked to carrying excessive weight get enhanced such as high blood pressure, high triglycerides and cholesterol and insulin resistance. As the body is adapting to the higher dietary fats that one consumes in this diet it results in an increase in the oxidation of fats. When the carbs are reduced it directly has an impact on the concentration of glucose and thereby lowering them as time passes. This diet could be considered as a direct means of getting the diabetes of a person under control. Disadvantages of keto foods As whole food groups are eliminated in this diet, the nutrients that had to be obtained from whole grains and fruits are restricted and can cause deficiencies especially if the keto diet is not followed correctly or if there is no proper guidance provided to the person.

Irritable bowel syndrome or spastic colon is a health disorder that affects the colon or large intestine. This painful condition can strike anyone at any time. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition that requires long-term management. Remedies for irritable bowel syndrome focus on providing relief from symptoms such as pain and abdominal cramps. IBS causes pain and discomfort but does not cause permanent damage to the intestinal tissues. Since there is no known cure for IBS, those affected by it will need to make changes in their diet and lifestyle to control its symptoms. Women are more prone to IBS than men. Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome Bloating, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and constipation are some common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome affects as many as one in five adults in the country. IBS affects a patient’s digestion and causes abdominal pain and changes in normal bowel function. There can be many triggers for IBS such as stress, unhealthy eating habits, irregular meal timings, indiscriminate caffeine consumption, or side effects of medicines. Top ten home remedies for irritable bowel syndrome So far, there is no single remedy or treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. However, there are numerous remedies for irritable bowel syndrome that help combat its symptoms. Here is a list of top ten home remedies for irritable bowel syndrome. Before following these remedies, it is best to consult your physician. Slippery elm extract: Native Americans have used this herbal supplement for several generations. It soothes the intestinal lining and relieves diarrheal symptoms. It is available in bottles as a therapeutic extract. You should mix a teaspoon of this extract in a glass of warm water. Green tea: It is rich in antioxidants and has a relaxing effect on the intestines and colon. You can make a glass of green tea and have it along with two drops of freshly squeezed lime.