Managing type 2 diabetes with medication Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way the body produces insulin. It is the most common type of diabetes and there are about 27 million people in the country that suffer from this disease. In this condition, the body’s cells are unable to respond to the insulin produced. While this is a lifelong disease, it is possible to manage this condition with the help of the right diet, exercise, and prescriptions by your doctor. Ensure that you are aware of the symptoms and take immediate help if they last for too long. Symptoms to be aware of: Frequent urination Tingling or numbness in your hands and feet Non-healing wounds Yeast infections Blurry vision What causes type 2 diabetes? Not just one, but usually a combination of things causes this condition. Genes Your DNA determines how your body will make insulin, and hence some people would genetically be at the risk of developing this condition. Obesity Being overweight can cause insulin resistance, and hence it is important for everyone to keep a check on their diet and exercise. Glucose production The liver makes and sends out glucose when there is not enough in the body. But for some people, this secretion is unstoppable resulting in excess glucose in the body. Metabolic syndrome People who have conditions like high blood glucose, extra fat around the waist, high blood pressure, triglycerides, and high cholesterol are more likely to be affected with type 2 diabetes. Some medications that you can research more about are: SymlinPen Its common name being Pramlintide, it is used with mealtime insulin, along with a proper diet and exercise program that helps control high blood sugar level in people who are suffering from type 1 and 2 diabetes. Patients who are already using insulin take this medication to control their blood sugar.

There’s a host of unhealthy ailments you’re exposing yourself to if you eat unhealthy foods. A lesser-known effect of poor diets, however, is that they could end up triggering bipolar mood episodes. There is increasing evidence that nutrition also affects mental health and there isn’t a specific diet recommendation for bipolar disorders. But there are certain choices for foods that could help in managing bipolar disorder episodes. Here’s listing some of them: Caffeine Caffeine is an underappreciated stimulant and trigger element of manic episodes. It could end up impairing sleep patterns too, and sleep deprivation is an infamous trigger for mania and bipolar mood swings. According to the National Sleep Foundation, caffeine could increase anxiety and irritability and needs to be avoided as one approaches bedtime. Additionally, some over-the-counter medications like pseudoephedrine that is found in some cold and cough medicines, possess stimulant properties that are very much like caffeine’s and can also trigger mania and bipolar mood swings. Alcohol Bipolar disorder and alcohol make for a terrible combination. According to the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (NHCC), alcohol could end up negatively affecting bipolar mood swings and also possibly interacting negatively with medications such as lithium. According to the study of 11,000 people published in the September 2015 issue of The Lancet Psychiatry, the lives of people who suffer from bipolar disorder are also more likely to end prematurely if they drink alcohol or use other substances. Sugar Sugar is probably one of the biggest triggers of manic episodes. Those who consume diets that are high in sugar will find it more difficult to control obesity and weight gain and also end up making certain bipolar disorder drug treatments less effective. Those who find the need to satisfy sweet cravings can eat fruits instead. Salt According to the NHCC, if someone is taking lithium, then moderating one’s salt intake could be a tricky job as an increase or decrease in salt intake could affect lithium levels.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is found in all the cells of our body. It is essential for the proper functioning and production of hormones like vitamin D and pepsin. Cholesterol is also found in food items from animal sources like egg yolk, cheese, and meat. Even our body is capable of generating all the cholesterol it requires. The thing with cholesterol is to maintain its equilibrium as too much of it tends to combine with other food substances in the blood and form plaque which eventually sticks to the arteries, leading to a condition called atherosclerosis. This can subsequently cause multiple coronary heart diseases blocking up the blood flow through the arteries. But as it is said there is always a solution to a problem. Likewise, cholesterol can be easily eliminated by many methods. One being, use of prescribed drugs like statins that function by inhibiting an enzyme needed to produce cholesterol. But with the interaction of these drugs, specific food products can turn out to be very dangerous causing severe side effects like joint aches, muscle pain, vomiting, increased blood sugar, kidney damage and many unexpected neurological side effects. It has also been reported that statins can cause a breakdown in muscle cells leading to permanent muscle damage. Alternative to statins Cholesterol absorption inhibitors If statins are not your savior, then a common alternative to statins is cholesterol absorption inhibitor. These drugs function by preventing your small intestine from properly absorbing the cholesterol you consume. It is pretty evident that what is not absorbed cannot reach your bloodstream. One such inhibitor is “Ezetimibe” which when combined with a low-fat diet helps reduce cholesterol efficiently. Resins Other common alternatives to statins are sequestrants or acid-binding resins. They are efficient and function by binding itself with the bile in your intestines, blocking cholesterol absorption to a great extent.

Uric acid is a natural waste product that results from the breakdown of crystalline compounds found in the body. Usually, uric acid dissolves in the blood and gets passed out in the form of urine. If your food contains high amounts of purine, the kidneys are unable to get rid of the excess amount of uric acid. When the uric acid levels in the blood become too high, it leads to serious ailments including gout. To prevent the formation or progress of gout, it is imperative that we maintain a well-balanced diet and have proper medication. To lower uric acid levels in the body, it is essential that some lifestyle changes are incorporated. Some of the ways that can help lower uric acid levels in the blood stream have been listed below. Try to avoid beverages with fructose High fructose drinks and soda consumption increase the risk of gout and should, therefore, be avoided. Fruit juices and sugary drinks should be eliminated from the diet. Avoid alcohol Since alcohol is responsible for dehydrating the body, limiting or entirely avoiding alcohol is the best way to lower uric acid levels in the body. Beer which is high in yeast content is responsible for increasing uric acid in the blood stream, wine, on the contrary, has little effect on uric acid levels. Try to reduce inflammation Often inflammation in the body can lead to the concentration of uric acid. To eliminate inflammation and lower uric acid levels, it is advised that you include foods with anti-inflammatory properties. You can also include diuretic foods that can alkalize the blood and reduce inflammation and uric acid. Maintain a healthy body weight Excess of body weight can be a result of having a high purine diet. However, at times rapid weight loss can also be one of the causes of high uric acid.

Diarrhea is one disorder that is simply put, a nightmare. You never know that it is coming to attack you and you barely understand what caused it in the first place until you are rendered all weak and dehydrated by those loo trips. Only if I could make as many vacations trips as I do to the loo on diarrhea! Past the issues diarrhea causes, let’s take stock of it and see if the food we eat could somehow clear off the loose stools and get us going. Back on, of course. The BRAT Diet The most traditional of medical advice will see mention of BRAT diet. The abbreviation stands for bananas, rice, then applesauce and finally toast. Now, these could be your go-to foods if you want to stop diarrhea. The idea here is to eat stuff that could act on the bacteria while binding up all the loose motion. The right diet needs to be dished out to defeat diarrhea. Going bananas is the way of life for diarrhea days. This has the elements that can bind your stool while also enhance the slowness of its passage through your intestines. The fruit is also laced with potassium that in turn controls vomiting and diarrhea. Rice Even though rice might not find takers in its blandest and simplest boiled form, it is the food of choice for those having a bad stomach. This is because rice is light on the diversion front and also has the same binding effect as potassium. Fiber content is low in rice and especially so if you choose to have the wild rice and brown variants. The goal of picking foods that stop diarrhea is to choose those that have real low fiber content. Applesauce is again an awesome choice and due to the presence of pectin, the bowel movement is calmed down and your diarrhea is controlled in a jiffy.

6 FDA-approved medications for high cholesterol High cholesterol leads to fatty deposits in the blood vessels. Over time, these deposits grow, causing difficulties for the blood to flow through the arteries. In some cases, the deposits may break off and form clots. These can cause a stroke or heart attack. There can be multiple causes of high cholesterol; the causes can be genetic or a result of unhealthy lifestyle habits. This makes high cholesterol a preventable and treatable health disorder. High cholesterol can be easily managed by following a balanced and healthy diet along with regular exercise. In case the cholesterol levels are extremely high, medications may be required to control and manage the condition. There are a few medications for high cholesterol that are approved by the FDA. All these medications must be taken only when prescribed by a doctor. Kynamro A cholesterol-lowering medication, Kynamro works by lowering bad cholesterol in the blood, such as non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL), apolipoprotein-B (apo-B), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). It is effective when used along with a low-fat diet and other prescribed treatments. Kynamro is usually recommended to those with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, an inherited type of high cholesterol. It is, however, not suitable for those with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Although Kynamro lowers high cholesterol levels, it is uncertain if the medication can lower the risk of heart diseases. Altoprev Altoprev, when used with a diet, helps lower blood levels of bad cholesterol such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Altoprev works by increasing the levels of good cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The medication also lowers the levels of triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood. A high level of triglycerides increases the risk of cardiovascular disorders. The use of Altoprev has been known to lower the risks of heart attacks, strokes, and other heart complications resulting from diabetes.

While bacteria are generally associated with disease and infections, there are a plethora of ‘good’ bacteria thriving in your body. Among the many bacteria beneficial for your health, probiotics are good for the gut. Probiotics are beneficial and essential bacteria that help to control the growth of bacteria that harm the gut. They help to replenish the body’s microbiome with the help of health cultures. While several people take probiotic supplements, food items like kefir, kombucha, cheese, and yogurt fit the bill perfectly! Incorporating these food items in your diet can go a long way in ensuring that your gut remains healthy. Place emphasis on your health by eating food products rich in probiotics. If you are not able to incorporate enough of these food items in your diet, you can add probiotic supplements to your list as well. We have made the process of choosing the best probiotic products much easier for you. Here are a few of the best probiotic products you must add to your diet today! Best probiotic products Here are a few of the best probiotic products you must incorporate in your diet today! Yogurt: Yogurt is one of the best sources of probiotics. Not only is it healthy, but tastes good as well. It is made of milk fermented by friendly bacteria and has a wide range of other health benefits as well. Eating yogurt on a daily basis will not only give you a much-needed dose of probiotics but also help improve your bone health. Yogurt is also good for people suffering from high blood pressure. Try incorporating yogurt in your diet today as it is one of the best probiotic products. Kefir: Kefir is another fantastic source of probiotics. It is a fermented probiotic milk drink made by adding kefir grains to goat’s milk or cow’s milk.

Eczema, which is also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic condition that affects the skin and makes it itchy and inflamed. This condition is most prevalent among young children and infants. Infants who have eczema usually develop red, itchy patches on their forehead, scalp, and cheeks, while older people often develop these on their hands and feet, wrists, and ankles. Is there a link between eczema and food allergies? Studies suggest that around 35% children, aged below five, suffering from eczema suffer from food allergies as well. These allergic reactions may trigger symptoms such as flare-ups, itching, hives, flushing, wheezing, gastrointestinal problems, vomiting, heartburn, and abdominal pain. This is why it is essential to get young kids with eczema tested for food-related allergies. However, in many cases, children with eczema and food allergies tend to lose their allergy towards products, such as soy, milk, and wheat, after a few years. Once the allergy has completely gone, the child can resume eating these foods, and their symptoms will not worsen. But, before they are allowed to consume such trigger foods, one should check with a doctor for the same. Are certain foods responsible for causing eczema flare-ups? Diet can be considered partly responsible for causing flare-ups in children with eczema. When one tweaks their child’s diet and excludes certain trigger foods, the condition could improve. Since finding these trigger foods is not an easy task, one will need to work in unison with an allergist. Some of the foods that can be considered as triggers for eczema flare-ups include the following: Eggs Milk Peanuts and tree nuts Fish Soy Shellfish Wheat products However, it is important to note that these foods may worsen the symptoms of eczema, but may not cause the condition itself. Following a fixed list of foods to eat and avoid may not always be beneficial as what may cause an allergy in one may be completely harmless to the other.

Good food and proper nutrition are beneficial in reducing the risk of developing diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, obesity, and prostate cancer. One third of adults die of cancer in the country. A healthy diet enhances the immune system and increases the energy levels, which facilitates in recovery from diseases. It is important to maintain a healthy diet if you want to lower the risk of developing prostate cancer. Here are some guidelines you can follow to maintain the health of your prostate. Your diet should contain plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are rich in fiber but low in fat, and the intake of sugar should be largely reduced. For prostate health Fruits and vegetables contain lots of vitamins, inflammation-reducing substances, natural fiber, minerals, polyphones, and antioxidants. Many people do not consume enough fruits and vegetables and a change in the way you eat is required by including a variety of vegetables and fruits. These should include cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli, which contain phytochemicals that help reduce oxidative stress. Carrots, tomatoes, mushrooms, pomegranate, grapes, grapefruit are citrus fruits and can be included in one’s diet to manage prostate health. A research group has linked prostate cancer with lycopene, which is an antioxidant, and its consumption reduces the risk of prostate cancer. Lycopene is found in tomatoes, tomato products, and red vegetables and fruits. Reduce the intake of animal products like dairy products, animal fat, and red meat – lamb, pork, and beef. They are tied to the development of prostate cancer. Eating soya in the form of soy milk, edamame, tempeh, and tofu is known to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. It is known to contain isoflavones, which is a plant compound/phytochemical. Since soy intake is high in Asian countries, the incidence of prostate cancer is very low in Asia.

It is vital to monitor what you are eating, and how much you are eating on a day to day basis to avoid stomach problems. The wrong kinds of food or too much food can affect your digestive system. When you eat certain types of food that are hard to digest or if you eat too much of something, it can cause diarrhea. If you suffer from diarrhea occasionally, then you don’t need to worry about this problem. However, if you are facing this problem due to food poisoning or stomach flu, then you must consult a doctor as soon as possible. When you are suffering from diarrhea, you need to make some changes to your diet to bring your digestive system back on track. You need to understand which foods you can consume and which ones you should avoid when you have diarrhea. Some food items and ingredients can worsen this condition. Here is the list of some food items that can help manage diarrhea. Foods to add to the diet When you have diarrhea, you should always make sure that you add bland food to your diet. You should avoid spicy and oily food during this time as such food items can worsen this condition. Here are some foods that you can add to your diet: Banana Banana is a bland fruit that is easy to digest. It will also help to strengthen your digestive system. You lose a lot of electrolytes during an episode of diarrhea. However, banana has potassium that can help restore your electrolyte levels. Mashed potatoes Potato is another food item that you can add to your diet when you have diarrhea. This vegetable is also rich in potassium, and you can eat mashed potatoes when you are unwell. Make sure that you consume peeled potatoes, as you need to avoid potato skin if you have diarrhea.

When it comes to supplements—the dose makes all the difference. There are some supplements that are more needed than others. Omega 3 is one such supplement. However, choosing the right kind of supplement for the right kind of nutritional requirement is important. If you’re reading this, then you have probably might have been prescribed with supplements by your doctor—in which case this isn’t an issue for you. Your doctor would probably recommend a prescription that includes one of the best omega 3 supplements. However, if you’ve simply been notified of a deficiency and if you are on the lookout for supplements—knowing how to pick the best one can make a world of a difference. What is Omega 3 and why do I need it? This is a crucial question that needs answering before you choose a supplement for you. Omega 3 fatty acids are crucial for your health. What makes them special is that your body cannot simply synthesize it when needed—it needs to be taken through one’s diet. A typical western diet will undoubtedly leave you with an Omega 3 deficiency. Omega 3 is found in fish, nuts, and very few plants. On the other hand, a strictly vegetarian diet can also likely leave you deficient of Omega 3. Unless you’re eating a steady supply of fatty sea fish, you’re probably in need of the best Omega 3 supplements that you can get your hands on. They contribute to proper brain functioning in a way no other nutrient does. Omega 3 supplements are essential for biological functions that happen in the nervous system. So, now that you know what it is and why it’s needed, revise your diet and get yourself checked. In case if you have an omega 3 deficiency you need to know how to pick the right and best supplement.

A wax-like substance that is found in the human body cells is known as cholesterol. It has varied uses in our body, like enabling the building of the body’s cells; it is present in our bloodstreams and fixed to proteins called Lipoproteins. Our body consists of two types of Lipoproteins, Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), i.e., the bad cholesterol and High-density lipoprotein (HDL), i.e., the good cholesterol. It is essential that these two types are present in the right quantities as any sort of imbalance will lead to health concerns. The idea is to raise HDL cholesterol and lower LDL cholesterol. Therefore, you need to constantly get your cholesterol levels checked by a medical practitioner who will guide you on any medications if required. Your HDL or good cholesterol has an optimum level generally prescribed by doctors. In men and women, a level of 60mg/dL or above is desirable, anything below 50 mg/dL is considered to be a risk. It is widely acknowledged that people who have a naturally higher level of good cholesterol, i.e., HDL, are perceived to be at a lower risk of a heart attack or stroke. Herein, we list below some of the ways on how to raise HDL cholesterol. Exercise Get going on that exercise routine that you have been dreaming of but skipping out on for so many days. It is widely seen that physical movements and exercise have proven to raise the HDL cholesterol in your body. Take it on slowly and build it into your daily routine. If you’re new, try to jog or walk for 15-30 minutes daily and then go to traditional gyms. Aerobics, core-strength training, and high-intensity workouts are very effective for raising HDL cholesterol. Exercise will enhance the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of HDL. Shed those extra pounds If you follow the above advice, i.e., exercise, then you’re bound to lose some of that extra weight that you have.