Your body consists of good bacteria and bad bacteria. When there is a balance between both, your body is capable of functioning at its optimum. But often due to the onset of an illness or other external factors, this balance gets disturbed. There are times when there may be a shortage of good bacteria in your body, also known as probiotics. These probiotics are important for one to stay healthy. For instance, when you take antibiotics, you may end up losing some good bacteria. Taking the best probiotics on a regular basis can help you to recover from the loss of good bacteria as it helps to replace them. What are the top rated probiotics? There are many different types of probiotics. Following are the top probiotics of 2017. Bifidobacterium There are four strains that come under this family. It is considered to be one of the best probiotics. B. Longum This strain can help in improving your memory power and are capable of increasing your retention power. These bacteria strains also help to relieve you from constipation. This strain can help you to decrease your stress levels as well. They can help with preventing the growth of any bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract that could harm you in any way. It helps to boost the normal functioning of your brain as well. B. Lactis This strain can help improve your immunity by aiding in the proper functioning of your immune systems. B. Breve This is particularly beneficial for children who face constipation issues. It can also be useful for people who are often exposed to the harmful rays of the sun. The reason is that it protects your skin from any type of damage. This is another bacteria strain that is helpful in relieving you from abdominal pain. B.

Everybody knows that with abdominal bloating one experiences physical discomforts. When air or gas fills in your GI (gastrointestinal) tract, you experience stomach or abdominal bloating. People suffering from abdominal bloating feel full and tight, and there can be a swollen feeling in the abdomen as well. Pain, flatulence, belching or burping, and abdominal rumbling follows bloating, and this condition reduces the quality of life seriously. The major causes of bloating are chewing gum, eating fast, wearing loose dentures, smoking, IBS, Crohn’s disease, heartburn, weight gain, food intolerance, stress or anxiety, eating disorders, hormonal flux, giardiasis, constipation, visceral hypersensitivity, and altered gut motility. If you’re wondering how to get abdominal bloating relief, the following tips will help. Make efforts to get maximum protection from lactose intolerance and allergies Many people suffer from bloating due to food intolerance and allergies. First of all, you have to seek the help of your doctor to identify the cause of bloating. Self-diagnosis is not at all an advisable practice to follow. When you take decisions without adequate knowledge, you may end up inviting a lot of health complications. If you sense intolerance or allergy, consult with your doctor to identify the cause. The amount of the suspected food can be lowered, or it can be consumed with other foods to reduce the negative impact. If you find that dairy products are causing the problem, you can select yogurts and aged cheeses because of their reduced lactose quantity. These will help in providing abdominal bloating relief. Be cautious about sugar alcohol Various studies show that several people suffer from bloating due to their increased consumption of sugar alcohol. Artificially sweetened drinks and food contain a lot of sugar alcohol, and it makes you highly vulnerable to bloating. Health experts advise people to limit their consumption of artificially sweetened foods and drinks into 2 or 3 servings a day to get abdominal bloating relief.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease. It makes the patient suffer from extreme pain throughout the body. Individuals suffering from fibromyalgia suffer from different symptoms such as difficulty in sleeping, exhaustion, high sensitivity to pain, and headache. Fibromyalgia causes deep muscle pain and hurting tender points causing difficult breathing and inactiveness. Fatigue, stiffness in muscles, mental problems (such as low concentration and memory), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) which brings stomach ache and irregular bowel movements are some other symptoms that probably indicate fibromyalgia. People with fibromyalgia sleep about 8–10 hours during the night with the need to sleep more. Adequate bed rest doesn’t prove helpful to them. If you experience symptoms of fibromyalgia, you should ensure to consult a doctor. There are several fibromyalgia treatments available. The common fibromyalgia treatments include medications, change in lifestyle habits, and natural remedies. Specialists may recommend anti-depressants to treat depression and anxiety related to fibromyalgia. Physical therapies, stress reduction, and relaxation exercises also work well to cure fibromyalgia. A single approach doesn’t fit for treatment for fibromyalgia. Medications along with alternatives give wonderful results. Popular fibromyalgia treatments available: Fibromyalgia treatments aim to reduce pain, fatigue, and ensure quality sleep. Exercises: Fibromyalgia indicates poor fitness. People with fibromyalgia are reluctant to do exercises. Practicing aerobic and conditioning exercises to get rid of pain, stress, and anxiety are effective fibromyalgia treatments. Physical therapy: Physical therapies relax the muscle tension and smoothen the body movements. Stiffness and pain due to fibromyalgia lessen with regular physical therapy sessions. Therapies result in neuroendocrine changes which allow the quick recovery of muscles. On visiting the physical therapist, they will administer the right exercises for muscle stretching as part of fibromyalgia treatments for the patient. Hydrotherapy, which includes ice or heat packs, relieves pain quickly and more effectively. Follow proper posture and sitting styles.

Constipation occurs because of the lack of water in one’s stool, which usually occurs when too much fluid gets absorbed into the intestines, making the stool dry. Constipation is the condition in which a person experiences fewer than three bowel movements in a given week. This diagnosis has been provided by the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse that is a part of the National Institutes of Health. Constipated stools are often hard, small and dry that makes the entire process unpleasant to endure. Everybody has a different system; some people may go to pass stools multiple times a day while some may go only a couple of times every week. Treatment for constipation is seldom required unless the symptoms last for weeks. And it is possible to get relief from constipation by following some tips to treat constipation. Tips to treat constipation One of the popular tips to treat constipation is consuming fiber-rich foods. By including more fiber in the diet, it is possible to make the stools bulkier and softer, making it softer to pass through the tract. A gradual increase in the levels of fiber is recommended till the optimum level of 20 to 35 grams is achieved. Some good sources of fiber include: Whole grains Bran Foods like brown rice, cereals, and fortified bread Fresh fruits, especially apples and bananas. Fruits with high water amounts like watermelon also work well Dried fruits like apricots, almonds, prunes, and raisins Vegetables like asparagus, brussels sprouts, and carrots Beans It is also important to drink enough water to prevent constipation. One of the common tips to treat constipation is to remain active with general exercise and keep the bowel movement in motion. The following foods must be avoided during constipation as they can make it worse. Foods that are low in fiber Foods that are high in fat Cheese Dairy products Processed foods Meats A step-by-step approach is given in the following tips to treat constipation.

We are what we eat, which is why it is so easy to eat into high levels of cholesterol with foods that are high in the same. Conversely, eating foods that have low cholesterol triggers help lower cholesterol levels too. To lower high cholesterol levels, two strategies can be followed: Adding cholesterol-lowering foods that lower LDL or low-density lipoproteins Cutting back on foods that boost LDL levels LDL cholesterol is the harmful cholesterol-carrying particle that contributes to atherosclerosis, a condition wherein arteries get blocked. Cholesterol-lowering foods Cholesterol-lowering foods play a significant role in controlling the levels. Foods rich in soluble fiber helps in binding cholesterol along with its precursors present in the digestive system. This fiber also pushes these out of the system before they get into circulation. Others provide polyunsaturated fats that directly lower LDL levels. Others may contain plant sterols and stanols that block the body from absorbing cholesterol. A look at some cholesterol-lowering foods: Oats A bowl of oatmeal or cold oat-based cereal for breakfast is a good first step towards improving one’s cholesterol levels. Oats provide 1 to 2 grams of soluble fiber and adding a banana, or a handful of strawberries can make up for another half-gram. The current day nutrition guidelines recommend the intake of 20 to 35 grams of fiber a day, out of which at least 5 to 10 grams come from soluble fiber. Barley and other whole grains Similar to oats and oat bran, barley, and other whole grains also help lower the risk of heart disease through the soluble fiber they deliver. Beans Beans are rich in soluble fiber and since they take some time for the body to digest, consuming them makes a person feel full for longer after eating a meal. For people trying to lose weight, this makes beans a good food ingredient.

You can find so many people talking about type 2 diabetes medications. Diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, has nowadays become a common health problem, and it can always be described a lifestyle disease. If you cannot effectively manage type 2 diabetes, you will be putting your life in serious danger. Managing type 2 diabetes involves eating healthy, proper exercise, diabetes medication, or insulin therapy if required and timely blood sugar monitoring. These steps allow you to maintain your blood sugar levels, and this helps in delaying or preventing diabetes-related health complications. What does it mean by eating healthy? Many people think that healthy eating means following a diet meant for diabetic patients. Healthy eating means following a diet that is rich in fiber and low in fat. If you have diabetes, depending on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains becomes a good option. The intake of meat, dairy products, sweets, and refined carbohydrates should be reduced as a method to control type 2 diabetes. Think about low glycemic index foods Low glycemic index foods are always beneficial if you suffering from diabetes. The glycemic index can be described as a measure of the speed at which a food leads to a rise in your blood sugar. High glycemic index foods increase your blood sugar immediately. However, low glycemic index foods balance the blood sugar levels and most fiber-rich foods have a low glycemic index. Seek the help of a dietitian An experienced dietician can help you develop a good meal plan for maintaining your health. He/she will show you ways to control the intake of carbohydrates, and you can come to know how much carbohydrates you must consume with your snacks and meals for keeping your blood sugar levels in control. Get engaged in physical activity If you have type 2 diabetes, you have to exercise regularly and aerobic exercise is the best option.

When someone looks at you, what they preferably look at first is your eyes, face or even smile. But your hair is the most distinguished part of your face and defines how you look. Hair is an essential part of your body that compliments your personality, and overall looks. More healthy the hair growth, more elegance it adds to your appearance. But sometimes due to stress, lack of vitamins, genetics, hormonal imbalance and other environmental factors, people suffer hair loss. Hair loss can take away your confidence and even add make you look dull. But as sayings go, there is a solution for everything. Nothing is impossible, and you just need to find the right remedies that can improve your situation. Vitamins—the best solution for treating hair loss, as it can fill in the deficiencies, that your body requires. Our lifestyle and eating habits are not good enough because of work pressure, hectic life and people adapting themselves to the unhealthy junk food. All of this leads to lack of vitamins that are necessary for proper functioning of the body. Vitamins not only help fill in the requirement of the body but also help in hair growth. There are certain vitamins that help in hair growth. You should consume these vitamins regularly before you go all in for other artificial methods for hair growth. They can sometimes lead to other unwanted side effects. Best Hair Growth Vitamins The best vitamins that would accelerate hair growth are: Vitamin A : Vitamin A is an essential vitamin that helps in increasing the cell count, which in turn helps in accelerating hair growth. Vitamin A generates sebum, which is natural oil in the scalp area, which provides the hair, the shining quality and keeps the hair from drying. Vitamin A should be included in your diet, but make sure that you consume it in limits because consuming an excess of the vitamin can lead to hair loss.

What is gout? Gout is a type of arthritis that primarily attacks the joints and other body parts like the ears, wrists, knuckles, knee, ankles, and other small joints. It is often characterized by painful swelling, stiffness, and inflammation of these affected joints. The swelling and stiffness are mainly the results of excess levels of uric acid forming crystals in the joints. The pain is due to the inflammatory response to the crystals formed. The causes of gout may include lack of exercise, high levels of uric acid in the system, genetics, excessive consumption of meat, being overweight, menopause, excessive consumption of alcohol, stress, and excessive protein content in the body. It mainly affects the big toe, causing an increased swelling, inflammation, and redness in the affected area. The deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint causes inflammation and makes the movement of the joint agonizing. The elevated levels of uric acid in the system also causes the depositing of crystals in the kidney, which, in turn, leads to stone formation. Gout attacks An overweight or an obese person is more likely to suffer from frequent gout attacks. A gout attack generally results from years of having high levels of uric acid in your bloodstream. This condition is called hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia might also lead to other diseases like diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, kidney failure, and heart failure. The most common sign of a gout attack is the night-time swelling of the big toe followed by redness, tenderness, redness, and gut-wrenching pain. This attack might continue for days or even weeks before the pain goes away completely. Swelling causes pain and pain induces swelling. Hence it is important to address both. Diagnosis of gout attacks After doing a thorough physical exam, the doctor may also take a sample of the fluid from the swelling of the joint to look for uric acid crystals.

Cholesterol is a naturally occurring substance, made by the liver. It performs many vital functions in the body, so it is not inherently harmful. However, there is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. Cholesterol Functions Cholesterol is produced by the liver. A small percentage is made available through the food you eat. All cholesterol is not bad, it has many uses for the body. Cholesterol aids in the production of steroid hormones. A deficiency in these hormones can affect many aspects of health including sexual function, digestion, mental health, and bone health. Cholesterol is a component of cell structure. It helps maintain the structural integrity of the cell membrane. Cholesterol plays a vital role in digestion. It helps the liver produce and secrete bile, which is necessary to digest fat. Sunlight helps the body produce Vitamin D. However, the body needs cholesterol, along with sunlight, in order to make Vitamin D. The Good and The Bad Cholesterol travels through the bloodstream in the lipids. When you take a lipid profile test, it shows the total cholesterol level in your body, the LDL, HDL, and Triglycerides levels. There are three types of lipoproteins in the bloodstream- Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDL), High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL), and Triglycerides. LDL is referred to as bad cholesterol because it has very low protein content and is high in cholesterol. HDL is low in cholesterol and high in protein content. Triglycerides are lipids that help the body store excess energy. However, a rise in triglyceride level is also bad for health. LDL and Plaque Buildup Consider LDL as a sort of capsule where the outer shell, made of lipoprotein, encapsulates cholesterol. As LDL particles are not as dense as other cholesterol particles, the cholesterol can break off and stick to the walls of blood vessels. Your white blood cells, try to destroy LDL particles.

Autism is a complex neurological and developmental disorder that can affect socialization and range in severity from person to person. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in 44 children is on the autistic spectrum today. While there is no explained cause for autism yet, experts generally believe that it results from environmental and genetic factors, such as premature birth, low birth weight, delivery complications, geriatric pregnancies, etc. Developmental milestones in children To be able to recognize the early warning signs of autism in children, it is important to know the important developmental milestones they need to achieve by a certain age. According to the CDC, these are the milestones that most children between the age of six months to four years tend to achieve: By 6 months, children generally begin to respond to their own name, respond to people’s emotions, and often seem happy, copy sounds, and enjoy playing with others, especially their parents. By the time children are 12 months old, they are generally able to use simple gestures such as shaking their head “no” or waving at others, saying simple words like “mama” and “dada,” playing games like peek-a-boo, and responding to simple spoken requests. By the age of 18 months, most children can point at objects to show others something interesting, enjoy handing things to others as play, say several single words, and play simple pretend games such as feeding a doll. When a child reaches 2 years of age, most children can say sentences with two to four words, follow simple instructions, get excited around other children, and point to things and pictures when they are named. Three-year-old children generally can show affection for friends and family without prompting, carry on conversations using two to three sentences, copy adults and friends, and play make-believe with dolls, people, and animals (scenarios such as tea parties, doctor’s office, etc.) By the age of four, children generally begin to start telling stories, prefer to play with their friends (instead of playing alone), and learn how to cooperate with other children.

An allergy is a disease caused when our immune system becomes hypersensitive due to contact with any foreign substance. These allergic reactions vary from person to person –while some allergies are less complicated with rashes or redness on skin some can be fatal like sending you into an anaphylactic shock where you find it difficult to breathe. Based on the different types of allergies, you need the best allergy medicine which can help your immune system to recover. Food allergy Although more popular among kids and infants, it can also affect adults at any point in time. The concerning thing about food allergies is that it can even occur suddenly after eating food you have been consuming for long. While allergies can happen after consuming anything from eggplant to prawns, the 8 foods that trigger 90% of allergic cases include eggs, soy, milk, wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, and shellfish. Sesame or mustard seeds can also trigger allergies. Symptoms include a swollen tongue, breathing problems, dizziness, wheezing, vomiting, repetitive cough, pale or flared skin etc. Severe symptoms include anaphylactic shock with a sudden drop in blood pressure, unconsciousness and blockage in the air passage. The best way to avoid food allergy is to avoid those foods or products that contain this food in them. In case of Anaphylaxis, injecting an EpiPen initially will help followed by medical attention. Drug allergy Drug allergies can occur after you take a medicine and your immune system gets sensitized with the ingredients of the medication, regardless of whether they are in liquid, tablet, capsule or are transfused through injections. The common triggers of this allergy can be attributed to Anticonvulsants, Penicillin and Penicillin-based antibiotics, Sulfa Drug based antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs and NSAIDs like Aspirin and Ibuprofen. The symptoms include hives, itching, rashes, swelling, wheezing and other breathing complications and in severe cases, anaphylaxis.

Are you or someone you know suffering from urinary tract infection? Well, first, do not panic! This infection is common and curable. In some cases, just simple home remedies can treat it. Sometimes, medical attention is necessary to prevent further complications. However, it is always advisable to consult a doctor or a healthcare professional for the best treatment for UTI. A UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) is a bacterial infection of the urinary tract that is composed of urethra, kidneys, ureters, and bladder. This entire system is responsible for the process of urine formation and urine expulsion from the body. Hence, any infection in this system is bound to cause some physical uneasiness. The E. Coli (Escherichia coli) bacteria is the main reason behind most of the UTI cases. However, this infection is not contagious. Few causes of UTI The bacteria may reach the urinary tract while having sex. Also, using an unhygienic bathroom may cause this bacterial infection. Any person having kidney stones can suffer from this infection if the stones block the urinary tract. There is a high chance that people with diabetes get this infection as they do not have a strong immune system. If a person is going through medical treatments like urinary catheter, chemotherapy etc., UTI may occur. If someone keeps holding the urine for too long, chances of occurring UTI increase. Parkinson’s disease, injuries in the spinal cord, or any structural abnormalities in the genitourinary tract. The best treatment for UTI is only possible when it is diagnosed properly. According to various medical research reports, women get urinary tract infection more than men. It is because women’s urethra is shorter in size and it is located closer to the rectum. Signs and symptoms of UTI Here are some symptoms that will help you understand if you are suffering from the infection or not, and you can then consult a doctor to get the proper urinary tract infection treatment.