The nervous system is one of the most complicated organ systems in your body, and the brain is the powerhouse of all your activities and emotions. Vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients are needed within the optimal amount to keep your brain working efficiently and to keep you mentally healthy. However, if you are finding it hard to concentrate, are forgetting things too often or going through severe stress and depression, the reason is a deficiency of brain and memory vitamins. These vitamins not only help clear brain fog and confusion to keep your memory sharp, but they also help you focus and learn properly. Vitamin B Complex From brain aging to brain fogs, depression to memory loss, Vitamin B Complex is undoubtedly the best nutrient for your overall brain health and memory. It helps boost your mood and fight stress, hence the name “happy vitamins”. Vitamin B complex produces neurotransmitters to keep the brain active. B complex can be sourced from animal products like flesh, dairy, eggs, and fish as well as from legumes, leafy vegetables, potatoes, peas, carrots, bananas, and so on. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) In order to enhance the health of the nerve tissues and the brain, this is one of the best brain and memory vitamins that keep nerve impulses at bay. Thiamine works effectively in treating Korsakoff syndrome as well as chronic memory decline in AIDS affected people and alcoholics. Liver, beef, pork, eggs, milk, oats, orange, and nuts are common sources of vitamin B1. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) A vitamin effective in keeping a positive mood, B6 can be sourced from eggs, poultry meat, turkey, beef, fish, nuts, beans, peas, and seafood. It increases the Serotonin levels, which fights depression and boosts memory. By reducing Homocysteine levels, it stops the decay of memory cells. Vitamin B9 (Folic acid) It is found in great amounts in leafy vegetables like spinach, lettuce, and turnip greens, broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprout, okra, lentils and legumes, and Avocado and citrus fruits.

Hypertension or high blood pressure is the condition where the amount of force exerted against the artery walls when the blood flows through them is higher than usual. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), one in every three persons in the country over the age of 20 has high blood pressure. Without the right treatment, blood pressure may lead to many health problems including heart failure, stroke, vision loss, and kidney disease. Common symptoms of high blood pressure Hypertension is known as the silent killer as it does not exhibit any symptoms. When the blood pressure reaches 180/110 mmHg, it is considered a medical emergency. Some of the common symptoms of high blood pressure are as follows: Headaches It is one of the most common symptoms of high blood pressure. It may get worse because of factors like stress, migraines or sinusitis. High blood pressure can affect the blood-brain barrier, exert excess pressure on the brain, and lead to blood leaks from the blood vessels. The leaked blood causes swelling, which exerts more pressure on the brain and leads to headaches. Dizzy spells It is another symptom of high blood pressure, but its cause may also be anxiety, the side effect of some medicines, low blood pressure, or pregnancy. High blood pressure can cause the blood vessels in the brain to rupture, narrow or leak, sometimes blocking blood flow too. Due to this blockage, a patient may feel dizzy, and in the worst case, it may lead to a stroke as well. Facial flushing People who consume alcohol, eat hot and spicy food or are prone to food allergies show this symptom. Sometimes, hot flushes are associated with menopause as well. But high blood pressure can cause facial flushing due to the excess flow of blood when the patient is angry or anxious.

The paleo diet meals are different from a regular diet and are very similar to the diet followed by our hunter-gatherer ancestors from the Paleolithic era. The diet includes unprocessed and whole foods and it offers numerous health benefits. The paleo diet has gained immense popularity nowadays, and recent studies have revealed that this diet is highly effective for weight loss and one can avail multiple health benefits. Planning a paleo diet There are many people who rely on this diet to avail amazing health benefits, but before practicing it, you should remember that it is just a general guide and you can alter it according to your personal preferences and requirements. However, it would be beneficial to consult a dietician before making the final choices for your paleo diet. Foods you can include in a paleo diet If you are willing to practice this diet, you can consider including foods like egg, fish, vegetables, meat, nuts, and fruits. Certain spices, herbs, healthy fats, and oil as play an important role, making it imperative for you to include them on a regular basis. Unprocessed foods are the primary source of your strength and nutrients, and if you are thinking of adopting the paleo diet, then eating unprocessed foods is essential. You can consider including the following items in your paleo diet plan to avail the benefits. Meats are essential, and it is recommended to consume chicken, lamb, and pork and various fishes like haddock, salmon, shellfish, shrimp, trout. Omega-3 enriched foods are highly recommended to be included in a paleo diet. You can consume eggs and vegetables like carrots, broccoli, peppers, and tomatoes. Fruits are a reliable source of necessary nutrients like dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and folic acid, and therefore, you should consume fruits like strawberries, oranges, blueberries, bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and turnips.

The human joints can be considered as engineering marvels that bear an enormous amount of stress. They are body parts that not only connect your bones but also support and carry the weight of your body and facilitate easy movement. Prolonged daily functions can impose a huge strain on them. As a result, they suffer wear and tear, injuries, and damage, causing symptoms like pain, and reduced mobility and flexibility. Statistics show that there are at least 30 million adults in the country who currently live with joint pain. It can be a debilitating condition that prevents you from carrying on daily activities, engaging in sports, entertainment, and recreation. If it is severe, it could affect your career and almost all parts of your life. Based on the underlying cause, severity, and available resources, there are a variety of treatment options that can help provide quick joint pain relief. They include medications, injections, dietary supplements or changes, alternative therapy, massage, yoga, chiropractic options, surgery, lifestyle changes, and exercise. Causes of joint pain Some of the common causes of joint pain include the following: Inflammation Diseases or infections like arthritis and chikungunya Aging and natural wear and tear Accidents and injuries Impact and trauma Nerve damage Poor posture Over-use of certain parts of the body Lack of exercise; sedentary job and lifestyle Being overweight Certain autoimmune disorders Breakdown of cartilage in the knee joints Hypothyroidism Rheumatic fever Dislocation, sprains, and strains Bursitis There are some medicinal and natural remedies one can resort to when looking to get quick relief from joint pain. While acute symptoms caused by accidents, injuries, and certain diseases can be treated with over-the-counter medications or a course of antibiotics, certain other s ymptoms that are caused by lifestyle factors can be treated with exercise regimes, yoga, and even weight-loss.

Everyone wants a crystal clear eyesight and healthy eyes. We completely depend on our vision for normal functioning, that the thought of diminishing vision is often terrifying. To make sure that you keep your eyes healthy, as you age. It’s important to know the best vitamins for the eyes. Vitamins are organic compounds that are required by the body in adequate amounts. An organic compound is said to be a vitamin when the body cannot synthesize that particular compound, but that compound is necessary for normal body functions. Hence, the best way to get vitamins is to consume them in your diet. Supplementation of vitamins may be required in deficiency states, but not for healthy individuals. Currently, 13 recognized vitamins are essential for the human body. Vitamins perform a diverse range of functions. They can regulate mineral metabolism, hormone production, cell growth regulation, and also some of them are antioxidants. Vision care: The best vitamins for the eyes It is estimated that 75% of people notice a change in their visual acuity by the age of 50. Taking the best vitamins for the eyes is a good preventative measure. The best vitamins for the eyes include: Vitamin A You might have been told that eating carrots are important for good eyesight. But what about carrots that make it so good for the eyes? Carrots are a rich source of vitamin A, which helps to prevent macular degeneration and cataracts. Carrots also contain beta-carotene and rhodopsin. Rhodopsin is a pigment found in the eyes, that is responsible for night vision. Without this pigment, you wouldn’t be able to see clearly at night, or in low-light situations. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and is found in foods like—liver, leafy vegetables, oranges, pumpkins, carrots, yellow fruits, fish, soy milk, and cow milk.

A normal blood sugar range can be extremely different scenarios for a diabetic and a non-diabetic. Usually, 70 mg/dL to 140 mg/dL is considered to be a normal blood sugar range. On the other hand, 140 mg/dL to 180 mg/dL is a relatively raised level of blood sugar. However, this isn’t a diabetic condition but a major red flag indicating its possible onset. Anything above 180 mg/dL specifies as a diabetic condition, i.e., hyperglycemia. Some of the symptoms of hyperglycemia are headaches, unexplained weight loss, weakness, excessive thirst, frequent urination, decreased concentration, blurry eyesight, etc. For most diabetics, normal blood sugar ranges between 70 mg/dL to 140 mg/dL before eating anything and below 180 mg/dL two hours after having meals. But these levels can surge when you – Miss insulin shots or sugar control medications Consume food containing high levels of sugar Are battling with any illness Are dealing with mental pressure Not adequately active Why is it essential to monitor your blood sugar range? Blood sugar monitoring on a regular basis on a regular basis is a healthy practice for any individual. However, for people who have diabetes examining blood sugar levels is of utmost significance. The following points explain how keeping normal blood sugar range in check can benefit you. You will get a better perspective about how well your treatment is working. It helps you make necessary changes in your lifestyle, diet, and medication if in case the results are unfavorable. Self-monitoring the blood sugar range makes you more disciplined, and this can have a positive effect on your overall health. Keeping an eye on your blood sugar will also help evade any potential health scares caused due to diabetes such as vision and nerve damages, cardiovascular diseases, kidney disorders, circulatory problems, intestinal complications and slow healing.

A healthy person ideally has a well-maintained cholesterol level. However, many people rarely check this vital health parameter and eventually tend to suffer from multiple health-related issues. An individual who has crossed the age of 20 should normally get their cholesterol levels checked every five years of his or her life. A simple test of lipoprotein panel tells if a person is at a risk of suffering from coronary heart disease. This test states the total cholesterol level, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and HDL (good) cholesterol level. This test also states triglycerides levels which are another form of fat that can increase the risk of heart disease. Before a detailed analysis of a cholesterol levels chart is done it is important to understand the concepts of total cholesterol, bad or LDL, and good or HDL cholesterol. Total cholesterol: It is a measure of the total amount of cholesterol in the blood which is inclusive of low-density lipoprotein or LDL and high-density lipoprotein or HDL. Bad cholesterol: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is considered to be the main source of cholesterol buildup and leads to a blockage of the arteries. Good cholesterol: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) helps in removing the excess cholesterol from the arteries. Factors affecting the cholesterol levels The following factors can affect the cholesterol levels of any person: Diet of a person: The food a person eats also contributes to the cholesterol level. Saturated fats also contribute toward increasing the cholesterol levels of a person on the cholesterol levels chart. If a person tends to reduce the saturated fats in the food, it would thereby lead to a decrease in the cholesterol levels. The weight of a person: People who are overweight also tend to have a higher cholesterol level. If a person works toward reducing his or her weight, the volume of bad cholesterol or LDL decreases.

Congestive heart failure is a chronic heart problem which affects the pumping ability of the heart muscles. The heart fails to pump efficiently which causes heart failure. Congestive heart failure is high-risk and a life-threatening problem. Treatments for congestive heart failure work wonders to help people struggling with it. What is congestive heart failure? The human heart has four chambers, with the upper chambers known as atria and the lower chambers are known as ventricles. Blood is pumped to different body parts through the ventricles. The atria receive impure blood from the body. Congestive heart failure can be defined as the stage when the fluid accumulates around the heart. The fluid disables the ventricles to pump enough blood to the body. What are the different types of congestive heart failure? The left-sided congestive heart failure occurs when the left ventricle fails to pump blood effectively. Fluid can build up in the lungs and cause difficulty in breathing. Left-sided congestive heart failure is of two types: Systolic heart failure: The contraction of the left ventricle results in the improper pushing of blood for circulation due to the lack of force thus making pumping inefficient. Diastolic failure: The stiffness in the left ventricles doesn’t allow the muscles to relax. In this condition, the heart fails to pump the required level of blood. Right-sided congestive heart failure, however, occurs when the right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs inefficiently. Blood accumulates in the blood vessels and results in fluid retention. The congestive heart failure has four different stages: Class I, Class II, Class III, and Class IV. What are the common symptoms experienced in the different stages of congestive heart failure? Class I: No specific symptoms (although one tends to feel tired quickly). Class II: Shortness of breath and palpitations during physical activities.

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.

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.

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder in humans. It is a disorder that makes a person lose his or her control over sleep and wakefulness. Many people suffer from excessive sleepiness during the daytime. This is a common symptom of narcolepsy. The sleepiness can be at any time during the day, devoid of any environmental factors such as place, time, or activity. This sudden attack of sleepiness compels the person to drift off to sleep at odd intervals. The actual cause of narcolepsy is not known to health professionals, though studies in the field are still in progress. Difference between normal sleep and narcolepsy sleepiness Sleep is normally associated with night-time, with maybe 1 or 2 short naps during the daytime. The human sleep cycle involves various phases and levels. One does not slumber into a deep sleep the minute he or she closes their eyes. Studies show that a normal person takes approximately 90 minutes after falling asleep to enter a phase of deep sleep. Clinically, this phase of the sleep cycle is termed as Rapid Eye Movement or REM. This is the phase of sleep in which we have dreams. One does not wake up during this time. A patient with narcolepsy enters the REM phase almost immediately after falling asleep. This sleep need not take place during the night but can happen anytime during the day and any number of times. This abnormal and untimely sleep pattern often disrupts the person’s regular sleep cycle resulting in disrupted or sleeplessness during the night. Narcolepsy decreases the overall quality of a person’s sleeping pattern. Causes of narcolepsy The actual cause of narcolepsy is yet to be pinpointed upon by health experts. Researchers and health practitioners are still conducting studies to find out the exact causes of narcolepsy and understand why some people tend to suffer from untimely daytime sleep.

Did you know that almost one-third of your entire life is spent sleeping? Unfortunately though, one in every five adults don’t get an adequate amount of sleep. Sleep deprivation or lack of sleep is something a lot of us face, and this can be detrimental to our health, performance at work, and your relationships as well. Good sleep equals less stress and a healthier heart, while people suffering from insomnia are at the receiving end of a number of health disorders. Why aren’t you getting enough sleep? If you’re in the habit of using your phone at night, then this could be a possible reason why you aren’t getting enough sleep. Your phone emits blue light, which makes your brain assume that it should be awake. When this happens, the amount of melatonin (your sleep hormone) that is produced is lowered. All in all, your circadian rhythm will be disrupted, causing you to lose sleep. Having your dinner too late can cause a lack of sleep as well. When you eat your dinner too late, you tend to have digestion issues, which in turn can have an adverse impact on your sleep cycle. Change your mattress. An old and worn out mattress that has lumps and probably even dust mites isn’t where you should be sleeping. Old mattresses can make your restless, give you an allergy or even a sore back. Your pillows need to be replaced often as well. Not exercising often and leading a lazy life can make you have trouble sleeping. You tend to have too much energy, and this leads to sleep deprivation. Incorporate a healthy exercise regimen into your daily life to burn all the excess energy. Loading up on too much coffee? You need to stop because caffeine and sleep don’t get along. Caffeine is a stimulant, and while it can help you jumpstart your mornings, it can ruin your night’s sleep.