Protein powders are gaining huge popularity—not just among weightlifters, six-packers and gym addicts. They’re a useful nutritional supplement for people who want to lose weight or gain muscle, convalescents, senior citizens, athletes, vegans, and vegetarians. Let’s find out what they’re all about. What are protein powders? These special nutritional supplements contain concentrated protein from animal or plant sources and can be consumed in the form of concentrates, isolates, and hydrolysates. They are often available with added vitamins and minerals, in various flavors. You can buy them at most pharmacies, health stores, supermarkets, and online in powder form or as pre-mixed drinks. Add them to your normal food, mix them into juices, or just make a simple shake out of them. The common forms of protein powder are soy protein, whey, and casein protein. Whey is the most popular form since it’s water-soluble and contains all the nine essential amino acids that are necessary for the complete human diet. Each protein source has its own characteristics and benefits. Benefits Since protein is essential for the health and growth of all parts of our bodies, we need to make it a part of our daily diet. Proteins give energy, help to repair and rejuvenate cells. They also contribute to bulking up muscle mass, reduce fat, and help to repair and maintain the muscles. They give you a feeling of fullness and prevent hunger pangs that send you hunting for food in your fridge. When to take them You should take them if you’re an athlete or a teenager, planning a drastic work-out program, preparing for an athletic event or competition, opting to become a vegan or vegetarian, recovering from an accident/injury/illness. How much do you need? According to the American College of Sports Medicine, the normal adult needs about 0.8 gm/kg body-weight every day.

Cholesterol is a type of fat molecule which is present in your blood. It is an essential component that helps to maintain and shape cell structures. It is vital to have a certain level of cholesterol in your blood, but high levels of cholesterol can be harmful to your health. High levels of cholesterol according to the cholesterol chart could mean that there are deposits of fatty substances in your blood. These fatty substances occur due to high cholesterol levels and make it difficult for your blood to flow through your arteries. It can lead to a heart attack or stroke. A cholesterol levels chart typically monitors your total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. Types of cholesterol There are two types of cholesterols in your blood, namely high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol. HDL helps remove the excess cholesterol while LDL is the cholesterol that accumulates in your arteries. Cholesterol level charts for adults and children Cholesterol levels can be categorized as good, borderline, low, and high. The cholesterol level charts are different for children and adults. The total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels are measured and then categorized as good, low, high, bad or borderline. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has defined the values indicated below. Cholesterol levels for children Good cholesterol corresponds to total cholesterol of 170 or less, HDL cholesterol of 45 or higher, LDL cholesterol of 110 or less, triglycerides of 75 for age group 0-9 years and less than 90 for the age group of 10 to 19. Borderline cholesterol suggests total cholesterol of 170 to 199, HDL cholesterol of 40 to 45, LDL cholesterol of 110 to 129, triglycerides of 75-99 for age group 0-9 years and 90 to 129 for the age group of 10 to 19.

The state of having excess levels of uric acid in the blood is known as hyperuricemia. What is the reason behind the increased presence of uric acid? If your liver produces a higher amount of uric acid, you have to face this problem. Another reason is the reduced excretion of uric acid through your kidneys. If this issue remains unattended, you may have to deal with health problems like kidney stones, gouty arthritis, hypertension, renal failure or cardiovascular diseases. How to lower uric acid levels? Eat plenty of vegetables Research studies have shown that foods rich in fiber reduce the amount of uric acid levels in the blood. When your vegetable consumption increases, you are assisting your body’s effort to lower acidity. It restricts the uric acid formation effectively. At the same time; you should not consume vegetables that are highly rich in purine. For example; vegetables such as cauliflower, peas, asparagus, mushrooms, and spinach contain a higher amount of purine. If you are wondering how to lower uric acid levels, it is advisable to restrict the consumption of these veggies. All other vegetables can be consumed to lower uric acid levels in your body. Increase your water or fluid intake Water intake is an essential aspect when it comes to reducing uric acid levels. When you drink a lot of fluids and water, your urine output increases and it helps your body remove the unwanted uric acid. It is a well-known fact that water is an excellent detoxifying agent and it removes most of the toxins from your body. Your water consumption must be between 10 to 12 glasses every day. If you find it tough to consume a lot of plain water, you can depend on lime juices and other types of fluids that contain natural and mild flavors.

Do you find losing weight a daunting task? Are you thinking how to reduce weight quickly? Most people would say ‘yes’. They might say that gaining weight was really easy. Mindless eating can easily make you put on weight. After having acquired a lot of fat in your body, getting rid of it becomes a difficult task. Today, people are after processed and junk foods and they have become addicts of an unhealthy lifestyle. Once a habit is developed, you cannot eliminate it easily. It requires a lot of hard work. Obesity or unwanted weight gain invites several health issues and the quality of your life comes down in a significant way. Want to know how to reduce weight quickly? Here are some beneficial tips on how to reduce weight quickly. Never get preoccupied or obsessed with calories What is the first thing that comes to your mind when someone tells about weight loss? Most people relate to weight loss with calories and you might not be an exception. The basic rule is to reduce the calories intake for eliminating fat from your body. It does not mean that you have to keep on thinking about calories while making efforts to reduce weight quickly. It does not help you stay motivated. When you become obsessed with calorie consumption, you get easily bored and your weight loss journey becomes a herculean task. Most health experts unanimously agree that calorie-out and calorie-in approach misfires because it does not allow you closely monitor the way food consumption makes an impact on the metabolism and hormones. If you are keen to reduce weight quickly, you must concentrate on the food quality in place of getting carried away by the calorie statistics. Never uncomplicate things Weight loss logic is pretty simple. You have to lose more calories than you consume.

Blood pressure is becoming a common problem among people of all ages. High blood pressure is the result of changes in the body and unhealthy lifestyle practices. High blood pressure is often associated with fatal and risky heart diseases. If you’re wondering how to lower high blood pressure, people suffering from high blood pressure often rely on medication. How effective are these medicines? More than medicine, it is the lifestyle that plays a vital role to lower your blood pressure. However, if your high blood pressure is out of control, it is better to rely on medications until the new and healthy lifestyle practices that you have adopted start making a positive difference to your blood pressure. Once you adopt a healthy lifestyle, you can consider delaying the intake of medications or reduce intake later. If you’re wondering how to lower high blood pressure, these following 10 lifestyle changes can help reduce the levels and its associated risks. Weight loss An excess of weight and a larger waistline indicate unhealthy lifestyle practices. When body weight increases, blood pressure also increases. Excessive weight can also cause breathing problems or sleep apnea, which is a form of disrupted breathing. This increases blood pressure in people already suffering from high blood pressure. Therefore, it becomes apparent to lose weight to lower your high blood pressure. It is, in fact, one of the most effective ways to lower your blood pressure. Losing at least 4.5 kg can have a significant change in the blood pressure of an individual. Another factor to monitor is your waistline. Larger the waistline, more are you at risk of suffering from high blood pressure. Men with a waistline measurement greater than 40 inches and women with their waist measurement greater than 35 inches are at risk of high blood pressure.

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.

Asthma is a lung disorder which results in breathing difficulties, coughing, wheezing, and other symptoms. It is mainly caused by high air pollution, allergy, smoke, dust, cold conditions, and sinus. People who have asthma must focus on how to prevent asthma attacks and reduce it effectively for living a better life. They should follow certain tips for preventing asthma attacks successfully which help enhance the quality of life. Another thing is that they show ways for minimizing the risks in homes, working place, outdoors, and school to reduce potential threats. There are no proper medications available for treating asthma and one should know reducing and relieving the symptoms to improve the living standards. Asthma patients must keep some medicines with them in order to manage sudden attacks. Anyone who wants to know more about how to prevent asthma attacks can follow the below tips for accomplishing goals in life. Taking control over humidity Air quality contributes more in controlling the asthma problems. Poor air quality and extreme hot or cold might trigger asthma disorders in many people. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid them to minimize the symptoms. Moreover, it is always advisable to avoid the exposure of pollution in indoor and outdoor areas that ultimately give ways for keeping lungs in a healthy condition. The following pointers can help in controlling humidity. – Using an air conditioner in indoor areas will help to decrease high humidity levels. – It is advisable to live in an environment that is free from air-borne pollutants, dust, and high pollution. – Limiting the exposure to varying temperatures and damp climate might help prevent asthma attacks. Controlling the dust exposure Dust plays an important role in inducing asthma and people make sure that their home is in a tidy condition. It is an important one to reduce the dust levels and dust mites efficiently for living a trouble-free life.

Medigap plans are supplement plans purchased over your original Medicare insurance policy to provide additional medical coverage. Traditional Medicare plans may not provide complete coverage and medical benefits, which is why Medigap plans offered by private insurance companies are gaining popularity today. Medigap Plan F is the most popular option according to the recent shift in policy trends observed by the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance. This would come as a surprise since Medigap Plan F also happens to be the most expensive in the various categories from Plans A to N offered as supplement insurance. However, the major reason for many people opting for Plan F is the wide range of coverage it offers when it comes to healthcare costs. Experts agree that trying to save money on the premium payable for medical insurance is not a good idea since it will affect your health coverage in the long run. Age is also a factor which has to be taken into consideration above all since only people who 65 years and above can opt for Medigap plans, including the most popular Medigap Plan F. At this age, being insured for a complete healthcare cover is recommended and advised by medical professionals since costs can be quite substantial without health insurance. Things to look for while comparing Medigap Plan F with popular insurance companies: Medigap Plan F general coverage offers substantial medical coverage including Part A coinsurance and hospital costs over and above Medicare. Part B coinsurance or copayment. Blood packets, the first three pints for surgery, and transfusion purposes. Part A hospice care copayment. Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance. Part A and Part B deductibles. Foreign travel exchange, which will again differ accordingly compared to plan limits and insurance companies. Out of pocket expenses which will again depend on the type of policy and its insurance carrier.

A blood pressure test indicates whether a person is suffering from low blood pressure or high blood pressure. The numbers indicated in this test need to be studied carefully to diagnose any potential problems. What is blood pressure? Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood in the circulatory system. A normal systolic falls to less than 120 and the corresponding diastole is less than 80. For prehypertension, systolic is 120-139 and diastolic is 80-89. High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 1 systolic is 140-159 and diastolic is 90-99. High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 2 systolic is 160 or higher while diastolic is 100 or higher. Hypertensive Crisis(Emergency care needed) systolic is higher than 180 and diastolic is higher than 110. A medical professional needs to confirm the diagnosis of high blood pressure as well as evaluate any unusually low blood pressure. In general, it has been observed that low blood pressure readings and lower targets work for populations like the elderly, African-Americans, as well as patients who have underlying health issues like chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus. Categories of blood pressure The American Heart Association recognizes five categories of blood pressure: Normal blood pressure: Those who have normal blood pressure numbers that fall within the optimal ranges of being less than 120/80 mm Hg have a healthy level of blood pressure. Following heart-healthy habits like getting regular exercise and following a balanced diet goes a long way into maintaining normal blood pressure. Prehypertension: Prehypertension or early stage high blood pressure occurs when the blood pressure consistently ranges from 120-139/80-89 mm Hg. People who have prehypertension are more likely to develop high blood pressure unless they take appropriate measures to take it under control. Hypertension Stage 1: Hypertension Stage 1 is marked when blood pressure falls in the range of 140-159/90-99 mm Hg.

The best diets are the ones which are easy to follow, safe, nutritious and effective for weight loss and offer preventive measures for heart disease and diabetes. So, here’s a list of the 12 best diets of 2017 as per the nutrition experts: Vegetarian Diet The vegetarian diet has made its spot in the top 10 list of best diets of 2017 from being number 13 in 2016. This diet is as simple as it can get. There is no meat allowed as the name suggests. The meat will be replaced with a lot more vegetables high in nutrients content to make you feel full. Ornish Diet This diet plan is developed by Dr. Dean Ornish. This diet sees food on a “spectrum” with certain food items being healthier than the others. The less processed, the better as far as eating healthy is concerned. The diet emphasizes on consuming fruits, whole grains, vegetables, and fat as well only if it contains omega 3 fatty acids. It is also among the top ranking diets for heart disease. Jenny Craig Diet This diet plan is promoted by the likes of Mariah Carey and Kirstie Alley. Jenny Craig uses weight-control counseling, and the prepared meal can be picked up from a Jenny Craig location or delivered to your address. Volumetrics Diet Volumetrics diet is developed by Barbara Rolls, a nutrition professor at the Penn State University. This diet plan categorizes food items based on their density. Foods which are less dense like soups, vegetables with high water content, etc. are preferred over cookies, butter, and pizza. Fertility Diet As the name suggests, this diet is meant for those women who are having a problem conceiving. This diet is developed by Dr. Walter Willet and Dr. Jorge Chavarro of the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.

Sleep apnea is quite a common sleeping disorder these days. If you experience poor quality of sleep, it might be due to sleep apnea. This disorder causes oxygen deficiency in the body due to uncontrollable pauses while breathing and shallow or short breaths during sleep. Sleep apnea often causes one to wake up startled. Common Symptoms of Sleep Apnea A person with sleep apnea, usually stops breathing every now and then, during the night’s sleep. Sleep apnea may stop one’s breathing for as many as thirty times in an hour. This sleeping disorder may also cause a person to stop breathing for very brief moments, even without them being aware of it. People who experience sleep apnea are triggered to wake up suddenly and gasp for air. Once they wake up startled, the body desperately tries to reopen the airways, to make up for the deficiency of oxygen. The irregular breathing process associated with sleep apnea may result in symptoms such as loud snoring, disturbed sleep, fatigue, choking during sleep and anxiety. For these symptoms, there are various remedies for sleep apnea which one can consider. Risks Associated with Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is not just a problem of heavy snoring. It is a serious medical condition and requires immediate attention. One need to immediately consult a doctor to find remedies for sleep apnea. Long-term health issues associated with sleep apnea include a risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, obesity, short-term memory loss and sexual dysfunction. Interrupted sleep has also time and again been associated with accidents while driving, low performance in academics and work, high vulnerability to common cold and flu and low body resilience. Follow these Natural Remedies for Sleep Apnea Maintain a healthy weight and good health One of the most common and effective remedies for sleep apnea is exercising and eating healthy.

With all the buzz about this plant compound, you might be confused about the actual benefits it provides. Drinking a lot of red wine may seem like the best way to get the benefits of this plant compound. Resveratrol supplements provide larger and concentrated amounts of this beneficial antioxidant, which is more than you could get from any food, per serving. What Is Resveratrol? Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol found in sources like red grapes, peanuts, Japanese knotweed, and blueberries. It is a powerful antioxidant. The highest naturally occurring concentration of resveratrol is present in the skin of red grapes. This is why red wine and red grapes have recently become the focus of studies, for their anti-aging properties. Supplements that contain resveratrol, extract the compound from red grapes, berries, and from Japanese knotweed. Many studies have shown the potential benefits of this antioxidant compound. Resveratrol is produced by plants to protect themselves against certain diseases and sun damage. It is thought that concentrated amounts of this plant compound can provide similar benefits to humans. So far, lab studies on animals have revealed some potential benefits, but the proven and recognized benefits are its antioxidant properties. Resveratrol is available in two isomers— cis and trans . Most research studies were been conducted on the trans isomer of Resveratrol, so many Resveratrol supplements are labeled as Trans-Resveratrol. Resveratrol Potential Uses This plant compound is popular for providing people with numerous health benefits, but the real potential is still under study. May Help Lower Systolic Blood Pressure Systolic Blood Pressure (the upper number of your BP readings) indicates the pressure, that is exerted on the walls of the arteries during heartbeats. Systolic BP usually rises with age, as arteries begin to stiffen. Resveratrol may be of help here because it helps to increase the production of nitric oxide, which helps relax blood vessels.