IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome refers to a common disorder that affects the large intestine. The most common symptoms of this disorder are abdominal pains, cramps, bloating, gas, and constipation or diarrhea. Although the symptoms can be severe, it affects only a few people. It is possible to control the symptoms easily through a well-managed diet, stress-relieving practices, and lifestyle changes. What triggers IBS? Once you learn to identify factors that aggravate the symptoms of IBS , you will learn how to handle these triggers to prevent flare-ups. Firstly, you need to make a proper diet plan so that you can work on problems like belly pains, gas and associated bloating, and constipation and diarrhea. Symptoms are usually triggered because of specific foods. Curbing food allergies and food intolerance are a major part of IBS treatment. However, IBS occurs when you eat or drink specific foods or drinks like wheat products, dairy products, milk, carbonated sodas, cabbage, and citrus fruits. IBS symptoms can also be aggravated because of high-stress levels; stress alone cannot cause IBS. Hormones often play a part in triggering the symptoms. For instance, the symptoms are likely to become worse when women have periods. Foods that can help with IBS: Lean meats are easily digestible. So, you can choose to include white meat like chicken and turkey, lean beef cuts, and pork to your diet. It is best to avoid dark-colored turkey and chicken meats. Eggs are usually easy to digest and are considered safe for people with IBS. They can be consumed when they are boiled, poached, scrambled, or soft-boiled. Omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce inflammation in your body. This helps with the symptoms of IBS. Some examples are herring, salmon, sardines, mackerel, rainbow trouts, anchovies, etc. Vegetables are good for gut health. Earlier, people with IBS avoided vegetables as they thought it would aggravate the symptoms.

Ketosis is a metabolic reaction that takes place when the body does lacks carbohydrates and looks to burn fat instead to give the body the energy it requires. Ketogenic diets have recently become very popular, but few realize that it comes with a variety of both pros and cons. The benefits of this diet have been well established and the results are very appealing. That being said, results are guaranteed only if it’s done right and the pros and cons of a keto diet are fully understood before jumping into it. Pros Following a keto diet rewards you with a variety of benefits, such as Lose body fat Ketogenic diets have proven to lose weight and especially lower the body fat percentage even though the intake of fat is higher than usual diets. This is primarily because the fat being consumed are healthy fats and is being burned by the body owing to the absence of carbs. Once the body goes into ketosis, it will start burning fat. Resets insulin sensitivity Insulin insensitivity refers to the body’s inability to break down glucose and making use of it. A keto diet can help reset this and bring it back into optimal functioning where the glucose will be metabolized as per requirement. Helps manage diabetes This is more prominent for the Type 2 diabetes patients since a low carb intake could help keep a healthy blood glucose level without any insulin shots at all. Increases fertility in women Since ketosis helps regulate diabetes and also reduces the chances of being obese, it will, in turn, mean it boosts fertility in women. The diet is known to heal reproductive hormones to a large extent. Cons There are some problems that come with taking up the ketogenic diet, such as Ketoacidosis The human body is not used to being deprived off carbohydrates, and ketoacidosis is one such con of this diet.

Would it not be great if you could add nutrients to your kid’s diet through foods they love to eat? There are some excellent snack ideas that actually make it possible for you to make snacking both fun and nutritionally-satisfying for your kid. And you can prepare these at home without applying too much of an effort. Here are some snacks for your child that are healthy and nutritious: Popcorn: Popcorn is a huge favorite with children. The best part is that it is made from whole grains that are rich in fiber and essential nutrients. Cookies : Cookies can be healthy, unlike what most people think. You simply have to use the correct ingredients. For instance, you should opt for whole wheat flour instead of refined white flour; you can even add rolled oats to make them fiber-rich, and can replace butter with applesauce to lower the amount of saturated fats. When you give your child healthy cookies with low-fat milk, the snack becomes both well-balanced and nutritious. Pizza : This is similar to the sandwich as a snack idea but it is possible to make it healthy by using toppings like sliced peppers, olives, and ham. The pizza should be made from premade whole wheat dough, which is easy to buy. Crispy rice treats : These are puffed rice snowballs that have seeds and dried fruits, and makes for an excellent kid-friendly snack that’s rich in fiber and proteins. Cheese : This is a readily available home snack that can be an excellent source of calcium, fats, and protein for your kid. Full-fat dairy foods will satisfy your kid’s need for calcium and Vitamins D and A, while cheese will give your kid high-quality protein that is a must for optimum growth. Veggie pita pocket : Most parents are worried that their kids do not eat enough vegetables.

The liver is a vital organ in the body that performs numerous metabolic functions including the elimination of toxins and breaking down of key nutrients. Keeping the liver healthy is crucial for your health as diseases affecting this organ can lead to life-threatening complications such as liver cancer. A nutritious and well-balanced diet along with a healthy lifestyle is important for the proper functioning of the liver. It also helps reduce the risk of liver diseases like fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and acute hepatitis. Here’s a list of foods and drinks that are good for the liver and including them in your diet can support liver health. Oatmeal The high nutritional value of oatmeal makes it one of the best foods for the liver. It is a fiber-rich food item that was found to reduce the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The regular consumption of oatmeal helps combat health conditions like obesity that adversely affects liver health. By incorporating oatmeal in your diet, you can improve liver functions and keep it well-protected from troubling conditions. Coffee The presence of hepatoprotective properties in coffee makes it one of the best liver-supporting beverages. An array of clinical studies have found that regular coffee consumption can lower the risk of chronic liver diseases and life-threatening conditions such as liver cancer. Almonds and walnuts Nuts like almonds and walnuts are rich sources of vitamin E, a substance that possesses antioxidant properties. Vitamin E is a vital nutrient that plays a crucial role in the prevention and treatment of issues like fatty liver disease. Consume a handful of walnuts and almonds regularly to keep your liver healthy. Green Tea Green tea is among the healthiest drinks that you can include in your daily diet to keep your liver healthy and lower the risk of developing liver cancer.

Lung cancer is a life-threatening disease that affects millions of men and women all over the world. Depending on the type and severity of lung cancer, overall health condition, and age of the person, the healthcare providers may recommend a series of treatment procedures like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and immunotherapy. During and after treatment, it is essential to eat a healthy diet that contains foods that may help you battle lung cancer. Green tea Green tea contains polyphenols that demonstrate high antioxidant properties. Research has found that green tea consumption may inhibit tumor growth and help fight lung cancer. It was also found that consuming green tea regularly may reverse some of the damages caused by smoking. In addition to that, studies have proven the effectiveness of green tea in lowering the risk of developing lung cancer. Pears Pears are rich sources of phloretin, which a compound that possesses anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. The powerful effects of phloretin help enhance the anticancer effects of chemotherapy medications like cisplatin. These medicines are often used for the treatment of lung cancer, specifically non-small cell lung cancer. The anticancer properties of pears make it one of the most potent fruits that may help in your battle with lung cancer. Dark green leafy vegetables Packed with various nutrients, dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, chicory, lettuce, and collard greens are some foods that can help prevent and manage certain types of cancer like lung cancer. These vegetables are enriched with carotenoids and folate and act as natural antioxidants. Consume a diet rich in leafy greens to help your body fight against lung cancer. Ginger As per the findings of clinical studies, ginger demonstrates potent chemopreventive effects against life-threatening conditions like lung cancer. The high abundance of phenolic compounds like 6-shogaol found in ginger enables it to work as an anti-tumor agent.

A lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in the immune system, specifically in the lymphocytes, which are the are the infection-fighting cells of the body. The lymphocytes of a patient with lymphoma, change and grow out of control. This results in rapid cell growth which leads to cancer. Lymphoma is of two types—Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It can be treated with chemotherapy and other cancer treatment methods. However, diet plays an important role since the immune system is already weak and vulnerable to attack. Here are 5 food items that help fight lymphoma and improve the quality of life during treatment. Broccoli Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and radish have proven to help strengthen the body’s immune system and can thus help significantly in fighting lymphoma. Patients are advised to have anywhere between 5 and 10 servings of vegetables daily. Other sources of cruciferous vegetables include Brussels sprouts, kale, turnips, and arugula. Chicken Meat is a large source of protein and lean meat like chicken and turkey can help give patients the required amount of protein during or after the treatment. However, it is important to avoid excess consumption of red meat since doctors have found a correlation between increased risk of cancer and the consumption of excess read meat. Lean meat, on the other hand, had much fewer side effects and is the healthier option in general. Quinoa The body requires a healthy diet, especially during cancer treatment. This involves the consumption of the right carbohydrates to give the body the energy it needs. A healthier alternative to traditional sources of carbs like rice, potatoes, and bread is quinoa. Cooked quinoa has 23% carbohydrates while keeping it as a simultaneous source of both protein and fiber. Moreover, quinoa is gluten-free which is an added advantage to who those who are intolerant to gluten.

Melanoma is a form of skin cancer. One of the ways of treating this disease is immunotherapy, where the body naturally fights melanoma. Studies have shown that food that is rich in fiber can help in the fight against melanoma. Immunotherapy and melanoma Melanoma is one of the deadliest types of skin cancers. Immunotherapy is one of the treatment options for those who have melanoma. It involves administering drugs that help the body’s immune system naturally fight melanoma. The drugs used in immunotherapy activate the T-cells that fight cancerous cells and kill them. These drugs help the T-cells recognize the cancer cells so that they are destroyed. They help in improving the natural immunity of the body while fighting cancer like melanoma. Diet and immunotherapy Studies carried out by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy have shown that diet can play a role in the success of immunotherapy. The studies showed that when the gut microbiome, which refers to bacteria in the stomach, is diverse and healthy, then it can improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The studies showed that consuming a diet that is high in fiber and rich in probiotics would help boost healthy gut microbiome. This, in turn, can make the immunotherapy more effective. The importance of a high-fiber diet The studies showed that those patients who consumed a diet that was high in fiber (having whole grains, fruits, and vegetables) responded five times more effectively to immunotherapy treatment. The scientists believe that high-fiber in the diet ensures diverse gut flora (bacteria and other organisms in the stomach). Apart from treating melanoma, it is believed that a very high-fiber diet can be very helpful in boosting the immune response of the body. The best high-fiber diet People suffering from melanoma and undergoing immunotherapy should consume a high-fiber diet that helps the immune system’s fight against the disease.

Menopause is an inevitable phenomenon in any woman’s life that marks the end of menstruation. In general, menopause occurs in women who are 51 years of age or older. This natural condition is often accompanied by a host of unpleasant symptoms that can take a serious toll on the quality of one’s life. Some of the commonly experienced menopausal symptoms are hot flashes, mood swings, sleep problems, fatigue, and vaginal dryness. Good nutrition plays a vital role during menopause and can help get relief from the symptoms and also promote overall health in the years following menopause. Listed below are a few food options that one can eat during menopause to cope with the symptoms and associated complications. Iron-rich foods Iron is a vital mineral that has powerful properties essential for women during and after menopause. One should aim for 3 servings of foods packed with iron to promote overall health. Also, iron is essential to ward off medical conditions like anemia. Including food items like nuts, eggs, vegetables (spinach, kale), and fish in the diet to ensure the daily iron requirements are met is advisable. High-fiber foods The onset of menopause often leads to estrogen deficiency that increases the risk of heart diseases. As per the findings, an increase in the intake of dietary fiber can help lower the risk of heart disease in women. Dietary fiber is a type of carbohydrate that is found in abundance in many food items such as fruits, beans, legumes, bread, grains, breakfast cereal, and pasta. One should consume at least 21 grams of fiber per day to prevent menopause from putting them at risk of cardiovascular diseases. Calcium-rich foods During menopause, women experience a sharp decrease in the levels of estrogen, a hormone that plays a vital role in bone health. Low estrogen levels increase the risk of osteoporosis, a chronic bone disease.

Most times, headaches cause major discomfort in our regular activities which can lead to a lack of interest in completing tasks. Migraines are a severe form of headaches that causes intense pain that could last from a few hours to days on end. It can also affect other physical activities as well. Migraines are usually caused due to a lack of food and sleep; however, the exact cause of migraine is still unknown. Besides other treatment options, there are some foods that can help manage the condition effectively. Food habits to follow: Intake of vegetables and fruits – Vegetables and fruits have many beneficial factors and help our body in many ways. Whole and natural foods that contain no artificial flavoring and preservatives keep us healthy and avoid conditions such as migraine. Different types of fruits and vegetables in any color can act as pain relief in case of migraine. However, it is important to avoid citrus fruits as it can trigger a migraine. Natural sweeteners such as vanilla extract and maple syrup can also be beneficial. Healthy fresh meat – Always go for fresh meat and avoid processed meat. Fresh meat such as chicken, fish, or red meat are considered to be safe for those suffering from migraines. Red meat and salmon contain a good amount of vitamin B2 that helps in relieving migraine pain. Smoked and processed meat, however, contain a high amount of salt, preservatives, and artificial coloring that can trigger a migraine. Eat mini meals – Hunger is one of the most common reasons for migraines. Eating three large meals can leave you hungry very often and lead to headaches. Eating foods in small portions during the day reduces hunger and helps eradicate migraine. Make sure you eat enough to stay active throughout the day. Drink lots of water – Water has many benefits and helps our body in different ways.