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.

Good cholesterol is extremely important to the human body and it is produced in the liver. It is helpful in creating different hormones in the body and also helps in keeping the cells flexible. But, just like anything else, too much of anything is not good for the human body. So, having too much cholesterol or having it in the wrong places can create a lot of health issues. Fat gets dissolved in the water and it gets flushed out of the body, but it is not the same with the cholesterol. Risk of heart problems, blood pressure, obesity, and many other problems can be seen due to high levels of cholesterol in the body. Many people take up gym membership or try to work out at home in order to reduce cholesterol. This is definitely a good start, but exercise alone cannot do the magic that you are looking for. You need to make some changes in your diet or add some naturally healthy food that lowers your cholesterol levels. Here is the list of 10 naturally healthy cholesterol-lowering foods. Avocados Are you wondering which foods that lower cholesterol naturally? Then simply add some avocados to your diet. This is a great source of monounsaturated fats, nutrients, and fiber. Fiber and monounsaturated fats can be really helpful in lowering the cholesterol levels, and hence, this is a must in your diet when you wish to reduce cholesterol levels naturally. Legumes Commonly called as pulses, legumes are one of the best options to reduce cholesterol levels. Alfalfa, chickpeas, beans, and lentils are the plant foods and they are called legumes. As they are low in fat and also contain high fiber, minerals, and proteins, they are considered as good cholesterol-lowering foods. Nuts Yet another of the foods that lower cholesterol naturally, nuts are nutrient-rich food helping in reducing cholesterol in the human body.

Staying healthy and fit is one of our biggest priorities that need regular efforts. Maintaining the ideal body weight is a stepping stone to a healthy and fit lifestyle. Weight loss or maintenance can be quite intimidating without the right support system. The good news is there is a popular weight loss supplement that decelerates fat production in your body and cuts down your appetite! Garcinia cambogia is the key to accelerated weight loss and prevention of weight gain, but, is it really the “wonder” weight loss supplement most people consider it to be? Read on to know more. Pure garcinia cambogia is essentially a tropical fruit, also known as brindleberry. It is usually available in its pure form in bottles or combined with other ingredients as a dietary supplement. This fruit has been used for many generations as a preservative and for holistic healing in many cultures. Let us now look at how garcinia cambogia functions as a weight-loss supplement. The active ingredient is the hydroxycitric acid (HCA) present in the rind of the fruit. Studies have shown that this acid accelerates burning of body fat and help in curbing one’s appetite. Citrate lyase is the enzyme responsible for generating body fat. Garcinia is known to block the production of this enzyme, resulting in less fat production in the body. Serotonin is a brain chemical associated with appetite. Higher the levels of this chemical, the less hungry you feel. Garcinia Cambogia is known to increase the levels of this chemical; thus, curbing your appetite. Apart from helping in weight loss, this tropical fruit is capable of improving your cholesterol levels by lowering bad cholesterol levels and increasing the HDL levels. However, those who are already on prescription medications for cholesterol should avoid this supplement. Listed below are 8 of the best Garcinia cambogia supplements in the country:

Protein is the most essential nutrient when it comes to weight loss. Consuming a high-protein diet boosts the body’s overall metabolism and helps in controlling hunger pangs. Also, it helps prevent muscle loss and makes you burn more calories. Increasing your daily protein intake is simple. You do not have to restrict anything but just add some natural high-protein foods to your diet. Couple it with a healthy workout regimen and witness the amazing transformation in your body. To get the best results, here is a list of high-protein foods that can be added to your everyday diet to lose weight. Almonds when it comes to high-protein foods, almonds undoubtedly top the list. This delicious nut is a storehouse of protein. One almond contains 0.3 grams of protein and a substantial amount of fiber. Munching on this protein-rich snack can provide a feeling of satiety, which in turn improves appetite control and leads to a reduced calorie intake. Broccoli Usually a nightmare for every kid, broccoli secures the second top spot on our list of high-protein foods. One cup (91grams) of raw and chopped broccoli contains 2.6 grams of protein. Besides, it is also rich in vitamin C and K, magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium. Chickpeas Chickpeas are a rich source of protein, dietary fiber, and potassium. One cup (200 grams) of chickpeas contains 39 grams of protein, which helps in suppressing hunger for longer durations. Also, they are cholesterol-free and low in saturated fat, making it a perfect addition to your heart-healthy diet. Eggs Eggs are among the healthiest high-protein foods you can consume for weight management and gaining muscle strength. They are incredibly nutrient-dense and filling, with every single egg containing 6 grams of protein. Eggs also contain several essential vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats, which ramps up your metabolism and make you feel fuller for longer.

Have you been battling with high cholesterol problems and are wondering how to lower LDL cholesterol levels? High cholesterol increases the risks of heart attacks and diseases. Although treatment may help improve your cholesterol levels, you still need to make essential lifestyle changes to boost the cholesterol-lowering power of the treatment. To help you make healthy lifestyle changes, some effective tips have been listed below on how to lower LDL cholesterol levels. Making some changes in the diet can help reduce the level of fat in the body and help enhance your heart’s health. The following changes can help you be on your way to having a healthy heart: Eliminate trans fats  – Often labeled as partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, trans fats are used in store-bought crackers, cookies, cakes, as well as in margarine. They raise the levels of cholesterol in your body and that’s why most hydrogenated vegetable oils are not recommended for use when the LDL levels in the body are high. Reduce saturated fats  – Primarily found in full-fat dairy products and red meat, saturated fats can raise your cholesterol levels. By decreasing consumption of saturated fats, you will be able to reduce LDL cholesterol levels in your body. Increase the intake of soluble fiber  – Foods that are rich in soluble fiber are great at lowering cholesterol levels naturally. The soluble fiber reduces the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream. Therefore, consider eating more fiber-rich foods such as barley, yams, oats, sweet potatoes, oat bran, and other types of potatoes. Beans or legumes like black beans, peas, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, and kidney beans are also excellent sources of soluble fiber. Vegetables are also rich in soluble fiber so consider including beets, eggplant, carrots, okra, and Brussels sprouts in your diet. Some good fiber-rich fruits are oranges, passion fruit, berries, apricots, apples, pears, and nectarines.

Wondering how to naturally lower LDL levels? Well, you should first know that cholesterol is an essential substance which helps the human body to build cells. It travels through the blood on proteins which are called lipoproteins. These proteins are classified into LDL or Low-density lipoprotein and HDL or High-density lipoprotein. HDL or good cholesterol absorbs cholesterol and carries it back to the liver, excess of which is flushed out of the body. On the other hand, LDL or bad cholesterol make up most of the body’s cholesterol. When our body has LDL in excess, it can build up on walls of blood vessels, making it narrow. These narrow blood vessels blocks flow of blood to and from the heart, thus causing a heart attack. A lesser known fact is that HDL can lower risk for heart disease and stroke. The LDL particle concentrations are typically categorized by percentiles and the optimal range is 0 – 20% in adults. What causes LDL? Cholesterol is vital to the human body, and hence it is produced naturally. But there are some foods that can only increase the LDL level, more than the body actually requires. Unhealthy food habits or a diet rich in saturated and trans fats, lack of physical activities, exposure to smoking and excess weight are the main reasons for high cholesterol levels. Some people inherit genes from their previous generations too. How to naturally lower LDL? Cholesterol enters our body through two sources. The liver makes all the cholesterol which is required by the body. The remainder of it comes from food from animals and dairy products. There are lifestyle changes that can improve cholesterol levels. So, if you are wondering how to naturally lower LDL in your body, include these in your diet. A variety of fruits and vegetables Fruits and vegetables are the main source of soluble fibers which absorbs cholesterol in intestines by binding it with bile.

Fiber refers to plant-based carbohydrates (not sugar or starch) that are digested uniquely in the large intestine. They are essential for people who consume more meat than vegetables. Fiber is an invaluable aid to the digestive system and helps in smooth bowel movements. Fiber is responsible for bulking up the stools, thereby making it softer and more pliable within the rectal cavity. Considering that constipation is the most common digestive problem in the country, eating a lot of fiber is not only a healthy option but also a necessary one, especially for people who suffer from chronic constipation. Given below is a list of high fiber foods that you can incorporate in your diet. Dark chocolate: Let’s start with something that everyone likes! Dark chocolates contain as much as 10.9% fiber. While chocolate is often called unhealthy, the trick is to go for dark chocolates with a cocoa content of over 90%. Make sure to pick the ones with very little sugar in them. Moreover, they are rich in nutrients and have a ton of antioxidants in them as well. Almonds: With around 12.5% fiber, almonds are full of many nutrients, healthy fats, vitamin E, manganese, and magnesium. These nuts are tasty as well as a healthy alternative to chips and other junk food. Legumes: Consider consuming this food item as a part of at least one meal in a day. Legumes are a rich source of fiber and quite nutritious too. In many countries, legumes are the primary source of nutrition. Be it black beans (8.7%), edamame (5.2%), lima beans (5.3%) or baked beans (5.5%), you cannot go wrong if you pick legumes to add fiber to your diet. To achieve the best balance of nutrition and taste, opt for chickpeas as they have 7.6% fiber. Lentils: Lentils are perhaps the most balanced item on this list of high fiber foods.

Probiotic word has been derived from the Greek words Pro, which means “promotion” and Biotic, meaning “life”. Our body has a vast amount of bacteria- both good and bad, which have been with us since birth. But what is important is the optimal balance of these in the body. A subsequent imbalance is called dysbiosis, which can cause diseases related to the intestinal tract. So, probiotics are actually bacteria or live microorganisms which help prevent or even treat some illnesses. While the idea of having bacteria in the body that help instead of harm is a bit difficult to take in, probiotics actually help promote a healthy immune system as well as a healthy digestive tract. The following are the health benefits of probiotics: Balancing the good bacteria in the body An imbalance between the good and bad bacteria in the body can cause allergies, obesity, mental health issues and more. Probiotics restore the natural balance of gut bacteria upon consumption. These live beneficial microorganisms prevent an imbalance that might have been caused by various kinds of medications, illnesses, poor diet and more. Diarrhea treatment One of the most common side effects of taking antibiotics is diarrhea. This occurs due to the antibiotics negatively affecting the balance between good and bad bacteria. But one of the probiotic benefits is to help reduce or prevent diarrhea, especially antibiotic associated diarrhea. Studies have also proven that they can reduce infectious diarrhea by an average of 25 hours and traveler’s diarrhea by 8%. But, the effect varies depending on the type and dosage consumed. Improving mental health conditions Gut health has been linked to mental and mood health often, and in accordance, probiotic supplements have been found to decrease some mental health disorders like anxiety, stress, depression, OCD, memory and more. Keeping the heart healthy Bile is a fluid mostly made up of cholesterol which helps with digestion.

You can use bacteria for fighting bacteria! Confused? Some health disorders that are caused by bad bacteria can be directly treated or the symptoms can be eased to a large extent by consuming good bacteria, commonly referred to as probiotics. Before you know how they can help manage Crohn’s disease, you must know what it is all about. Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the functioning of the intestines. The immune system of those affected by this disease starts attacking the good bacteria present in the gut, resulting in a steep depletion of good bacteria. The term probiotics can be split into “pro” meaning for, and “biota” meaning life. Probiotics play a key role in the replenishment of good bacteria in the gut, which in turn improves digestion and overall health. Hence, consuming probiotics for Crohn’s disease may be considered as an effective treatment method. The role of good bacteria The bacteria present in our digestive system play a key role in digestion and immunity. A healthy gut maintains a delicate balance of good bacteria. This balance is essential for proper digestion and assimilation of food. Digestive disorders like Crohn’s or intake of antibiotics tend to upset this balance, resulting in inflammation of the intestines and poor digestion. Due to the depletion of naturally occurring good bacteria in the gut, there is a need for external replenishment by consuming probiotics. Probiotics for Crohn’s Disease A typical symptom of Crohn’s disease is alternating periods of flare up and inactivity. This is an autoimmune disease that has no cure, but symptoms can be managed by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Consuming probiotics for Crohn’s disease helps in managing the symptoms effectively. Ensuring a good supply of nutrients to the stomach and intestines helps bring about remission. Crohn’s disease diet plan must include probiotics, which have proven digestive benefits.