Type 2 diabetes: Foods to Avoid
Nutrition

Type 2 diabetes: Foods to Avoid

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, which essentially means that your body cannot respond to insulin the way it is meant to. Produced in the pancreas, insulin is a hormone that controls the level of sugar in your blood. Hence, in type 2 diabetes, high blood sugar is a common symptom. To manage this chronic condition, apart from medications, following the right diet is also essential. This is why you should know about the foods to avoid for people with type 2 diabetes. Now, while snacking, most people tend to consume items that are high in fats, sugar, and salt. However, type 2 diabetes patients need to be extra cautious to prevent complications. While fresh fruits, veggies, low-fat dairy products, omega-3 rich fish, and whole grains can be included in your diet, there are a few foods you should stay away from. Given below is a list of food items to avoid for people with type 2 diabetes: Avoid fruit juices While fruit juices may seem healthier than sodas, especially the 100% pure ones, remember that they do not have any fiber and are loaded with natural sugar. This can cause your blood glucose level to shoot up fast.
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Foods That Can Aggravate Breathing Problems
Nutrition

Foods That Can Aggravate Breathing Problems

There are a wide variety of conditions that may cause breathing difficulties, including asthma, allergies, and COPD. Asthma is a condition in which a person’s airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus, causing coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing. Allergies can cause a variety of symptoms, including swelling, hives, nausea, fatigue, cold-like symptoms and, of course, breathing problems. While constructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that constricts airflow from the lungs, producing wheezing, mucus production, coughing, and difficulty breathing. All of these conditions can be triggered by consuming certain foods, leading to breathing issues and related symptoms: 1. Citrus and other acidic food and drink Acidic foods and drinks, such as citrus fruits, fruit juice, tomato sauce, coffee, and spicy foods, can be a problem for people with breathing problems. These foods can cause acid reflux, a condition in which acids escape from the stomach and move into the esophagus, creates heartburn. More importantly for people with lung disease, however, acid reflux may worsen the symptoms of lung disease, and thus should often be avoided. 2. Dairy products Dairy products may contain calcium, a very important mineral, but they also contain casein, which breaks down into a protein fragment known as casomorphin.
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5 Popular Snacks That are Harmful for Kids
Nutrition

5 Popular Snacks That are Harmful for Kids

It’s not easy to get kids to choose healthy snacking options. Busy schedules and rushed mornings lead to convenience snacks, usually containing unhealthy ingredients. Your child may also be a picky eater and refuse to try new foods. This situation can be frustrating, but people often resort to popular healthy snacks like lunch combo packs and vegetable chips that appear to be healthy but are in fact quite the opposite. Many of these snacks hide added sugars and other ingredients that provide poor nutrition to your child. Let’s look at some typical snacks and why they’re not the right choice: 1. Lunch combo packs These combo packs may seem like a healthy choice, given that some of them contain things like turkey and cheese. However, upon closer inspection, the nutritional facts will show you everything you need to know. High in fat, calories, and sodium, these combo packs also include several preservatives that don’t provide kids with adequate nutrients. 2. Veggie chips With the word “Veggie” in the title, it must be suitable for children to snack on, right? Unfortunately, these contain nearly the same number of calories found in regular potato chip snack bags. High in sodium, this product doesn’t include the amount you would expect of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
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Superfoods to Reduce the Risk of Cancer
Nutrition

Superfoods to Reduce the Risk of Cancer

Cancer is an uncontrolled proliferation of body cells anywhere in your body. Anything that can cause a normal cell to develop abnormally can also cause cancer. Once it starts in one part of the body, cancer cells can quickly spread to other parts of your body. The general categories of cancer causative agents include toxic or chemical compounds, genetics, ionizing agents, and some other pathogens. The disease is the second-leading cause of death globally. But thanks to early cancer treatment and screening campaigns, the survival rates are now better. Some of the common known cancer types include breast cancer, leukemia (blood cancer), prostate cancer, bladder, kidney, lung, melanoma, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and colorectal. While genetics may play a role in cancer development, environment and lifestyle choices, including the foods we eat may play a role in cancer risk. With that in mind, here are the top superfoods known to prevent cancer: 1. Fatty fish Fatty fish like anchovies, salmon, and mackerel contain some nutrients like Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins known to highly lower cancer risks. In simple terms, if your body is well equipped with vitamin D, it can lower the chances of contracting cancer. 2. Walnuts The American Institute of Cancer Research has indicated that all types of nuts can help to prevent cancer.
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6 Foods That Keep GERD and Bowel Disease At Bay
Nutrition

6 Foods That Keep GERD and Bowel Disease At Bay

That telltale burning feeling in your stomach or chest may be a sign of bowel diseases (like colitis or Crohn’s), or GERD. Symptoms of GERD include backwash of food or sour liquid, chest or stomach pain, and trouble swallowing. These symptoms often worsen at night and may cause cough, laryngitis, or even asthma. GERD and bowel disease treatments can include medication, lifestyle changes, and, occasionally, surgery. Over the counter remedies, like Pepcid AC, or doctor prescribed medications, like Stelara for Crohn’s disease, may also help reduce the heartburn common in Crohn’s disease sufferers. Treating GERD and bowel disease symptoms by eating these easily digestible foods is also often recommended: 1. Ginger Ginger is a known anti-inflammatory. This is a great choice since GERD can cause inflammation of the esophagus. You can buy ginger root and chop it to add to many dishes—like stir fry sauces, smoothies, salads, pasta or poultry. You can also choose to add a slice of ginger to hot or cold drinks, like tea. 2. Oatmeal Typically thought of as a breakfast food, oatmeal is actually very versatile. Besides eating it like a bowl of cereal, you can use it as an ingredient in baked goods, meatloaf, or in sauces.
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