6 Important Signs You’re Consuming Too Much Sugar

We love sugar – somehow our body is conditioned to love it. It provides us energy and since our body requires a lot of energy, it desires sugar. But while it might crave sugar a lot, it does not mean that we can take in a lot of it. Our body has a delicate mechanism and everything must be in balance. An excess of sugar can cause a lot of issues in our body.


If you are facing any of these problems, then the chances are that you are taking in a lot more sugar than you should:

You have a desire for sugar
Sugar has a tendency to cause addiction. It can create a form of a chain reaction that will make you want to have more sugar. As an addict, you might feel the lack of energy and want more of it or else you might be feeling exhausted most of the time. But when you do have sugar, there might be a short burst of energy, which will be followed by an immediate form of exhaustion, a sign that you are eating too much sugar.


Gaining more weight
Sugar does not contain any fiber or protein. So technically, the amount of sugar we burn, the more calories we produce. As we burn sugar, it triggers the production of insulin which directs the sugar in specific channels so that it gives us the much-needed energy. But when there is too much sugar intake, the body can’t understand how to balance out the insulin production and this results in insulin opposition. The more insulin obstruction takes place, the more weight is gained, as the pancreas start to get overpowered.

Flu
Too much sugar intake can result in problems of our immune system and this will further result in a lack of defense against cold or flu viruses. Thus, if you diminish taking in sugar, you will have a stronger immune system.

Foods taste less sweet
According to Alpert, when you have an excess intake of sugar, then you will create a tolerance towards the sweetness of sugar. Your taste buds will expand and food will taste less sweet. Chances are that if you control your sugar intake then the taste buds will contract and you will gain your sugar-tasting abilities back.

Hazy brain
One of the major symptoms of having a high intake of sugar is mind haze. That is when you suddenly feel hazy and it generally occurs after you have supper. The sugar levels climb up quickly and then it drops suddenly which results in mind haze. If this occurs, then it’s time to consult a doctor and start limiting sugar-based products.

Skin issues
When sugar is taken in excess then there is a chance that you will start to have some provocative skin diseases, like rosacea, dermatitis, and dryness. If you drop the intake, then the conditions are likely to recover on their own. On top of all that, Dr Sherri Greene has said that since sugar has the tendency to provoke your skin, it can also cause plantar fasciitis – a condition that thickens the tissue on the soles and heels. It can also result in adrenaline exhaustion which can cause dark circles to form under the eyes.

Sugar intake is a pertinent issue and if you are already facing any of these factors, start to limit your sugar intake. And it’s best if you take the help of a doctor and dietician while you are doing so. Best of luck.

Important Signs That Your Body Is Too Acidic And How To Deal with It

Too much of anything is harmful for our bodies. So it is obvious that when our bodies are acidic beyond a certain level, it becomes an unhealthy body. Acidic environments are a boon for bacteria, illness, and yeast. The body also uses minerals present in our bones and vital organs to get rid of acid and expel it.

Thereby, the body might lose large portions of these vital minerals such as calcium, sodium, magnesium, and potassium. Their absence might go undetected before the body cannot handle it any further which leads to acidosis.

So, to help our bodies get rid of all this acid generation, a healthy intake of alkaline food is a must.

Unbalanced acid in the body a.k.a acidosis can cause health problems such as:
  • Sensitive and inflamed gums, cavities
  • Deficient immune system
  • Stiff neck, backache
  • Problems in breathing, coughing, other respiratory issues
  • Increased yeast, fungal growth
  • Blood vessel blockage, oxygen reduction
  • Faster heart-beat, arrhythmias, heart ailments
  • Gaining weight, insulin inhibition, obesity
  • Kidney and bladder infections
  • Free radical damage acceleration
  • Aging prematurely
  • Stomach problems, vomiting, diarrhea
  • Bone density loss, osteoporosis, fractures in hips
  • Drowsiness, loss of focus, headaches
  • Acne, skin problems, allergies
Understanding The Level of your pH is important
You should start by getting information about your pH because it lets you get an accurate insight into the level of acidification present in the body. A pH reading in the range of 6.75-7.25 is considered as a healthy pH reading.


Acidity cannot be distinguished based solely on taste alone
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of acidic food is lemon. But the interesting fact is that lemon becomes alkaline by the time it reaches our stomach. The acid contained in lemon gets oxidized into water and oxygen. That helps the body avoid high acidic concentration.

Foods which contain calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, and sodium help our body alkalize acids. Hence, they’re considered to be alkaline forming foods. Both alkalinity and acidity are common factors in most foods. The ones with higher alkaline minerals are usually considered alkaline and vice versa.

The human body has thresholds
A balanced diet is important because the body cannot compensate for all the additional acidic minerals that we consume. A lot of diseases and sickness are the end results of our bodies’ efforts to balance out the acidic environment in our systems.

Eating too much acid forming food such as meats, dairy, grains and sugar will lead to our bodies becoming acidic. While, on the contrary, eating too much alkaline-inducing foods such as greens, sea vegetables and fruits will lead to high alkaline concentration in the system. Harmony of foods is essential.

You can improve alkaline concentration by:
  • Regular pH checks to stay informed
  • Healthy intake of water and alkaline water whenever possible
  • Reducing acidic food intake
  • Having a healthy green salad instead or regular wheat or grains
  • Replacing flour based wraps with collard greens and lettuce leaves
  • Reduction in the intake of processed foods
  • Replace soda, sugar, and coffee with herbal coffee, green drinks and herbal tea
  • Switching dairy with coconut, almond, or soy milk
  • Drinking green juices and smoothies
Eating Right is Valuable
Eating right and keeping the right pH levels might seem like an uphill task, but once you start to feel the benefits, the reward will definitely be worth it. You will start feeling like you have more energy and the whole index of your health will definitely get better.

Eating has obvious direct benefits on our health as well as harmful repercussions. So eat right, exercise, and life will be happy and hearty.

6 Signs And Symptoms Of Deviated Septum

Your nasal septum is a straight wall made of bone and cartilage which should ideally divide your nasal cavity into two equal parts. In some cases, due to a birth defect, or an injury to the nose, the septum bends severely to one side. This can make it difficult to breathe through your nose. It can also cause chronic sinus infections, nosebleeds, headaches, snoring, and disturbed sleep.


A deviated nasal septum is a structural disorder of the nose. Your nasal septum is a wall made of bone and cartilage that divides the nasal cavity into two. It extends from the back of your nose to your nostrils. Ideally it’s straight and lies in the middle, separating the right and left side of your nose into two passageways that are equal in size. But for most people – 80% of us by some estimates – it’s a little off center so that one nostril is smaller than the other.1 This doesn’t usually cause problems. But in some cases, the septum bends or shifts severely to one side resulting in a “deviated septum”. This could happen due to an injury or birth defect. A deviated septum can cause symptoms like:

1. Trouble Breathing Through The Nose
The most common sign of a deviated septum is that it obstructs the smooth flow of air through the nasal passage. This can make difficult for you to breathe through your nose. You may notice that the symptom is worse on one side and it may sometimes occur on the side that is opposite to the bend. You may also have a blocked nostril that shifts from one nostril to the other.

2. Chronic Sinus Infections
The bones surrounding your nose has hollow spaces within known as sinuses which produce mucus. This mucus drains into your nose. But a deviated septum can block your nose and stop drainage from your sinus into your nasal cavity. This can make you prone to inflammation of the sinuses and frequent sinus infections – a condition known as sinusitis.

Sinusitis can cause a sense of pressure or pain in your nose, cheeks, between your eyes, or forehead. It may also result in headache, fever, nasal congestion, mucus drainage into your throat, coughing which may worsen at night, bad breath, fatigue, toothache, and a problem with your sense of taste and smell.


Do keep in mind though that not everyone with sinusitis has a deviated septum and that people with a crooked septum don’t necessarily get sinusitis. However, if you frequently suffer from sinus infection it might be a good idea to get yourself checked out for a deviated septum.

3. Nosebleeds
If you have a deviated septum, the flow of air over the deviation can have a drying effect. This can make you vulnerable to nosebleeds.

4. Headaches
If your deviated septum comes into contact with structures on the walls of your nose, then you may get headaches. For instance, the wall inside your nostrils has structures known as turbinates which project into your nasal passages and help to moisturize and warm air as it moves through the nose. If your septum deviates to the extent that it comes in contact with these, it can cause headaches.

5. Noisy Breathing While Sleeping
If your nasal airways are obstructed, then extra effort is required to move air through it. This results in a vacuum in your throat that pulls the floppy tissues in your throat together and causes snoring or noisy breathing. The American Academy of Otolaryngology indicates that this symptom may be particularly relevant for babies and young children.

6. Disturbed Sleep
Obstruction of the nasal passage makes it difficult for you to breathe through your nose and force you to breathe through your mouth, resulting in a dry mouth. In many people, these factors worsen at night when they’re lying down. This can disturb sleep and cause you to have a restless night.

If you have a mildly deviated septum, you may only experience symptoms when you have a cold. This is because the cold may result in nasal inflammation which exacerbates mild problems with airflow through your nasal passages caused by the deviated septum.

What Can You Do About It?
A mildly deviated septum might not require any treatment. In some cases, medications like decongestants, corticosteroid nasal sprays, or antihistamines may help you deal with symptoms caused by this condition. Your doctor may also advise you to go in for surgery if you have particularly troublesome symptoms like recurring sinus infections or nosebleeds.

12 Things Your Poop Says About Your Health

In the 21st century, we have finally understood that watching our health is important. Yet we often forget to pay attention to the signals our body sends us. Have you ever analyzed your stool? As gross as it may sound, its color and shape can reveal a lot about your health.


Poop color
As you probably know, the normal color of stool is brown. It may vary slightly from time to time depending on what you eat, but a sudden color change for no obvious reason can be a warning sign. So let’s find out what’s what.

1. White

Whitish, grayish, or clay-colored stool indicates a lack of bile. It may hint at problems with the liver and gallbladder as these are organs where bile is produced and stored. It can be anything from blocked bile ducts and gallstones to cirrhosis.

White mucus on brown stool may be a sign of Crohn’s disease.

2. Green

A green color may be caused by the consumption of vegetables rich in chlorophyll (like spinach), green food coloring in drinks, and iron supplements.

If food is not the reason, it means your stool passed the digestive tract too quickly and didn’t have time to get enough bile and bilirubin.

3. Yellow

Yellow stool can be a sign of blocked bile ducts and poor fat absorption. Another reason is a lack of enzymes produced by the pancreas, which may hint at chronic pancreatitis, celiac disease, and cystic fibrosis.

But don’t panic! Yellow poop can also be a sign that you ate too many carrots or had lots of yellow-colored drinks.

4. Black

Black stool may appear because of medicine intake (like aspirin, ibuprofen, and iron supplements) or bleeding in the intestines. The latter is obviously a reason to contact your doctor immediately.

A more common cause lies in the food you eat. Black and blue foods, like blueberries or licorice, can give this shade.

5. Red

Red stool is usually influenced by your diet. Beets, colored drinks, tomatoes...just think about what you have consumed recently.

However, if food is not the cause, it’s time to call your doctor. Blood in your poop is an alarming sign. It may be an anal fissure or something more serious like hemorrhoids, ulcerative colitis, or even cancer.

Poop shape
If you still don’t believe that watching your stool is normal, some scientific research may convince you. To distinguish the types of poop and help people stay healthy, scientists from the Bristol Royal Infirmary created the Bristol stool chart. It describes 7 types of feces and what they mean.

1. Appearance: Separate solid lumps reminiscent of nuts or goat feces.


Meaning: Severe constipation.

This type of stool means your body lacks fiber. To fix it, try to consume more fiber-rich products like wholewheat pasta, raspberries, and lentils.

2. Appearance: Sausage-shaped, large, and lumpy.


Meaning: Constipation.

This type of stool is also caused by a lack of fiber. Nondietary reasons for constipation may include long-term antidiarrhea medicine intake and lack of physical activity. The advice is to eat more fruits and vegetables and perform exercises.

3. Appearance: A cracked sausage-shaped poop.


Meaning: Normal stool.

You’re doing just fine! Don’t forget to walk and drink more water.


4. Appearance: Soft, sausage-shaped, and smooth.


Meaning: Perfect stool.

Try to maintain a balanced diet, and avoid stressful situations to keep things as great as they are.

5. Appearance: Soft lumps with clear edges.


 Meaning: Light diarrhea.

It may also be a sign of irritable bowel syndrome. To make it better, try eating low-fiber foods like bananas, crackers, and potatoes.

6. Appearance: Fluffy pieces with ragged edges.


Meaning: Mild diarrhea.

Maybe there’s too much fiber in your diet. Drink more to avoid dehydration, and stick to boiled potatoes and bananas. You may also want to try some OTC, like Imodium or Pepto-Bismol. If the problem lasts more than 2 days, consult a doctor.

7. Appearance: Liquid without solid pieces.


Meaning: Severe diarrhea.

This may be a sign of food poisoning, lactose intolerance, bacterial infection, or medicine intake. Drink plenty of water to fight dehydration, and try over-the-counter medications. If the symptoms don’t disappear in 2 days or if you feel pain, consult a doctor.

Signs And Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia To Watch Out For

A chronic disorder that manifests as widespread pain in the body along with a diffused tenderness, fibromyalgia is a serious health issue that affects the work-life balance of the sufferer. While muscle spasms and chronic pain are the primary symptoms, there are neurological symptoms like numbness, difficulty in walking, etc that could accompany the pain. Sleep would be affected, so would the bowel function. Depression and mood swings are common, too.


Do you wake up in the morning with pain all over your body? Are you often fatigued without any real exertion? Do you have points in your body that feel tender or sore to the touch even though there are no apparent injuries? If the answers to these questions are “yes”, then you might be suffering from fibromyalgia.

The word fibromyalgia comes from Latin words fibro meaning fibrous tissue, Greek myo meaning muscle and algia meaning pain. Fibromyalgia is now seen as a chronic disorder that manifests as widespread pain in the body with a diffused tenderness caused by a certain level of damage to the central nervous system. This leads to a highly sensitized neurological state where external causes like infection, trauma, and stress can trigger this painful disorder.

According to American College of Rheumatology, there are 18 tender points from where the pain radiates; and if 11 of those points are found to show tenderness along with widespread musculoskeletal pain, then it can be diagnosed as fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia, in some cases, can become such a serious health issue that it could impact the work-life balance of the sufferer. Clinical trials show that people with fibromyalgia lose some levels of their functional abilities due to chronic pain.

What Causes This Pain?
While medical researchers are still trying to find out the exact cause of fibromyalgia, there are many reasons, from stress to genetics, behind it. Here’s a look at the causes.


1. Stress, physical trauma or even a serious bout of flu or similar infections can result in fibromyalgia. This is because during a stressful situation, the body’s hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which plays a major role in regulating the body’s metabolic system, cardiovascular system, immune system, reproductive system and central nervous system, gets disrupted resulting in an upset stress response system in the body which in turn leads to excessive sensitivity to pain, and pain-point triggers.

2. Fibromyalgia is recognized as a post-traumatic disorder. Experts believe that these symptoms might be the result of chemical imbalance in the brain which triggers a chain reaction. It is seen that sleep deprivation or disturbed sleep pattern decreases the pain threshold in people and they can develop fibromyalgia. Experts have proposed that low levels of serotonin and other abnormalities in the neuroendocrine axis that regulates our immune and nervous system can lead to widespread pain and tenderness that is associated with fibromyalgia

3. You could even have it in your genes. If one family member, especially your mother, has it, then you are at a high risk of developing this disorder.

What Are The Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia?
If you have been in a state of general pain with tender spots for over three months but no cause has been found in medical tests, you are likely to be suffering from fibromyalgia.

Nowadays, doctors look beyond the tender points for a multi-pronged approach. Besides the widespread pain, they look for symptoms like sleeplessness, depression, trauma or stress since cases of primary fibromyalgia syndrome shows symptoms like these.

Here are some of the symptoms in detail:

1. Muscle Spasm And Chronic Pain
At the initial stages when the pain has just begun, it is quite possible to confuse fibromyalgia with arthritis. While it is now recognized as a rheumatic disease, fibromyalgia is closer to osteoarthritis in terms of fatigue and physical pain. While it is a musculoskeletal condition with widespread pain, osteoarthritis only hits the joints.

Do the lightest of touches trigger a bout of pain in certain areas of the body? If your pain threshold is low and you feel it in the skin folds as well, then you could be having this chronic pain disorder. This is often accompanied by increased blood flow to the area referred to as reactive skin hyperemia. The chronic pain is further aggravated by physical activity and improved with rest.

2. Neurologic Symptoms
Over the last few years, research has shown that fibromyalgia is more of a neurological problem from an injury to the nervous system than muscular or joint inflammation. In fact, it is seen that fibromyalgia occurs more often after a neck or shoulder injury rather than any injury to the lower part of the body. Other than fibromyalgia, the injuries result in other symptoms like numbness, weakness, blurred vision, along with head and neck pain and difficulty in walking.

3. Sleep Disorder And Fatigue
A clinical research done on patients with fibromyalgia showed that 76 to 90 percent of them showed signs of disturbed sleep and fatigue. In fact, most patients live with a strange predicament where the painful condition prevents restful sleep which in turn causes excessive fatigue which increases pain and stiffness throughout the body.


This discomforting pain also leads to troubled sleep through the night and the feeling of not rested. It is also seen that the person suffering from this disorder tends to wake up early in the mornings only to remain exhausted the rest of the day. They often suffer not just from insomnia but also other sleep-related disorders like sleep apnea and mid-sleep arousals.

Moreover, this reduction in sleep efficiency or lack of restful sleep not only leads to a sense of discomfort and fatigue but also decreases the pain threshold in a person.

4. Depression, Mood Disorder, And Memory Problems
Unexplained depression, anxiety, and mood swings are also signs of fibromyalgia, especially when these are accompanied by pain. Logically the lack of sleep that is caused by chronic pain disorder triggers other symptoms. The weakened central nervous system, which is also a symptom of fibromyalgia, is also seen as another reason why people suffer from depression and mood issues.

Research also shows that those suffering from excessive pain develop memory problems and cognitive issues as well. Fibromyalgia patients are also found to exhibit signs of hypochondriasis or heightened health anxiety. This is less of a personality disorder and more from being hyper vigilant of any event that could cause pain.

5. Irritable Bowel Syndrome And Bowel Dysfunction
Frequent complaints of bad stomach, constipation and bloating are common in people suffering from fibromyalgia. Actually, over 40 percent of people with this painful disorder have high chances of developing various gastrointestinal issues and suffer these symptoms frequently.

You’re At Risk For Fibromyalgia If…

1. You are a woman, especially in the age group of 20-55 years. Women tend to develop low pain threshold due to an abnormality in the central nervous system and low cerebral blood flow. If you are pregnant and already have fibromyalgia, it can worsen during the 9 months, especially in the last trimester.

2. You have a high body mass index or are overweight or obese. There is a “hidden link” between obesity and fibromyalgia, though studies have not been able to conclusively prove if obesity is a cause or consequence of fibromyalgia.

3. You have diabetes. People with the diabetic condition also suffer from this painful disease. However, with systematic sugar control, both diabetes and fibromyalgia can be controlled.

Signs And Symptoms Of Tonsillitis To Watch For

Tonsillitis can leave you feeling tired from a painful sore throat. This is often accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as a runny nose, fever, and sore eyes. Your inflamed and swollen tonsils can also cause bad breath, dehydration, earache, and difficulty swallowing. Little children may become irritable and refuse food due to the pain from swallowing. Learn to watch for these symptoms, especially a high fever or signs of dehydration or excessive drooling in young children, so you can get them timely help and ease their discomfort.


Tonsillitis is one of the most common illnesses among children, teens, and young adults. Unfortunately, a lot of the symptoms of tonsillitis can be confused for a cough or flu and left untreated. So how do you spot the signs? Whether you’re reeling from inflamed tonsils due to a viral or bacterial infection, it is possible to identify the problem – just watch for early signs and get treated before it becomes too painful to bear!

Inflammation Of The Tonsils With Classic Symptoms
Located at the rear of your throat, your tonsils are soldiers in your body’s lymphatic system, helping rid the body of infection and maintaining the delicate balance of body fluids. They act as traps for germs that enter the body via the nose and mouth, drawing them in and preventing them from spreading to other parts of the body where they might cause more damage. Tonsillitis strikes when your tonsils are inflamed, causing them to swell up. The result is a host of classic tonsillitis symptoms that you can learn to spot quite easily. If you have young kids at home, this is something you’ll soon be quite adept at because they’re especially prone to the problem!


Sore Throat
You might first notice your tonsillitis because of a sore throat. Because this sore throat is often brought on by the streptococcus bacteria, it’s often called a “strep throat.” You will typically be given antibiotics to treat the problem. If the doctor finds that your tonsillitis is due to a virus, you won’t need antibiotics, but it helps to drink lots of water, rest your voice, and take a mild over-the-counter painkiller if you’re troubled by the pain or soreness.

If a sore throat is moderate to severe and doesn’t go away after a couple of days, watch for other signs of inflammation of the tonsils.

Muffled Or Hoarse Voice
Besides the sore throat, if your tonsils are really swollen and obstruct the throat, your voice tends to change a little. A muffled voice or one that is hoarse is not uncommon. Some people complain of losing their voice altogether for a bit. Acute tonsillitis doesn’t normally cause as severe a change in voice as other conditions like a pus-filled abscess in the tonsils due to untreated tonsillitis.

Painful, Swollen, Red Tonsils
When bacteria and viruses overwhelm the tissue of the tonsils, they become inflamed. And inflamed tonsils tend to swell up as a result of this and are usually painful. Your tonsils, if examined by you or your doctor, will typically be reddish.

Earache
An earache is also a common symptom of tonsillitis. If your tonsils become enlarged, you could also have recurrent ear infections. Are you also finding it hard or painful to swallow? Is your throat sore? If you do have these problems, that earache could well be the result of a throat infection like tonsillitis.

White Patches On Tonsils
Your tonsils develop a white or yellowish white coating when you have tonsilitis. In some cases, the tonsils could also have white pus-filled spots.

Fever Of Over 100.4℉
Tonsillitis is caused by an underlying infection, whether viral or bacterial. Because your body is fighting off the microbes, it can bring on a fever. If you detect a high fever of over 100.4℉ along with other respiratory symptoms, it may indicate a viral inflammation of the tonsils. If the fever is sudden and the tonsils are swollen, but you don’t have any other signs of an upper respiratory tract infection, you may have bacterial tonsil trouble.


Bad Breath
Whether you have acute tonsillitis or chronic tonsillitis, you should watch for signs of bad breath. The foul breath can become an ongoing issue if you have chronic tonsillitis and may lead to halitosis or persistent bad breath. Bacteria that cause tonsillitis thrive on the mucus produced due to the infection and bring about that unpleasant stink.

Trouble Swallowing
When you have a case of acute tonsillitis, you may experience some issues with swallowing. Difficulty swallowing, also known as dysphagia, as well as odynophagia or experiencing pain when you swallow, are common complaints.

Dehydration
If you don’t take care to keep up your intake of fluids and water, you could end up dehydrated from tonsillitis. Watch for signs of dehydration like urinating less often than you usually do or a tongue and mouth that feel dry and parched.

Spots (Palatal Petechiae) Due To Bacteria-Linked Tonsillitis
Strep throat caused by bacteria may also cause you a break-out of tiny red hemorrhagic spots called petechiae on your soft palate. They may be as tiny as a pinpoint or as large as a pinhead.

Breathing Through The Mouth

If you notice yourself breathing through your mouth, it may be because your tonsils are swollen from infection. While open mouth breathing may also occur due to a blocked nose, you need to consider the possibility of obstructive tonsillar enlargement.

Flu-Like Symptoms Of Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is often mistaken for flu, especially since so many symptoms are similar. For instance, you may have a runny nose, a sore throat, and watery eyes from your tonsillitis. Many cases of tonsillitis are preceded by all of these symptoms before the tonsils themselves become noticeably swollen or inflamed or develop pus-filled spots.

Symptoms Of Tonsillitis In Younger Children
Tonsillitis tends to usually occur only in children over two, with tonsillitis of viral origins being more common among younger children. Bacterial tonsillitis caused by the Streptococcus species tends to be more prevalent in 5 to 15 year olds. Here are some symptoms to look out for in younger children:

Sore throat lasting over two days
Pain or any difficulty swallowing
Weakness
Feeling very sick
Nausea
Vomiting
Stomach pain
Being unusually fussy

In case your child has trouble breathing, is drooling excessively, or is experiencing a lot of pain or trouble with swallowing, you should take them to the doctor as soon as possible.

These are 9 Signs Of Mono You Shouldn’t Ignore

It’s important to recognise the symptoms of mono at an early stage

A whopping 90 per cent of the world population deals with mono (short for mononucleosis) in their life. It’s an infectious disease that is caused by a virus. Most people are infected with it before they’re twenty, and the infection usually passes unnoticed.


Yet it is definitely important to be able to recognise the symptoms at an early stage. The earlier you recognise the disease, the earlier you can recover from it. Pay attention to the following nine signals.

Do you recognise multiple of these signals? Then there’s a chance you’ve got mono.

1. Laryngitis or a swollen throat
When you have a sore throat and your amygdalae or lymph nodes are swollen, you might be dealing with mono. Do you suspect you might have been infected with the virus? You can ask your doctor for a blood test, which can determine whether you’ve indeed got mono or not.

2. Rash
One of the first signs of mononucleosis is developing a rash after you’ve had antibiotics to treat laryngitis. Dr Robert Danoff explains to Reader’s Digest that doctors will prescribe amoxicillin or ampicillin against laryngitis. At that point, the doctor in question doesn’t yet know that the mono is present.

3. Someone you’ve kissed has gotten sick
Another name for mono is the ‘kissing disease’, and it’s named that for a reason: it’s very easy to transfer the disease to someone else. The virus mainly spreads via saliva, but also via blood or sperm. You can also get infected if you drink from a glass that someone else, who is infected, has already drunk from. When you and someone you’ve kissed are showing flu symptoms at the same time, you might want to check whether you’ve been infected with mono.


4. Severe fatigue
Teenagers are known for being tired a lot, but if they are experiencing extreme fatigue for a couple of weeks in a row, they might be dealing with mono. “Often the person says, ‘Doc, I’m sleeping a lot but I’m still tired and don’t feel like I’m doing too much,” doctor Danoff explains.

5. Fever
When you have a fever (temperature between 38.5 and 40 °C) that lasts longer than is normal, it might be a sign of mono. Dr Danoff explains that this is an important clue. “People should suspect mono when they have a prolonged cold-like illness or high fever and swollen glands.” He also says that you should visit a doctor in this case and get a blood test.

6. Breathing problems
Because your amygdalae and (lymph) nodes swell up when you have mono, this can also cause you to have trouble breathing. Luckily, most mono patients recover within two weeks and almost always become immune to the virus afterwards. This means that generally speaking, you can only get mononucleosis once in your life.

7. Abdominal pain
Pain or an uncomfortable sensation in your abdomen can indicate that you have been infected with the virus that causes mono because it can cause your spleen to get enlarged. If this is the case, you should avoid contact sports, since you don’t want your spleen to get damaged further.

8. Reduced appetite
When you don’t feel hungry and you can’t bring yourself to eat anything, you might be dealing with mono. A healthy diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables can help you get rid of the virus more quickly.

9. Headaches
Although not all mono patients suffer from headaches and they can also be symptoms of lots of other things, it can definitely also be a sign of mono. It is difficult to recognise, though.


How To Increase The Melatonin Levels Naturally?

You must have heard about the dream hormone – melatonin. It is also called the hormone of life and longevity. Scientists are still studying the properties of this substance, but its positive impact on the human body and its necessity for a normal life have already been confirmed.


Melatonin appears in the human body in the following ways:

 – naturally produced in the body itself;

– be fed through a particular food;

– it is consumed in the form of special drugs and supplements.

Creation of melatonin in the body

Melatonin is produced in the epiphysis (pineal gland).

Looking at the question of how melatonin is produced, it is most commonly associated with the epiphysis. Under the influence of sunlight, the amino acid tryptophan in the body turns into serotonin, which in the evening turns into melatonin. After its synthesis in the epiphysis, melatonin enters the cerebrospinal fluid and blood. Thus, for all these transformations it is necessary to spend at least half an hour every day and be exposed to daylight.

The amount of produced hormone in the epiphysis depends on the period of the day: overnight, about 70 percent of melatonin is produced in the body. It should also be noted that the production of melatonin in the body depends on the illumination. In case of excessive daylight, the hormone synthesis decreases, while under reduced light it increases.

The active production of the hormone starts at about 20 o’clock, and the peak of its concentration, when melatonin is produced in large quantities, is the period after midnight until 4 o’clock in the morning. It is therefore very important, especially during these hours to sleep in a dark room. In the body of an adult, about 30 micrograms of melatonin are synthesized daily.


In order to increase the level of melatonin naturally, you need to follow several important rules:
  • try to go to sleep before midnight
  • to take into account that the time for sleeping should be enough for renewing your strength
  • before going to bed, turn off all sources of lighting and if that cannot be done use a sleeping mask
  • if you wake up at night don’t turn on the lamp, instead use a night light
Scientists have proven that melatonin is not produced only in the epiphysis. In order to ensure the process of life action and the regulation of the rhythm of sleep and the awake condition, the amount of produced melatonin in the human brain would not be sufficient. Therefore, a two-component melatonin production system is considered:

-central – epiphysis, where the synthesis of the hormone of sleep depends on the change of light and darkness, and -peripheral – other cells in which the production of melatonin is not related to illumination. These cells are distributed throughout the human body.

Properties of melatonin
The main function of melatonin is the regulation of the daily rhythm of the human organism. That is, thanks to this hormone we can sleep and sleep in a peaceful way.

Scientists have found that this substance has other important and beneficial properties for humans:

The role of melatonin in the body is enormous. In the absence of melatonin, the person begins to grow old faster: free radicals accumulate, weight regulation is impaired, leading to obesity, women with increased risk of premature menopause, increases the risk of developing breast cancer. It is important to remember that melatonin does not create reserves in the body, that is, it does not create reserves of melatonin by sleeping for several days in advance. It is important to keep up with regular sleep and alertness and to look out for the diet.


You Should Never Ignore These 6 Types of Stomach Pain

Some types of stomach pain deserve a little more attention
Everybody has a stomach ache from time to time. Oftentimes you can find out the cause yourself and you don’t have to worry about it – it will pass. Maybe you’ve eaten something a little iffy, or you’re on your period. Yet there are a couple of types of stomach pain you shouldn’t ignore. If you’re experiencing one of the following types of pain you should contact your doctor.


Some types of pain don’t just pass on their own…

1. Long term pain that doesn’t go away
For every type of stomach pain that lasts longer than three months, you should definitely go to the doctor. Do you have other symptoms besides the pain, like ongoing diarrhoea or obstipation? Or do you feel full after only a few bites of dinner, often feel bloated or gassy after dinner or experience the pain mostly after dinner? Then the pain might be caused by a number of different conditions: from irritable bowel syndrome to lactose intolerance or something more serious.


2. Stomach pain in combination with nausea
When you get a stomach ache together with nausea or vomiting, you most likely have a bout of food poisoning. These complaints should disappear within a day or two. When the symptoms get worse instead of better and you don’t know what’s causing them, you might be dealing with something more serious. Examples are a bowel obstruction, a gastrointestinal infection, a ruptured cyst on one of your ovaries, a stomach ulcer or even a heart attack. In these cases, you should definitely visit a doctor.

3. Stomach pain in combination with blood
When you notice there’s blood in your stool or vomit, we recommend calling a doctor immediately. Keep in mind that blood in your stool doesn’t always appear red; it can also be black, indicating that the bleeding is occurring higher up in the digestive tract. Bleedings like this can have multiple causes, like haemorrhoids, a bleeding stomach ulcer or cancer. Have you eaten a lot of blueberries, beets or liquorice? Then your stool is often dark or even red as well. Medicines like iron tablets and antidiarrheal medicine can be of influence too.

4. Sudden, intense pain
If you’re suddenly experiencing heavy, intense stomach pain, something is probably wrong. Are you experiencing a sharp, stabbing feeling that takes your breath away? Then you might have kidney stones or gallstones. When the stabbing pains arise spontaneously and get progressively more painful, you might be dealing with appendicitis. Visit a doctor right away.

5. Stomach pain in combination with weight loss
Unintended weight loss is always a cause for worry and should be assessed by a doctor, even if it doesn’t happen in combination with stomach pain or other symptoms. This could point to pancreatitis, Crohn’s disease, cancer or other diseases.

6. Stomach pain and fever
If you’re experiencing pain in your stomach in combination with a fever, you might be dealing with an infection. Contact a doctor if this is the case.


Do You Have Receding Gums? This Natural Remedy Might Just Be The Solution

Receding gums don’t have to be a permanent problem

Suffering from gum recession can be really annoying and it can cause a hit to your confidence as well. Most gum problems are caused by the way you brush your teeth. Perhaps you’re brushing too hard or the toothbrush you use is too tough – or it can be a combination of the two. Are you having problems with gum recession? We have a few tips that might help you out!

There’s a natural remedy that can help you with gum recession.

Receding gums
Receding gums can be caused by not brushing your teeth in the right way. When gums recede, the neck of the tooth (beneath the crown but above the root) gets exposed. When this comes into contact with heat, cold, sweetness or acids, you experience a rather unpleasant (more like very painful) sensation. Gum recession can be recognised by the exposed necks of teeth and the gums having a red colour.


So, now we know what to look for – but what can you do about it when you already have receding gums?

Natural remedies
There are several natural remedies that can help you in your fight against gum recession. We do feel the need to mention that these remedies can no longer help you when your gums are so far gone that you need surgery. However, you won’t get to that stage overnight, so if you act in a timely fashion, you might still be able to fix things.

Green tea
Multiple studies have shown that drinking green tea can help when you have problems with your teeth or your gums and they are in bad condition. Green tea can help to prevent bleeding and it can also reduce any cavities.

Aloe vera
This plant can be beneficial for multiple different gum problems. Aloe vera also has protective properties. Have you managed to get rid of your gum problems? Then we would recommend continuing to use a type of toothpaste that has aloe vera as one of its ingredients.

Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus contains anti-inflammatory properties, which can make it really helpful when it comes to combating gum recession. Want to try using eucalyptus? Rinse your mouth every day with the following mixture: 2 teaspoons of eucalyptus oil and 250 millilitres of warm water.

7 Signs Of Hormonal Imbalance In Women

Most women are familiar with hormonal fluctuations at some point in their life. A rise or fall in the levels of hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone lead to imbalances and resulting symptoms. Persistent weight gain, a low sex drive, anxiety and irritation, fatigue, and digestive issues are some of the signs that may indicate a hormonal imbalance.


Hormones are chemical messengers that have an impact on almost all of our daily activities. Most people attribute acne breakouts and mood swings to hormones that are out of control. However, hormonal imbalances are a lot more than just tantrums thrown by a teenager or a sensitive mother-to-be. Most women face these 7 common signs of hormonal imbalance at some point in their lives.

1. Weight Gain
While weight gain could be a sign of unhealthy eating habits, persistent weight gain may also be an indication of hormonal imbalance. Such imbalance can be of different types:

- On an average, women gain about 2–4 pounds (1–2 kg), during menopause. However, some women are at a risk of reaching higher numbers.

- When the sex hormones are out of balance, women can add on the pounds and even face obesity.

- Insulin resistance – a condition in which the body cells stop responding to the hormone insulin – also causes weight gain in women, which is another indication of hormonal imbalance. This issue is evident in postmenopausal women.

2. Reduced Sex Drive
One of the most common signs of hormonal imbalance is a diminished interest in sexual activities or even a reduced sex drive. A drop in the estrogen levels in the body or premature ovarian failure (a condition in which the ovaries stop functioning before the age of 40) may cause this in women. Sometimes, even a minimal drop in testosterone levels, which women produce naturally, may result in sexual disinterest.

3. Fatigue
If you find yourself feeling tired most of the time, it could be due to imbalances of certain hormones.
  • A reduced estrogen level can cause headaches.
  • Progesterone, another hormone responsible for various bodily functions, may cause fatigue – too little of this hormone can make it hard to sleep while too much of it can cause tiredness.
  • An underproduction of thyroid hormones may lead to lower levels of energy, causing you to feel tired and weak. Fuzzy or unclear thinking is another symptom of hormonal imbalance, especially during the midlife. Stress, sleep deprivation, and an unhealthy diet can trigger distorted thoughts that can cause mental tiredness.
4. Anxiety And Depression
The reach of a hormone imbalance goes as far as your mood, causing anxiety, irritability, depression, and other mood disorders. This is especially likely in puberty, pregnancy, and menopause as these are the periods in life that cause a major variation in hormone levels.

Estrogen, for instance, is responsible for serotonin production – the chemical responsible for happiness and other positive moods. Many women experience mood swings and negative emotions like anxiety and irritation during their perimenopausal years (the period just before the occurrence of menopause) because of a decline in estrogen levels.



5. Poor Sleep Cycles
Not getting enough good-quality sleep? Your hormones might be at play. Many women experience insomnia, particularly during menopause, because of the decrease in the production of estrogen and progesterone in the body. Also, when you experience stress, the body produces more of the stress hormone cortisol. An overproduction of cortisol over a long period of time can disrupt normal sleep patterns. Combined with other hormonal imbalances, you can say goodbye to sleep!

6. Excessive Sweating
Sweating more than usual is, sometimes, a sign of hormonal imbalance. An overproduction of thyroid hormones, which causes an imbalance in metabolism, can cause the body’s internal temperature to increase and cause excessive sweating. During menopause, estrogen levels drop drastically and women experience symptoms like night sweat and hot flashes, which are associated with excessive sweating.

7. Digestive Issues
The female hormones estrogen and progesterone have an impact on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Any imbalance in these hormones affects the digestive system. Sometimes, it speeds up the process, resulting in diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain. Other times, it can slow down the process and cause bloating and constipation.

Thyroid hormone levels also affect the proper functioning of the digestive system. In hypothyroidism (when thyroid levels are low), digestion slows down and the concentration of stomach acid and digestive enzymes may be reduced. These patterns have been reported during pre-menses, menses, and perimenopause in women.

If you have experienced one or more of these symptoms, know that a hormonal imbalance is likely the culprit. These hormonal changes can be caused due to the normal aging process or due to some underlying health conditions. So, to be on the safe side, discuss the symptoms with your doctor to know your treatment options.

Signs And Symptoms Of Mesothelioma To Watch Out For

Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in tissue that lines internal organs like your lungs and stomach. In your lungs, it can cause, shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, high temperature, excessive sweating, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, clubbed fingers, hoarseness, and trouble swallowing. In the stomach, it can cause abdominal pain and swelling, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea as well as weight loss, sweating, and fatigue.

Mesothelioma is cancer that develops in your mesothelium, the protective tissue that lines internal organs like the lungs, stomach, heart, and other organs. The cancer usually starts in your lungs – in a condition known as pleural mesothelioma. But you may also have peritoneal mesothelioma, where the cancer occurs in your abdomen. In the United States, around 2000–3000 cases of pleural mesothelioma and 350–500 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma are observed annually. In rare cases, mesothelioma can also affect the reproductive organs or the heart.

This cancer is almost always the result of exposure to asbestos, a material that was once commonly used in construction. Asbestos consists of microscopic fibers which can get stuck in your lungs and damage them over time. Though asbestos is no longer used in construction, new cases continue to come up because it can typically take over 20 years after exposure for mesothelioma to develop.

In the early stages, both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma may not really cause many signs. You may only experience symptoms later when the cancer progresses to underlying tissues or results in fluid leaks into the cavity in your chest or belly.



The following signs may point toward pleural mesothelioma:

Shortness Of Breath
You may feel like you’re running out of air or can’t breathe deeply enough or fast enough. You may also feel an urgent need to inhale before completing an exhalation. And it may take effort to expel air when you exhale or expand your chest when you inhale.

Cough
People with pleural mesothelioma may experience a persistent, dry cough.

Pain
Pain is a common symptom experienced by people with mesothelioma. It’s typically described as a dull ache or heaviness in the chest wall, arm, or shoulder. Some people say that it’s similar to what you experience when you pull a muscle. But though the pain due to mesothelioma can be generalized and dull. But, if the cancer has spread and it is pressing on other organs or bone, you may experience a stabbing, sharp pain. A sharp pain in your chest may also be caused by another serious medical condition which requires immediate medical attention – a blood clot in your lungs.

High Temperature And Sweating
Sweating is a normal bodily function helping to regulate temperature. But people with mesothelioma can experience excessive sweating, especially at night and, to an extent that it hinders everyday life. It may be so extreme that your sheets and night clothes may get soaked and may need to be changed 2 or 3 times during the night. Sweating that occurs due to mesothelioma need not be due to fever. You may also experience a fever in some cases, though. If so, there’s a chance that you have an infection, so do seek medical attention.

Fatigue
Feeling extremely tired and low in energy is common among people with mesothelioma. Not eating or sleeping properly, anxiety, chemotherapy, certain painkillers, and a lack of exercise can all contribute to this sense of tiredness.

Appetite And Weight Loss
Sometimes, people with mesothelioma lose interest in eating and start losing weight even before the condition is diagnosed. This could be because of the cancer itself or due to symptoms like trouble swallowing, breathlessness etc. This symptom is also seen in people with peritoneal mesothelioma where symptoms like nausea or abdominal pain may cause a loss of appetite. Simple measures like eating smaller meals regularly, indulging your taste buds, having moist foods, and eating energy-dense foods like ice cream can be helpful.

Clubbed Fingers
When you have clubbed fingers your fingertips get swollen. This happens in stages. First, your nail bed goes soft and the skin next to it becomes shiny. Then your nails become more curved than is normal – you might notice this when you look at them from the side. Finally, your fingertips may get swollen. Finger clubbing is thought to occur due to fluid collecting in the tissue at your fingertips. Other than mesothelioma, certain lung or heart conditions can also cause finger clubbing.



If you have peritoneal mesothelioma you may experience symptoms like loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, and sweating which are also seen in pleural mesothelioma. Additionally, you’ll need to watch out for:

Pain In The Abdomen
Pain may manifest differently in different people with peritoneal mesothelioma. It has been variously described as an ache, discomfort, soreness, twinge, stabbing pain, bloating, or tightness.

Swelling In The Abdomen
Peritoneal mesothelioma can cause fluid to accumulate in your abdomen. This may result in increased pressure in your abdomen, leading to swelling and bloating.

Nausea And Vomiting
If you have peritoneal mesothelioma, fluid in your abdomen, as well as the tumor, can squash your stomach as well as other internal organs. This may make you feel nauseous. Other factors like constipation and medications such as those used during chemotherapy or for pain may also cause nausea and vomiting.

Constipation
Pressure caused by extra fluid or the tumor itself can disrupt the normal functioning of your bowels in peritoneal mesothelioma. You may experience constipation and, sometimes, a bowel obstruction if you have this condition. Having less fluids or roughage and even a lack of exercise can contribute to constipation.

Diarrhea
Just as peritoneal mesothelioma causes constipation by disrupting your bowel function, it may swing the other way and cause diarrhea. Diarrhea may also be caused by a parasite or an infection. Chemotherapy and certain medications may be responsible too in some cases. If you have diarrhea, take care to drink sufficient fluids like fruit juices and soups which contain salt and sugar so that you don’t get dehydrated.

In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, the following signs may indicate advanced mesotheli. These may be experienced during later stages of both peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma:

Weight Loss
You may experience weight loss that is unexplained and sudden.

Confusion
If the cancer spreads to your brain or you have chemical imbalances, you may experience confusion.

Chronic Fatigue
As the disease takes a toll on your body you may feel fatigued.

If you have advanced pleural mesothelioma you may also experience problems with swallowing, spit up blood or mucus, or feel hoarse during the later stages.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer with a poor outlook. Although many of the symptoms mentioned here can be caused by other, less serious conditions, it is best to see a doctor and rule out the chances of mesothelia, particularly if you’ve been exposed to asbestos.


Signs And Symptoms Of A Vitamin E Deficiency

An overwhelming majority of people in the United States have insufficient vitamin E intake. When this deficiency begins to show, it causes nerve and muscle damage, loss of sensation and trouble coordinating limbs, vision problems, dry skin, and brittle hair. It even raises susceptibility to infections.

Vitamin E deficiency symptoms crop up in numerous ways since this antioxidant vitamin has a variety of roles to play in your health – from boosting immune function to battling the daily damage from exposure to toxins. An estimated 90% or more of Americans don’t get enough vitamin E to meet the recommended intake levels, so it is possible that you or someone you know has the problem and may already be showing signs of a deficiency.

Having Under 15 Mg Of Vitamin E A Day Might Cause A Deficiency
If you are an adult, you should be consuming around 15 mg of vitamin E every day in some form. When you are a new mother and still nursing your baby, that requirement rises to 19 mg a day.

You can get your vitamin E from foods like nuts, seeds, fish, abalone, and even vegetable oils you use for cooking. Even some fruit and vegetables contain some vitamin E – butternut squash, spinach, avocado, dried apricots, broccoli, and red peppers, to name a few.

So what happens to your body when you fail to supply it with the vitamin E it needs? Symptoms like the ones listed below start to crop up. Over time, they can get worse, so be sure to address it by consulting a doctor, increasing your dietary intake of the nutrient, and even using supplements if advised by a medical practitioner.

1. Loss Of Sensation, Weakness, And Pain In Extremities
A vitamin E deficiency is linked to peripheral neuropathy, a condition that results in nerve damage in the hands, feet, and arms. This form of nerve injury is associated with inadequate levels of tocopherol, a form of vitamin E, in the peripheral nerves. Major symptoms of this problem linked to a vitamin E deficiency include:
  • Tingling and/or numbness in the hands and feet
  • Sharp stabbing or shooting pain in affected parts of the body
  • Burning sensation in the affected region
  • Loss of coordination
  • Feeling off balance/balance issues
  • Muscle weakness which is particularly noticeable in the feet
2. Loss Of Control Of Movement (AVED)
Ataxia with vitamin E deficiency, or AVED for short, is a rare inherited disorder that makes it hard for your body to utilize the vitamin E it gets from multiple sources. The condition can cause neurological problems, making it hard for you to coordinate and control the movement of your own limbs. These signs will start to show up at an early age, causing problems or difficulty with movement in children as young as 5 years old. They usually surface in those affected before they are 15 years old. As you get older, issues with movement may become more severe. 

Typically, large doses of vitamin E may be prescribed in supplement form by a doctor to treat the problem. But do not risk self-medication because you could wind up with vitamin E toxicity which can cause hemorrhagic effects/excessive bleeding.



3. Vision Problems
Ataxia with vitamin E deficiency may also sometimes bring on vision problems. Specifically, retinitis pigmentosa, a disorder of the eye that can even cause vision loss. Watch out for these signs and symptoms of this problem:
  • Poor night vision or loss of night vision
  • Blind spots on the sides, impaired peripheral vision
  • Tunnel vision
  • Difficulty driving, reading, recognizing faces (as conditions progress over years/decades) and performing other detailed tasks which depend on vision
  • Total loss of sight/becoming legally blind
Besides this, by not consuming enough vitamin E, you deny your body the protection the vitamin offers against the breakdown of healthy eye tissue. This tissue damage is linked to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataract formation. Watch for these signs of AMD:
  • Distortion in shape of objects
  • Crooked/wavy appearance of straight lines
  • Loss of ability to see objects clearly – this decline is gradual though
  • Clear color vision loss
  • Empty/dark space in the center of your line of sight
Cataracts, on the other hand, may cause blurred vision, trouble while reading, and issues with glare.

4. Dry And Irritated Skin
Vitamin E is great for skin health and not getting enough can mean your skin lacks the protective barrier it forms. With nothing to keep the moisture from being lost, your skin may wind up looking dry and feeling irritated. While further studies are needed, some research on animal test subjects has shown that a deficiency of the nutrient could cause skin ulcers.

5. Memory Impairment
Vitamin E is being studied for its potential in neurodegenerative diseases like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, to prevent cognitive decline. What researchers have noted is that poor memory and weaker performance in memory tests have been consistently present in those with low vitamin E levels in their blood. Studies on centenarians with normal cognitive function, as opposed to the typical cognitive decline seen in seniors, revealed that vitamin E may have a positive impact on brain function. These elderly adults had high levels of alpha-tocopherol (a form of vitamin E) as well as vitamin A in their plasma. Researchers suggest that the presence of these antioxidant vitamins may offer protection against cognitive decline resulting from oxidative stress.

6. Dry, Brittle Hair And Increased Hair Loss
Vitamin E can boost circulation of blood to your scalp, nourishing it from within. It also protects your hair from premature graying. It even protects the cuticles of your hair from sun damage. When you are short on the nutrient, your hair is likely to be dry and brittle and you might even see hair loss.

7. Increased Vulnerability To Infection
A shortfall of this important antioxidant vitamin could also cause your immune system to take a hit, making you weaker and more vulnerable to infections. If you find yourself falling ill more often or taking longer to get over an infection, do have your vitamin E levels checked.

In Women, Vitamin E Deficiency Could Cause A Miscarriage
Miscarriage is one rather unfortunate result of a vitamin E deficiency that may affect pregnancies of women with inadequate intake. Researchers suggest that this may be due to the vital role of vitamin E in the normal development of body parts of the fetus. A severe deficiency may result in depletion of the fatty acids the body needs and may mean tapping into the glucose reserves. This, in turn, causes insufficient energy availability for normal development. The result? A raised risk of miscarriage.


Never Do These 9 Things On an Empty Stomach

Everything that we do affects our body some way or the other. However, our health is most vulnerable when we have an empty stomach. Our body requires food that it can convert into energy and nutrients within seconds and that’s why it becomes hungry. However, while we might be craving for food, there are certain things that we should not do when we have an empty stomach (no less than two hours after you had your last meal).


1. Taking anti-inflammatory medicines
Certain popular anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as paracetamol, aspirin, etc., should not be taken when you have an empty stomach. Firstly, it will reduce the effectiveness of these drugs and it can also cause some serious health-related problems like gastric bleeding. There are also other prescription drugs that should not be taken when you have an empty stomach. However, if you have milk, you can have NSAIDs with it so that the ill-effects can be countered to a certain extent. If you don’t have milk, try to wash it down with lots of water.


2. Drinking morning coffee
Coffee, even the decaffeinated one, tends to create stomach acid and can result in heartburn or other digestive issues if consumed on an empty stomach. It is because coffee tends to produce acid in your stomach. If you are in the habit of skipping breakfast and having coffee instead, it can result in a decrease in the production of serotonin and keep your mood down all day long. If you are addicted to coffee and can’t control it, then have it with milk. The milk fat can reduce the bad effects of coffee. Also, opt for natural coffee rather than the freeze-dried variety.

3. Consuming alcohol
When you are hungry, the body tends to absorb whatever you consume at a faster rate. As a result, when you drink alcohol, the absorption will start to increase and happen twice as fast. Even the alcohol removal process of the body will slow down and it will cause a terrible hangover as well as increase the effects of alcohol on your heart, kidneys, and liver. If you are unable to reject a drink proposal, then go for carbonated ones which can be absorbed slowly by the body. Or else, you can have a buttered sandwich along with it.

4. Chewing gum
Chewing gum produces digestive acid which can result in harm to the delicate lining of your stomach. If you have too much of gum, then it can lead to gastritis. Plus, it has been studied that chewing gum can make you more inclined towards junk food rather than fruits and vegetables. However, if you are chewing gum, try to go for the ones which have natural sweeteners like sorbitol or xylitol and not those with cyclamate, aspartame, or sugar. And don’t continue to chew the gum for more than ten minutes, even if you have a full stomach.

5. Skipping dinner
If you have ever skipped dinner, then you must have seen that you were terribly hungry the next day. Low glucose level and hunger can cause a lack of proper sleep during the night and cause a kind of superficial sleep. You will wake up early and your hunger hormones will act with increased power. But then, you should not be eating too much before sleeping. It’s best to go for dairy products which have calcium and magnesium – both capable of letting you have a good sleep.

6. Exercising
Generally, it is thought that exercising or training when you have an empty stomach can result in a lot of calorie burn. However, studies show that fat loss doesn’t occur in that manner. Rather, there is a lot of muscle loss and due to lack of energy your intensity will fall as well. Rather than going for an intensive exercise routine, one could go for aerobic exercises. You can also take a snack before going for training if you are already suffering from certain digestive issues. Exercises can result in more gastric juices being produced which can result in issues with the digestive system, so be careful.

7. Going shopping
Whenever you are hungry, there is a general tendency that you would want to buy more food. However, there is also an increase in purchase of non-food based products. Research shows when a person is famished, they might go for non-food products as well to feel full. However, if you can shift your buying tactics and go for more cash transactions you can save money as studies show that people will spend lesser when they are dealing with cash.


8. Having more citrus-based juice
Citrus foods have tough fibre and an acidic base which will cause irritation in your stomach. It can cause gastritis or make you vulnerable to it. However, if you can combine fresh citrus fruits squeezed into water in a ratio of 1:1 if you suffer from acidity and a ratio of 2:1 for other people, then it will be beneficial. Plus, you can go for other kinds of fruits too.

9. Engage in Arguments
Hunger makes you a bit unsettled in your mind. As a result, research shows that when you are hungry you can lose control of your rationality and engage in arguments. So, don’t have discussions during this time. But if it is necessary, then have something warm and give it to your partner so that both of you can have a more clear-headed conversation.

What can we do?
While these are some of the things that you should avoid when you are hungry, there are certain activities which can actually flourish when you have an empty stomach:-

Problem solving skills
When you are hungry, there is an increase in your attentiveness. This could be, as per researchers, an evolutionary trait since our ancestors used to concentrate on getting food when they were hungry. The hormone ghrelin that regulates hunger tends to help to stimulate brain activities because of this.

Be more capable of making choices
If you are in a dilemma regarding any choice of clothes, then, you can start thinking when you are hungry. Studies show that people who are hungry can be successful in choice-based activities, especially when they are impulsive. But just don’t try using these methods when you are trying to settle issues like relationship problems or finances!

Health is wealth and since sleep is so connected to both our health and decision-making, it’s best if we avoid going for these things. It will help us lead a better life. Best of luck!


9 Natural Ways To Kill Your Nicotine Craving And Quit Smoking For Good

It is without doubt that smoking is an extremely harmful habit that is the main cause of 90% of cancer fatalities. There are over 1.1 billion people in the world who smoke and 50% will succumb to lung cancer because of inhaling toxic substances to the tune of almost 7000 of them existing in tobacco like arsenic and carbon monoxide (which displaces oxygen from hemoglobin preventing the flow of oxygen in the blood), butane, and even minute glass particles that can cut the lungs just to improve the delivery of nicotine.


Nicotine is the main cause of lung issues
The main causes of lung issues are the inhalation of all these harmful substances which result in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. It can also lead to sever plaque deposits in arteries resulting in heart disease, congestive heart failure and ultimately heart attacks due to damaged heart and blood vessels.

Nicotine increases the stress hormone
Nicotine increases the stress hormone cortisol in the body which is bad for the immune system and can even lead to autoimmune disease. Smoking also leads to several other negative issues like insomnia, infertility, hormonal imbalances, blood sugar problems, gastrointestinal problems, and osteoporosis. In many people, nicotine becomes addictive and will cause withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop.

Smoking reduces levels of essential nutrients
Withdrawal symptoms from nicotine may cause irritability, and edginess. The addiction to nicotine is even more powerful than to drugs like cocaine as pointed out by users. But it is worth the ultimate result because smoking reduces essential nutrients and antioxidants in our blood like vitamin C, E, glutathione, ubiquinol, alpha-lipoic acid, and beta-carotene. It is also interesting to note that supplementation will not counter the effects of nicotine intake.


How to quit smoking
The best way to give your body its essential nutrients and vitamins is from food. What you should know is that if you are a smoker, there are many ways in which you can quit by the use of certain natural substances by inhibiting the satisfaction one gets from smoking. They will help you quit and fortify you to bear up the withdrawal symptoms better.

Magnesium
Magnesium antagonizes the NMDA (N-Methyl-D-aspartate) that stimulate dopamine release. This helps reduce the addiction to nicotine. Magnesium also reduces nicotine’s bad effects on the NMDA by increasing GABA (Gamma amino butyric acid) synthesis which is a positive neurotransmitter that promotes relaxation. This lowers the satisfaction a smoker derives from nicotine.

Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis is a state of altered consciousness where just particular or specific parts of reality are altered to put the person under compulsion to follow a cue from an external source such as a comment or a sound. It can influence a smoker to relate the smoking experience to something unpleasant which makes giving up even faster.

Acupuncture
People who smoke have benefitted from acupuncture which has helped them to give up. Acupuncture by inserting needles into certain places that are directly linked to the lungs, airways, and mouth. This reduces the craving for nicotine and the taste for tobacco.

Exercise
Studies have shown that even working out with a moderate intensity routine for 5 minutes can create a short term reduction in the craving for smoking. Alternately, when you are trying to give up smoking and it induces stress and irritability walking is a great de-stressing exercise to calm your mind.

Nicotine Patch
Nicotine patches have been shown to work very well and many smokers trying to give up have found them helpful. Studies have found that the effect of the patches increase if combined with drugs like varenicline and bupropion. The doses of these medications are determined by how many cigarettes a smoker smokes in a day and how frequently they do. However never dose yourself and always consult a doctor.

Chewing a lime wedge
When you are trying to quit and get a craving, chew the skin of a lime wedge or lime slice. This reduces the craving because lime is rich in vitamin C which is a popular and powerful antioxidant.

Olfactory training
Research has found that training your olfactory senses can help you quit. Researchers made smokers smell cigarettes, rotten eggs or fish while they were in stage 2 of sleep which is non REM mode. This was done for a week after which they were found to smoke less during the training period.


Mindfulness
Studies on Mindfulness have shown that when you sit through a tough situation like nicotine craving or withdrawal symptoms, that helps a smoker to give up more easily. Along with mindfulness, you could also practice meditation everyday to strengthen your mind against the stress condition of quitting.

The one natural product that can help you quit
Did you know that if you are trying to quit smoking, then cream of tartar which is a byproduct of winemaking process is very effective to eliminate nicotine out of your system? Powder tartar is also sold in chemists as a product called potassium hydrogen tartrate. It helps you quit smoking by making you dislike the taste of nicotine.

All you have to do is mix half teaspoon of cream of tartar with a glass of orange juice and drink it every night for a month. It will also reduce blood pressure and stabilize low levels of potassium in the body. Cream of tartar has additional health benefits as well such as fighting urinary tract infections too by flushing out bacteria from the system.

What happens when you quit smoking?
The moment you quit smoking, the benefits start setting in immediately. Just 20 minutes of going smoking free and your blood pressure and pulse return to normal. After 8 hours, the carbon monoxide levels in your blood decrease and oxygen rises.  After the 48 hour marker, your chances off heart attack reduce and as nerve endings start regrowing, your chances of smell and taste are enhanced.

After 3 months
After 3 months, your lung function will also start to improve as circulation increase and you will breathe easier than before. After 9 months, the energy in your body increases, and symptoms such as coughs, colds and congestion disappear. Damaged cilia in the lungs start to regrow reducing the chances of infections.

After a year
After a year, your risk of heart disease is less than 50% than that of a smoker and your risk of stroke is the same as a non smoker. After 10 years your risk of lung cancer is the same as a non smoker and the risk of various cancers such as oral cancer is greatly decreased. You will soon become a healthy person with the risk of disease the same as a non smoker.