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Maintain a healthy prostate

The prostate gland can be found in the male reproductive system. The main function of the gland is to provide an alkaline fluid called semen that is expelled during ejaculation. The healthy prostate looks slightly larger than a walnut and is located below the bladder. Enlargement of the prostate is the commonly found problem in men after retirement, resulting in abnormal functioning. Most of the time, it creates problems in urinating as it surrounds the urethra. So once you hit your 40’s, schedule regular checkups with your doctor to ensure that you have a healthy prostate. Prostate cancer is a reason behind major deaths in men! This is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the USA and UK. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the USA, next to lung cancer.

What are the causes of enlarged prostate and cancer?

We know that at the age of 40, the levels of prolactin of testosterone increase. This prolactin stimulates the enzyme 5-alpha reductase that naturally converts testosterone to dihydro-testosterones (DHT). This DHT is the major reason for the enlargement of the prostate and cancer. In addition to aging, we will discuss other causes of prostate enlargement and prostate cancer.

Genetics

The enlarged prostates can be inherited from generation to generation.

Cell-growth factor

Some people have enlarged prostate for whatever reason.

Hormone imbalance

A typical middle-aged person has increased abdominal fat and thin muscle mass, which is the main factor for causing hormonal imbalance in men. There are also other factors like stress, depression, anxiety that can cause changes in hormone levels.

Obesity

Researchers and recent studies show that excess amount of calorie consumption either directly or indirectly stimulates enlarged prostates. This is mainly due to changes in hormone levels because of the fat, as we discussed above.

Mineral deficiency

Zinc is an important mineral for the proper function of the prostate gland in our body. Due to aging or uncontrolled diet or excessive alcohol drinking, the zinc level will be deficient. This leads to abnormal function of the prostate gland.

Testosterone

Like we discussed earlier, there will be an increase in the conversion of testosterone to DHT which triggers prostate enlargement.

What are the symptoms of enlarged prostates?

Nocturia

Waking up at night several times to pass urine is what Nocturia is. It is more common in aged people and when there is an enlarged prostate then the condition will be worst.

Dysuria

Dysuria in men is the condition in which the person has painful urination because of the infection in the urinary tract. This condition will become complex when there is an enlarged prostate gland.

Epididymitis

Epididymitis is also caused due to an infection in the urethra or bladder. The symptoms include low-grade fever, high sensitivity to traction or pressure.

Asymptomatic

There are cases in which men with inflammatory prostatitis are asymptomatic.

How to prevent prostate problems?

Let us begin with some home remedies to avoid prostate-related issues.

Tomato

Tomato is rich in lycopene that helps in protecting the prostate. Do not eat raw tomato as it is hard to digest. Eating well-cooked tomatoes with dark green leafy vegetables is the best way to avoid prostate-related issues.

Grapefruit

Grapes contain high amounts of vitamin C and bioflavonoids that help to prevent prostate cancer, enlarged prostate, and heart diseases.

Bean

The high fiber content in beans helps the body to remove the excess level of testosterone thereby reducing the chances of prostate enlargement.

Papaya

The antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and flavonoids present in papaya have anti-cancer effects and are cardioprotective.

Fish

Coldwater fish contains Omega-3 fatty acids which significantly reduce prostate-related risks.

What are the treatments for enlarged prostates?

Drug treatment

This is the first and foremost treatment doctors tend to opt for. The medications suggested will be to get relief from the swollen prostates.

Invasive surgery

The majority of the surgery cases are designed to cause the prostate gland to shrink or remove the extra tissues surrounding the urethra region. This reestablishes the flow of urine from the bladder.

Full surgery

If both the options look not enough to solve the problem, then the doctor opts for full surgery. These are either operated laparoscopically or through the use of robot technology. Such surgeries require a week-long stay in the hospital.

Final thoughts

To maintain a healthy prostate, healthy eating is highly important. The prostate gland is like a filter, if you have poor eating habits, there is a high chance that it gets clogged. In this article, I hosted a lot of home remedies/food recommendations as preventive measures. It is always better to seek professional medical advice if you are facing serious health issues.

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Health

Hyperthyroidism Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

What is Hyperthyroidism?

The thyroid gland is an important organ that regulates the body’s metabolism. Metabolism is the conversion of calories we intake and oxygen we inhale into energy. And to do this process effectively, the thyroid gland must secrete a hormone called thyroxin. Thyroxin is an iodine-containing compound that makes all the tissues increases their cellular activity. This thyroid gland is located at the anterior portion of the neck and is the largest too. Despite having a healthy lifestyle, the thyroid gland may cause four basic problems which are due to hormone production level, over-growth of the gland, formation of lumps or nodules within, and cancer. In this article, we thoroughly look into “hyperthyroidism” which means the excess of thyroid hormone production and hyperthyroidism symptoms, causes, and treatment.

What Causes Hyperthyroidism?

There are many factors for hyperthyroidism, but one of the common autoimmune conditions called “Graves’ disease” is a major reason.

Graves’ disease

Graves’ disease occurs when the immune system alters the role of the pituitary gland which generally regulates the level of thyroxin production in the thyroid gland. This alteration happens by the antibody called TRAb (thyrotropin receptor antibody) which results in hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms of Graves’ disease

Diarrhea is a common complaint in many patients and some other symptoms include:

  • Fatigue
  • Reduced libido
  • Changes in Menstrual cycle

Graves’s disease has other conditions too, which are Graves’ dermopathy (specifically affects the skin causing red patches, thickness, etc.) and Graves’ ophthalmopathy (specifically affects the eyes causing dry/redness, bulging, excessive tearing, light sensitivity, blurry vision, etc.).

So, around 70% of thyroid issues are due to autoimmune disorders. How can the autoimmune disorder be treated?

What are the Hyperthyroidism Symptoms?

Let’s discuss the common symptoms of hyperthyroidism:

Anxiety and depression 

Losing mental clarity, suffering from anxiety and depression are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

Abdominal Bloating

Changes in bowel habits, diarrhea, and bloating are common symptoms.

Menstrual patterns

In women, changes in menstrual patterns have been identified as a symptom. When there is a excess thyroxin, our body may lose its ability to convert testosterone to estrogen

Other symptoms include

  • Fatigue, weakness
  • Increased sensitivity to heat
  • Thinning of hair and skin
  • Sleeping disorder
  • Mood swings
  • Muscle pain
  • Changes in Blood Pressure levels
  • Changes in Heart Rate

What are the treatments for Hyperthyroidism?

Usually, a thorough diagnosis is made by your doctor and he suggests antithyroid medications or radioactive iodine therapy or in worst cases “surgery”. There are also natural treatments that require a strict “diet” plan.

Foods to Eat

It is a must to take food that will not trigger the overactivity of the thyroid gland. This includes whole grains, raw vegetables, meat, fruits, fresh spinach, Brussels sprouts, radish, etc.

Foods to Avoid

Any caffeinated drinks, Soy products as they are very dangerous to the thyroid gland. Stop eating foods that are rich in iodine (simply reduce salt), as they can make your thyroid overactive.

Final thoughts

Hyperthyroidism is not a simple health problem to neglect; it can result in more severe diseases. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are highly recommended whenever you find the above-mentioned symptoms in your body. Try practicing a healthy lifestyle, live in control, only then these threatening diseases can be avoided.

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Health

Sleep Deprivation Effects and How to Overcome

Sleep is the most important part of our everyday life, when an individual sleeps the body repairs and refreshes itself. Therefore when there is a deprivation in sleep either for a short or long period, the body suffers as it didn’t get enough time to refresh itself. With most studies that say seven to eight hours per night is the optimum amount, sleep is far more important than we think. It is a wonder that most people do not achieve these and suffer from various sleep deprivation effects. The lack of sleep has a major effect on the clarity of thinking, memory, and learning capacity.

What Causes Sleep Deprivation?

Sleep deprivation is both voluntary and involuntary. There are three major causes of sleep deprivation:

Lifestyle

Living an unhealthy lifestyle is one of the major reasons for sleep deprivation. Drinking too much caffeine or alcohol right before going to bed disturbs the sleep pattern. To change this into a healthy lifestyle, one has to maintain and record a sleep diary, note down the foods you take during the day and the time you ate, what type of stress you dealt with, etc. Work on these and find a solution either by own or by consulting with a doctor.

Medication

The medication also has a major impact on a person’s normal rhythm of sleep. Taking sleeping pills to treat insomnia only changes the body’s sleep pattern and will not cure the disease.

Medical conditions

Most people suffer from severe health problems both physically and mentally. Depression and post-traumatic stress lead to sleep deprivation and result in a lot of other side effects over time.

What are the common sleep deprivation effects?

The common physical effects of sleep deprivation include:

Exhaustion – Feeling extremely “tired” both physically and mentally is the commonly found effect from most people. No matter how small the task is, you’ll feel like your entire energy is drained.

Discomfort – When you lack sleep, there will be discomfort throughout the day and night. It’s not exactly pain but a feel that makes you dull all over the day. Sitting, lying, walking, nothing will make you feel “okay” when you didn’t get enough sleep.

Blurred Vision – Getting brief moments of going blind for a short time is the major effect of having too little sleep.

Impaired reactions and movements – One cannot behave or react properly to any routine activities or situations. Sometimes, you do everything in slow motion.

How to overcome sleep deprivation?

Here are 8 tips to get great sleep:

Regular bedtime – Going to bed and waking up at the same time is the most effective method to maintain a proper rhythm of sleep pattern. This greatly helps in running your internal clock properly.

Regular exercise – Exercising for twenty to thirty minutes a day improves sleeping habits.

Don’t lie keeping your eyes open – Staying awake in bed for a long time interrupt the sleeping habit greatly. Therefore, it is better to do something else, getting out of your bed until you feel sleepy.

Good quality mattressMattress plays a major role in getting quality sleep. The body should get proper support and comfort when lying on the bed.

Avoid eating/drinking during bedtime – Do not eat or drink anything for two hours before bedtime, because digestion or urgency to pee at night interrupts the sleep heavily.

Avoid Caffeine – It is best to avoid caffeine completely or at least avoid taking it for 6 hours before bedtime. Alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine contain sedatives which heavily disturbs the rhythm of sleep pattern.

Final thoughts

Not sleeping well is not okay and never will be. Sleep is essential for our overall health. It is necessary for healthy brain function, physical restoration, and mental wellness. The benefits of getting ample sleep are huge. It aids in living a healthier and happier life. Therefore, sleep well for a more balanced life.

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Health

Dust mite allergy – How to get rid of it!

Dust mites are the most common bugs found in almost all places even if your house is super clean. These creatures are microscopic resembling small bugs. They don’t leave bites on your skin but can cause skin rashes. Some of the other common symptoms include sneezing and postnasal drip. Dust mites are different from bedbugs that leave a bite on your skin. These beasts live in humid places and consume dead cells of the skin. They multiply easily on warm surfaces like beds, cushions, clothing, automobile seats, furniture, etc. Dust mites cannot spread diseases and never live near people but they can only cause dust mite allergy.

Dust Mite Symptoms

Sometimes when we wake up, we feel congested, itchy eyes, itchy skin, or a runny nose. These are the common symptoms when you’re likely allergic to dust mites. Not everyone is harmful to these dust mites but few have such bothersome symptoms. Continuous sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose are the common reactions from the immune system for any type of foreign invader into the body. It becomes worrying when you start having redness on your skin, itching, etc.

How to remove these dust mites

As these dust mites mostly live in the bedroom, it is best to start mite-proofing from there

Hot Water Wash

Washing bedding with hot water once a week is recommended for removing dust mites. For people with a severe dust mite allergy, it is better to wash pillowcases and sheets at a higher temperature every week.

Mite Detergents

Though common insecticides won’t work on these dust mites, there are products available in the market for anti-dust mites. They use a chemical called benzyl benzoate which is used in laundry additives to eliminate dust mites.

HEPA filter

Running a HEPA filter for your bedroom to remove airborne dust mites is recommended to mite-proof the bedroom. These air filters create relief from dust mite allergy and other symptoms that trigger asthma.

Vacuuming and cleaning carpets

Using steam vacuums instead of hot water vacuuming can greatly remove dust mites in carpets. This has to be done in a routine for every 2 months to see the best results.

Final tips to protect from dust mites

  • When vacuuming step outside for about 20-30 minutes and have someone do the job.
  • Never go to bed with damp hair or freshly-showered, as these increase the number of dust mites in the bed and create worse symptoms.
  • Instead of having curtains in your bedroom, try replacing them with bamboo or wooden blinds because curtains have to be washed often.
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Health

Asthma Symptoms – When to worry?

Asthma is a very common disease that affects around 235 million people worldwide. At present, this is an incurable disease and the medications are available only to keep the symptoms under control. In the case of severity, it will also lead to death. So it is better to consult a doctor when there is trouble in breathing and that resist you from doing your routine works. How does asthma occur? Environmental conditions like pollution, dust, etc are found to be the most common reasons. Some people are not prone to these conditions while others are getting affected due to their immune and poor lungs. Normal coughing is considered to be one of the asthma symptoms when it repeats for weeks, months, and even years.

How does it feel like?

It is a must to be aware of your body conditions to monitor the asthma presence. How to find out if you are suffering from asthma?

Trouble in breathing – this is the first thing that shows out. You may not be able to breathe normally if your environmental condition is too cold or dusty. It begins with wheezing (whistle sound) when you breathe and affects your day-to-day activities. This sound arises if your airways are either swollen or narrowed, which is what we name asthma, a chronic disease.

Chest pain – As the air passage got narrowed or inflamed, it disturbs the lungs from doing their work properly. This causes pain in the chest making you feel uncomfortable and is medically called an “asthma attack”.

Coughing during exercise or sleep – A continuous coughing during the night or when exercising is another feel that shows there is a problem in your lungs.

Too much mucus – Mucus is the naturally produced substance from the mucous glands. It is dangerous when there is too much secretion and that blocks the airways.

Types of asthma 

There are various types of asthma identified based on the occurrence or region affected.

  1. Exercise-induced asthma – as the name implies, the person gets the symptoms in 15-20 minutes of any physical activity.
  2. Allergic asthma – certain conditions like cold, mold, dust, pollen, and pets’ hair can create difficulty in breathing.
  3. Non- allergic asthma – irritants in the air like perfumes, air fresheners, cigarette smoke, burning wood, etc. can make the lungs weak.
  4. Genital asthma – sometimes it is your blood relatives from where you get affected and hence named inheritable.
  5. Aspirin-induced asthma – the symptoms were triggered due to certain medications like ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin.

What is the common treatment in practice?

Like we discussed earlier, asthma is incurable, only the symptoms can be controlled with the help of certain medications as prescribed by the doctor. An asthma inhaler is the commonly used treatment method that prevents blockage and gives instant relief from the difficulty in breathing. In the case of severe asthma, the bronchial thermoplasty method is used, in which the doctor will heat up the insides of the lungs using electrodes that will smoothen the muscles and reduce the tightening.

How to prevent it?

Here are a few tips to avoid asthma:

  • Keeping away from environmental conditions which caused the asthma symptoms earlier.
  • Getting vaccinated for pneumonia.
  • Staying away from allergens that cause breathing problems.

On a quick note, don’t panic if you get this disease. Following recommended dosage of medications prescribed by your doctor helps keep this under control. Natural treatments like breathing exercises are usually recommended to keep your lungs healthy. Do you know any other natural methods to control? Please let us know in your comments.

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Health

How to get rid of an athlete’s foot?

Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection that occurs in the feet. The fungi that create this infection are Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. These parasites live in dark, warm, and moist environments, between our toes and inside our toes. Athlete’s foot symptoms are usually dry and itchy skin, scaling, painful inflammation, etc. It is important to know how to get rid of an athlete’s foot before it gets severe. Although this is a common disease that can be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, people who have diabetes should seek doctors for immediate recovery.

How athlete’s foot spread?

Athlete’s foot can spread through direct and indirect contact:

  • Direct contact occurs if an uninfected person touches the infected area of somebody who has an athlete’s foot.
  • Indirect contact occurs through contaminated places, bed sheets, towels, socks, swimming pools, etc.

Athlete’s foot does not affect only the feet, sometimes it can spread to the groin and underarms as well. Therefore, it is a must to wash your hands if you do touch the infected area.

Common causes of athlete’ foot:

Sharing socks or shoes with others – this is the most reason behind the infection, the insides of shoes are warm, moist, and dark. This is the optimal surface for the fungus to grow rapidly. So it is good not to share the socks and shoes and using a foot powder to reduce the moisture in socks and shoes is also a better choice.

Walking in barefoot – walking barefoot on moist surfaces like locker rooms, showers, etc. can also be the reason for the spread of fungi. It is important to wash and dry the toes immediately after using such surfaces.

Tips on how to prevent athlete’s foot:

Following are some of the tips on how to get rid of an athlete’s foot:

Keep your feet dry – Foot fungus survives only in a moist environment; therefore use foot powder to reduce the moisture. Walking barefoot in the open air around the house helps keep your feet dry.

Wear sandalswear sandals if it happens to walk on moist surfaces. This allows good air circulation in between the toes, allowing them to stay dry.

Using clean and hygienic socks – Washing socks every day in hot water is the best way to completely stop the growth of fungus. It is must to wear only after making it completely dry.

Anti-fungal creams and sprays – There are many medicines available over the counter which help treat athlete’s foot.

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Skin Cancer Causes, Types, Treatment, and Prevention

Those were the days when cancer was a disease that was considered rare. Today, we can see an alarming rate of people who are being affected by the same. One of the most common types of cancer found these days is skin cancer. People who are not taking care of themselves and are not sun-safe are considered the most common skin cancer causes. One thing that helps us feel relaxed is that skin cancer can be diagnosed earlier or on time, it can be treated and even cured.

What is skin cancer?

When there is an uncontrolled growth of cells in the tissues of the skin, then it is considered skin cancer. This formed tumor is malignant and affects the other remote organs when flowing through the bloodstream. That is why it is important to treat skin cancer immediately when diagnosed.

What are the main causes of skin cancer?

Exposure to Sun – Overexposure to the Ultra Violet rays of the sun increases the chances of getting affected by skin cancer in the long run.

White Skin – People with less melanin pigment are prone to this cancer when compared to the darker-skinned tones.

Exposure to a carcinogen – Too much exposure to certain chemicals like nicotine, tar, and arsenic are found as the skin cancer causes.

Family History – Genetic reasons and family history can also be the reason behind the occurrence of skin cancer. If someone from your family is affected with skin cancer then there is a high chance of getting the disease.

Types of cancer

There are three types of skin cancers:

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC): This type of cancer arises from basal cells, which are present in the deepest layers of the epidermis. This is the most common type of skin cancer and many people affect by this frequently when compared to the other types. It appears as a patch of skin, which is red and irritated. Sometimes it could also be in form of a bump or sore, that does not heal. Areas like the scalp, ears, face, etc, or the parts that are constantly exposed to too much sunlight are usually affected by BCC. If the condition is diagnosed in time, then curing it is possible.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) – This type of cancer affects the squamous cells in the epidermis. It appears as skin crusting or scaling, the affected area could become red and burned. There could also be bumps that cannot heal. This condition is also due to overexposure to sunlight. One of the scary things is it affects any part of the body and spreads faster to other organs, so it is a must to treat the disease earlier to stop spreading.

Melanoma – This is the most dangerous type that affects the pigments of the skin. It spreads rapidly and could lead to death. There is less chance to treat this disease through minor surgeries before it gets spread to the other parts of the body.

How it is treated?

In considering your age, general health, type of cancer, size of cancer, and where it is on your body, the treatment choice will depend. Most commonly followed treatment methods include:

  • Surgery
  • Scraping
  • Freezing
  • Radiotherapy
  • Chemotherapy

Prevention of skin cancer

While skin cancer is treatable, the best treatment of all is prevention. Following are some of the healthy lifestyle significantly reduces the chances of developing skin cancer.

  • Avoiding excessive exposure to sunlight
  • Covering up the skin when going out in heavy summer.
  • Applying good quality sun creams.
  • Using protective gloves when handling dangerous chemicals.

Following the above tips can protect yourself and your family from any types of skin cancer.

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Lower Back Pain- causes and how to overcome

One of the world’s most common health problems is Back Pain. According to the World Health Organization, it is also on the top 10 diseases list. Most people at any age suffer from back pain which affects work life and general well-being. There are a few ways to avoid the common causes of lower back pain. This article will help you identify the techniques and explain how to reduce the pain.

What are common causes of back pain?

Our human body’s complex system is the lower back. This must work well to enable movement. The Spine also contains cartilage-like pads called discs. Damages to these components lead to back problems. The most common causes of lower back pain problems include:

Injury

Injury is the most common cause of back problems. Some type of accidents like car crashes falls, and sports field injuries might include broken bones, ruptured discs, torn ligaments, etc.

Physical overexertion

Sometimes we fail to handle very heavy items properly. This causes too much strain on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the lower back which leads to pain.

Ruptured discs

Sometimes discs in the spine change their shape of rupture. When this occurs, more pressure is applied on the nerves which potentially causes back problems.

Medical conditions

There are a variety of medical conditions like osteoporosis, kidney problems, arthritis, sleep disorders, etc. that causes severe back pain problems.

Poor posture

Sitting in a poor posture for a long time puts too much pressure on the muscles and discs that contribute to pain in the back and sometimes may cause long-term damage.

How to avoid the back pain

There are few ways helpful in curing or reducing back ache.

Sleep on your back

Due to the whole day routine works like walking, running, sitting down, and lifting objects, the spine gets compressed. Hence, sleeping on your back gives the chance to your spine to relax, therefore reducing pain.

Chiropractic treatment

Chiropractic treatment is one of the effective methods to reduce back ache. These professionals are trained in identifying musculoskeletal problems in the human body. They can identify the root cause of the problem and suggest treatments accordingly. During this diagnosis, the following common causes can be identified:

  • Ensuring the spine is properly aligned
  • Identify the postural problems that cause spine pain
  • Identify ruptured discs or other serious health problems that contribute to pain.

 

Good pair of shoes

Ensuring your body has a stable and well-balanced base reduces the pressure placed on ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Therefore, purchase a high-quality pair that fit your feet well.

Exercises

There are a few exercises that help strengthen the core muscles for avoiding spine pain. This also reduces the chances of back injury effectively.

Regular massages

Massaging the muscles at back increases the blood flow. Proper flow of blood can help you remain flexible, and prevent any pain related to ligaments.

Summary

Overall, protecting from back problems is very simple. All you need to follow is a healthy lifestyle. It is good to see a doctor when any of the above methods didn’t help in reducing the pain.

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Bone Health – risks and how to overcome?

Bones are the protectors of organs, providing structure, storing calcium, and anchoring muscles. Bones continuously change during ages. Old bones break down and new bones are made. Most people reach the peak at the age of 30. Bone health is important to have a healthy body. There are various factors that affect bones. These include:

Calcium – A diet that has low calcium leads to bone loss, risking fractures, and diminished bone density. Therefore, it is best to maintain a good calcium diet.

Physical activity – Osteoporosis is a condition that mostly affects bones that are brittle and weak. People who are physically inactive are likely to have a higher risk of this disease.

Hormones – In the case of women, bone loss increases due to reduced levels of estrogen. Increased levels of thyroid hormone will also cause bone loss. In men, decreased levels of testosterone diminish bone density.

Eating disorders – For some people who have undergone weight-loss surgery or other diseases conditions like anorexia or bulimia, the stomach loses its ability to absorb the calcium from a regular diet.

Size – People who have thin structures have less bone mass and are highly risky to fractures.

Smoking and drinking – Those who smoke regularly contributes to weak bones. Too much alcohol consumption also increases the risk of suffering from osteoporosis.

How to avoid the risks?

There are a few simple steps to follow to slow down bone loss.

Adding calcium to the diet – Good sources of calcium like broccoli, almonds, dairy products, etc. should be included in the diet to increase bone health. If it is not possible to follow the diet, then it’s good to go for supplements as per the doctor’s advice.

Vitamin D – Vitamin D-rich foods like whitefish, salmon, mushrooms, eggs, etc. increases bone mass.

Exercises – Physical activity plays a major role to maintain strong bones. Jogging, walking, climbing, etc. should be followed every day to slow down the bone loss.

It is important for both men and women to keep their bones as healthy and strong as possible. Bones fitness exercise amplifies muscle strength and overall health. Follow these simple tips to have healthy bones.

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Tips to maintain eye health

Our eyes are the vital parts of the body. Your vision is the most precious gift. Maintaining good eye health is important. We have come across a lot of proactive tips helpful to take care of the most delicate sensory organ. Some of the common factors that affect the eye’s health are long working hours in front of your computer, pollution in the environment, sun rays, and a non-healthy diet. There are simple lifestyle tips to follow like wearing sunglasses and adding eye health vitamins to your diet in order to maintain eye health.

What do we need to follow?

  • Avoid UV rays – The UV rays of the sun affects the skin as well as the eyes. Optometrists suggest wearing sunglasses on a sunny day or a cloudy day. This is because; the UV rays can penetrate the clouds. UV-protected contact lenses may also harm the eyes if the white part of the eye is not covered with sunglasses.
  • Taking a break when starring computer – The monitor should be kept five to nine inches below eye level. This offers less strain on the eyes and helps to blink. Blinking maintains the moisture level in the eye and helps avoid dryness. The best formula is the “20/20/20 rule” which means for every twenty minutes look away from the computer and fix your sight 20 feet away for about 20 seconds. This method works best in reducing eye strain and is a good exercise to maintain eye health.
  • Practicing simple eye exercises – Simple exercises help in maintaining blood circulation and supplies enough oxygenated blood throughout.
  • Simple yet effective lifestyle – A healthy digestive system can absorb eye health vitamins effectively from our regular diet. Drinking plenty of water, getting a good night’s sleep, etc. can help in promoting digestion. This improves the overall health as well. Smoking and consuming alcohol not only harms the whole body but also mostly affects the vision. Too much alcohol diminishes the capability of the body to absorb essential nutrients in the food. Similarly, too much smoking irritates the eyes and gradually decreases sight. Contact lens wearers should not overuse the lens as it can cause severe damage to the surface of the eye.

Nutrients for eye health

Adding plenty of fruits and vegetables to the everyday diet supports eye health. Vegetables like papayas, carrots, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, etc. are all rich in beta carotene and other essential eye nutrients. Egg yolks, seafood, liver, and beef are also providing healthy nutrients for the eyes.

Vitamin A is well known for good vision. Apart from this, Vitamin C and E are good at promoting cell regeneration.

Carotenoids like beta-carotene are helpful in improving the functioning of the immune system. These powerful antioxidants protect the eyes from harmful irritants in the environment.

Lutein often called “natural sunglasses” is present in the center of the retina. This protects us from the light emitted from television and computer, sunlight, welding light, fluorescent light, etc. Vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and peas are rich in lutein.

Dairy products, fish, meat, etc. are rich in Zinc. As said earlier, Vitamin A is essential for eye health and Zinc helps in releasing Vitamin A from the liver.

Other than these natural methods, eye health supplements are also prescribed by optometrists to balance eye vision. These are mostly recommended only if you are unable to maintain a balanced diet. It is important to follow a healthy regimen as early as possible to have good eye health.

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