Excess sugar consumption has been related to multiple medical conditions like diabetes, obesity, and heart diseases. Eliminating sugar from your diet is the surest way to reduce these risks, but the road to a sugar-free life is not entirely easy. There are quite a few side effects that you may be affected with if you exclude sugar from the diet, and here we have discussed some of them. 1. Possible side effects of a sugar-free diet Studies show that sugar tends to affect the brain much like any other addictive substance. Since an average American eats nearly 30 teaspoons of sugar every day, you can expect there to be quite a few withdrawal symptoms: Our brains have a reward system necessary for survival. Food acts as a reward, and when you eat something sweet, it stimulates this reward system. Sugar addiction is real, and it helps in the release of dopamine. When you eat sugar regularly, the brain becomes tolerant of it, and you keep craving it to simulate the same effect. It also means that when you suddenly cut out sugar from your meals and start a sugar-free diet, the cravings become more intensified. Cutting down on sugar may affect energy levels as well.

Even with the constant effects of dirt, pollution, and stress have on our skin, it is possible to take care of your skin by just using natural methods. Aside from following some essential lifestyle tips, consuming foods rich in nutrients is a sure-shot way to get glowing skin. This article lists out superfoods for natural skincare that you can include in your diet, to improve skin health. Superfoods are foods that are rich in nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants. These food items have multiple health benefits and good for the skin nourish it, giving it a naturally healthy glow. Consuming these superfoods for natural skincare is a good idea to improve skin health and is, in fact, a popular home remedy amongst individuals in many countries. In some cases, these superfoods may also be applied to the skin directly to obtain their benefits. 1. Avocado Avocado is one of the well-known superfoods. It contains healthy fat that benefits the skin by keeping it moisturized. Studies have shown that avocado can make skin firmer and younger-looking and it also contains nutrients that protect the skin from harmful UV rays. Vitamin E is a natural antioxidant abundantly present in avocados that is effective in protecting skin cells from damage.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is among the most common digestive disorders affecting people of different age groups. It is a chronic condition that causes indigestion as well as a host of other symptoms, including acid reflux, cough, heartburn, nausea, etc. It occurs when the content of the stomach flows into the esophagus, which is the tube that connects the throat and the stomach. In severe cases, this phenomenon can be fatal too. Coping with this digestive disorder is not an easy task. Diet plays a crucial role in the management of GERD. Certain foods and drinks are known to cause distress in the esophageal lining and worsen the symptoms associated with this digestive disease. The trigger foods for GERD may vary from person to person. Here is a list of surprising trigger foods for GERD that every patient of this condition should be aware of. 1. Avocados Avocados are enriched with nutrients as well as fat. Due to the high content of fat, avocados act as trigger foods for GERD symptoms. Eating avocados regularly may cause stomach acid to flow back to the esophagus and irritate the tissues, leading to heartburn. While avocados are a great source of health-benefiting nutrients, they also worsen GERD symptoms.

For those who have never had the unfortunate luck of experiencing a migraine, it can be hard to understand how they affect people. They are a type of recurring headache, one that causes moderate to severe pain. Migraine sufferers describe the pain as pulsing or throbbing and can experience nausea and weakness during an episode. Migraines can be triggered by certain foods and drinks, and patients are advised to avoid them. The following foods and drinks are known as common trigger foods for migraines: 1. Alcohol One of the common trigger foods for migraines is alcohol. It is believed that nearly 25% of migraine attacks occur after a person consumes alcohol, and beer and red wine are common triggers. Alcohol causes dehydration and affects the blood vessels, which could be reasons that trigger an attack. 2. Caffeine Caffeine, found in coffee and tea, can narrow blood vessels and is believed to interact with nerve cells to reduce pain. In some people, however, this can trigger the symptoms of a migraine. Caffeine has different effects on different people. It causes some people to experience migraines, while there are others who experience migraines if they don’t consume caffeine. 3. MSG MSG or Monosodium Glutamate is a food additive, typically found in Chinese and other processed foods.

The Whole30 diet plan is meant to reset eating habits and help in choosing to eat healthy and nutritional meals. Created by certified sports nutritionist Melissa Hartwig, the Whole30 diet cuts out food like soy, dairy, grains, added sugars, alcohol, and legumes. After the 30 days reset, people can reintroduce each food group one at a time to identify food sensitivities and stay away from harmful foods permanently. Instead of only weight loss, the diet focuses on improving digestion, energy, attention span, mood, sleep quality, skin health, and the ability to control cravings. The Whole30 diet also focuses on avoiding food that causes inflammation in the body. It helps in recalibrating the taste buds to avoid food cravings for carbohydrates and sweets, and the results are effective after 30 days. Some food to avoid while following a Whole30 diet include the following: 1. Say no to tobacco and alcohol Alcohol and smoking are strictly prohibited, and using alcohol in smaller quantities for cooking is also forbidden. 2. Say no to legumes All variety of legumes are restricted, including soy sauce, edamame, and miso. You have to avoid peanuts, chickpeas, lentils, and peas as well. 3. No added sugars Products that contain added sugar like soda, packed juices, honey, maple syrup, coconut powder, date syrup, agave nectar, and stevia are to be completely avoided.

Overactive bladder (or OAB) is a condition that causes an uncontrolled urge to urinate. OAB affects both men and women, which is common for those who are 40 years or older. According to studies, 1 in 3 adults suffers from OAB, which is often due to aging, diabetes, or an enlarged prostate. In The United States alone, there are more than 200,000 new cases of OAB per year, which is considered the leading cause of incontinence. There is a huge difference between occasional incontinence and OAB, which is why it’s important to understand the symptoms associated with OAB. The symptoms of OAB can change, but most commonly include an urgent need to urinate, involuntary loss of urine, or if you have an uncontrollable urge to urinate more than 8 times a day. A doctor’s diagnosis is often required to determine if a patient is suffering from OAB. The foods you eat, believe it or not, may actually make your OAB symptoms worse: 1. Alcohol It’s a well-known fact that alcohol consumption increases your body’s production of urine. Alcohol is a diuretic, which is defined as “ a drug that increases urination.” Alcohol can cause symptoms of OAB to worsen and irritate the bladder.

Water makes up 60 percent of our bodies. What’s more, the health benefits of drinking water are plentiful and have been proven over and over again. Conversely, it can directly impact our health in a variety of negative ways when we don’t drink enough. Water is indispensable for our bodies, so we should drink plenty of it daily. The health benefits of drinking water include: 1. Maintains electrolyte balance Electrolytes are minerals that carry an electric charge when dissolved in fluid. Such minerals can include sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, and bicarbonate. When we lose water through sweat or urine, our bodies correct this loss by releasing these electrolytes into our bloodstream. An electrolyte imbalance, which can result in symptoms such as nausea and lethargy, is usually caused by drinking too much alcohol or not replacing fluids properly. As such, drinking water helps to maintain the proper balance of electrolytes in our bodies. 2. Keeps blood pressure stable When you have low blood pressure, your body makes certain adjustments to keep your blood flowing at the right pace for survival; your blood vessels dilate or contract to help your blood go where it needs to go. When you don’t have enough water in your body, your blood volume decreases, causing low blood pressure, and the body’s reaction can make patients dizzy, lightheaded, or even cause them to pass out.

Food is essential for our survival but it can also be expensive, especially in recent times. With so many options out there it can be easy to fall into the trap of spending lots of money on ordering food from food delivery services. If you want to save big on food costs you should try these easy ways to save: 1. Have your groceries delivered If you use a grocery delivery service you can actually end up saving money. While you do have to pay for any delivery fees and tip the delivery driver, in certain circumstances this can be cheaper than going to the grocery store yourself. For example, if you don’t have a car it can save you the money of ordering a cab to get your groceries home or the struggle of having to carry them all on a bus. If you believe time is money too, this is a big time saver, freeing you up to do whatever you want while someone else picks up your groceries for you 2. Eat less snacks If you eat a lot of snacks throughout the day, then it could be eating away at your wallet. By eating less snacks and instead filling up during meals you can save money.

The struggle with breathing issues, whether it’s Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), or Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC) lung infection, can be a daily challenge. These diseases are often exacerbated during cold and flu season and can significantly impact your quality of life. RSV, a common respiratory virus, can also cause severe infections in people with weakened immune systems. While medications such as Afrin, Flonase, Claritin, Zyrtec, Stiolto, and Allegra can help manage symptoms, diet also plays a critical role in managing respiratory issues. In this article, we will explore six foods to avoid to minimize the impact of breathing difficulties: 1. Processed meats Processed meats like sausages, bacon, and ham are high in sodium and preservatives known as nitrates. A diet high in sodium can lead to fluid retention, increasing blood pressure and potentially worsening breathing problems. Additionally, the nitrates can cause inflammation and damage to lung tissue, potentially exacerbating conditions like COPD or NTM lung disease. 2. Dairy products For some individuals, dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt can produce mucus, which can make breathing more challenging, particularly for those suffering from COPD. While not everyone will experience this, it is worth noting if you notice an increase in symptoms after consuming dairy.

It’s common knowledge that cats can be fussy. Many people have to resort to only buying specific brands, salmon cat food, natural cat treats, and high protein wet cat food in order to please their fussy feline companions. Whatever the case, one thing is for sure—cats love to beg for human food. If you have a fussy cat and want to know which human foods are safe to feed cats, read on: 1. Meat Cats are carnivores that feed primarily on meat. Skinless poultry is the healthiest option for cats. However, keep in mind that many cats have allergies to chicken. Protein plays a big part in the health of a feline and can help them maintain a sound reproductive system, vision, and heart. As a recommendation, you should always skin, debone, and cook any meat a cat is to eat. 2. Spinach It shouldn’t surprise most that cats sometimes eat certain plants, not as food but as medicine. Cats love spinach, and for good reason. Spinach is a source of essential vitamins and minerals for a cat. That being said, you should never feed spinach to a cat with kidney issues, as it contains a compound called calcium oxalate, which can cause stones to form in the urinary tract if eaten in large amounts.