The nervous system is one of the most complicated organ systems in your body, and the brain is the powerhouse of all your activities and emotions. Vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients are needed within the optimal amount to keep your brain working efficiently and to keep you mentally healthy. However, if you are finding it hard to concentrate, are forgetting things too often or going through severe stress and depression, the reason is a deficiency of brain and memory vitamins. These vitamins not only help clear brain fog and confusion to keep your memory sharp, but they also help you focus and learn properly. Vitamin B Complex From brain aging to brain fogs, depression to memory loss, Vitamin B Complex is undoubtedly the best nutrient for your overall brain health and memory. It helps boost your mood and fight stress, hence the name “happy vitamins”. Vitamin B complex produces neurotransmitters to keep the brain active. B complex can be sourced from animal products like flesh, dairy, eggs, and fish as well as from legumes, leafy vegetables, potatoes, peas, carrots, bananas, and so on. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) In order to enhance the health of the nerve tissues and the brain, this is one of the best brain and memory vitamins that keep nerve impulses at bay. Thiamine works effectively in treating Korsakoff syndrome as well as chronic memory decline in AIDS affected people and alcoholics. Liver, beef, pork, eggs, milk, oats, orange, and nuts are common sources of vitamin B1. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) A vitamin effective in keeping a positive mood, B6 can be sourced from eggs, poultry meat, turkey, beef, fish, nuts, beans, peas, and seafood. It increases the Serotonin levels, which fights depression and boosts memory. By reducing Homocysteine levels, it stops the decay of memory cells. Vitamin B9 (Folic acid) It is found in great amounts in leafy vegetables like spinach, lettuce, and turnip greens, broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprout, okra, lentils and legumes, and Avocado and citrus fruits.

Potassium plays a significant role in balancing the fluids and minerals in the human body. It also helps the muscles to function properly. If there is a deficiency of potassium in your body, then it can cause fatigue, high blood pressure, and anxiety. Potassium is a nutrient which is needed by the organs to functions in a healthy manner. These organs include the heart and kidneys as well. Following is a list down of some foods with potassium that will keep the level of this vital nutrient balanced in your body. Acorn squash This food item contains potassium in a huge amount. One can say that avocado has potassium as one of its main contents. Studies have also shown that those who have a regular intake of avocado in their diet tend to have healthier bodies and lesser chances of getting any metabolic problems. Beans A single cup of beans has nearly 1000 mg of potassium. Consuming beans will keep away the troubles of inflammation. Even soybean is one of the best beans which are rich in potassium content. Sweet potatoes and potatoes Potatoes may not have many nutrients, but, they are a good source of potassium. One-third of the potassium content of white potato is in its peels and the rest is in its body. This is the reason it is always advised to eat potatoes without peeling off the skin. On the other hand, sweet potatoes are also a food item that is rich in potassium. To be precise, 180 gm of white potato provides 18% of RTI. Spinach Spinach has always been popular when there are talks about potassium-rich food items. People who suffer from potassium deficiency are recommended to involve spinach in their diet to balance the level of potassium in their body. Not only potassium, but spinach is also rich in the plant content called chloroplasts which are believed to have cancer-fighting qualities.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is found in all the cells of our body. It is essential for the proper functioning and production of hormones like vitamin D and pepsin. Cholesterol is also found in food items from animal sources like egg yolk, cheese, and meat. Even our body is capable of generating all the cholesterol it requires. The thing with cholesterol is to maintain its equilibrium as too much of it tends to combine with other food substances in the blood and form plaque which eventually sticks to the arteries, leading to a condition called atherosclerosis. This can subsequently cause multiple coronary heart diseases blocking up the blood flow through the arteries. But as it is said there is always a solution to a problem. Likewise, cholesterol can be easily eliminated by many methods. One being, use of prescribed drugs like statins that function by inhibiting an enzyme needed to produce cholesterol. But with the interaction of these drugs, specific food products can turn out to be very dangerous causing severe side effects like joint aches, muscle pain, vomiting, increased blood sugar, kidney damage and many unexpected neurological side effects. It has also been reported that statins can cause a breakdown in muscle cells leading to permanent muscle damage. Alternative to statins Cholesterol absorption inhibitors If statins are not your savior, then a common alternative to statins is cholesterol absorption inhibitor. These drugs function by preventing your small intestine from properly absorbing the cholesterol you consume. It is pretty evident that what is not absorbed cannot reach your bloodstream. One such inhibitor is “Ezetimibe” which when combined with a low-fat diet helps reduce cholesterol efficiently. Resins Other common alternatives to statins are sequestrants or acid-binding resins. They are efficient and function by binding itself with the bile in your intestines, blocking cholesterol absorption to a great extent.

Hair loss is a common condition that affects thousands of men and women across the country. A person can experience it on the scalp or other parts of the body. Frequent hair loss can affect a person’s self-esteem and can be an indicator of underlying health conditions. It is vital to know about the essential vitamins for preventing hair loss that can help in controlling the condition. Why does hair loss happen? First, let’s take a quick look at the causes and symptoms of hair loss. This condition is often a result of medication, hormonal imbalances, lifestyle or hereditary factors. Male pattern baldness or excessive loss of hair from the scalp, commonly known as alopecia, is mostly a result of genetic factors. Different people may experience different types of hair loss. Men and women lose their hair in different ways. Some people may experience symptoms such as thinning of hair or bald patches while others may find clumps of hair fall after brushing or washing their hair. People who have gone through radiation or chemotherapy experience hair loss all over the body, although this hair grows back once the treatment is complete. Other factors such as age, traumatic experiences or nutritional deficiency can also result in hair loss. The intake of nutrients in the form of vitamins is essential for preventing hair loss. Essential vitamins for preventing hair loss Vitamin A This vitamin is one of the best options for controlling hair fall. The cells in the body need vitamin A to grow and develop. This vitamin also helps the glands in the skin release a greasy substance known as sebum which conditions the scalp and maintains the overall health of the hair. However, an excess quantity of vitamin A can cause hair loss. Vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, kale, and spinach are rich in beta-carotene which gets converted into vitamin A in our bodies.

Most men experience problems with their prostate gland, as they age. Although the prostate is one of the smallest glands in the body, it can be a problem creator! Almost all men are at risk of developing prostate gland issues at later stages of their lives. Most common issues with the prostate gland are benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate cancer and prostatitis. The prostate gland is of the size of a walnut and is located just below the bladder in men. This gland grows as men age. When the prostate is enlarged beyond normal, it starts creating problems. Common issues due to enlarged prostate are frequent urination, difficulty in urination, and feeling of incomplete urination. When the prostate gland is infected (prostatitis), symptoms like fever, pelvic pain, and cloudy urine may be experienced. Taking prostate supplements is one of the ways of preventing prostate problems. However, clear evidence of the effectiveness of supplements is yet to be established. Read on to know the top 5 prostate supplements that can help men with prostate issues. Role of prostate supplements Prostate supplements are useful in shrinking the size of the prostate. Some physicians recommend prostate supplements for maintaining optimal health. The top 5 prostate supplements nourish the prostate with the nutrients necessary for proper functioning and healing. Prostate supplements are known to provide symptomatic relief from BPH and prostatitis. The urine flow can be improved and the frequency of urination can be reduced. Some supplements can even reduce the growth of the gland and improve erectile function. Top 5 prostate supplements Identifying the top 5 prostate supplements can be quite challenging. It is almost like taking a shot in the dark. Most of the times one needs to rely on feedback from those who have used it. There are certain supplements that are absolutely needed for the proper functioning and healing of the prostate gland.

The body requires large amounts of protein as it is a macronutrient. Once it is absorbed into the body via digestion, protein is broken down into several amino acids. These amino acids are then built into a new set of proteins which aid in building muscles and making red blood cells, as well as helping out with other bodily functions. Consumption of protein items is crucial after exercise for a gym enthusiast as it helps the muscles grow and recover. It is no coincidence that more and more bodybuilders are taking protein in some form or the other. While getting protein through solid food is the best practice, it is not often as effective as taking assortments of protein-enriched substances like cereals, oatmeal or protein shakes. Listed below are a few benefits of protein shakes and a few of the best protein drinks in the market today. Benefits of protein diet shakes Apart from the fact that protein diet shakes are easy to make, there is a reason why they are so popular among bodybuilders. As mentioned above, protein is used to help muscles grow and recover. It also helps manufacture nucleic acids, cellular messengers, enzymes, hormones, and immune-system components. Without proteins, our bodies will be unable to create the structures needed to make cells, tissues, and organs. The muscles will not heal as quickly as they should if there is a low intake of protein. Bodybuilders prefer protein diet shakes because they are a quick option to prepare. Other people may make use of protein diet shakes for the same reason. You may be someone who works hard from 9-5 and preparing a meal to meet your protein intake requirement might prove to be quite the task. Preparing protein diet shakes however is fuss-free and easy, to say the least.

These days, the stomach diseases are increasing, and therefore, the doctors show a severe concern towards the overall nutrition of the people. Every age group has certain gut bacteria levels and must follow a routine check-up. Cleansing of the colon area is a must so that toxins from the body keep on regularly releasing without harming organs and intestine lining. However, a particular health condition came into highlight mostly in the age group of 30 to 50 years is diverticulitis. It is a kind of a stomach disease which occurs when small pockets are formed in the wall of the digestive system. They lead to the intestine inflammation. One of the reasons for this can be an infection due to the toxics of colon. What are diverticula and how is it formed? Diverticula are small sacs or pockets which take birth on their own when the colon muscles become weaker. They protrude outward in the large intestine lining in red color like boils or polyps. It is a painful condition during a flare-up. Sometimes, on diagnosing, immediate surgery is recommended by the specialists. What are the symptoms of diverticulitis? Most people are unaware of the initial symptoms and lead to the chronic stage and then realize the fact that they are affected by diverticulitis. Hence, there are some common symptoms which one must consider and get immediate help from the doctor whenever they experience them. Long-term constipation is the condition when one cannot pass stool regularly and sustains for a long term. It causes immense pain and fatigue. Long-term diarrhea is a common symptom of diverticulitis. If a person suffers from diarrhea and no antibiotic works, then it is a sure symptom of diverticulitis. Pain and tender feeling in the abdomen with bloating is a symptom of diverticula formation in the colon lining.

Our daily diet defines our health in reality. The nutrients from different foods react in different ways in our body, and it affects the cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure, and weight. Diabetes is one of the most common problems nowadays, and many people suffering from diabetes find it difficult to maintain a healthy diet to stay fit. Many people prefer consuming processed food and often end up with numerous health-related problems. A healthy diet can be very helpful for a diabetic patient, and they should try some good diabetic meal plans to stay healthy and fit. This article will highlight some great meal plans for the diabetes patients, and you should also go through the article if you are in search of effective diabetic meal plans to stay healthy and fit. Carbohydrates Carbohydrates play a major role in maintaining your blood glucose. Experts suggest your insulin dosage depending on your dietary habits, especially carbohydrates. If you don’t have the habit of consuming carbohydrates in every meal, try to include it now onward. Diabetes patients should prefer sources like fruits, high-fiber whole grains, vegetables, and so on. We also recommend you to choose the source of carbohydrate with added sugars, salt, and fats. Proteins Proteins acquire the position of the second important factor for diabetic patients. Proteins play a vital role in defining your health and satiate hunger at the same time. Proteins play a major role as they don’t affect your blood glucose similar to carbohydrates. We recommend you to use portion control along with protein consumption to prevent excessive weight gain. You have to remember that low blood sugar can’t be treated with protein mixtures and shakes. It can push insulin to work faster in type2 diabetes and hence it should not be used for patients suffering from type2 diabetes.

Do you have digestive problems? Or do you know someone who is suffering from digestive problems? This is one of the most common problems faced by people in the country. If you or someone close to you is having digestive problems or unexplained abdominal pain, then a low FODMAP diet is the best solution. This is going to help in reducing the discomfort that you have in your stomach every day. Find below information on low FODMAP diet plans. What is a low FODMAP diet? A FODMAP eliminated diet or low FODMAP diet is a diet where the food compounds that belong to FODMAP will be extremely low or not consumed. FODMAP stands for the following. Fermentable – A food compound that can be easily broken in the large intestine with bacteria. Oligosaccharides – This means less sugar. Disaccharides – A kind of sugar that is formed with the help of two different sugars. Monosaccharides – Simple or single sugar molecules. And Polyols – Means sugar alcohols. So, in simple words, diet plans, low on FODMAP mean the kind of diet which places restriction over certain carbohydrates. These carbohydrates are the ones that do not get absorbed into the small intestine and hence can cause gas and other issues in the stomach. What happens when a high FODMAP diet is taken? When you are eating a high FODMAP diet, carbs present in the food do not get absorbed by the small intestine. These travel to the colon for fermentation by bacteria. This will, in turn, give rise to a number of problems like nausea, bloating, bowel changes, gas, headache, abdominal pain, indigestion, constipation, fatigue, diarrhea, acid reflux, and muscle pain as well. How do the low-FODMAP diet plans work? Basically, there are two phases in these diet plans. Phase 1 In the first phase, which lasts for a duration of three to six weeks, you need to eliminate all the food that has high FODMAP.