With the number of processed foods on the rise, it is of grave importance to maintain a healthy diet to live a long and fruitful life. While contracting diabetes or high blood pressure may be a result of eating junk food or processed food over periods of time, we can definitely do our bit to ensure that we do not live a life of pills and medications. High cholesterol levels is a great problem faced by many in the country. It is important that we learn how to manage and balance the cholesterol levels in the body. To put it into perspective, there are three different categories of cholesterol. HDL is the good cholesterol, LDL is the bad cholesterol and of course, we have a total cholesterol count. Cholesterol levels vary with weight, age, and gender and we should make it a habit to check our cholesterol levels every 4-6 years. Adults typically have higher cholesterol levels as the body tends to produce more with age. Here is how you can lower LDL cholesterol levels in your body naturally. How to lower LDL cholesterol naturally Diet changes: Bringing about certain changes in your diet can go a long way in helping to reduce LDL levels naturally. Try to reduce eating saturated fats. They are generally present in full-fat dairy products and red meat products. Eliminate trans-fats from your diet. They are often used in cakes, crackers, kinds of margarine, and store-bought cookies. They are labeled as “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” on boxes. Try to eat food items rich in omega-3 fatty acids. While these do not lower LDL cholesterol levels, they have other health benefits which include the likes of reducing blood pressure and heart-related benefits. Some food items rich in this substance are walnuts, flaxseeds, salmon, mackerel, and herring.

Shingles, medically known as herpes zoster, can cause rashes with tremendous pain. The viral infection is the reason of varicella-zoster that also causes chickenpox. Once you had chickenpox in your childhood, this virus will stay dormant in you and cause severe rashes with pain which is also called shingles later on in your life. According to a report, almost one out of three people in the country will get shingles at least once in their lifetime. You cannot do anything that will make the shingles go away instantly. Moreover, you can take measures by which you can make life a whole lot easier for yourself. Shingles generally last for two to four weeks and appear with rashes that will pain, itch, and burn, giving you the kind of discomfort that you have never felt before. The symptoms of shingles can be very hard to get rid of. However, following certain measures could really help your cause. Treating rash and itchiness due to shingles Your topmost priority should be when you are looking for shingles rash treatments to get relieved from the itchiness and pain. If you can do that then you will be able to stop shingles from affecting your day to day life. Here are some of the things you can look to do. Take an oatmeal bath: Taking an oatmeal bath can certainly provide you with the relief you want from shingles. You just have to dip into the cold water. In that water add some colloidal oatmeal. This is made from the oats which have been grounded very finely and made into a powder. This is one of those soothing baths that could really calm the itchiness and provide you with relief from shingles. This is arguably one of the best shingles rash treatments that one could ever look forward to.

Diarrhea is a condition that causes frequent bowel movements with a loose, watery stool. It can have many causes. Unless it is a severe condition caused by an infection or an underlying disease, a patient can treat it by making a few dietary changes and taking OTC medications. Causes of diarrhea Several factors can lead to diarrhea Infections: Stomach flu, bacterial gastroenteritis, and parasitical infections like intestinal worms can lead to this condition. Food poisoning: Adverse reactions to food can cause diarrhea. Medical conditions: Conditions like ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, or irritable bowel syndrome or IBS can cause chronic diarrhea. Medicines: Some medications like NSAIDs and antibiotics can be the cause. There are other causes of diarrhea as well. Your doctor will get all the details of your condition, consider the medicines you are consuming, and check for any underlying ailment that could cause diarrhea. They may also ask you to go for blood and stool tests if you have severe diarrhea. Treatment of diarrhea Most of the times, diarrhea goes away on its own after three or four days. Some over-the-counter medicines like bismuth subsalicylate and loperamide can help. If you have severe diarrhea due to a bacterial infection, you may have to take antibiotics for treating the condition. If some other ailment like celiac disease or IBS is the cause, you may have to consult a gastroenterologist who will provide you with a treatment plan for chronic diarrhea. What should diarrhea patients eat and drink? When you have diarrhea, you have frequent bowel movements, and this causes dehydration. So, you should drink a lot of water. Your doctor may also suggest some special drinks like a sports drink to replace the electrolytes lost from your body. Stick to a balanced diet and avoid spicy foods. Usually, the diet plan followed for treating diarrhea is called BRAT.

In order to get instant gout relief, it is important to understand the underlying cause of gout. Gout occurs due to the presence of high uric acid levels in the body. Instant gout relief can be achieved through specific medications. For instant gout relief, it is important to combine medications as well as incorporate changes in lifestyle. Here is what you should do if you want relief from gout pain and swelling: The first thing that you need for quick gout relief is a prescribed anti-inflammatory medication. Apply ice to the joint and keep it elevated often. Avoid any kind of alcohol or soda (which contain sweet) when you have gout. You need to keep yourself hydrated, so drink plenty of fluids (normal water). Set up an appointment with your doctor immediately. You need to relax as stress will worsen the condition. Get in touch with your family members as well as your friends and ask them to help you with your daily chores. Though attacks of gout come without a warning, these reach a peak and then abate within a week or a couple of days before completely going away. The first day and a half are the critical and the most painful period. When you get an attack of gout, consult your doctor and find ways to get your uric acid levels under control and also to ensure that future attacks of gout don’t happen. Medications for an acute attack of gout The medications which help in treating an attack of gout are: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) If these medicines are taken within 24 hours of the attack, then there is immediate pain relief for gout. This also helps in shortening the intensity of the attack. Corticosteroids When the gout attack takes place, corticosteroids taken orally or injected directly into the joint that is inflamed can be an effective remedy.

There was a time when bodybuilding was an underground sport, decidedly kept away from polite company, it brought to mind an image of brute men who didn’t mind spending their days wrestling. But those days are long gone, and bodybuilding isn’t limited to wrestlers or fighters but to laymen and women who want to adopt it as a lifestyle. At its essence, bodybuilding is essentially what it claims to be- building, or sculpting your body. But a lot of times, our body’s natural constitution and metabolism doe not allow us to craft our physique the way we would like to. These situations call for the use of other, additional methods of help aside from a healthy diet and regular exercises. HGH Bodybuilding is a supplement highly popular amongst sportspersons, especially bodybuilders. Originally intended to take care of growth hormone deficient children, it can be used for purely aesthetic bodybuilding too. HGH supplements help you increase muscle mass, increase your level of strength, increase energy, increase muscle-to-fat ratio and reduce body fat. How does HGH Bodybuilding work? After injecting the HGH Bodybuilding supplement, it gets into the bloodstream and spreads within the body, getting absorbed by the liver. There, it is converted into an insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). The main effect of HGH is to help muscle growth. The growth hormone by itself performs the fat burning function of HGH. The hormone fastens to the growth hormone receptors, leading to a rise in the free fatty acids level. Consequently, the body begins to use fat rather than carbohydrates as a source of energy. Unique features of HGH The unique attribute of HGH is that it helps in gaining lean muscles, thereby losing fat. This fat loss will neither interact nor hinder muscle growth. The number of muscle cells increase because of their proliferation and are significant.

Sciatica is caused due to irritation of a particular nerve in the human body. It happens to about four out of every ten people at some point in their lives. The sciatic nerve runs along either side of the lower spine, through the buttocks and pelvis, passes through the upper legs, and then divides at the knee. It also branches into the feet. What causes sciatica pain? When there is pressure or irritation on the nerve, it causes pain that shoots through the back of the legs. The pain will vary depending on the situation. A patient may also face weakness, numbness, and a tingling sensation along the nerve. The pain becomes worse if the person sits, stands, sneezes, coughs, or strains their body for a long time. The best treatments for sciatica can provide relief and help the patient recover quickly. Best treatment options for sciatica The treatments vary from cold or hot packs to medications. Exercise is another remedy for sciatic nerve pain. Medications for sciatica pain People can use several medications for getting relief from sciatic pain. Here are some oral medications that can help: Over-the-counter medications like pain relievers provide temporary relief from sciatic pain. Few that help with the condition are acetylsalicylic acid, NSAIDs, ibuprofen, naproxen, and paracetamol. Doctors also prescribe muscle relaxants to calm muscle spasms. Antidepressants may also help with severe back pain. It is important to note that children below the age of 18 should not take aspirin as it increases the risk of Reye’s syndrome. In a few cases, a doctor may inject steroids into space around the nerve. This type of medication can help reduce the irritation. It mostly works in cases where the cause of the irritation is a ruptured or herniated disc. Exercises to get relief from sciatica pain One of the best treatments for sciatica is physical exercise.

Imagine yourself coming home late after a day’s work, ready to hit the hay, but only to find yourself awake and distressed due to the small insects moving over your body and biting your skin. If you have bite marks on your skin and are not aware of what’s keeping you sleepless at night, these insects may be bed bugs. Bed bugs are tiny, wingless insects that hide in the crevices of your furniture and feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals like humans. They feed at night from midnight to 5 am, and their bite marks become visible on human skin after a period of around 14 days. These parasites are not found to carry diseases, but they can cause a lot of stress, sleeplessness, change in the quality of life, and sometimes even embarrassment. Bed bug infestation is difficult to detect and often becomes an issue before you know it. Therefore, you must look around the house for tiny signs of their presence. Look into tiny cracks and crevices in the furniture, pillows, and mattresses. If your credit card can fit into crevices, bed bugs can squeeze into such cracks as well. You will notice rusty stains, a black spot made by their excrement or small, yellow bed bug eggs. You can even ask a professional to inspect your house if necessary. Also, you can comprehend bed bug bites that are red and raised. Often, the bites occur in a row. However, the marks tend to appear after 14 days, which is a sufficient time for the bed bugs to spread. Therefore, you must consult a doctor in time and get your skin treated. Once your house gets infested with bed bugs, it can become quite a difficult task to get rid of them. These little creatures live in places away from human reach yet close enough to feed on them.

When people talk about skin issues, they often forget to consider scars. Most people are preoccupied with breakouts and zits, or they worry about superficial damage to the skin. However, acne can leave behind scars and dull spots. Several people start feeling conscious of the way they look because of these scars. If you have facial scars, you need to make sure that you get the right treatment for it. It all starts with picking a scar cream that addresses the issues which lead to the formation of these marks in the first place. The best scar cream is one that works slowly but provides a permanent solution. Here is a brief guide to the different types of scars, and some tips to help you pick the best scar cream for yourself. What are scars and how do they form? Scars are a signature of an injury or damage caused to the dermis, which is the skin’s second deepest layer. This damage can be self-inflicted if you pick your skin, or it could be a leftover mark from surgery. Scars form due to your skin’s ability to heal fast. Whenever you get a wound, your skin immediately goes to work by fixing that wound. It starts with clotting the blood in the area of injury to prevent bleeding, and it forms a barrier on the cut to protect it from the external world. We see this as a scab. Scabs are fragile and easily broken. However, as soon as the scab forms, the dermal layer starts producing fibroblasts. It helps to fix the collagen on the skin to form a smooth, pink layer that we see on the surface. The problem starts at this point. The fibroblast is produced at a fast rate, and the collagen isn’t laid out evenly.

Probiotics are ideal for resolving the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. These symptoms include bloating, abdominal pain, and bowel movements. Probiotics contain microorganisms that supplement the natural bacteria of the intestine. What are probiotics and IBS? Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) refers to a common ailment of the intestine which is quite challenging to treat. It is characterized by diarrhea, constipation, or a combination of both. Other symptoms include abdominal cramps, protruding belly, and excretion of abnormally hard stool. Probiotics help in restoring the balance of the intestinal flora. The natural bacteria of the intestine are supplemented by microorganisms known as probiotics. These probiotics are available as supplements. Probiotics with a strain of bacteria known as Bifidobacterium infantis seem to be the most effective when it comes to resolving symptoms of IBS. Categories of probiotics for treating the symptoms of IBS One cannot only depend on probiotics for treating IBS. They should use it in combination with regular medication before or after following a FODMAP diet. Probiotics are bacteria which are beneficial for our health. There are bacteria in our gut or large intestine known as gut microbiota. These microbiota comprise numerous species of bacteria which are further made up of individual strains. Probiotics can contain a single species or strain or multiple species and strains. It is vital to understand the correlation between the species of bacteria present in your gut and the species that you are consuming. As far as IBS is concerned, the best probiotics are: Bifantis® (Bifidobacterium infantis 35624): This bacteria is supposed to be present in the intestine, and the strain required is 35624. A lot of people don’t have this strain of Bifidobacterium infantis in their large intestine. VSL#3®: This probiotic mixture consists of eight strains including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium infantis, and Lactobacillus casei. Several clinical trials have proved its effectiveness.

Stomach acid and reflux problem is a condition that is characterized by the discomfort caused by the reversed flow of the acidic content from the stomach to the esophagus or the food pipe. This problem occurs when your lower esophageal sphincter becomes weak and opens up abnormally, which causes the contents of your stomach to move upwards. This problem can be dealt by using stomach acid remedies and various treatments depending upon your case. Symptoms of stomach acid and reflux Typically, patients who are diagnosed with reflux and stomach acid abnormalities show symptoms like heartburn, a burning sensation that you experience in your chest, the taste of a sour acidic liquid in the back of your mouth accompanied by pain in the chest, etc. You may also experience difficulties in swallowing your food. Remedies to treat acid reflux As a part of stomach acid reflux remedies and treatments, you may first be recommended to make some lifestyle modifications and changes in your diet as recommended by your doctor. You may also be recommended to try over the counter medicines during the initial stages. However, if you do not experience any relief from the treatment, you may be advised to go for surgery or prescription medicines. Antacids may be recommended by your doctor to get quick relief from the problem of stomach acid reflux. These may include Rolaids, Tums, and Mylanta. Certain medications that help in curbing acid production in your stomach, termed as H-2 receptor blockers may also be helpful in providing relief. These include famotidine, nizatidine, and ranitidine. Proton pump inhibitors are medications that may be taken to help block the production of acid in your stomach and to heal your esophagus. This treatment is amongst the most efficient stomach acid reflux remedies when compared to H-2 receptor blockers.