Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for the body as it promotes the growth of bones by absorbing calcium. Majority of the world’s population suffers from a lack of vitamin D in the body. We get this vitamin from the exposure to the Sun. Many people do not get enough exposure to the sun’s rays owing to residing in cold climates, etc. The vitamin cannot be synthesized naturally in such people, and taking supplements is a smart option. Low levels of vitamin D in the body can result in children having soft bones and misshapen bones in adults. Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to prostate cancer, colon cancer, heart disease, depression, weight gain, and breast cancer. Studies show that people with higher levels of the vitamin are at a lower risk of contracting these diseases. While this is not definitive, it sure is indicative! Here are a few of the best vitamin D supplement options available in the market. Nordic Naturals Vitamin D3™ Nordic Naturals Vitamin D3 is a great option to explore. It is one of the best vitamin D supplement options available today. It provides for a concentrated source of vitamin D along with some healthy oils.

All of us know what constipation is, but not many know how to treat it. People often get anxious as they don’t know how to prevent this condition. This article aims to help readers understand what constipation is, what are its causes, and what foods one should consume if they are constipated. What is constipation? Constipation is the partial, or in rare cases, complete inability to pass stools or have bowel moments. It may also cause mild to extreme pain. Constipation can occur to anyone at any time, and generally, it is common in young people below the age of 20. The problem usually goes away in a day, though sometimes, in severe cases, it may take weeks to cure this condition. What are the causes of constipation? While the causes of constipation can vary depending upon one’s diet, age, and location, the common causes of constipation are as follows: Sudden changes to your diet or activities Inadequate consumption of water or fiber Eating a lot of dairy products Not being active Resisting the urge to have bowel moments Stress or tension Overuse of laxatives Medications such as strong painkillers, narcotics, antidepressants, iron pills, and any supplement taken in bulk Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Pregnancy Aging Other changes in the routine like the excessive intake of carbs or fats Other forms of disorders and diseases What should one do if they experience these bowel problems for more than a day?

It is commonly observed that people whose diet is irregular, suffer through acid reflux problem. It is a prevalent issue in the digestive system where acids accumulate because of unhealthy eating habits and food contents. Mainly oily food, spicy agents, and acidic caffeine based drinks create excessive acids in the digestive tract which at a certain point cannot digest easily. Hence, a severe stomach problem people suffer is of a hiatal hernia. In this type of condition, the stomach’s upper portion presses upward through the diaphragm under the chest area. The main symptom one could face during the existence of a hiatal hernia is the acid reflux. Discomfort and pain caused after eating a specific type of spicy food items is another primary symptom of the respective condition. What are the food items to avoid? Therefore, a hiatal hernia diet should include non-acidic food preparations and liquid products. Some of the food items and ingredients are listed below: Garlic and onion:  Raw or cooked both are acidic. They should curtail in food preparations from the hiatal hernia diet plan. Citrus fruits: It is better to avoid citrus foods entirely such as oranges and limes entirely until acid reflux and discomfort last.

Maintaining a healthy diet is more of a need than a norm in today’s age. The introduction of processed food and junk food to our diets has led to the onset of a plethora of diseases. While we can try to limit the amount of junk we eat, we hardly do so. Over 100 million citizens suffer from pre-diabetic conditions or diabetes. This number itself tells a tale. The sad thing is that this number is only expected to increase with time. Maintaining a healthy diet is a necessity to ensure the proper functioning of the body. It also helps to keep our skin healthy and glowing. While no one is telling you to quit eating junk food and processed food, there is a limit to everything. Following heathy diet plans is the norm of the day and it can do you a world of good to say the least. Here are a few of the best diet plans you must follow today, irrespective of you being a man or a woman. Healthy diet plans DASH Diet The DASH diet plan is one of the healthiest diet plans out there. Not only does it recommend eating certain food items, but it also recommends avoiding a whole host of unhealthy food items.

Aging is a natural process that affects all life. Although we can’t chase our youthful self as the years go by, we definitely would want to relive those early days. Most of us fantasize about looking younger than and search for ways to get that look back. Nowadays, you can find cosmetic surgeries and other methods like botox injections to look younger, but there are certain natural ways too. Diet based solutions can be very effective to get your younger skin back. Vitamins play a major role in aging, and you can find several vitamins that are used from ancient time for healthy and hydrated skin. There are numerous vitamins available in the market to help with the anti-aging process. This article highlights some of the most effective anti-aging vitamins that you should try now for beautiful, younger-looking skin. Vitamin E Vitamin E has a significant role, and it is often called as the dry-skin defender for its numerous benefits. If your skin is dry, you should consume proper foods that include Vitamin E. You can easily get it from your multivitamins, and there is no need to overdo it as a supplement. Vitamin E is an effective fat-soluble antioxidant that helps to regain the natural moisture, and your skin looks younger and hydrated.

Recently, there has been a lot of hype on the role of probiotics in promoting health. Almost everyone with a digestive problem is prescribed probiotics. They are essentially bacteria which are good for your health. Probiotics contain good bacteria that are very similar to the bacteria found in the human gut. Certain types of bacteria like lactobacillus and bifidobacteria are present in the intestinal flora and the gut lining. The lower digestive tract is home to complex and varied strains of healthy bacteria that are more in number than the cells in one’s body. These healthy bacteria help with digestion of food and also enhance immunity against infections. What are probiotics made of? They are foods that contain bacterial strains having similar properties as the healthy bacteria present in the intestinal lining. FDA regulations treat probiotics as foods and not medications. Probiotic foods Infection of the intestinal tract or consumption of an unhealthy diet that destroys healthy bacteria in the gut generates more “bad” bacteria than “good” bacteria. This imbalance may lead to weight gain, diarrhea, constipation, and other chronic health conditions. Probiotics are prescribed to restore the balance. Popular natural foods containing probiotics are as follows: Certain yogurts Yogurt is the most popular source of probiotics.

Supplements and vitamins can help your muscles, bones, and many other body parts. According to many medical study reports, some of the vitamins and supplements may help in improving the blood pressure, lowering the cholesterol level along with maintaining other things that can put your heart at risk. Here is a list of some of the best vitamins for a healthy heart and some supplements. Even though it is unclear whether these vitamins or food supplements help in preventing strokes, heart attacks, and other heart-related diseases or not, but still it is sure that these help in maintaining a healthy heart. Read on and try to add these vitamins, nutrients, and supplements to your daily diet to maximize the heart health. Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid) This is one of the best vitamins for a healthy heart, which you can add to your diet chart. It helps in regulating the homocysteine in the bloodstream. This homocysteine is an amino acid that is associated with the possible risks of causing blood clots. Broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, and lentils are great natural resources of vitamin b9. Vitamin D Many medical research reports have reflected the fact that deficiency of vitamin D can lead to higher chances of heart-related problems.

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.

Aging is a stressful process. While it does bring about a change in your environment as your children move out, get married, and start a family of their own, you start experiencing changes in your health as well. You do not look the same when you see yourself in the mirror and your skin may lose its glow as well. The skin also loses the ability to make vitamin D from sunlight and it is essential to bring about a change in your diet. Changes in your diet can go a long way in helping you fight the aging process and appear to be younger than your age. While there are several medications available in the market for the same, the best remedies always start at home. For your body to run the way it has over the years, you need to maintain a healthy diet. The best diet for women? Look no further. We have made the process of choosing the best plan for you much easier. The best diet for women as they age Here are a few of the best diet plans you should follow: Mediterranean diet:  The Mediterranean diet derives its origin from Mediterranean countries. The people living in these countries commonly follow this diet plan as it is generally associated with better health and longevity.

Diabetes is one of the most common health issues faced by both adults and children these days. In case you have diabetes, choosing the right food becomes a task. If you are not able to control diabetes, then it can lead to some serious health issues. Eating the wrong food will increase the insulin and sugar levels in the body and hence increase the associated risk. It is extremely important to be aware of diabetes foods to avoid and what is the right food for you. Here is some useful information about which foods to avoid and what to eat if you are having diabetes. Diabetes foods to avoid Sweetened drinks:  Having sugary drinks can be the worst choice for any person with diabetes. Usually, these drinks are made from processed sugar, and they are bad carbohydrates. This can raise the blood sugar levels and weight as well. Both of these can cause problems for you and avoiding this is a wise choice. Fruit juices:  For people with diabetes, fiber-rich fruits are considered to be the best. But drinking fruit juices is considered to be a bad choice. Pure fruit juices contain 100 percent pure fruit sugars and that can increase the sugar levels in your blood.

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.