In today’s fast-paced life, finding time for yourself can be quite challenging. The sedentary lifestyle coupled with unhealthy eating habits can add a few extra pounds here and there. Being overweight can open the floodgates to a variety of illnesses that can be life-threatening in certain cases. Once people get a health scare, they try to mend their ways by eating right and exercising. Adhering to a diet for the three major meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — isn’t a herculean task. What tests one’s conviction to lose weight and eat healthy are the snack times where our minds involuntarily wander to the hot dog stall outside the office or to the fries and burgers that are just a click away. These food items have an incredible way of enticing our taste buds, which is why we often deter from consuming something as bland as a salad. Instead of giving in to your whims and wasting the hours you toiled hard in the gym, you can satisfy your palate and continue on your weight loss journey by trying these easy healthy snack ideas to keep you full in between meals. Hard-boiled eggs and avocado bowl Eggs are a powerhouse of all essential nutrients you need to lose weight and stay healthy at the same time.

Living with a chronic condition can take the fun out of many things, and that’s exactly how people with diabetes feel. They have to constantly monitor their blood sugar levels, as hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia might be just around the corner. People with diabetes are taught to coexist with the condition, as there is no complete cure discovered for this ailment that affects more than 100 million people in the country. Diabetes is a condition that arises due to the body’s inability to create or process insulin, which causes disparities in the blood sugar levels. What we eat has a major impact on our blood sugar levels, and people with diabetes have to be extra cautious about what they eat, as it can dramatically alter their blood sugar levels. However, this doesn’t imply that a person with diabetes has to completely give up eating tasty food just because tasty equals unhealthy in a diabetic individual’s dictionary. In addition to the three square meals that are imperative for a diabetic to consume, it is equally important for them to keep munching on snacks every two to three hours, as it will keep their blood sugar levels steady. Instead of sulking about eating salads for snacks, here are some easy snack recipes you can try making.

Making healthy food choices can be very difficult and mettle-testing, especially when you are trying to lose weight. The road to healthy weight loss is through discipline and not giving in to unhealthy food choices. Unfortunately, some food items that assist in weight loss might not taste appetizing. However, with some creative pairing, you can whip up some of the most mouth-watering recipes for weight loss from seemingly unappetizing food. Here are some easy snack recipes that require minimum ingredients to assist in healthy weight loss: Sweet potato fries – These are a healthy replacement to your regular potato fries deep fried in vegetable oil. Sweet potato fries contain a healthy dose of beta-carotene, which is good for general immunity and vision. Here’s how can make yourself a healthy treat out of sweet potatoes and a handful of other ingredients. Preparation – Slice two medium-sized (scrubbed and peeled) sweet potatoes into julienne strips. Preheat an oven to 450-degrees Fahrenheit. Combine half a tablespoon of red chili powder and black pepper in a bowl. Add one or two tablespoons (based on your preference) of extra-virgin olive oil and toss and coat all the sweet potato slices. Place these slices in a single layer on an aluminium foil or non-stick cooking sheet.

While most Americans are fighting a common battle to lose weight, one part of the population is struggling to gain weight. Gaining and losing weight are equally difficult to achieve. People who want to gain weight in a healthy manner often join a gym to gain muscle mass and increase their appetite. Though these changes in lifestyle can be enough to gain muscle mass and weight, if one includes healthy snacks in their diet, they could accelerate this process. Healthy snacks have multiple health benefits, which is why people should add these to their diet. However, most people find it difficult to keep up with a healthy snacking habit as these snacks are not available in stores and preparing them can be quite time-consuming. At such times, you can look up several easy snack recipes on the internet that will help you gain weight. You can prepare these at home without using too many ingredients or spending too much time. Nuts and dried fruits You don’t need any pre-preparation to consume nuts. You can buy good quality raw nuts from several stores. You can choose nuts like cashews, almonds, walnuts, pistachios, apricots, and raisins for a quick and easy snack between your meals.

Diabetes is a long-term condition triggered by high blood sugar levels. This ailment is also referred to as diabetes mellitus in medical terms, and it denotes a group of metabolic diseases which cause a spike in the blood glucose or blood sugar levels. While blood sugar is essential for maintaining one’s energy levels, excess production can lead to a plethora of issues. For some people, it may lead to inadequate production of insulin in the body, whereas for others, their body’s cells may not respond well to the insulin. An imbalance in the levels of a hormone called glucagon can also cause difficulties in maintaining normal levels of blood sugar. A majority of diabetes patients are likely to have a combination of these issues. Consistently high glucose levels in the bloodstream can severely disrupt essential bodily functions. Diabetes affects a large part of the population around the world, and type 2 diabetes is the most common form of this condition. As per scientific reports, about 90% of diabetes cases in the world are of type 2 diabetes. This disease comes with a slew of symptoms that include intense thirst, weight gain or weight loss, frequent need to urinate, numbness in the hands, sexual dysfunction in males, and more.

Common diseases and disorders cause an imbalance in the natural blood sugar levels in the body. This imbalance increases the risk of diabetes if the body does not produce enough insulin to counter the overproduction of glucose. It is one of the leading health complications faced by people across the country. It mainly results from a lack of glucagon, a hormone that is necessary to maintain and control blood sugar levels. The pancreases are responsible for insulin production in the body which is then naturally released into the bloodstream through the circulatory system. Glucagon production is also essential for three primary functions including the conversion of glycogen to glucose, the promotion of glucose production from amino acid molecules, and reduction in the consumption of glucose for energy breakdown by the liver. Any imbalance will result in diabetes or glucagon deficiency. A large part of the population at risk of developing type 2 diabetes as more and more people now depend on artificial insulin to manage their hormone levels. Artificial insulin injections are effective in countering the overproduction of glucagon, but at the same time, an insulin overdose can result in hypoglycemia. It is a condition that causes blood sugar levels to spike due to excess insulin.

Opioids are a class of drugs that alleviate acute pain, such as the pain one experiences after undergoing a surgery. These drugs interact with the opioid receptors in the brain cells and mollify the feeling of pain and enhance the feelings of pleasure. They are produced using poppy plants or synthesized in a lab. When used according to the medical practitioner’s directions, opioid can spare the patients from pain while recovering from a health condition. However, at the moment, opioids are considered an epidemic, not only by medical communities but also by political and social bodies because of the rampant addiction cases. Since 2000, deaths because of narcotic prescription painkillers have tripled. On the other hand, over 600 thousand individuals are battling with heroin addiction. Like prescription painkillers, the deaths caused because of heroin overdoses have multiplied by 4 times since the early 2000s. A considerable chunk of people has switched from prescription painkillers to heroin as it is easier to access and cheaper. This clearly infers that the country’s opioid crisis has dramatically risen in a span of just 15 years. Lower doses of opioids can make the patient feel sleepy, whereas higher doses can slow down the breathing and pulse rate.

Alcoholism is a drinking and alcohol abuse disorder, characterized by an uncontrollable urge to consume alcohol repeatedly. There are no known causes of alcohol abuse or addiction and the condition is influenced due to peer pressure and certain mental illnesses. In many cases, alcohol abuse is an indirect remedy taken up to counter the symptoms of depression or anxiety. Alcoholism is also a chronic condition and there is no proper cure. The condition can only be managed with proper treatment, medications, and therapy to avoid a relapse. In alcohol abuse, your genes can also boost the power of alcohol and simultaneously curb the symptoms of a hangover thus increasing your body’s resistance to these drinks. When resistance increases, addiction replaces habit and alcohol abuse can grow out of control. It is estimated that nearly 13% of the population suffers from mild, moderate, and severe symptoms of alcohol addiction. Symptoms of alcohol addiction The known symptoms of alcohol addiction will vary depending on the severity of the addiction. Here are some common warning signs you should look out when it comes to alcohol abuse. Increased tolerance to alcohol and reduced effects of a hangover Increased number of drinks consumed throughout your day Drinking out of control and blacking out as a result repeatedly Worrying about the quantity of alcohol left and restocking the bar more than usual Decreased productivity in many areas of life due to increased alcohol consumption Experiencing withdrawal symptoms while attempting to stay sober In case you experience any or even one of the aforesaid symptoms for prolonged periods, it is advisable to visit an alcohol addiction treatment center and assess the severity of the condition.

Hepatitis is among the fastest spreading infections in the world. Hepatitis is manifested as an inflammation in the liver with subsequent deterioration of the liver tissues. It could also compromise its effective functioning. Eventually, the patient faces other health complications that may interfere in their daily life as well. Hepatitis can become life-threatening and patients may require special precautions throughout their life. However, it is possible to significantly reduce the chances of contracting this infection. Read on to know more. Know the types of hepatitis and how they spread It is very important to understand the different types of hepatitis and their mode of transmission. This will provide one with insights on the spread of the infection and ways to control it. For example, the hepatitis A virus is released through the feces of infected persons and is usually spread with contaminated food and water. Hepatitis B virus, on the other hand, is primarily spread through sexual intercourse, contact with infected body secretions, and blood. Be extra cautious while traveling If traveling, it is important to make sure that the water supply is reliable and free of contamination. If it isn’t the case, then one should avoid drinking tap water, brushing, or rinsing the mouth with it.

Produced by the liver naturally, and important for the formation of cell membranes and the production of hormones, cholesterol can be classified as a lipid. It is waxy in nature and bears a resemblance to fat. Cholesterol does not dissolve in water and uses lipoproteins as a primary mode of transport. Lipoproteins contain fat and protein and have two main types, which are low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein. Even though cholesterol performs many vital functions in the body, too much of it can cause major problems. Low-density lipoprotein is also commonly referred to as bad cholesterol. The abundance of bad cholesterol (in simple words high cholesterol) can be the cause of issues such as heart attacks. The trickiest part of high cholesterol is that it shows no symptoms and, hence, needs to be checked on a routine basis. Bad cholesterol High amounts of bad cholesterol can accumulate on the artery walls. This accumulation is also called cholesterol plaque and can be the reason for narrowing of the arteries, limited blood flow, and higher chances of blood clots. This can ultimately lead to heart attacks or strokes. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that every one out of three people in the country has high cholesterol levels.

People have shown an increasing preference for diets free of animal products on the grounds of environmental, humanitarian, and cruelty concerns. This growing trend has brought veganism into the mainstream from being a peripheral diet option. Several scientific studies have shown that a vegan diet produces the most significant results in weight loss and further helps in treating various health complications. Here are some of the pros and cons that one experiences by embracing veganism and its regimented diet. Pros of being a vegan With its benefits making headlines on both offline and online lifestyle news channels, veganism is the trend-setting diet plan. People are opting for this special meal plan to derive its benefit for living a healthy life: Effective in losing weight An authentic vegan diet entails negligible calorie intake, which is significantly lower than even a formal vegetarian diet. This is because you are discarding fatty dairy intake in addition to cutting down meat consumption. It helps you immensely cut down on extra body fats faster. Prevents the occurrence of diseases A number of illnesses can be averted if one replaces a non-vegetarian diet with a vegan one. It has been evidenced that diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular issues, and diabetes are all linked with the intake of excess meat.