There are many that believe that consuming apple cider vinegar before meals and at bedtime controls the blood sugar level. It has been found to lower fasting and post-meal blood glucose levels. For centuries, vinegar has been part of our diets. Before the pharmacology companies came up with medication to control diabetes, vinegar was used as a remedy. Home remedies and easy to follow supplements like this helps the diabetic take control of this disease and lead a confident healthy life. What exactly does apple cider vinegar do? It lowers the absorption of carbohydrate into the blood Slows the breakdown of starches into sugar Help reduce post-meal blood glucose level in those who are insulin resistant Increases insulin sensitivity Acetic acid found in apple cider vinegar is responsible for the magic. It soaks up the bicarbonate in the digestive system. If you are keen to experience this simple remedy, then join the apple cider vinegar diabetes control bandwagon! There are simple ways this can be added to our daily diets. Before meals and before bed, mix 1 to 2 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and drink. To make it a part of food, add vinegar in your salad, soup or use as a dressing.

Leukemia, a cancer of the blood, usually originates in the bone marrow and germinates a high number of anomalous white blood cells in the body. Chronic myelogenous leukemia or chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a particular kind of cancer that affects the bone marrow and the blood. It originates in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow, over time extends to the blood and in the long run, metastasis to other organs of the body. CML develops in early blood cells called the myeloid blood stem cells, become myelocytes and usually spreads slowly. In some cases, however, chronic cancer could change into acute myelogenous leukemia too. Unique to this type of cancer is its association with an abnormal chromosome known as the Philadelphia chromosome that stimulates the creation and growth of leukemia. Care for CML involves a multidisciplinary team, a variety of healthcare professionals, including physicians, oncologists, radiologists, counselors, dietitians, and many others who can educate the patient and their families about the procedures and their expected results, their reciprocal action with other medications and adverse effects if any, on the body. Treatment for CML includes localized radiation therapy, chemotherapy that is oral or via injections, biological therapy with drugs that stimulate the body’s immune system to fight the cancer and help control it, and/or a stem cell transplant from a healthy donor for those leukemia patients who are capable of managing the intense treatment and its possible side effects.

What is Humira? Humira is a drug with the generic name adalimumab which is used for pain and inflammation relief in a variety of autoimmune diseases. This new age drug has been approved for treatment in patients with Crohn’s disease, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis. While there is no cure for any autoimmune disease, Humira has been found to aid effectively in cutting down excruciating pain as well as control inflammation with the help of medication. Humira is a biologic drug, wherein it is extracted from living organisms such as humans, microorganisms, yeast, and animals. This therapy is used in constricting antibodies based on proteins, wherein these proteins are developed as a result of genetic engineering, otherwise regarded as DNA technology. The consumption of Humira is not oral because the digestive system breaks down the active ingredients, and is therefore administered through the use of pen devices or preloaded syringes and can be taken at the comfort of one’s home. How is Humira used? Humira’s treatment span is usually long term as each patient has their own pattern of responding to the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Studies from a manufacturer of Humira have shown that while certain patients show a response within two weeks, some other have not begun reacting to the drug until at least three months.

One of the very common psychiatric conditions that affect both children and adults is ADHD. However, many of the symptoms that are associated with ADHD often are dismissed as being a personality quirk or merely attributed to stress. Hence, the condition goes untreated resulting in a number of physical and mental health complications. Here is an overview of some of the common signs that are likely to be indicative of ADHD in adults. Lack of time management skills  – adults who have ADHD are usually very poor in terms of managing time-based activities and completing tasks on time. Either they tend to lose focus and get easily distracted, thereby taking inordinately longer than a given task warrants. At other times, they tend to get overly engrossed in a specific task and therefore devote a large amount of time to its completion. For tasks that do not interest them, they tend to procrastinate by putting off or delaying what they do not like to do. Memory loss – As we age, it might be common to experience some small slips of memory, but these are usually occasional. For those with ADHD, memory loss is a persistent and frequent aspect of their lives.

Crohn’s disease is an increasingly common inflammatory bowel disease that causes symptoms like persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, stomach pain, bloating, and gastritis and so on. It is a chronic lifestyle disease that is idiopathic in origin. While modern medications do contribute towards the alleviation of some of the symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease, the fact remains that this is a lifestyle-related condition that is best managed by adopting appropriate diet and lifestyle routines. Most people who suffer from Crohn’s disease have specific trigger foods that can be directly correlated to an aggravation of symptoms. While these trigger foods may vary from individual to individual, it has generally been seen that the following foods are likely to trigger or aggravate the condition: Fiber-rich foods fruits with seeds caffeine acidic foods nuts and whole grain cereals dairy products, in those who are lactose intolerant wheat based products in those who are already sensitive to gluten insoluble fiber-rich foods whole wheat and whole grain cereals fatty and cured meats like bacon carbonated beverages and alcohol rye, barley Most nutritionists recommend a low residue diet plan for those with Crohn’s disease. Such meal plans ensure that the person gets adequate calories and nutrients with the least amount of roughage so that the undigested solid waste to be eliminated is kept to the minimum.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition as a result of which there occurs demyelination of the nerve cells especially in the regions on the brain and the spinal cord. It can be a debilitating condition which can also lead to progressive degeneration if left untreated. There is as yet no known cause for multiple sclerosis but it seems to be affecting a larger number of people annually across the world. While signs and symptoms vary among people the most commonly reported symptoms of multiple sclerosis include problems with the autonomic nervous responses and impaired visual and sensory functioning. Muscle weakness, difficulties in movement coordination, balance and stability and an electric sensation that runs also the spinal column known as Lhermitte’s sign are also common indicators. While MS is an auto-immune condition that is medically treated by administering specific immunosuppressants, long-term research indicates that specific foods are to be avoided while other foods are beneficial in an alleviation of symptoms. However, since in the case multiple sclerosis symptoms may appear and disappear with no specific periodicity or pattern, it is often hard to identify if a specific food or diet alone is effective. Generally, a high consumption of saturated fats has been linked to the appearance of an aggravation of symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

Prevention is better than cure makes a lot of sense in this case. Refraining from triggers that cause hives is the best way to prevent it. There are medications available aplenty, but to do away with probable side effects, it is best to treat hives the natural way. Many times, if the hives are mild and the itching is bearable, it is advisable not to squeeze, prick or irritate it, within a short span of time, the hive will disappear. Avoid taking hot baths and wearing tight-fitting clothes. Hot baths and tight clothes can further aggravate the areas that have the hives breakout. If you have the inkling as to what might have caused the hives, stay away from them in the future. The Get an allergy test done to determine probable hive triggers. Maintaining a food diary will also greatly help in identifying any food allergens. Use natural products: They are usually free of synthetic ingredients that may aggravate hives. Do not use any products that have added fragrance or other harsh chemicals. Check your soaps, toiletries and washing detergents for the same. Replace them with natural and skin friendly options. Cold compress and cold baths help alleviate itching and discomfort.

Hemorrhoid has been considered as a common problem among adults and cause a considerable amount of pain and discomfort when it is ignored. While it goes away on its own, there are still some useful tips to keep get it healed or completely avoid it as well. Home remedies: While there is a surplus of over the counter medication available to treat this condition, individuals with hemorrhoids can also choose to use a few home remedies to ease the situation and let it cure on its own. Taking a warm bath in a bathtub with water covering the legs and using apple cider vinegar or Epsom salts in the water can be useful in reducing the irritation caused from the hemorrhoids. Some people even choose to apply the apple cider vinegar directly onto the hemorrhoid spot, which will sting badly, will cure hemorrhoid even more quickly. Witch hazel is an astringent that had natural anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties that help the hemorrhoid tissues to shrink easily. While the direct application of witch hazel will react quickly, it can also cause swelling or irritation. Coconut oil and aloe vera are two other ingredients that ease the burning and itching sensation and aid in the overall healing process.

Individuals diagnosed with Crohn’s disease have different types of symptom flare-ups triggered by various factors. As far as food goes, while some may react badly to a flare-up, some others may do well to consume the same ingredient. It is very important to keep track of one’s body especially when you are prone to regular flare-ups due to a bad diet. Some of the proven foods that cause a worsening of the flare-up symptoms are: Nuts: While nuts are usually considered part of a healthy diet, people with Crohn’s should avoid them because nuts are not easy to digest when not masticated properly. This would in return cause a strain on the gut to digest easily and end up irritating the gut wall. Raw foods: Staying away from raw foods would be a wise decision because when the food is cooked it is naturally softer and easier to digest. Eating raw food would mean that a lot of chewing is needed to bring it to a smooth consistency that would be favorable for easy digestion by the gut. Especially fruits and vegetables that edible peels like apple or cucumber should be thoroughly skinned before consumption, failing which the skin that is rough and hard may be harder for the gut to strain and digest.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system starts attacking the joints by mistake. This creates inflammation that causes the tissue that lines the joints (the synovium) to thicken, resulting in pain. Over time, there is a loss of cartilage, and the space between the joints becomes smaller. The joints itself get loose and lose their mobility. Rheumatoid Arthritis affects the joints of the hands, wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles. As it can affect body systems like the respiratory or cardiovascular system, Rheumatoid Arthritis is also known as the systemic (entire body) disease. Although doctors do know that the abnormal response of the immune system plays a leading role in the inflammation of the joints, the cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis is still not fully understood. No one knows for sure as to why the immune system goes haywire and starts attacking the joints mistaking it for a foreign body; but there is a scientific reason that genes, hormones, and environmental factors are all involved. Researchers have proved that people carrying a specific gene marker called the HLA have greater chances of developing Rheumatoid Arthritis. The HLA site controls immune responses. Some of the other genes connected to Rheumatoid Arthritis include:

Allergies and allergic reactions in the form of hives, rashes, sneezing, running or blocked nostrils, cough etc., are very common and are only likely to increase as pollution gets increasingly more rampant. The conventional medical approach towards the treatment of allergies in kids is the administration of antihistamines in the form of pills or sprays. These provide fairly rapid allergy relief in children and adults. Very severe reactions with respiratory distress may require salbutamol inhalers or other steroidal drugs. While anti-allergy medication is quite effective, its long-term use, especially in those with chronic allergies, may give rise to several side effects. While modern medicine sure provides a necessary relief especially in extreme emergency situations, one could also consider using certain simple home remedies to reduce the effect of allergies in kids. One simple way to reduce allergic coughs and rhinitis is to gargle using tolerably hot water. The addition of salt may also help to eliminate bacteria in the region of the throat and also reduce the post nasal drip that is a common allergic reaction. Some people recommend gargling with hot water to which turmeric powder has been added, as the curcumin present in turmeric is a proven antibacterial agent.