The Best Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Diaper Rash

Diaper rash is the inflamed skin found in the diaper area in infants and in young children. Diaper rash is the result of skin irritation caused by prolonged contact with urine or feces or both. The diapers trap urine or feces and cause the irritation of the skin leading to bacterial or fungal infection. The hot and moist environment in the diaper promotes the growth of bacteria and fungus. Diaper rashes are also seen in people with incontinence and paralysis

Causes Of Diaper Rash

Some of the important causes of diaper rash in infants and children are

• Contact With Urine And Feces:  Urine and feces make the moisture to come into contact with the skin which causes irritation. The digestive enzymes present in the feces also increase the rash.
• Friction And Rubbing:  The tight fitting diapers rub with the skin and the constant friction leads to rash.
• Irritating Chemicals:  Chemicals found in detergents, fabric softeners, baby lotions, baby wipes cause irritation to the skin in some infants leading to a rash.
• Infections: The moist environment created by diaper is the perfect breeding ground for bacterial and yeast infections. Blisters, red bumps in the creases of skin etc are the signs of infection.
• Allergy To Diaper Elastic And Chemicals: The chemicals in the disposable diapers can cause allergic reactions in some infants causing rashes across the belly and in the skin creases.

Symptoms Of Diaper Rash

• The rash usually found in the diaper area, which includes upper thighs, buttocks, genital area
• Redness on the skin with shiny patches or pimply spots
• The affected skin is warm to touch
• The infant may be more irritable and may cry during diaper changes
• Blisters, pus and red and severely swollen skin in diaper areas

The diaper rashes are very common and do not indicate poor caring for the child. The rashes would clear up within a few days of treatment. There are many home remedies which will give good results in treating the diaper rash.

Home Remedies For Diaper Rash

1.    Change The Diapers Often

Do not allow the soiled diaper to come into the contact with the skin of the child. To treat or to prevent the diaper rash, change the diapers regularly. This will avoid the growth of bacteria or fungus in the diaper area.
•    Check the diaper often and change the diapers if it is soiled

2.    Vinegar Solution

The bacteria present in the urine releases ammonia, to neutralize the alkaline environment you can use vinegar solution.
•    Wash the bottom of the baby using vinegar solution while changing the diapers.
•    Wash the reusable diapers and rinse it in water to which half cup of white vinegar is added.

3.    Avoid The Use Of Commercial Baby Wipes

Most of the commercial baby wipes contain alcohol or propylene glycol to clean the skin while a diaper rash is present.
•    Use fragrance free and alcohol free  baby wipes  to clean the diaper areas
•    You can also use mild moisturizing soap and rinse the baby’s bottom in plain water to reduce the rashes.

4.    Use A Blow Dryer

You can keep the diaper areas dry using a blow dryer with cold setting. This is a good option for people with incontinence. Dry the areas properly  before changing the diaper.
•     Do not use hot hair dryers on infants
•    If you do not have a hair dryer with cold setting use the fan directed at the diaper area of the child to dry the skin.

5.     Use Baby Friendly Skin Products

Select soaps, shampoos, and creams which can be used on the sensitive skin of the infants. Do not use detergents, softeners and bleaches which are strong or having fragrance to cleanse the diaper as the chemicals in them can irritate the skin.
•    Never use products meant for adult use on infants.
•    Wash the diaper, clothes, towels etc of the infant separately from the clothes of other members of the family.

6.     Do Not Use Talcum Powder

Many people use talcum powder to keep the bottom of the child or infant moisture free
•    Certain Talcum powder also contains chemicals which can cause skin allergy in infants.
•    Inhaling the talcum powder is dangerous to the infants.

7.    Dry The Diapers In The Sun

Instead of depending on the dryer of the washing machine, try drying the cloth diapers on the clothes line in the sun or in airy areas. This reduces the chances of growth of bacteria and Fungi.
•    Sunrays help in the disinfection of the diapers.

8.    Avoid The Use Of Plastic Pants

To get rid of the diaper rash faster it is necessary to keep the skin dry. When you make the child wear plastic pants over the diapers, you are keeping the moisture in. This promotes fungal and bacterial infections.

9.    Do Not Use Tight Fitting Diapers

The use of diapers that are tight- fitting causes constant friction on the skin. This leads to irritation and infection.
•    Select loose or large sized diapers to allow some air flow.

10.     Change The Brand

In some infants the diaper rash is caused due to the chemicals used in the particular brand of diaper. Change the diaper and see if the diaper rash is disappearing.
•    If you feel that changing the soiled diapers regularly is having no effect on the rashes, try using another brand of diapers.

11.     Provide Nappy Free Time

One of the best ways to get rid of the rashes faster is to provide diapers or nappy free time to the child. When the skin comes into contact with natural air the healing process becomes faster.
•    Let your baby remain bare- bottomed whenever possible.

12.     Use Super Absorbent Disposable Diapers

The super absorbent diapers help to keep the skin moisture free and hence promote the healing of rashes and also prevent the irritation.
•    Read the labels properly before you buy the diapers.

Are you a mom looking for the methods to treat the diaper rash of your baby?  Are looking for home remedies to cure or prevent the problem? Then try the given remedies to get rid of the problem.

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How To Get Rid Of Back Acne

While we think that acne is simply pimples, this skin condition can take on various forms like blackheads, papules, pustules, whiteheads, nodules, cysts and others. Acne is usually found to appear on the face but it can even occur in other areas of the body such as back, chest, buttocks, upper arms, neck and shoulders. Acne is a common problem that happens to most teenagers and it often accompanies them to adult hood. It is genetic in nature as well. Thus, those who have had parents and others in the family line suffering from acne are bound to develop such a problem as well. It is necessary to understand what causes acne and how to prevent it. Once the right symptoms are known one will be able to make use of simple home remedies to work their way round the problem.

Causes Of Back Acne

When you develop acne on your facial skin or on your back, it is mainly due to:
•    The clogging of skin pores with dead cells and dirt. Such people have oily skin where the dead cells or the dirt get clogged and improper skin hygiene traps these particles on the topmost cell layer. The bacteria that lives on the skin starts working on these dead cells and that is when acne or a nodule appears.
•    Acne could be caused due to irritation of the skin and there are stages of its developments. From the nodule it becomes a whitehead and then finally it erupts.
•    Many people develop blackheads on their skin as well which is another form of acne.

Symptoms Of Back Acne

While acne anywhere on the body or on the face comes along with different appearances, the symptoms are similar for the sufferer:
•    Acne can be painful especially at the time of formation. From a red swelling it will gradually develop a head and then either it will burst or dry out.
•    Acne on the face makes people, especially teenagers painfully aware of the problem and how it mars their appearance
•    Back acne can be painful as it prevents one to sit or to lie back comfortably.
•    Back acne could persist as the clothes we wear irritate the skin and makes it persist.
•    Even after the acne has disappeared, the scars could persist.

How To Get Rid Of Back Acne

There are many effective home remedies that one can try to get rid of back acne. Above all, one needs to make certain lifestyle and hygiene changes in order to get rid of such persistent skin problems.

1.    Ensure Regular Cleaning Routine

Many people do not scrub themselves properly during their bath. That leads to:
•    Dead cells not removed from the surface of the skin
•    The excess oil is not wiped off
Those who have oily skin need to take special care of their skin in order to keep it dry and clean at all times.

2.    Do Not Touch The Acne

When one has facial or back acne, one is often tempted to touch it. But that can have adverse effects:
•    It will make the acne persist
•    The dirt and irritation from our hands may make it larger

3.    Try A Retinol Based Cream

One could apply a retinol rich medicated cream which will work on the acne:
•    It will help to reduce the acne and the pain
•    Help to make it last for a shorter period of time

4.    Do Not Pinch It

Many people are tempted to pinch the whitehead and puncture the acne.
•    That can lead to the pus coming out
•    The acne area will be scarred
It is best to wait for the acne to go down by itself. When the acne is pinched, it leaves behind ugly acne scars.

5.    Look At Your Diet
Once one has ensured a proper cleaning routine for their skin to be free of dirt and grime, one need to:
•    Look into one’s diet to remove oily food and sugary food items
•    Replace such food items with fresh and nutritious food groups

6.    Avoid Oily And Processed Food

Food that secretes excess oil, is deep fried or consists of fats will:
•    Make the skin cells secrete more sebum
•    That will increase the chances of acne

7.    Avoid Sugary Food

Food that is high on easy sugars lead to high levels of blood sugar that can be harmful for the system:
•    Avoid confectionary items
•    Avoid beverages and desserts high in fructose content
Instead, opt for natural sugars that is contained in fruits.

8.    Expose Your Back To The Sun

If you are suffering from back acne, a dose of strong sunlight might do the trick:
•    Expose the back for ten or fifteen minutes under strong sunlight
•    Ensure that you wear a light sunscreen to avoid the surrounding skin being burnt

9.    Try Sea Water

If you can visit the beach you could try:
•    Putting your back into the sea water
•    The salty water will reduce the acne greatly

10.    Change Your Skin Care Products

When one has acne it proves that they have oily skin.
•    One should use oil free and medicated body wash
•    Use a similar lotion to hydrate the skin after bath

11.    Drink Plenty Of Fluids

It is best to keep oneself hydrated:
•    Toxins are flushed from the system
•    As the blood is cleansed the probability of acne formation reduces

12.    Have An Active Lifestyle

Get moving, start doing exercise for half an hour every day. That will:
•    Help to reduce acne breakouts
•    Increase the circulation and make the skin more healthy

If you are suffering from back acne you will realize that it is a painful occurrence. You need to take every step to prevent it from occurring again. With the right diet, a regular cleaning routine, better lifestyle management you will be able to keep the acne at bay. Are you not aware of the steps you can take to prevent back acne at home? The above steps mentioned are easy to implement.

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Best Home Remedies For High Blood Cholesterol

What Is High Blood Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is the fatty substance present in the blood. Cholesterol is necessary for the building of healthy cells. When the level of cholesterol in our blood increases, it can lead to certain risks. When there is high blood cholesterol they get deposited on the walls of the blood vessels and prevent the normal flow of blood. When the blood vessels to the heart get clogged by these cholesterol, heart will not get enough supply of oxygen rich blood and this will lead to heart attack. When the blood flow to the brain decreases it may cause a stroke. High blood cholesterol is caused by unhealthy lifestyle and heredity. High blood cholesterol is preventable and treatable. Being overweight, sedentary lifestyle and alcohol consumption increases the cholesterol level. Healthy diet, changes in lifestyle and some home remedies will help you to keep the cholesterol level under control.

Home Remedies For High Blood Cholesterol

1 Red Rice

This is one of the most effective ways to reduce excess cholesterol in blood.

• Red rice is a natural source of statin which is best for reducing cholesterol. Consume red rice instead of polished white rice.

2 Psyllium Husk

This remedy has high soluble fiber content. The mucilage present in the psyllium husk cleanses the blood vessel and reduces the cholesterol.

• Mix 2 teaspoons of psyllium husk with water.
• Drink this mix morning and night to get faster result.

3 Oats

Oats help to reduce the cholesterol level naturally as they contain beta-glucans.

• Use rolled oats to make porridge and consume at least twice daily.

4 Apple Peels

The apple peels contain antioxidants which will reduce the oxidation of LDL or the bad cholesterol. This will reduce the build –up of plaque in blood vessels.

• It is better to consume organic apple peels as the others may have pesticide content in them.

5 Consume More Seeds

Consuming the seeds like pumpkin seeds, almonds, sunflower seeds, watermelon seeds, sesame seeds etc reduce the cholesterol level as they contain high levels of plant sterols which reduce the fat in blood.

• Consume a handful of the seeds every day to reduce the bad cholesterol and increase the level of good cholesterol.
• You can also use them in various food preparations.

6 Green Tea

Drinking green tea can reduce the low density lipids or fats in the blood which are bad for your health. The antioxidants present in green tea help to balance the cholesterol level. This will reduce the risk of heart diseases and stroke.

• Drink green tea whenever possible. Consume at least 2-3 cups daily to reduce cholesterol.

7 Royal Jelly

This home remedy will be appropriate for high cholesterol level resulting from the effects of smoking. Smoking increases the bad cholesterol level.

• Take 1-2 teaspoons of royal jelly in empty stomach
• If you smoke, quit smoking
• Use alcohol in moderate level to increase the HDL cholesterol level.

8 Grapes

Grapes have the ability to reduce the cholesterol. The skin of the grapes contains a compound which lowers the cholesterol. It prevents the fat from getting deposited inside the blood vessels

• Increase the intake of organically produced grapes.

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9 Soybeans

Soybeans are rich in antioxidants and they also have anti-inflammatory property.

• You can use soybeans in various food preparations, if you want to control the blood cholesterol.
• You can also use tofu to increase the soy intake.

10 Artichoke Leaf

This remedy works by limiting the synthesis of cholesterol in the body. A compound present in artichoke called cynarin increases the production of bile in our body which helps in the excretion of cholesterol from the body.

• Include artichoke leaf in your diet along with other cholesterol reducing food items.

11 Cut Down Saturated Fat

Saturated fats increase the LDL cholesterol level in our body. So, it is necessary to avoid food items containing saturated fat.

• Avoid the use of red meat, dairy foods, milk, palm oil, butter etc.
• Replace the above food items with fish, chicken, skimmed milk, vegetable oil or olive oil, etc.

12 Omega -3-Fatty Acid

This is one of the best remedy for high cholesterol. They reduce the risk of high blood pressure and reduce the development of blood clots in the blood vessels.

• Include a rich source of omega -3 fatty acids in your diet.
• Salmon, mackerel, flax seeds etc are good sources of omega -3-fatty acids.

13 Extra Virgin Olive Oil

If you have high levels of blood cholesterol, stop the use of other oils and shift to extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil contains antioxidants which remove the toxic contents from the body and lowers the bad cholesterol level.

• Use extra virgin olive oil for preparing food.
• You can also use it as salad dressing.
• Heating the olive oil will reduce its goodness.

14 Lose Weight

If you are overweight that may the main reason for high cholesterol level in the body. Losing 5-10 pounds will reduce the cholesterol level.

• Take a look at your daily eating habit
• Avoid fast foods
• Avoid eating snacks while watching TV
• Have a healthy diet containing the fruits and vegetables which help to reduce weight and cholesterol.

15 Exercise Regularly

You can improve your good cholesterol level by exercising. Do 30 -60 minutes of exercise every day to find benefits. You can opt for the following exercises.

• Walk briskly for 40 minutes daily
• Ride your bike for one hour.
• Swimming for half an hour can burn the excess fat in the body effectively.

Are you an obese person? Are you worried about the high blood cholesterol level? Do you want to reduce the bad LDL cholesterol? Then try some of the above given home remedies to control the blood cholesterol level and get benefitted by them. It is necessary to continue the remedies at least for a few weeks to see the difference in cholesterol levels in the blood. You can use two or three remedies together to get better and faster reduction in cholesterol level.

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Easy Home Remedies To Treat Knee Pain

Knee pain is one of the most common problems that affect people of all ages across the globe.

 Normally, knee pain occurs during old age and in people with poor overall health status. But, they can occur even in children as well as grown up adults and is caused due to several reasons like obesity, injuries, arthritis, lack of strength, limited flexibility of the muscles, abnormalities in structure and so on. It is important for you to treat knee pain in the initial stages itself so that you do not have to deal with unbearable pain later on. There are few home remedies that you can try out to get rid of the early problems associated with knee pain.

Home Remedies To Treat Knee Pain

1 Ice Pack

One of the most common home remedies that anyone would suggest to alleviate pain is to use an ice pack. It will help in soothing the inflammation and will help in reducing the swelling of the knee.

• Wrap about three to four medium sized ice cubes in a towel and place it on the affected area of your knee for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Make sure that you do not apply ice on a particular spot for over 20 minutes as it could damage the skin.
• For better results, place a huge ice pack to surround your entire knee and place it there for 15 minutes. Repeat this process two times a day for a few days until the pain and swelling subsides.

2 Massage Therapy

Massage will help in soothing the pain and the aches around your knee area.

• Warm three to four tablespoons of olive oil and apply it smoothly in the knee area.
• Make sure that you gently massage the area for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Repeat this process two to three times a day to reduce knee pain.

3 Heat Therapy

Like the cold compress, heat or steam therapy will also help in alleviating knee pain.

• You can sit inside a steamy bathtub for about 10 to 15 minutes with your knees soaked inside the water. This will help in reducing knee pain considerably.
• You can also apply a hot water bag on the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes at least three to four times a day to reduce pain.

4 Knee In Elevated Position

It is always better for you to keep your knee in an elevated position to get rid of swelling and knee pain.

• Place your affected leg on a couple of pillow or sofa cushions in your home and keep your legs as elevated as possible. This will help in reducing inflammation and thereby pain.

5 Special Milk Preparation

Adding a special milk preparation to your daily diet for a month or two will help in strengthening your knee joints and will alleviate knee pain.

• Add 1 teaspoon crushed almond and walnut powder and a pinch of turmeric powder in 2 cups of milk.
• Mix this mixture well and boil the milk so that it is reduced to half its size.
• Drink this reduced milk once everyday to see visible results in a month.

6 Ginger

One of the most effective and oldest remedy for swelling and knee pain is ginger.

• Consuming ginger tea every day will help in reducing knee pain significantly.
• You can also massage the affected area with ginger oil regularly to reduce inflammation and knee pain.

7 Special Papaya Seeds Tea

• Boil papaya seeds in sufficient water for 6 to 8 minutes. Now add tea bag in the after and boil for another 2 minutes.
• Drain this tea and now mix it well with a teaspoon of honey and a pinch of black pepper powder.
• Drink this tea at least twice a day to get relief from knee pain.

8 Egg Yolk And Walnut Paste

One of the best home remedies to effectively treat joint pains due to injuries is egg yolks and walnut paste.

• Mix 2 tablespoons of castor oil and one tablespoon of fish oil in two egg yolks.
• Add 4 tablespoons of white turmeric powder to this egg yolk mixture and mix well to make a thick paste.
• Just heat this mixture in a pan for about 5 to 10 seconds.
• Apply this mixture quickly on the affected knee area with cotton and cover the area with gauze and leave it overnight.
• Wash it off next day in lukewarm water mixed with Epsom salt to feel a reduction in knee pain.

9 Special Oil Mixture

• Mix two tablespoons of olive oil, clove oil, carom seed oil and pumpkin seeds oil well and add two to three tablespoons of dry ginger powder to this mixture.
• Boil this mixture until the ginger powder turns black.
• Drain this mixture and apply this special oil on the affected knee and gently massage the oil for 10 minutes.
• Repeat this process twice a day and this will help in reducing knee swelling and knee pain.

10 Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Use of omega 3 rich oil on your knees will help in reducing pain.

• Apply generous amount of mixture of fish oil and olive oil to the affected knee and massage it gently for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Repeat this process twice a day.
• Better to leave it on the knees overnight.
• You will find effective results in a week or so.

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11 Foods To Eat

• Fresh fruits and vegetables must be added to your diet to help in reducing knee joint pains.
• Nuts and dry fruits will also help in reducing the pain on your knees.

12 Pineapple

• Include pineapple in your daily diet.
• It is better to take the pineapple in its solid form as it has properties to reduce the knee pain.

13 Wearing Right Shoes

There are a lot of people suffering from knee pains due to improper footwear and shoes.

• Make sure you do not wear more than one inch heel shoes or slippers to reduce stress on knees.
• Buy shoes that have good cushioning on the inner side of the sole.

14 Try Moving

• Best ways to prevent joint pain is to keep moving.
• You do not need to do rigorous exercise, but need to move from one place to another very hour to reduce knee joint pain.

15 Hot Shower

• It is ideal for you to take a hot or a warm shower at least three times a day to reduce knee pains.
• You can also think about staying inside a warm hot water tub for 15 minutes two days a week.

Do you feel pinching pain in your knees? Are you looking for easy ways to get rid of knee pains? If your answer is yes, then you need to follow any of the above mentioned home remedies to fight knee pain.

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Home Remedies For Low Blood Sugar

What Is Low Blood Sugar?

Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia is a condition which there will be an abnormally diminished amount of glucose in blood. In healthy people the fasting glucose level is more than 70 milligrams per deciliter. When the level of glucose falls below 70milligrams per deciliter a person gets the symptoms of low blood sugar. The important symptoms of low blood sugar are sweating, nervousness, weakness, extreme hunger, nausea, headache and dizziness, blurred vision, fast heartbeat etc.  It is necessary to restore the blood glucose level to normal by the ingestion or administration of carbohydrate foods. Low blood sugar results in inadequate supply of glucose to the brain. This can result in seizures, unconsciousness and permanent brain damage. It is necessary to understand the causes and treat the low blood sugar accordingly.  If the cause is not recognized, there are chances of recurrence of hypoglycemia. The important causes include physical activities, skipping or delaying the meal, insulin injections, and oral medications. Overdosing of insulin should be strictly avoided, especially during night time. There are many people who suffer from low blood sugar at night or nocturnal hypoglycemia. You can use various home remedies to control low blood sugar condition.

Home Remedies To Treat Low Blood Sugar

1.  Sugar
The primary treatment for low blood sugar is consuming sugar based carbohydrate. They get digested easily and enter the bloodstream quickly. This will help to bring the sugar content in blood to the normal level.
• Eat 15 grams of sugar when the warning signs of low blood sugar appear.
• Eating candies or raisins can also help to restore the blood sugar level quickly.
• Chocolates and cookies will take more time to digest and will not correct blood sugar as efficiently as sugar.
2. Honey
Honey contains natural sugar which is easily digested and absorbed into the blood. This will restore the normal blood sugar level.
• Consume 1 tablespoon of honey or jam when the symptoms start appearing.
3.  Dandelion Roots
Dandelion controls low blood sugar as it supports the working of pancreas and liver. The pancreas is the organ which produces insulin in your body.
• Consume dandelion roots in any form
4. Licorice Roots
Licorice root when consumes raises the blood sugar level without increasing the insulin production.
• Mix one teaspoon of licorice root powder and mix it with one glass of warm water
• Drink this mix twice daily to keep the sugar level normal.
5. Protein Rich Breakfast
It is better to include more protein than carbohydrate during breakfast.  Proteins are digested slowly and releases sugar slowly into the blood stream. This will help to maintain the blood sugar level.
• Avoid cereals, muffins and juices etc for breakfast.
• Consume egg, skimmed milk, cheese, avocados, chicken, beef, pulses, which are rich in proteins.
6. Eat Every Few Hours
Instead of having large meals three times a day, eat small quantities of food every few hours. This will help to keep the normal level of sugar in blood.
• Eat nuts, seeds or fruits as your snack.
7. Avoid Artificial Sugars
Most of the artificial sugars are chlorinated sugars which do not contain calories. Avoid Sorbitol, Aspartame high fructose corn syrup etc.
•  It is better to use sugar in lower quantity than using these artificial sweeteners, which reduces the blood sugar.
• You can replace the sugar with natural local honey for effective management of sugar levels.
8. Avoid Alcohol
Excessive alcohol consumption can disrupt the sugar balance of the body.
• Avoid consumption of alcohol if you are diabetic and are prone to hypoglycemia.
9. Cashew And Honey
Cashew and honey contains natural sugars which help to prevent low blood sugar.
• Mix 2 teaspoons of powdered cashew and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of water.
• Drink this mixture every night before going to bed.
• This will avoid nocturnal hypoglycemia or low blood sugar at night.
10.  Tomatoes
Tomatoes will help to keep the blood sugar at normal levels.
•  Eat 4-5 tomatoes every day, if you want to avoid low blood sugar.

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11.  Magnesium
Magnesium helps to maintain the blood sugar level. So, include more magnesium rich food in the diet.
• Eat more spinach, nuts, fish or avocados to increase your daily supply of magnesium.
12.  Moderate Exercise
Exercises are necessary to control the blood sugar level. Avoid strenuous physical activity.
• Walking for 20 minutes at moderate speed will be helpful to maintain normal blood sugar level.
13.  Avoid Caffeine Intake
Studies have found that caffeine interferes with glucose metabolism so, avoid caffeine intake to avoid lowering of blood sugar level.
• Restrict your coffee intake to just one cup a day.
• Avoid other caffeinated drinks.
14.  Restrict Refined Food
Refined food item such as white bread, pastas, noodles, polished rice, etc can cause imbalance of blood sugar level, which will make you to increase the dose of your insulin injection which will result in low blood sugar.
• Consume brown rice, whole wheat or whole grain breads which will release sugar slowly into the blood.
15.  Eat Healthy And Fibrous Food
• Consume foods that are rich in antioxidants, fibers, iron and vitamin B, if you want to control low blood sugar problems.
It is necessary to check your blood sugar regularly, if you are opting for home remedies to control low blood sugar level. If you feel that you are not able to control the blood sugar levels effectively and they are going for a roller coaster ride then, do not hesitate to consult a doctor.

Are you suffering from mild or moderate fluctuation of blood sugar level? Are you experiencing low blood sugar levels at night? Do you want to know some effective home remedies to control low blood sugar condition? Try any of the above given methods and find out the most suitable remedy for your body.  Each home remedy will affect each person in a different way. Only through trial and error, you will be able to decide which the most suitable one for your need is.

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Foods To Avoid With Thyroid Problems

The thyroid is a gland which is responsible for the production of thyroid hormones. These hormones are essential for the regulation of body metabolism. If the thyroid hormone levels are not in the normal range various signs and symptoms may occur. The thyroid gland uses the iodine from the diet to produce the thyroid hormones. Over activity of thyroid glands can result in excessive production of thyroid hormones. This is called as hyperthyroidism. If under activity of the thyroid gland occurs it can result in hypothyroidism.

Top 10 Foods To Avoid With Hyperthyroidism

The important causes of hyperthyroidism are Graves’ disease, Toxic nodules, excessive intake of iodine, and certain medications. The important symptoms of hyperthyroidism are anxiety, tremors, rapid heartbeat, sleep difficulties, weight loss, bulging eyes, scant or irregular period, enlargement of thyroid gland etc. If you have hyperthyroidism, it is necessary to avoid certain food items.
1. Iodine Rich Foods
Iodine increases the activity of the thyroid gland hence it is necessary to avoid foods containing iodine, if you are suffering from hyperthyroidism.
• You should avoid seaweeds, kelp and other sea foods which are rich in iodine.
• You should avoid taking iodized salt as this salt contains excess iodine in them.
2. Caffeine
It is necessary to avoid stimulants like coffee, sugar or other caffeinated or stimulating food and drink as they intensify the symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
• Replace caffeinated drinks with water or healthy fruit juices.
3. Whole Milk
Consumption of whole milk is not good for hyperthyroidism. So try to avoid whole milk.
• Consume skimmed milk which are healthy and easy to digest.
4. Enriched Flour
This flour contains fewer nutrients than the whole grains and is difficult to get digested. This is a high glycemic food and may disrupt your sugar and hormone level in the blood. Consuming foods with lower glycemic index can restore the healthy hormone levels in the body including thyroid hormone.
• Replace the enriched pasta, bread, snacks, cereals with 100 % whole grains like brown rice, barley, quinoa, air- popped popcorn, whole wheat breads etc.

5. Added Sugars
Added sugars like cane sugar, dextrose, high fructose corn syrup etc add calories and sweetness of the food and cause blood sugar spikes. These sugars have few nutritional benefits. Hear palpitation seen in people with hyperthyroidism can be controlled by improving the blood sugar levels.
• Avoid food and beverages like soft drinks, pancake syrups, Jam/jelly, cookies, cakes, pastries candy, fat-free frozen yoghurt etc.

6. Red Meat
Red meat has high levels of cholesterol or saturated fat. This can cause heart diseases and type 2 diabetes. Reducing red meat intake can reduce the symptom of hyperthyroidism. Red meat can cause inflammations in people.
• Include more lean proteins such as cold water fish such as salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel and beans and avoid red meat to reduce inflammation caused by hyperthyroidism.
• Avoid processed, fried, sauce –topped meats which have additional fat in them.
7. Avoid Allergic Foods
Graves’ disease is a cause for hyperthyroidism. This is an autoimmune disease and food allergies can trigger the symptoms of Graves’ disease. Hence it is necessary to avoid foods that are causing allergies to you. Find out which are the foods that trigger allergic reactions in you and avoid them.
• Allergies from food include lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, peanut allergies, wheat allergies, allergic reaction caused by food additives etc.
8. Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Hydrogenated vegetable oil is used in many commercially prepared food items. These are the sources of Trans fat and they damage the good cholesterol level and worsen the symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
• Avoid eating crackers, cookies, doughnuts, margarine, pie crusts, onion rings which are commercially prepared.
9. Dairy Products
Different type of foods affects people with hyperthyroidism in different ways. In some people hyperthyroidism causes lactose intolerance or the inability to digest milk or milk products.
• Avoid dairy products if you experience indigestion, bloating or fatigue after consuming milk, cheese, ice cream, yoghurt etc.
10. Alcohol
Alcohol can disrupt the energy level and worsen the sleep problems associated with hyperthyroidism. Taking alcohol increases the risk of osteoporosis in people with hyperthyroidism.
• Limit or avoid wine, beer, cocktails and other alcoholic beverages.

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Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is the disorder of the thyroid gland, wherein the thyroid gland is not able to secrete enough thyroid hormones. The main cause of this disease is the iodine deficiency in the body. Hypothyroidism is seen in people of all age groups. In children this can cause cretinism. As the thyroid gland plays an important role in regulating the body metabolism, the low levels of thyroid hormones can weaken the body. The major symptoms include gaining excessive weight, cold intolerance, goiter, depression, constipation, fatigue, female infertility, dry skin, puffy face and body, joint and muscle pain etc. A good healthy lifestyle with adequate nutrition can help to control the symptoms of hypothyroidism. It is important that you avoid the foods that may cause the symptoms to flare up.

Top 10 Foods To Avoid With Hypothyroid

The following are the foods that you need to avoid when you are suffering from hypothyroid disease.
1. Avoid Goitrogenic Foods
It would be ideal for you to stop cooking and eating goitrogenic foods to prevent hypothyroidism. Some of the most common goitrogenic foods are:
• Millets
• Mustard and mustard greens
• Cabbage and Cauliflower
• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Cassava root
• Radish
• Horseradish
• Canola Oil
• Bamboo shoots
2. Avoid Tobacco And Alcohol
If you are suffering from hypothyroidism, then it is very important for you to seek doctor’s advice on consuming alcohol.
• It is better to avoid smoking when you are suffering from hypothyroidism as it tends to decrease the production of thyroid hormones.
• Doctors also suggest that you should completely cut down or take in moderation caffeinated drinks and alcohol depending upon the amount of hypothyroidism.
3. Iodine Rich Foods
It would be ideal for you to avoid iodine rich foods when you suffer from hypothyroidism unless your doctor suggests you to go for iodine foods and supplements.
• Iodine foods and supplements must only be taken by you if you suffer from hypothyroidism due to lack of iodine in your body.
• This is a rare phenomenon as eating too much of the iodine will result in hypothyroidism.
4. Avoid Soy Foods And Products
Soy is a very popular food in the food market and soybean oil is used to make a lot of precooked and processed foods these days.
• It is ideal for you to avoid processed foods and premade foods prepared in soy oil as it has the tendency to affect the production of thyroid hormones in your body.
• It is also advisable for you to avoid chocolates and energy bars as it contains soy lecithin and will prevent production of thyroid hormones.
• Also do not include soy sauce in your daily food intake.
5. Gluten Foods
Gluten foods and products will tend to trigger autoimmune responses in sensitive people and hence will hinder in the production of thyroid hormones in the body.
• It is ideal for you to reduce the consumption or even stop consuming veggies like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts to reduce the impact of hypothyroidism in your body.
• It is better to avoid all the processed foods as it contains gluten in some form or the other.
• Some of the gluten rich foods like barley, wheat and rye also needs to be taken in moderation or should be avoided.
6. Artificial Sweeteners
• The artificial sweetener contains aspartame which can cause autoimmune disorders in people and hence should be avoided by hypothyroid patients.
• It is known to cause thyroid inflammation and will also start the production of thyroid autoantibody.
• It is better to completely avoid artificial sweeteners to increase the production of thyroid hormones in your body.
7. Avoid Starchy Foods
It is important for you to avoid foods that are rich in starches and refined sugars as they tend to increase your weight and will also prevent the production of thyroid hormones to some extent. You will not be able to lose weight even if you are doing some exercise routines.
• White bread
• Cakes and pastries
• Refined sugar
• Baked potatoes
• Chocolate
8. Other Important Foods To Avoid
The following list of foods is a sure no–no if you are suffering from hypothyroidism. These foods must be completely avoided so that you do not increase the hypothyroidism and also is best to prevent the recurrence of hypothyroidism symptoms.
• Peanuts
• Linseeds
• Mustard greens and mustard
• Coffee
• Kale
• Cassava
• Turnips
• Rutabagas
9. Avoid Junk Foods
It is better to avoid all junk and fully processed foods as they tend to easily add more weight in the human body and will also reduce the production of thyroid hormones. Some of the foods to avoid are:
• White flour foods like breads, buns and cakes
• Calorie rich foods like cheese, butter, ice creams and red meat
10. Fruits To Avoid
It is important for you to avoid certain fruits in our diet or take them in moderation, in order to improve the production of thyroid hormones in your body.
• Peaches
• Pears
• Strawberries

Are you worried about being overweight due to thyroid problems? Do you feel that you want to know about the foods that you need to avoid when you are suffering from hyper or hypothyroidism? Then, you need to just go through the above mentioned foods that you need to avoid to increase or decrease the production of thyroid hormones in your body.

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Spot Diabetes Symptoms Early and Prevent it

Diabetes is a disease that is slowly turning out to be an epidemic in India. One out of five people in India are affected by diabetes. It is one of the fastest growing disease in the world. One of the major contributors to the increase in the number of people suffering from diabetes is the unhealthy lifestyle practices that are followed these days. It is highly important for you to make sure that you are not on the path of catching Type 2 diabetes. The best way is to know what its early symptoms are, so that you can take the necessary measures and actions to reverse it.

Pre-diabetes is the general term used for early diabetes symptoms. In this medical condition, the blood sugar levels of a person do not reach the certain level where a patient can be said to be a victim of Type 2 diabetes. The most difficult part is that pre-diabetes does not show early symptoms and hence more often than not the disease engulfs a person undetected. It is only when the blood sugar levels reach alarming proportions that a person realizes that he has been affected by type 2 Diabetes. So, it is ideal for you to recognize the early symptoms of diabetes to prevent elevated risks that could even turn out to be fatal at times.

Early Diabetes Symptoms

The following are the early diabetes symptoms that you must know so that you can prevent yourself from being a victim of the deadly Type 2 diabetes disease.

• Feeling thirsty even after drinking lots of water.
• Body feels weak even after you have taken a sufficient amount of rest.
• Repeated urination with an increase in the frequency of urinating at night
• Gaining body weight despite doing rigorous exercises regularly.
• Feeling hungry within minutes after eating a hearty meal.
• Skin infections are taking a longer time to heal than normal.
• Blurring of vision at night.

Tests That Help In Early Diabetes Determination

If you have experienced one or two or even all of the above mentioned symptoms, then it is high time that you got yourself tested to see if you are suffering from early diabetes. This disease is normally a genetic one earlier. But, with the changes in the lifestyle and the sedentary habits practiced these days, even people who do not have a history of the disease are known to suffer from it. People who are obese, lead a sedentary lifestyle and who eat lots of sugary coated stuff are easily prone to diabetes.
There are basically two tests that you need to do to determine if your blood glucose levels are on the higher side than normal.

1. Fasting Plasma Glucose Test

You need to fast for about 8 to 10 hours for the FPG test. It would be ideal for you to give your blood sample to test in the early morning before having your breakfast. This test will determine how your body maintains glucose levels and interacts with it. If the fasting plasma glucose test shows that your blood glucose levels are between 100 to 125 ml/dl, then you are pre-diabetic or are suffering from early diabetes. This means that the diabetic symptoms have already started its work on your body. If the blood sugar levels are lower than 100 ml/dl, then you are safe from diabetes.

2. Oral Glucose Test

The lab technician will take your blood sample after two hours of having your breakfast or lunch in the oral glucose test. If the test results show that your blood sugar levels lies between 140 and 199 ml/dl, then you are pre-diabetic. If it is less than 140 ml/dl, then you are free from diabetes.
These tests will confirm whether you are suffering from pre-diabetes or not easily. There is nothing to worry about if your tests reveal that you are pre-diabetic. You can still be able to reverse the disease if you have strong will power, maintain a healthy lifestyle and adopt good eating habits that consist of high nutritional diet along with a workout regimen.

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How To Naturally Reverse Diabetes Symptoms?

There are many people who would suggest you to start taking medication to defeat pre-diabetes. Even though medications will help in bringing down your blood sugar levels to optimum levels, they are never a permanent solution. It is ideal for you to lose weight naturally so that you are able to permanently reverse the symptoms of early diabetes and lead a healthy life hereafter.

     a. Exercise Every Day

It is very important for you to exercise everyday if you are suffering from pre-diabetic symptoms. Exercising helps your muscles to be less dependent on insulin and this will help in maintaining your blood sugar levels within the normal limits easily. It is ideal for you to exercise at least 30 to 45 minutes a day all througheek to reverse your pre-diabetes symptoms.

     b. Keep A Tab On Carbohydrate Consumption

Simple carbohydrates have to be cut down as much as possible to reverse pre-diabetic symptoms. It has the tendency to break down fats and release energy that will be easily converted to fat.  You need to take in complex carbohydrates like multigrain bread, wheat bread, brown rice, brown pasta and sautéed or boiled potatoes. You must totally exclude white bread, candy, chocolates, pasta, tabar, rice, cookies and cakes from your diet.

      c. Drink Lots Of water

It is highly important for you to stay hydrated at all times to reverse pre-diabetic symptoms. Make sure that you drink 8 to 10 glasses of water every day to reml the toxins from your body through urination.

     d. Eat High Fiber Diet

Fiber is an essential ingredient that will not just help in bringing down your blood sugar levels but will also help in losing weight. Eating high fiber food along with an ample amount of water will make you feel full soon. Legumes, raw fruits and vegetables as well as-bich cereals must be added to your daily diet.

     e. Beat Stress

It is ideal for you to manage stress levels to reduce diabetic symptoms. Make sure you practice yoga, relaxation and also get enough sleep to distress your body and mind.

The above tips will help you to easily reverse pre-diabetic symptoms and you can follow these tips blindly as it does not cause any side effects at all. Make sure that you stick to a healthy diet coupled with a regular exercise routine to keep diabetes at bay.

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Floating Kidney – Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Floating kidney is a condition that is also termed as hypermobile kidney or the wandering kidney. The medical name of such a condition is nephroptosis. In such a condition the kidney is seen to drop downwards when a person stands up or is transiting from a lying down to an upright position. It is also known as the kidney prolapse condition. The kidney moving downward suggests that it is not fixed fully by the tissues that surround it. Such a condition is not uncommon and has been noted over a century by physicians in many cases.

Causes Of Floating kidney

The causes of floating kidney can be several:

•   Mostly young women who have thin and long waists are affected by such a condition.
•   It is not a condition that is brought on by congenital defect. If one receives a blow to the kidney or in an area above or below where the kidney is, they might suffer from a floating kidney condition
•   It is known that kidneys are supported by the perirenal fasciae which is a soft connective tissue. When such tissue is damaged or not present in abundance, it can lead to floating kidney. When one stands up in such a condition, the kidney then falls as low as the pelvic area

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Floating kidney Symptoms

While such a physiological condition occurs rarely in some people, symptoms may or may not be apparent. If symptoms are apparent, they are:

•   Distinct discomfort is felt and there is pain in the flank area
•   One may suffer from nausea, chills as well as have high blood pressure
•   If the kidney is displaced, it could cause the ureter to kink
•   That could result in pain during urinating

Diagnosis of such a condition is done in the following manner:

• A series of X-rays are taken in the supine or the standing position
• When the condition does not bring on any pain or discomfort, there is no diagnosis done or the need for treatment

Treatment For Floating kidney

When one suffers from the floating kidney condition but suffers no symptoms, then no treatment is required. If the ureter becomes kinked and causes pain along with nausea, vomiting and constipation, one could try the following home remedies:

•   Lying in bed and remaining warm
•   Warm bottles can be applied to the side abdomen area
•   A fattening diet should be given in order to increase the fat around the kidney which will provide adequate support to it
•   Often a specially designed belt with rubber padding is proposed to be worn around the area in order to provide support to the kidney and to provide relief from discomfort.

If home remedies do not work, a kind of kidney surgery is resorted to called the nephrophexy. This surgery is now conducted through laparoscopic techniques which make it a fast and less painful surgery. It helps to fix the kidney in place and thus, the painful symptoms usually disappear.

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Amazing Health Benefits Of Sugarcane Juice

When one lives in the tropical countries, they are aware of the long and humid summers that wrench the body of all moisture content. Not everyone is able to escape being under the blazing sun as they have to be outdoors for work. When one is exhausted and feeling dehydrated, they often lose out on their body fluids. In order to quench their thirst as well as replenish the essential moisture content of their body, sugarcane juice is one of the best rescues to opt for in the summer. Not only is the sugar cane juice rich in natural sweetness, it offers one a number of health benefits. There is no artificial sugar added and the natural sugar content in the juice gives one the instant energy that they need to feel revitalized and good to go. The unrefined form of sugar that it contains makes it good for all unlike the sugar or sweetened cold drinks and other bottled beverages. The benefits of this juice are several which are elaborated below.

History Of Sugarcane

The cultivation of sugar cane is an age old practice and it originated in New Guinea 10,000 years back. After that it started being cultivated in many countries and predominantly in India. The Moors picked up the trade secret of processing sugar from sugar cane from Indians. Sugar production thus started being done in Spain and other countries in Europe. Different countries started producing sugar in different forms, color and granules as well as in terms of molasses content. Today, with the focus coming back on natural and unrefined forms of sugar, sugarcane juice is being highlighted more than the processed sugar.

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Benefits Of Sugarcane Juice

Sugarcane is an important member of the grass family. It consists of sucrose and has several nutrients included in it which aids in maintaining good health. Many of the benefits are not known by people:

•   Sugarcane juice not only helps to add on healthy form of sugar in the bloodstream, it contains vitamins and minerals that can protect the system from flu, freezing and sore throat
• Sugarcane juice is one fruit juice that has a high level of natural sweetness. One does not have to add on additional sugar to it. Those who are diabetic can enjoy such a juice without worrying about the blood sugar complications
• When one is suffering from acute dehydration, it is recommended that one drinks this juice as it helps to boost the blood sugar levels as well as removes fatigue.
• Those who suffer from fever and have loss of protein from the system, they will find that consumption of sugarcane juice leads to supplementing the body with necessary protein. The body temperature is brought down and one can recuperate faster
• Those who suffer from jaundice are provided sugarcane juice to recuperate faster
• Digestion is assisted as well as constipation due to the high level of potassium content
• Wound healing properties are enhanced and so is the immune system with regular intake of sugarcane juice.

Thu, the juice of sugarcane has many beneficial properties to offer to the human system. if you know of more benefits, do share them here.

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Does Smoking Kill Brain Cells?

Smoking is a fad amongst teenagers but it often persists in them. Those who take up the act of smoking in their early teens are usually influenced by the peer groups. After sometime, they cannot give up the habit of smoking even if they want to. The endless cycle goes on and one becomes a smoker as a result. Today there are many adverse side effects on health that have been discovered to be brought on or aggravated by smoking. From lung cancer to other kinds of respiratory diseases, a compromised immune system to killing brain cells, there are no good aspects or side effects that can be attributed to smoking.

Direct Biological Evidence Found
As regards the question whether smoking kills brain cells, there has been direct biological evidence that has been discovered by scientists. That would certainly help to act as a greater incentive to stop people from smoking and urge them to discontinue such a habit. Anti-smoking groups are promoting the latest finding in a greater way so that people are discouraged to take up a smoke the next time.
Research Conducted
The research conducted comprised of three groups of rats who were given varying levels of nicotine:

• One group was given low levels of nicotine
• One group was given moderate amount of nicotine
• The third group was given high amount of nicotine
• The fourth group was not administered any nicotine

The rats were allowed to absorb the nicotine for an hour a day and it was continued for 42 days. They were killed after that and their brains dissected in order to understand the effects.
Findings
The findings were:

• The rodents which took on higher to medium doses of nicotine suffered a loss of 50% of their brain cells and the production of brain cells
• The rate of brain cell death was higher
• The non nicotine group did not show such rate of loss of brain cells or reduction in brain cell production
• There was a fall in a protein of the brain, PSA-NCAM that occurred in all rats which took in nicotine in different amounts

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The protein is known to play a vital role in the adaptability feature of the brain. It is related to the ability of the brain to learn as well as to memorize.

Implications
Such findings add onto the concerns that are already associated with health and nicotine abuse. The study throws light on the effects of the neural mechanisms of the brain due to the influence of tobacco or nicotine. Though there is no surprise regarding the inclusion of nasty chemicals in tobacco and the effects of it on the health of an individual, the current finding of the effect of the nicotine on the brain cells should certainly give food for thought to the students. There are myths that smoking helps one to concentrate and think. That is again dispelled by such research findings. It is imperative that such findings be given due to recognition by parents and youngsters themselves.

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