When someone says they are experiencing heartburn, it means exactly that. A burning sensation in the region of the heart that causes severe distress. Heartburn usually occurs after eating when the stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, which is the food tube that connects the mouth and the stomach. This is due to the improper functioning of the sphincter valve at the lower end of the pipe. This valve, which normally stays closed and only opens while eating, drinking, or belching, acts as a natural barrier for stomach acid. But if it doesn’t close properly, the stomach acid may then go back up and affect the wall lining of the esophagus, causing heartburn: 1. Heartburn and diet The symptoms of heartburn often occur as a consequence of eating. This is because food that enters the food tube and stomach has a direct bearing on the conditions that cause heartburn. Therefore, knowing what to eat will help in controlling the symptoms of heartburn. A proper diet to manage the symptoms would be one that first, reduces the reflux of stomach acid into the food pipe and second, that avoids irritating the esophageal mucosa or interfering with the esophageal sphincter. 2.

Food forms a major part of our life, and it is important to keep a watch of what we eat, especially if you have been diagnosed with a chronic mental disorder such as schizophrenia. Apart from the food being a critical factor for maintaining one’s health, it is all the more important for monitoring foods for schizophrenia patients since they need to sustain themselves against the risk of a variety of physical ailments. Moreover, there is solid scientific evidence that indicates how food plays a significant role in maintaining mental health in addition to physical health. Eating habits change drastically when one is having a schizophrenic episode, and it ends up with the wrong consumption of unhealthy foods. This is why eating the right food is important so that even the medication you take is effective. Here are some basic principles to keep in mind when it comes to maintaining a diet while suffering from schizophrenia: 1. Fresh produce Begin by adding in the right mix of fruits and vegetables to the diet. Scientists suggest that at least five portions of fresh fruits and veggies should be consumed on a daily basis to maintain the body’s balance. Having just one glass of fresh fruit juice or a serving of dry fruits go a long way in boosting a person’s health.

Asthma is a disorder that affects the respiratory tract. The airways get inflamed and breathing becomes difficult. The inflammation could be caused by one of many factors including allergens, smoke, pollution, diet, and genetics. With the prevalence of asthma increasing exponentially, more so in children, continuous effort is being made to identify all those triggers that can cause it. Apart from external factors, there is evidence to show that a child’s diet directly impacts and triggers asthma. What we eat or what we don’t can trigger, prevent, or improve symptoms of asthma. Poor nutrition during pregnancy resulting in low birth weight increases the risk of respiratory diseases like asthma, airway obstruction, and lung functioning. If the pregnant mother has been consuming foods that trigger allergies, the child too faces a risk of asthma and wheezing. Here are some tips to help manage asthma symptoms in children: 1. Breastfeeding and asthma development Breastfeeding is an important source of nourishment for the first six months for a child. It is largely responsible for a baby’s well-being. Studies have shown that breastfeeding reduces the risk of many chronic ailments including asthma. 2. Vitamin E Vitamin E deficiency also puts children at higher risk.

Purine in foods is converted into uric acid by the body, which accumulates and forms crystals if in excess, depositing in the joints and causing severe pain and inflammation in gout patients. Foods low in purine make healthy snacks for gout as they help alleviate the symptoms and prevent gout attacks. Here are four healthy gout-friendly recipes to snack on without the worry of increased uric acid levels in the body: 1. Orange walnut salad Ingredients (serves 6): 6 ripe oranges, peeled and thinly sliced 3 cups romaine lettuce, chopped coarsely 1 cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced 1/2 cup onion, thinly sliced 3 tbsp walnuts, chopped into little pieces 1 tbsp orange zest 1/2 cup orange juice 1/2 cup olive oil 2 cups low-fat cottage cheese, cut into small cubes 1 tbsp dried oregano 1 tbsp black pepper, crushed Salt to taste Instructions: Put the romaine lettuce in a large bowl. Add the oranges, cucumber slices, onions, walnuts, orange zest, and cottage cheese on top of it. Pour in the olive oil and orange juice. Add salt, dried oregano, and crushed black pepper. Mix everything lightly and serve this healthy snack for gout immediately. 2. Creamy mixed vegetable soup Ingredients (serves 6):

In today’s busy world, what is consumed and the consideration of how it affects the body is often sidelined. This is one of the main reasons for the increase in fast food or processed food consumption in recent years, and health ailments starting at a young age and without much warning. One of the major problems of such an unhealthy diet with high-cholesterol foods is a higher risk of heart attacks and heart diseases. The food we eat has too much sugar, fats, and salt, which is beyond the necessary amount or the recommended intake for the body. This gives the need to avoid a diet with high-cholesterol foods and start swearing by a more balanced one. There is both good and bad cholesterol present in the body. LDL cholesterol refers to bad cholesterol, which increases in the case of high-cholesterol health issues, leading to a person facing a higher risk of heart ailments. When you stick to a balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, and any good fat foods, the blood pressure is stabilized, preventing clogging of the arteries. It also boosts immunity and overall health. While it is easy to find a list of foods that you should add to your diet, it is actually the high-cholesterol foods that you need to be aware of in order to keep them out.