Have you ever wondered if there is a link between depression and diet ? Strange as it may sound, there is a strong connection between the two. Studies show that people following inferior-quality diets loaded with chocolates, processed meats, fried stuff, and refined cereals tend to have higher rates of depression. Alternatively, people eating more fruits and vegetables and fish were seen to have fewer symptoms of depression. It is proved that a balanced diet helps to protect the body against all kinds of diseases. For instance, those who follow a Mediterranean diet focusing on the consumption of fish, vegetables, and fruits, with less dairy and meat products, have significantly low rates of depression and fewer chances of developing diabetes, heart problems, or Alzheimer’s. What is the relation between depression and diet? The human brain is always on, taking care of movements and thoughts, heartbeat and respiration, and all your senses. The working 24×7 brain needs constant fuel supply. This fuel is derived from the food humans eat. So, the foods you consume will inevitably have a strong effect on how you feel and how your brain works. Like any costly car that demands premium quality fuel to run, the human brain will guarantee the best performance only when you give it high-quality food.

Some of the common COPD symptoms are frequent coughing, shortness of breath, and overall lethargy. You may not have the luxury of planning proper nutritious meals for yourself, particularly because cooking usually involves steamy and smoky conditions. Moreover, because of the efforts that you have to make to breathe, you end up burning a lot more calories as compared to what an average human will burn during inhalations and exhalations. So, your calorie demands are going to be greater. This is why you need to snack often to keep energy levels up throughout the day, and finding out the  best snacks for COPD  can be a wise thing to do. Following are some healthy snacks that you can prepare at home: Hard-boiled eggs  can be your go-to snacks at any time of the day because they are super easy to make and easier to nibble. They are rich in proteins and help to strengthen your muscles; this is imperative since you have to get enough strength in your respiratory muscles to cope with the condition. Greek yogurt  offer you twice the amount of proteins compared to regular yogurts. It also provides “good bacteria” that aids in digestion, and this makes it a better choice for COPD patients.

A mild headache differs from a migraine headache. It will last for longer periods, and the physical effects can be intense. Not only is the pain amplified in migraines, but there may also be many debilitating symptoms. Studies on migraine pain management have suggested that  dietary changes can trigger or help manage migraines. If you can know about the  dietary changes that can trigger or help manage migraines  in your everyday life, you can get an idea of the foods to eat and avoid. Migraines cause inflammatory changes inside the brain’s nerve cells, and this causes pain. Maintaining a food diary to record everything you drink or eat during the day and whether you are getting migraines afterward can help you understand the food triggers. Your doctor can isolate those specific foods that may be triggering the headaches. Foods that trigger migraines Foods containing a high amount of sodium, foods with additives like MSG or monosodium glutamate, and artificial sweeteners like aspartame are triggers. Aged cheese can be a trigger since almost 18% of people suffering from migraines have been found to be sensitive to it. The reason behind this may be high tyramine that is produced when the bacteria break the amino acid tyrosine down in the course of aging.

Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS affects millions of people all over the world and makes them suffer from abdominal issues like bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and cramps. When you have been diagnosed with IBS, you will find that some foods can worsen symptoms. You need to be aware of these common dietary mistakes when suffering from IBS. Such triggers may be different for different people, and you cannot have one checklist of foods to avoid in IBS. If you can identify and prevent these common dietary mistakes when suffering from IBS, you can ensure that cramps are fewer, bloating is regulated, and bowel movements are improved. Following are the dietary mistakes that an IBS patient should completely avoid: Insoluble fiber Fiber will add healthy bulk to a diet, and you can get your daily dose of fibers from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. But insoluble fiber can worsen diarrhea in people suffering from IBS. So, choose foods with soluble fiber like root vegetables such as carrots, grains like oatmeal or barley, fruits like mangoes and berries, grapefruits and oranges, and legumes such as peas. Gluten Gluten intake may worsen IBS condition and grains like wheat, rye, and barley contain gluten. Some people are even allergic to this protein, and the condition is called celiac disease.

Ulcerative colitis or UC refers to a chronic ailment that leads to inflammation of the colon or large intestine and rectum and causes sores or ulcers in the inner intestinal linings. UC is believed to be an auto-immune disease in which the human body starts to attack itself. While there is no particular diet that can help if you have been diagnosed with UC, knowing the best foods to manage ulcerative colitis better can help. Best foods to manage ulcerative colitis You can keep a food diary to record everything that you drink or eat during the day and see how these make you feel afterward. This may be a time-consuming affair, but it will help you tweak your diet better as you will easily identify the best foods to manage ulcerative colitis. Any well-balanced diet is enough to provide you with the proteins and carbs you need. You have to stay away from carbonated drinks, alcohol, dairy foods in case you are lactose-intolerant, caffeine, high-fiber foods, dried beans, sulfur-rich foods, popcorn, raw veggies, and spicy foods if you have UC. Salmon This contains omega-3 fatty acids that reduce inflammation when you have a flare-up and helps in remission. Other useful sources of omega-3 fatty acids are mackerel, sardines, flaxseed oil, walnuts, ground flaxseeds, etc.

If you’ve recently started the keto diet, snacks have become more focused on healthy fats versus carbohydrates. You can make your snacks keto-friendly by first updating your knowledge of which snacks have healthy fats and which don’t. Next, start picking healthier options based on those high in healthy Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and lean proteins, yet low in carbohydrates and refined sugars. Here are some snacks that are keto-friendly with all the right fats: Mixed nuts Nuts have healthy fats and high nutritional value. They can help reduce the risk of heart diseases and cancer. They’re filling and help you lose weight as they have the right combination of healthy fats, protein, and fiber. They contain about 180 calories per ounce on average. Greek yogurt with mixed berries Plain yogurt and berries make a nutritious and delicious snack. This combination is filled with calcium, potassium, protein, and antioxidants. You can choose a set of your favorite type of berry to add to this yogurt or use an array of them to attain multiple benefits. Combining 3.5 ounces of yogurt with half a cup of berries amounts up to 150 calories. Cottage cheese with cinnamon and flax seeds All of these ingredients have impressive health benefits, and when combined, can be extremely healthy.

People love to snack, especially kids. Snacks are there for you when you’re upset, bored, idle, happy, and every other reason that calls for hogging on something small and yummy. Kids love snacks purely for the joy of their taste buds. It’s imperative to keep the unhealthiness of snacking to a minimum and ensure that the child is supplied with healthy snacks even if it is store-bought. Here are some healthy store-bought snacks for kids. Icelandic provisions Krimi Chocolate Coconut Skyr This is a yogurt that can replace a pudding snack or candy bar and is filled with protein and lacking in sugar. It only accounts for 170 calories per serving and costs about $2. It can be bought from target. Blue Diamond Almonds, Fruit Sweet Cardamom Almonds, And Honeycrisp Apples These delicious, sweet, and crunchy snacks are perfect for keeping your body healthy and munch on something yummy. These snacks serve about 150 calories per serving and cost about $5.75 on amazon. Well Yes! Cauliflower and Roasted Potato Sipping Soup The cauliflower and roasted potato soup from “Well Yes!” is loaded with vegetables and all things healthy. It is warm, savory and good to go in two minutes! It contains about 110 calories per serving and costs about $2.75 per pack.

Because you have diabetes does not mean that you have to sacrifice munching on tasty snacks. While lifestyle changes might include taking daily medications or joining a Novavax clinical trial, incorporating healthy and nutritious snacks do not necessarily mean mundane and bland foods. According to the American Diabetes Association, the fact that diabetics must only follow restrictive diets is a myth. They can have snacks just like any other person, except that the snacks should be foods that have low sugar, fat, and salt content. Here are some of the best-known natural foods that make great snacks for diabetics. Water  Although many don’t think of water as a snack, per say, this beverage contains zero carbohydrates or calories. Also, dehydration is a major risk factor for diabetes mellitus patients, so sipping still or sparkling water throughout the day is imperative to prevent low fluid levels when blood glucose levels are high. The Diabetes Association notes that drinking water helps to control blood glucose levels by helping the kidneys excrete any excess sugars via urine. Beef sticks These are diabetes-friendly, easy to carry around, and very convenient snacks. These are rich in proteins but low in carbohydrate content. Being rich in protein beef sticks can help to keep blood sugar levels in check.

Did you know that there can be eating disorders linked to schizophrenia? This may seem impossible to you at first glance because there seems to be no visible connection between this psychological condition and an eating disorder. But clinicians have found out that patients who have schizophrenia also have disturbances in their eating behaviors. According to many researchers, eating disorders linked to schizophrenia may range from night eating syndrome to anorexia. It is common for patients to have experienced a period of fasting or being obsessed with bodyweight issues before having a psychotic episode. Many researchers feel that a difference between patients with eating disorders and with schizophrenia and those having eating disorders without schizophrenia is that the latter offers smokescreen reasons to justify their behaviors. For those with schizophrenia, along with eating problems, the result can be very demoralizing and distressing. What are some of the critical eating disorders linked to schizophrenia? The truth is that eating problems in patients having schizophrenia have been largely overlooked and underappreciated. Even when these have been detected, it is felt that the eating disorder will automatically go away when the psychosis comes down. Below are some of the most common eating disorders noticeable in people with schizophrenia:

Gout is painful arthritis; it is triggered when there is an excess accumulation of uric acid leading to crystal formations in the joints. The body will release uric acid when it breaks down purines, a certain substance present in many foods. So, if you wish to know what not to eat when suffering from gout, you have to consume foods that will not increase your purine intake. How diet affects gout Almost 50% of gout cases will affect the big toes, while others will affect the patient’s fingers, heels, and knees. Gout attacks and symptoms will occur whenever there is too much uric acid. Uric acid is nothing but a waste product made by your body after digesting foods. If uric acid levels become too high, it starts to build up in the joints, and this may trigger inflammation, swelling, and intense joint pains. Gout attacks will usually happen at night and may last up to 10 days. People with gout have worsening symptoms when they are not careful about what they eat. For instance, foods rich in purines will trigger gout attacks, but it will not affect healthy people who can remove uric acid efficiently from their bodies. What you eat will affect your body’s uric acid production, which is why it is necessary to cut down on foods containing purine.