Arthritis is a disease concerning one or several joints in the body that produces unbearable pain and inflammation. It is typically caused by wear and tear and is treated with pain medication.

 

Though there is no sure shot diet that will alleviate the pain of arthritis, yet according to researchers, there are anti-inflammatory foods that patients of arthritis can benefit by. These are:

Foods that fight arthritis:

Omega-3 fatty acids: Omega-3 fatty acids are known to reduce the inflammation related to arthritis. COX-2 enzymes causing inflammation of the joints tend to be less active when you’re on a diet of Omega-3 fatty acids. They can be found in meat, snacks, corn and sunflower oil, and in salmon, tuna, mackerel, trout and sardines, walnuts and flaxseeds.

Broccoli: Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, bokchoy and kale prevent further arthritis development.

Vitamin D: Those who kept out in the sun or took Vitamin D tablets benefitted by having lesser arthritic pain. The progression of arthritis too slows down immensely when you take Vitamin D tablets. Vitamin D is found in oily fish, bread, dairy products, etc.

Olive oil: Those suffering with arthritis should get on to a Mediterranean diet, which includes olive oil. It helps reduce the stiffness and pain associated with arthritis. Add olive oil, lemon juice and vinegar to your salad, and add herbs if you like too.

These are foods that aggravate arthritis, hence should be avoided:

Fried foods: Foods rich in fats like French fries, donuts, fried chicken and fish should not be eaten by arthritis patients. If one overeats these foods, body fat increases and this puts strain on the joints and increases the chances of wear and tear. Since body fat produces chemicals and hormones, it is responsible for heightened inflammation levels. To prevent arthritis from worsening, grill, bake, steam or roast your food.

Sugars &refined carbs: Refined carbohydrates can be seen in foods with white flour. So, white bread, cakes, rolls and biscuits contain them. Refined carbs cause inflammation in the joints and increase levels of cytokines and other inflammatory substances that worsen arthritis. Foods rich in refined carbs should be swapped for their whole grain counterparts such as whole wheat grain, bread, pasta, and wild and brown rice.

Dairy Products: Dairy products contain certain proteins that aggravate the affected arthritis joints. For relief from arthritis, sufferers are known to switch to a vegan lifestyle, where protein from dairy products is absent. They get this protein from green leafy vegetables.

Depression is a commonly experienced feeling. People feel depressed when they lose someone very close to them or very precious, or when their self-esteem takes a big hit. There are many situations in life to which people crumble and end up feeling depressed over prolonged periods. It could also be due to hypothyroidism or anemia.

It is said that 20 million people in the United States suffer from depression. Though most sufferers of depression do not seek medical help, the first step for patients with depression is to speak to their doctor because if left untreated, depression can become chronic. If patients do not want medical help, they can take recourse to any of these natural remedies:

Natural remedies to cure depression:

                                        

St. John’s Wort: This herb helps as a mood upper for nervousness, sadness, anxiety and insufficient sleep. According to research, St. John’s Wort is a good remedy for mild depression. It is available in the form of tablets, capsules, tea or extracts. For best results, patients should take it for about five weeks. They could experience side-effects such as exhaustion, indigestion, dry mouth and dizziness.

 

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: These fatty acids stimulate brain function and since our bodies do not manufacture it, we need to add it to our diet. There is definite research that points to a low intake of Omega-3 fatty acids and depression. By eating a diet of Omega-3 fatty acids foods such as salmon, cod, herring, tuna, sardines or anchovies, you can find relief from depression. Take them in the form of capsules, or as cod liver oil capsules. However, take care not to take it two weeks before and after a surgery.

SAM-e: SAM-e or S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine is a naturally occurring chemical in the human body that enhances levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, serotonin and dopamine. It should be taken according to your doctor’s instructions.

Meditation: Meditation helps to quiet the confusion and hurt in the mind and replace it with serenity.

Yoga: There are several effective yoga exercises to fight depression and regain one’s mental control and freedom.

Eat magnesium-rich foods: Foods rich in magnesium can help to improve your moods and add a dash of health to your daily food. Eat pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds and cashew nuts and almonds, apart from legumes and beans, dark leafy veggies to increase your magnesium intake.

Reflexology: In this therapy, a professional applies pressure to certain points on the feet and hands. By manipulating the nerves at these points, the healing process is expedited and the patient experiences relief.

On reaching menopause, a woman is vulnerable to face many health  issues mainly because of the estrogen hormone reducing. However, the risk of many of those health issues can be avoided by consuming a healthy and balanced diet full of essential nutrients. Before discussing about the necessary diet for women after menopause, let’s first take a look at the various health issues that women are prone to after menopause.

Mental health: estrogen is one of the necessary hormones that govern the mental health of a woman. Because of the certain properties of this hormone it protects against memory loss and aids in proper brain functioning. It stimulates production of neurotransmitters and also eliminates the production of free oxygen radicals that cause Alzheimer. When a woman reaches her menopause stage, she becomes more prone to get Alzheimer because of the decline in estrogen production.

Bone Density: because of the lack of estrogen after menopause, a woman becomes more susceptible to osteoporosis, as she tends to lose bone density. Her bones become fragile and get easily fractured. Estrogen is responsible for the resorption of calcium in the bones and also maintains the levels of vitamin D, which is again an important nutrient in maintaining strong bones.

Heart health: Estrogen again is responsible for maintaining a healthy heart. This particular hormone can maintain cholesterol levels, smoothen blood vessels for a normal blood flow and reduce free radicals that affect the arteries. A menopausal woman is at a higher risk of heart ailments due to a fall in estrogen levels.

Diet essential for menopausal woman

Now that we know the various problems that a menopausal woman can face, we also must know that eating a healthy and nutritious diet can help menopausal women avoid many of those problems. Here we have a list of certain foods rich in nutrients that should be included in the diet of a woman after menopause.

 

Fats: unsaturated fats reduce the risk of heart diseases and diabetes and should be therefore consumed in the daily diet of a woman after menopause. These include skimmed milk, nuts, olive oil, peanut butter, avocados etc. While eating these sources of unsaturated fats is necessary, avoiding those with saturated fats is also necessary for a menopausal woman.

Carbohydrates: carbohydrates are one of the essential macro-nutrients that supply the body with energy. Wholegrain cereals like oats, rice, barley and cornmeal, starchy vegetables like potatoes, yams, green peas, brown bread and wholemeal pasta are rich sources of carbohydrates that should be included in the diet of a menopausal woman.

Protein: meat products, eggs, nuts, beans and lentils, yogurt, cottage cheese and soy milk are some of the protein rich sources that should be included in the diet of a woman after menopause. Proteins tend to increase the immunity and save from various illnesses and infections.

Calcium: this is yet another important mineral nutrient that the body of woman approaching menopause lacks. Dairy products like, cheese, yogurt, milk, green leafy vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, soya beans and tofu are some of the rich sources of calcium. In order to prevent disease like osteoporosis and maintain a good bone health even in old ages, calcium rich foods should be incorporated in the diet of a menopausal women.

Many of us enjoy eating different kinds of nuts as a snack food along with something to drink. Their salty, creamy and savoury taste and texture also makes them a popular ingredient in a host of dishes. While many people are fond of nuts, there are some who are afraid of their high caloric and fat content and therefore avoid them as much as possible. However, according to researches and various studies, incorporating nuts in your daily diet, especially that of women, have plenty of health benefits.

The primary women’s health issue is being overweight or obese, which is the main cause of many diseases with a risk to life. Nuts like almonds, walnuts, cashews and others were found to be beneficial in weight loss, according to a study. But weight is not the only women’s health issue that could be resolved with consuming a particular quantity of nuts. There is a galore of health benefits associated with nut consumption including:

 

Stress Reduction: including nuts in your daily diet can help in reducing stress in your body.  The good nutrients present in nuts like alpha-linolenic acid of walnuts, and a collection of vitamins including vitamin E and vitamin B along with magnesium in almonds and cashews can protect your body against the harmful effects of stress and also help to boost your immune system.

Heart Health: almonds, hazel nuts, peanuts, walnuts and cashews are a few nuts that can help in reducing LDL cholesterol that causes major heart issues.  They also include monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat and fiber, which are heart healthy. These nuts also contain arginine and amino acid that are converted to nitric acid for relaxing the blood vessels.

Lung Cancer: pistachios are rich in gamma-tocopherol, a type of vitamin E that helps in providing lung cancer protection. Therefore this particular nut is a must have in a women’s diet plan.

Cholesterol: nuts, especially walnuts are good for keeping away the bad cholesterol or LDL out of your body. A higher level of LDL can cause cardiovascular ailments, stroke and abdominal and stomach pains. Other than walnuts, almond and pistachios are also found to lower the bad cholesterol and increase the good cholesterol or HDL in your body. Many nutritionists recommend including these beneficial nuts in your diet to lessen the risk of heart disease.

Pancreatic Cancer: the consumption of nuts like brazil nuts, cashews, pecans and other popular variety of nuts lower the risk of diabetes mellitus, which is one of the causes of pancreatic cancer in women. Therefore incorporating nuts in your daily diet can save you from this disease.

Brain Health: most nuts like almonds, peanuts, walnuts, pistachios, cashew nuts and different others are great for maintaining good brain health. They consist of vitamin E, which is good for having a sharp memory. As you age you are more at a risk of cognitive decline. Peanuts that are rich in folates and brain boosting fats can prevent this risk.

Diseases like heart disease, breast cancer, and osteoporosis are some of the most common illnesses that a woman suffers today. These hazardous diseases along with many others can however be altered by changing your sedentary lifestyle and adopting a more healthier routine. Regular exercise along with a nutritious diet for women is very important for maintaining health and getting rid of various diseases, even those that have a risk of life. In this article, we will be discussing a few essential nutrients required by every woman to stay strong and fit throughout her life.

When you consume the recommended servings of the major food groups that contain essential nutrients, your body becomes strong enough to literally combat almost every disease that can interfere with your daily life. Here we have a list of six of those essential nutrients, incorporating them in your daily diet can do wonders for you by helping you maintain a proper metabolic function, hormone balance and bone strength.

Magnesium: this mineral is required in about 300 enzyme and metabolic reactions in the body of a woman. It’s deficiency can cause headaches, irritability, weakness, irregular heartbeat, constipation, and insomnia. Magnesium is required in your body to keep nerves and muscles functioning normally. It also helps in keeping up with a healthy immune and metabolic system. Green leafy vegetables, seaweed, avocado, nuts, chocolate, beans, brown rice and millets contain magnesium and should be included in a women’s diet.

Calcium: If you want to manage your bone health and prevent diseases like osteoporosis, you must include calcium rich foods in your diet. Besides maintaining the health of your bones and teeth, this mineral is also required for nerve transmission, intracellular signalling, and hormonal secretion. Dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt etc. and non dairy products like sea vegetables, cabbage, kale and broccoli as well as juices and cereals must be included in your diet.

Iron: this mineral is essential for the body as it enhances the hemoglobin protein that is required to carry oxygen in the blood. A deficiency of iron causes fatigue, weakness, less immunity, anemia and a lesser amount of hemoglobin.  Iron rich food sources include red meats, fish and plant food sources like lentils, beans, molasses, dried apricots, and raisins.

Zinc: this is an essential mineral known to boost the immune system in your body by increasing the white blood cell count.  It is also required for the functioning of many enzymes, regulating hormones, the tissue healing process and also increases the fertility of a woman. Oyster and pumpkin seeds, beans, nuts, whole grains and various meat products are rich sources of zinc and therefore necessary to be included in your diet.

Iodine: iodine is an essential mineral known to prevent and also treat many thyroid problems such as thyroid gland enlargement, which in turn can lead to breast cancer. The deficiency of this mineral can effect the metabolism, nerve and muscle functions, nails, skin, hair, teeth, and has profound effects on mental and physical growth of the body. Therefore iodine rich foods including seafood and sea weeds should be included in your diet.

 

Women’s health and Essential Minerals for Hormone Balance

A healthy and nutritious diet plays an important role in sustaining the health of both men and women equally. When it comes to women’s health, the deficiency of certain essential nutrients can create a hormonal imbalance that dramatically affects her overall health. The common symptoms of a hormonal imbalance include PMS, menopause, fatigue, weight gain, hot flashes, thyroid imbalance, infertility, and various others. Medical studies show that all these symptoms appeared in the body of a woman due to deficiency of some or one of the mineral deficiencies in her food consumption. This is why, a nutrient rich diet is often recommended whenever any hormonal imbalance is noticed. Here we shall be discussing five of the most essential minerals that are required in a woman’s body to keep up with hormonal balance.

• Calcium: this essential mineral is commonly associated with the bones and teeth of our body. It is quite true as around 95% of calcium is needed to maintain our bone health as well as strong teeth. Women over the age of 50 commonly suffer from osteoporosis which is caused by calcium deficiency and thus millions of them report of fractures annually. The disease is further aggravated by hormonal imbalance (estrogen) in menopausal women. This hormonal imbalance due to calcium deficiency can also cause lower immunity, nerve signalling and cellular health.
• Magnesium: like calcium, magnesium is also required for optimal bone health in a woman’s body. This mineral also helps in various other processes in our body such as making new proteins, muscle activation, nerve communication and also hormonal development. This mineral helps in production of energy and also helps pregnant woman delay preterm birth. The symptoms of hormonal imbalancing like PMS, migraine headaches and muscular cramping and spasm can also be avoided with magnesium.
• Iron: anemia is a very common women’s health problem that is seen in many menstruating woman. This is mainly due to the deficiency of iron in the blood. Iron boosts the hemoglobin of red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the blood stream, therefore its deficiency causes anemia especially in menstruating women as they lose blood during their menstruation cycle. Fatigue, weakness in body, cold hands and feet, rapid heartbeat, and headaches is some of the most common symptoms of anemia. While iron is required for menstruating women, excess of iron can cause problems in women after menopause as large amounts of this mineral can cause hormonal imbalance and lead to a number of problems.
• Zinc: poor dietary habits, hormonal replacement therapies, birth control medications can all lead to a massive deficiency of zinc. Lower levels of this mineral can cause an increased activity of the estrogen hormone in which a woman can suffer with infertility, PMS, and also an increase in the aging process. Zinc deficiency also makes it harder to tolerate stress.
• Selenium: known for its antioxidant properties, selenium is an essential mineral required in a woman’s body for protection against plenty of chronic ailments like heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune conditions. It also regulates the activity of thyroid hormone, estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteotropic hormone.