Advantages and disadvantages of a keto diet With Instagram trending with keto hashtags and many restaurants coming up with keto menus, it can be said that the keto diet has taken the world by storm. But what is the weight loss strategy with this diet? A ketogenic or keto diet is a form of diet that lets one load up on the fat, and skimp on the carbohydrates to enable weight loss. Though it sounds quite contrary to the more familiar diet plans that place fats on strict restriction, it is similar to the Atkins diet, which also focuses on cutting down on carbs and choosing a high intake of fats and proteins for energy. The weight loss idea behind the keto diet is that when the body doesn’t have enough glucose (from carbohydrates) for energy, it starts converting fats into small molecules called ketones to provide energy. This process, called ketosis takes place in the liver, and burns the fat in the body, enabling weight loss. A rough calculation for a keto diet would be having 5% intake from carbohydrates, 15% to 25% from protein, and the rest from fat. Some of the most commonly recommended foods that can be included in the keto diet are eggs, fish, meat, poultry, cheese, butter, berries, nuts, and chocolate.

6 foods and drinks for maintaining liver health Your liver carries out several bodily functions, which means a healthy liver is an integral part of maintaining your overall health. It detoxifies your body, produces glucose, and even breaks down carbohydrates. Most importantly, it stores nutrients and creates bile, which aids the digestion and absorption of the food you intake. Abnormal functioning of your liver can lead to several issues like metabolic disorder and can also increase your risk of suffering from type 2 diabetes. Managing all the risks posed to your liver may not be possible, but you can take several measures to promote good liver health. One of the best ways to do this to eat certain foods and drinks that render benefits to the organ: Garlic : Garlic is revered for the several benefits that it carries for your heart health. You may have not known it, but this food also has stimulating effects on the liver. Some studies say that regular garlic consumption may help you with reduction in weight and fat. This is especially beneficial as being overweight can trigger Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease or NAFLD due to a buildup of fat in your liver. Green tea :

Include these seeds and herbs in your diet to combat lymphoma Antioxidants are molecules in the body that fight free radicals present in the human system. Free radicals are compounds that can cause harm if their levels become too high in your body. They are one of the causes of cancer. The human body has its antioxidant defense to keep free radicals in control. However, antioxidants are also found in food, especially in fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based whole foods. Vitamins E and C are effective antioxidants. The body also needs free radicals to fight infections. There should be a certain balance of free radicals and antioxidants. When free radicals outnumber antioxidants it is called a state of oxidative stress. Continued oxidative stress can damage your DNA and other molecules, and can even lead to cell death. Damage to DNA increases your risk of cancer. There are numerous benefits of including seeds in your diet. As they are high in antioxidants, they help fight against lymphoma. Some of the highly beneficial seeds that should be included in one’s diet to fight lymphoma are: Sunflower seeds A quarter cup of sunflower seeds provides you with ninety percent of your RDI of Vitamin E.

Fiber-packed foods that help your gut fight melanoma Melanoma is the most aggressive and dangerous type of skin cancer diagnosed that accounts for about 1% of all skin cancers. According to new statistics by the American Cancer Society, about 96,480 cases will be diagnosed for 2019. The rates of melanoma have been on the rise for the last 30 years now, according to the report. It is a type of skin cancer where melanin, i.e., the cells that give color to the skin, start becoming cancerous. The symptoms for this illness include a new, unusual growth or change in an existing mole, and they may appear anywhere on the body. The treatment for this type of cancer involves surgery, radiation, or, in some cases, even chemotherapy, along with medications. For most illnesses, diet is an important factor in treatment and recovery. Some studies suggest that a high-fiber diet could be helpful in the treatment of melanoma. The American Association for Cancer Research presented their findings earlier this year, which suggested that patients who are being treated with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy responded well to a high-fiber diet that was associated with a higher gut microbiome diversity. The research is still new, and needs a bigger sample size, of course, but a healthy diet nonetheless is never a bad idea!

5 remedies that get rid of fleas naturally Summers are great for outings, adventure and exploring. Not just for us, but even for our pets! They love to be outdoors, running around in the gardens, or playing with water, and basically coming in close contact with all the natural parasites as well! It is almost fall, and flea season is just around the corner. While fleas are active through the warm season, this change of weather, moisture all adds to the infestation of these blood-sucking parasites. It is only advisable then to be careful of what’s coming, and try some remedies to prevent, cure, and alienate fleas that will be troublesome for your furry best friend! What are some of the remedies that have proved to be working well on our pets? Let’s find out. Apple Cider Vinegar An easy and hassle-free method to keep your dog from catching fleas would be to feed them apple cider vinegar. For every 40 pounds of your dog’s weight, add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to their water bowl. Repeat this process every time you change their water bowl. This remedy deters the fleas, and apple cider is also great for your pet’s coat.

Top probiotic foods for a healthy gut. Most of us have heard of bacteria in the wrong limelight, but it must be noted that some bacteria are, in fact, good for our health. Ever heard of probiotics? Thanks to their incredible health benefits, probiotics have been recently gaining a lot of popularity. Being a friendly kind of bacteria, probiotics work toward keeping your gut healthy and well functioning. Apart from keeping your gut happy, these friendly bacteria have numerous health benefits, like weight loss, enhanced immune function, better-looking skin, and a reduced risk of contracting many diseases. Where to get these probiotics from? Even in the category of probiotics, there are many types. Forget taking supplements or pills, you can actually consume food that has a concentrated content of various probiotics. This makes these bacteria accessible and easy to consume, making it even more attractive to our diet. Yogurt Made from lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria, fermented milk is commonly known as yogurt and is great for digestion and the treatment of diarrhea. You can make yogurt at home, but for any fermentation process, one of the main ingredients to have is an active culture. To make your own, all you need is a tablespoon of yogurt with active culture—also called a yogurt starter—and some milk.

Ways to manage psoriatic arthritis with lifestyle changes When the body’s immune system turns against itself leading to inflammation of the joints, it causes an auto-immune disease known as psoriatic arthritis. As per research, 30% people with psoriasis eventually develop psoriatic arthritis. Though the exact cause is not known, it is believed that the reason for this condition is a combination of a person’s genetics and environmental factors. Psoriatic arthritis is said to be chronic and progressive but medications and lifestyle changes have helped manage it to a great extent. Exercise – Low-impact exercise and activities that would not damage the joints are recommended. The best choices would be swimming and walking. Consume a heart-healthy diet – The inflammation can damage blood vessels and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. To reduce this risk, stay away from saturated fat, red meat and, refined products and eat more fresh fruits, veggies, and whole grain. Avoid smoking – A recent study shows that most psoriatic arthritis patients who were smokers did not respond to medication. So, it is advised to refrain from drinking alcohol. Take a hot shower – As most people with psoriatic arthritis wake up with stiffness and pain in the joints, to ensure a pain-free day, it is ideal to take a hot shower soon after waking up.

What every dog owner should know about dog food allergies Watching your furry baby going crazy because of a stubborn itch can be quite troubling. More often than now, this could be a sign of food allergy. Although, verifying if it’s a food allergy or not is tricky as there is no particular test designed for it. Before attempting to treat a possible allergic reaction, it is advisable to rule out any other causes. As a dog parent, there are some important things that you should know about food allergies. In this article, we will be discussing food allergy signs, causes, diagnosis, common foods causing it, and the best diet for your dog. So what’s a food allergy in dogs? Just like in humans, a food allergy in dogs causes its immune system to react adversely to a protein in the food, triggering a defensive response. As a result, your dog might develop chronic skin and ear infections. In some dogs, there might be additional signs such as excessive gassiness, vomiting, and diarrhea. Unfortunately, these signs mimic other conditions, making it is difficult to tell right away what’s the actual issue. The other causes of gastrointestinal woes in dogs could involve: