Eating right can help keep many illnesses at bay, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is no exception. The right foods can improve the strength of your lungs and make breathing easier. You could consult with your doctor or a registered dietician, inform them of your daily schedule, your exercise routine, and what other comorbid illnesses you suffer. Then, discuss with them and formulate a diet plan. In the mean time, here are four diet tips that can help manage COPD. Complex Carbohydrates Are Great Metabolizing carbohydrates involves giving out more carbon-di-oxide for the amount of oxygen used by your body. For people with COPD, it is best not to strain the lungs further. So reducing the consumption of carbohydrates is ideal. However, this is not an easy decision to make. Simple carbs spike blood sugar levels erratically and make COPD symptoms worse. Complex carbohydrate-rich foods, on the other hand, move through the digestive system slowly. It ensures you receive a steady dose of energy, and the high fiber content in these protect the large intestine. Also, complex carbohydrates do not add to unnecessary weight gain. Because it is fundamental that you not weigh too low or be overweight when you have COPD, complex carbohydrates might be the ideal source of energy.

When dealing with depression, one might find comfort in some simple foods to improve moods and concentration. The most crucial nutrients that researchers believe help prevent and treat depression are folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, vitamins A, B, and C, selenium, potassium, and magnesium. Here are nine foods that can help manage depression and improve overall health. Fermented Foods Yogurt, sauerkraut, miso soup, kefir, sourdough bread, soft cheese, kimchi, and tempeh are perfect examples of fermented foods that are excellent sources of probiotics. Since gut bacteria like lactobacillus and bifidobacterium play an important role in mood fluctuations and mental health, depression risk is significantly reduced with the regular consumption of such foods. Dark Chocolate A dark chocolate bar with 70 to 85 percent cocoa has fiber, copper, manganese, iron, and antioxidants. It helps protect against sun damage, protects the heart, prevents oxidative stress, improves brain function, reduces anxiety, and enhances mood. Leafy Greens The folate in leafy greens like lettuce, cabbage, spinach, kale, watercress, collard, and swiss chard promote digestive and cardiovascular health. The fiber in greens keep the gut free of toxins and encourages the growth of healthy enzymes. At least five servings of nutrient-rich greens must be part of the diet.

Gout is an inflammatory arthritis that affects the joints of almost 8 million people in the countey. A large percentage of these people are stricken because they have a family history of this arthritic condition. Others experience painful gout symptoms because of excessive intake of sugar, alcohol, and high purine foods. Medications, a modified gout-friendly diet, and lifestyle changes help manage gout. Herein, we help you with a list of healthy snacks that alleviate gout symptoms. Nuts A gout-friendly diet is incomplete without a handful of nuts and seeds every day. Low in purine content, but a rich source of numerous vitamins and trace minerals required for the healthy functioning of your body, nuts, and seeds are excellent sources of healthy fats that help reduce inflammation, a symptom of gout. However, some nuts contain oxalic acid that can increase the risk of gout. Avoid almonds, hazelnuts, pine nuts, peanuts, and cashew nuts. These contain oxalates that bind together with calcium and form painful crystals that cause kidney stones and gout. Fruits Vitamin C rich fruits like lemon, orange, grapefruit, gooseberry, papaya, pineapple, kiwi, strawberry, cranberry, blueberry, guava, mango, canteloupe, tomato, and cherry can be included in your diet to alleviate gout symptoms.

Ulcerative colitis is not only painful but also disruptive to your routine. The inflammation and sores that last a long time in the digestive tract, especially in the colon and rectum can be mild or severe. Genetics, environmental factors, unhealthy food habits, and destructive lifestyles are assumed to be causes of this health condition. Medication and surgery are some of the treatment options, but diet modifications might be helpful too. Here are six basic dos and don’ts for you. Eat Wholesome Foods Following detrimental food patterns is one of the known causes of ulcerative colitis. When your diet is deficient, it could lead to malnutrition, nutritional deprivation, or unintended weight loss. Modifying your diet is the most sensible way to rectify this situation. Aim for alternative sources of nutrition when one source does not sit well with your condition. For example, you could try cooking a vegetable if it is not compatible when eaten raw. If sardines or lamb that are rich in iron aggravate your colitis symptoms, you could try having dried apricots or kale instead. The goal here is to consume wholesome foods for good health and not miss any nutrition. Make Meal Plans and Shop Adequately Make appropriate meal plans to suit your health condition and organize your grocery shopping accordingly.

Research conducted across the world proves that people experiencing schizophrenia have a poor concept of diet; they either reject food completely or eat voraciously. Also, their intake of carbohydrates and unhealthy fats is very high, while that of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fatty acids are far below adequate. Schizophrenia patients have a sedentary lifestyle and tend to be obese or at high risk for obesity. It is a mental condition that can be managed with proper diet and eating patterns. Here are three food types that help manage schizophrenia better. Low GI Foods A low glycemic index (GI) diet consists of complex carbohydrates that take longer to digest. It hence does not raise blood glucose levels erratically. Most fruits, milk, non-starchy vegetables, sweet potato, beans, butter-beans, bulgar, rolled or steel-cut oats, and barley are some examples of low GI foods. The beta-glucan fiber in oats makes schizophrenia patients feel fuller longer and improves their blood cholesterol levels. People experiencing schizophrenia can have a bowl of oats porridge for breakfast. It will be beneficial to give an energetic start to the day. Patients could add full-fat or skimmed milk to this breakfast bowl because milk is also a low GI food.