As both a mineral and an electrolyte, potassium facilitates the functioning of all of your muscles, including voluntary and involuntary muscles. Hyperkalemia refers to the condition of having excess potassium in your blood. It is harmful to have elevated potassium levels because a heart attack or even death can result from hyperkalemia. Some of the food items that patients with hyperkalemia can eat to maintain good health while avoiding a surge in potassium levels are: Apples Apples are a low-potassium fruit that can be particularly helpful in managing the health of hyperkalemia patients. They are a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber. In fact, a medium-sized apple contains only about 148 milligrams of the element, making it an excellent choice for people with hyperkalemia. Apples also contain pectin, a type of fiber that may help lower potassium levels in the blood. Pectin works by binding to the electrolyte in the digestive system, preventing it from being absorbed into the bloodstream. The fruit can be eaten in a variety of ways, making them an easy and versatile addition to any meal plan. They can be eaten raw, baked, or stewed, and can be used in a wide range of recipes, from desserts and salads to smoothies.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can impact synovial joints and other organs like the eyes, lungs, and heart. The joints in the hands and feet are the most commonly impacted, although they can also affect the knees, hips, and shoulder joints. A meal plan cannot cure it, but appropriate dietary changes can help reduce the inflammation that causes damage to the body. Here’s all you need to know about managing rheumatoid arthritis. Here are a few things you should know about managing rheumatoid arthritis: Seven things to avoid to manage rheumatoid arthritis Along with proper treatment, you should also avoid certain foods to manage rheumatoid arthritis: Red meat Red meat contains high levels of saturated fat that can exacerbate inflammation and lead to obesity. Sugar and refined flour Your blood sugar levels can surge when you consume too many carbohydrates and refined flour. However, you can try gluten-free alternatives because a spike in blood glucose levels can worsen many of your arthritis symptoms. Fatty foods full of omega-6 fatty acids Trans fats can increase the risk of insulin resistance and obesity, a primary risk factor for arthritis. It can increase bad cholesterol in the body and is also responsible for lowering good cholesterol.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic and progressive lung condition that leads to scarring of the lungs. A build-up of these scar tissues impacts the ability of the lungs to transport oxygen into the bloodstream. Fortunately, there are certain foods that pulmonary fibrosis patients can have to manage their discomforting symptoms. Read on to learn more about the relationship between nutrition and pulmonary fibrosis and the best foods to include in daily meals. The connection between nutrition and pulmonary fibrosis Your lungs play a critical role in maintaining your immunity and functionality of the body at the cellular level. When lung function is compromised, it leads to a chronic state of stress in the body. This state of fight or flight may not allow your body to absorb nutrients properly and lead to malnourishment. Some studies, like the one in Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, have also found a connection between pulmonary fibrosis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD itself contributes to nutritional deficiencies and may lead to serious health concerns. Appropriate foods help the body in multiple ways and simplify living with pulmonary fibrosis. They help in: Optimizing your weight reduces the pressure on your lungs and makes breathing easier Keeping your immunity levels high Enhancing your energy levels In the long run, healthy foods improve your pulmonary fibrosis symptoms and determine how well you respond to its treatment.

People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have blocked airways, making breathing difficult. They have to use more energy while breathing than a normal person. Chronic inflammation weakens the immune system reducing its ability to fight the disease. People with COPD need to consume enough calories to produce excess energy for breathing. Following a nutrition-rich meal plan can help you maintain overall health, strengthen your immune system, and improve lung function. Here is a list of immunity-boosting foods for COPD patients. Salmon To boost energy, people with COPD should include protein-rich foods in their meal plans. Salmon is packed with protein and omega-3 fatty acids that can help reduce inflammation in the airways. Omega-3s are also critical for respiratory health and the immune system. According to a study, consuming fish frequently is associated with a decreased risk of COPD. Oranges Oranges are rich in Vitamin C, which is vital for a variety of immune system functions and for preventing lung infections. Citrus fruits like oranges help fight against toxins in the body and lower the rate of damage in the lung tissues. COPD patients also benefit from eating high-potassium foods vital to lung function. Oranges also contain potassium and can help with breathing issues.

It is normal to lose fifty to one hundred hairs per day. This suggests that new hair is replacing the existing hair as the hair goes through its natural growth cycle. Alopecia, which is another name for hair loss, however, denotes a more serious health condition where a person loses more than a hundred strands every day. Here are several underlying diseases that may be the cause of the hair loss. What are the indications of severe hair loss? Hair loss caused by illnesses can appear in different ways. For some, the signs may appear suddenly, and for others, they may only be visible over a period. Some general signs include: Bald patches on the scalp Broken hair Redness or swelling on the scalp Sudden thinning of hair Loss of hair in the beard, eyebrows, or elsewhere in the body Which diseases trigger hair loss? Here are some health conditions that may trigger hair loss in some people: Lupus Lupus is an autoimmune condition in which one’s immune system cannot differentiate between the body’s healthy cells and the foreign bodies and begins attacking them. Hair loss is one of the most common signs of lupus and occurs when the inflammation affects the scalp.

Cold and flu are common upper respiratory tract diseases and even though they are different, they have shared symptoms like sore throat, fever, and nasal congestion. The viral conditions spread via droplets suspended in the air from an infected person. Colds are a mild form, while a flu tends to be more severe. Once can turn to home remedies to effectively control their symptoms initially in mild cases of either condition. Top 7 home remedies for cold and flu Increase your consumption of zinc A very effective home remedy to help treat cold and flu symptoms, as well as help manage COVID, is adding zinc to the meal plan to boost the immunity system. This mineral aids in creating germ-fighting white blood cells so that symptoms of cold and flu stay under check. Additionally, zinc is also known to fight off the flu virus and reduce its growth in the body. Some of the foods that come rich in zinc comprise chickpeas, beans, dairy, lentils, red meat, eggs, and more. Furthermore, supplements can also be taken before the flu season commences to keep the immune system strong. Adding these foods as part of daily meal plan will not only aid in keeping cold and flu virus at bay, but will also help in maintaining good health.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition affecting the spinal cord and brain. Here, the immune system attacks the myelin sheath, which protects nerve fibers. The condition disrupts communication between the brain and other body parts. This neurological condition lasts long and can impact people as young as 20. Relapsing multiple sclerosis is a severe type of MS that can often deteriorate the patient’s condition. Between these flare-ups, they will have periods of recovery also. Early warning signs of MS The signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis may vary between patients and keep changing as the disease progresses. Some early warning signs that indicate MS at its initial stages are listed below. 1. Cognitive issues About half of the patients with multiple sclerosis suffer from cognitive dysfunction. These problems are often mild, and it is rare to have severe issues. This condition does not usually change one’s intellectual ability but might lead to poor memory, slowed thinking, and attention deficit issues. A patient will struggle to find the right word to use while speaking. 2. Optic neuritis In the early stages of MS, a patient’s eye health might also get affected. This disease damages the optic nerve, which connects the eye and brain.

People with arthritis may suffer from a range of diseases or pains in the joints of their bodies. The pain caused by the condition can also be debilitating, which may force most individuals to refrain from carrying out indoor or outdoor tasks. Besides the treatments, one can eat certain foods that may help manage or improve the symptoms of arthritis. They can also blend these nutritious options to create healthy smoothies and make their meal enjoyable. Turmeric-infused smoothie Turmeric is traditionally used in several foods to manage health conditions. As for arthritis, the spice contains a substance known as curcumin that may help curb the effects of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, including pain and inflammation in the joints. To make a turmeric-infused smoothie, one will need a handful of kale or spinach, ½ cup of frozen pineapple chunks, one teaspoon of turmeric, and a quarter spoonful of ginger. They need to blend these ingredients with a pinch of black pepper, a spoon of chia seeds, and one cup of low-fat milk or almond milk. Pineapple smoothie An individual with arthritis may benefit from eating pineapples because of their pain-reducing enzymes like bromelain. All one requires to turn the fruit into a healthy smoothie are two celery ribs, the head of romaine lettuce, some coriander, a thumb-sized piece of ginger, and half a pineapple.