When we look at diet tips for lowering blood pressure, we need to discuss one of the important diets that are popularly followed. The DASH diet can be helpful in reducing blood pressure. The article tells you all you need to know about this diet. What is the DASH diet? One of the best diet tips for lowering blood pressure is following a diet. The DASH diet is one of the popular diets followed world over to reduce hypertension. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The DASH diet’s focus is on reducing the consumption of sodium, fat, and alcohol. The systolic blood pressure can be reduced by 8 to 14 points by following this diet for just two weeks. Apart from reducing hypertension, it can also help to prevent heart disease, reduce the risks of stroke, prevent diabetes, and cancer. Two versions There are two versions of the DASH diet: one is the standard diet that can be followed by anyone, the other is the low sodium diet that is recommended for those with higher levels of blood pressure and those who are at high risk of developing high blood pressure. The standard DASH diet recommends reducing sodium consumption to 2300 mg per day.

Gout is a common form of arthritis. A host of symptoms are associated with this chronic condition. People suffering from gout experience pain and inflammation in the joints, most commonly in the big toe. The severity of the symptoms may range from mild to severe. In order to keep these symptoms from flaring up, it is critical for the gout patient to follow a gout-friendly diet that often comprises of low purine food items. Here are the dietary tips for gout that every patient should follow to keep painful flareups at bay: Fresh fruits Studies have found that fresh fruits, especially the ones that contain a high content of vitamin C are effective in preventing a gout attack. Including citrus fruits such as cherries, oranges, and tangerines can have a positive impact on the condition of a gout patient. While you can have fruits like apple and avocado, eating a high amount of citrus fruits can prove to be beneficial. The high vitamin C content helps lower uric acid levels naturally. Vegetables The consumption of vegetables is among the must-follow dietary tips for gout patients. Vegetables that contain low purine content are best suited for people suffering from this form of inflammatory arthritis.

Glycemic index (GI) is a measure that tells how fast the body converts carbs into sugars. Those who have type-2 diabetes can consider the GI of foods before deciding what to eat. The article lists out foods to avoid with type 2 diabetes based on the glycemic index. Glycemic index To decide the foods to avoid with type 2 diabetes one can use the glycemic index as a parameter. Foods that are high in carbohydrates, when consumed, break down into sugar when digested. The glycemic index (GI) tells us how fast the carbs are converted into sugar. The higher the GI, the higher would be the blood glucose level. Glucose has a GI of 100. Eating foods with a low GI is good as they do not break down into sugar quickly and thus do not cause spikes in blood sugar levels. Deciding food based on GI The glycemic index of food has been calculated and is available for all foods that have carbs in them. It is, of course, not available for meats since they do not have carbs. GI is on a scale of 1 to 100. Foods that have a GI of 55 or less than that are considered low-GI foods.

Hepatitis is a medical condition that can affect your liver and cause substantial damage if you are not careful. The liver is one of the key organs in our body that is responsible for overall health as it removes the impurities from foods we eat. However, since the liver is damaged in this disease, it becomes very important for the patient to stick to a healthy lifestyle and have knowledge of the foods to manage hepatitis better. While there is no specific diet for hepatitis management, there are some tips to ensure that you eat right and follow a healthy and well-balanced diet plan. Here are some foods that you should avoid when you are suffering from hepatitis: Foods that should not be a part of your diet if you have hepatitis: Excess sodium According to USDA guidelines for foods to manage hepatitis, you should stay away from consuming excess salt. The heavily-processed foods will invariably contain a lot of salt, like fried foods, snacks, microwaveable meals, etc. When chronic hepatitis advances to liver cirrhosis, it leads to fluid build-up in the abdomen. This condition is called ascites and people with this should limit their salt intake to lower than 1000 mg every day.

Over the years, studies and research have been conducted to find out about the superfoods that may help reduce the risk of developing cancer. Many studies have established an association between certain food items and certain types of cancers. These food items are usually referred to as superfoods as they are packed with powerful anti-cancer properties. The consumption of these superfoods will help one maximize one’s health and reduce the risk of cancer. Here is a list of superfoods that reduce the risk of cancer. Broccoli Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable that is touted as one of the best superfoods that reduce the risk of cancer. This veggie is a storehouse of potent compounds that safeguard the body and ward off an accumulation of cancer-causing elements. It is important to include this superfood in one’s diet to lower the risk of certain types of cancer. Tomatoes Enriched with antioxidants, tomatoes are healthy food items that are known to help reduce the risk of cancer. The presence of lycopene in tomatoes makes them a powerhouse of anti-cancer properties. Studies and research have found that a higher intake of tomatoes may effectively reduce the risk of certain types of cancer like prostate cancer.