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Migraine episodes affect more than 1 billion individuals annually. It is a type of headache characterized by moderate to severe throbbing or pulsating pain, often on one side of the head, and can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. While there are certain cures for this, videos are circulating on the internet that claim that inserting clove in apples and then consuming the can give you relief.
This Instagram reel shows placing seven cloves inside an apple and leaving it for 12 hours can cure migraines and acidity. The remedy suggests eating the apple each morning for 30 to 40 days. Additionally, it asserts that this method can heal throat damage caused by acid reflux. However, there is no empirical evidence that supports this claim.
Apples are a rich source of essential nutrients like fibre, vitamin C, and various antioxidants. Eating apples regularly can support heart health by lowering cholesterol levels and regulating blood pressure. The high fiber content aids digestion and helps in maintaining a healthy weight by promoting a feeling of fullness. Apples also have compounds that may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and certain types of cancer. Their natural sweetness and crunch make them a perfect, healthy snack for all age groups.
Cloves are aromatic spices known for their powerful medicinal properties. They contain a compound called eugenol, which has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. Cloves can help relieve toothache, improve digestion, and boost immunity. They are also rich in antioxidants, which protect the body from oxidative stress and support overall health. Drinking clove-infused water or using cloves in cooking can help soothe sore throats, reduce cough, and even support liver function. Just a small amount of this spice can provide a strong health boost.
Migraines can be prevented in great part by changing one's lifestyle. It can be advantageous to detect and avoid known triggers, such as certain meals (alcohol, caffeine, and artificial sweeteners). A well-balanced diet, moderate exercise, and appropriate water intake are also essential. Furthermore, crises can be avoided by reducing stress through activities such as relaxation exercises.
People suffering from menstrual migraines can control their symptoms by using self-care measures such as warming pads, magnesium supplements, and reducing alcohol consumption.
Preventative Drugs
It has been established that some medicines, such as antidepressants, reduce the frequency of migraines. Antidepressants such as venlafaxine and amitriptyline might take up to four weeks to start functioning. Possible adverse effects include altered appetite, diarrhoea, and dry mouth.
Injections of Botox
Botox injections are another typical preventive measure. Botox injections can help reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines when delivered every three months. It does, however, come with certain risks, including vision problems, swallowing difficulties, and muscle weakness. Speak with an expert injector to ensure your safety.
Devices for Neurostimulation
Neurostimulation devices such as Cefaly and GammaCore provide alternate therapeutic options. These prescription-only, non-pharmaceutical devices function by activating nerves to relieve migraine pain. They give a non-invasive alternative to traditional medications, despite the fact that insurance does not now cover them.
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Everything Korean today is a trend. Among all these trends, there is a Korean diet which is going viral because it claims for a rapid weight loss, that too in just 4 weeks!
The diet came on the program called "Switch On Diet", which is created by Dr Yong-Woo Park, known for treating obesity for the last 33 years. The diet "aims to return metabolic abnormalities to normal weight through 4 weeks of practice". The diet claims to promote fat loss and muscle mass retention.
This diet focuses on intermittent fasting and gut health optimization. The diet mainly comprises of protein-heavy meals and also emphasizes on hydration, notes New York Post.
The basic rules include:
The program also advises against coffee intake and suggests that one must limit caffeine and alcohol consumption, along with processed food and sugar. The diet also restricts carbohydrates to allow the body to enter a state of ketosis, which is a metabolic state characterized by rapid levels of ketone bodies in the body tissues, which are pathological in conditions, such as diabetes, or the consequence of diet which is very low in carbohydrates. This is when your body burns fat for energy instead of glucose.
Here's a weekly overview of how this diet could be followed:
The first week focuses mainly on detoxing your body and cleansing your gut. Participants in this phase thus consume protein shake four times a day, for three days. Probiotics too play an essential role by emptying stomach. This is also followed by at least an hour of walking.
What Is Allowed: Cabbage, cucumbers, broccoli, tofu, and unsweetened yogurt. Participants can also consume fish, chicken, pork, eggs, low-fat meat. However, flour, dairy and coffee are not allowed.
During the second week, participants start fasting for one day, for a total of 24 hours. This fast is broken with a high-protein dinner.
The meal afterwards include a daily lineup of two protein shakes, low-carbs meal, which also includes rice, vegetables, and a no-carb dinner, which is high in protein.
What Is Allowed: White rice, legumes, and a cup of black coffee.
This phase mainly focuses on muscle recovery, and so high-intensity workouts are avoided during this time.
In the last two weeks is when the diet goes in its full fledged mode. This is when the focus is solely on the fat-burning process. The week 3 is started with two non-consecutive 24-hour fasting periods. In week 4, these fasting days are up by one extra.
What Is Allowed: Two shakes a day and two low-carbs meal. You can have pumpkins, cherry tomatoes, chestnuts, and berries.
Post-exercise, carb-dense foods like sweet potatoes and bananas are encouraged.
Even after the program is finished, it is important that people maintain their results with a 24-hour fast and a 14-hour fast window once a week.
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. On an average an American drinks about 240 milliliter of coffee in a day and a cup of it generally has about 120-180 milligrams of caffeine. The relationship between caffeine intake and people with diabetes has always been up for debate. According to Mayo clinic, caffeine can affect the way your body uses insulin, which could lead to higher or lower blood sugar. While some experts say that it is safe for them to drink coffee in moderation, it depends on each person differently.
If you are a regular coffee drinker, and do not know how to get rid of the habit, this suggestion by Diabetes UK may be of use to you. As there is a common belief that the risk of a person developing type 2 diabetes is based on what kind of diet and lifestyle they follow. When you are at risk of it, you have to make some necessary changes in order to lead a relatively healthy life.
Diabetes UK suggests a surprising switch: choose tea or coffee instead of fruit juice. If you can drink these hot drinks without adding extra sugar, it could be a simple way to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes.
People with type 2 diabetes have to avoid many things including foods that are perceived to be healthy but tend to have lot of natural sugar. Fruit juices might seem healthy compared to coffee, but many popular brands have a lot of added sugar. Even juices made only from fruit can still have a lot of natural sugars. Experts on diabetes say it's better to eat whole fruits like apples, grapes, and berries instead of drinking their juice. Whole fruits have fiber, which helps your body absorb sugar slowly and stops the quick sugar rushes you get from juice.
We know that fizzy drinks and energy drinks with lots of sugar are linked to problems like type 2 diabetes. Giving up caffeine from these drinks can be hard. If plain tea or coffee doesn't appeal to you, try versions with fewer calories or no added sugar. This can help satisfy your cravings without increasing your diabetes risk. Diabetes UK also points out that even losing a small amount of weight, like 1kg, can help lower your risk.
It's important to remember that some things that increase your risk of type 2 diabetes are out of your control. Diabetes UK explains that people with African Caribbean, Black African, or South Asian family backgrounds, as well as those who have family members with type 2 diabetes, tend to have a higher chance of developing the condition.
How you make your coffee can also be a game changer. A study in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that filtering coffee, like with a paper filter, is better for your health than just boiling the ground and drinking the water. This was especially true for older adults.
However, the Harvard Health Publishing states that “the study is observational and doesn't prove that filtered coffee is healthier than unfiltered coffee, but it makes sense.”. However, it makes sense because unfiltered coffee has things called diterpenes that can raise your cholesterol.
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Spices have been a big part of many Asian cuisines for centuries. Not just as foods, but they were also used for their medicinal purposes. Spices like turmeric were often used to make medicinal concoction and other spices like cinnamon, ginger and peppermint are used for their anti-inflammatory qualities.
A new study has revealed that the compound that is responsible for the spiciness in chili pepper not only has anti-inflammatory properties but also has cholesterol lowering potential. Capsaicin, that makes chili peppers spicy has been studied for many years, researchers have found different nuisances of it that make it healthy for consumption.
Beyond its fiery nature, capsaicin exhibits cholesterol-lowering properties and may even play a role in reducing the risk of cancer and arthritis. A 2022 study published in Frontiers in Nutrition investigated capsaicin's impact on cholesterol in individuals with metabolic syndrome.
A 2022 publication in Frontiers in Nutrition reviewed nine controlled trials encompassing 461 patients with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that elevate the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart problems. The study found that when these people ate capsaicin, their total cholesterol and the "bad" kind of cholesterol went down a lot.
Other research suggests that eating chilies might be good for our hearts. A study from 2019 looked at what over 22,000 people in Italy ate and their health over about eight years. The study found that people who ate chili peppers more than four times a week were less likely to die from heart problems. This seemed to be true even if they didn't eat a super healthy diet. So, it looks like chilies might have a special way of helping our hearts.
While there are studies that show its benefits for heart health, there has been a lot of debate regarding the same. In a study published in the Molecular nutrition and food research 2022 researchers investigated the role of capsaicin for your heart health. The study revealed that it’s not clear yet how eating spicy food and chili peppers affects health.
There might be a link to better metabolism, less death, and fewer heart problems. How much capsaicin someone eats might also change the risk of stomach cancer in a complex way. Usually, it's safe to eat spicy foods and chili peppers. Another study published in the Biomolecules 2022 journal found that people who eat chili peppers often seem to be healthier and live longer. Studies in animals suggest that capsaicin, the hot part of chili peppers, might help prevent metabolic syndrome. It found that while eating a lot of chili peppers is linked to a lower chance of dying from heart problems, capsaicin doesn't clearly change blood sugar or fat levels.
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