Every day 1,660 deaths are caused due to cancer and there are 4,950 new cases. Lung and esophageal cancer has been the leading cause of deaths due to cancer since 2013 according to the reports at Cancer Statistics Center. The American Lung Association recommends a few methods to live a healthy life. Embrace clean air Tobacco smokers face the highest risk of lung cancer. They are 15-30 times more likely to get lung cancer than nonsmokers. Besides smoking tobacco, radon, a natural gas, is the second-highest cause of lung cancer. Radon, although found in the earth, is leaked through buildings and can stay inside buildings and homes for a long period. Secondhand smoke or exposure to hazardous chemicals and dust over long periods can also increase the risk of lung cancer. One of the basic requirements for a healthy life is clean and fresh air. Spending more time at gardens, open spaces, and hills can replenish the body with clean oxygen and refuel the body. It is important to travel often to such places to experience nature.  Enjoy the subtlety of the simple and clean water  Excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk of lung cancer by 30 percent. Drinking water that is contaminated with arsenic, asbestos, radon, plastic, pesticides, agricultural chemicals in toxic and hazardous areas can cause lung cancer.

Most bacteria in our bodies thrive in our gut, helping us digest food. Bacteria are essential for our survival and are harmless, but bad bacteria can cause havoc if they multiply in the gut. The main cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is the imbalance of bacteria in the gut. To overcome this imbalance, natural probiotics should be included in the daily diet. Here are some dietary tips and probiotics to include in the diet for people with IBS: Yogurt Though several foods are natural probiotics, yogurt is a rich source of lactobacilli or good bacteria, and these bacteria are the same as those used in probiotic supplements. Yogurt is the best source of friendly bacteria and can be made by fermenting milk with friendly bacteria. Kefir This is a probiotic milk drink made by adding kefir grains to cow or goat milk. Kefir grains are cultures of lactic acid bacteria and yeast and look like cauliflower. This food helps alleviate digestive problems and infections, and it is said to improve bone health as well. Sauerkraut Shredded cabbage fermented by lactic acid bacteria is called sauerkraut, and it is sour. It is often used on top of sausages or as a side dish.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in the walls of the cells all over the body. The cholesterol required to produce hormones, vitamin D, and other substances that help digest food is made naturally by the body in adequate quantities. Apart from that, dietary sources of cholesterol include animal products like eggs, meat, and dairy, baked goods, and deep-fried or highly processed foods that have additives and preservatives. Cholesterol is of two types: High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol. HDL carries cholesterol from all parts of the body to the liver, from where the excess is eliminated from your body. On the other hand, the accumulation of LDL and triglycerides causes a buildup of plaque in the arteries, which increases the risk of heart diseases and stroke. Your diet plays a crucial role in maintaining ideal blood cholesterol levels, and here we’ve listed a few nutritious, guilt-free snacks for you if you have high cholesterol: Have a bowl of fresh colorful fruits, especially assorted berries like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. You can also have apples, grapes, citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits, and potassium-rich bananas, apricots, and prunes. These are rich in pectin and polyphenols that help lower LDL cholesterol.

Apart from reducing the risk of chronic illnesses like Alzheimer’s, dementia, heart disease, stroke, blood pressure, Parkinson’s, and type 2 diabetes, a Mediterranean diet has a host of health benefits for your skin too. Your skin, the largest organ in the body, derives its nutrition from the food you eat, and a Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest diet options. While vitamins and minerals can help speed up the recovery process of the skin from wounds, scars, acne, swelling, and redness, they can also make your skin shine flawlessly and keep it smooth and taut. On the other hand, deficiency of essential nutrients can cause wrinkles and make your skin dry and parched. Also, healing lesions, cuts, and bruises on your skin take longer to heal. A Mediterranean diet emphasizes a high intake of fresh fruits and vegetables of all colors, along with whole-grain rice, bread, and pasta, assorted nuts and seeds, beans and legumes for proteins, aromatic herbs and spices, and olive oil. This diet also includes fatty cold-water fish, seafood, lean meats like chicken and other poultry, dairy, fermented cheese, yogurt, and wine in moderate amounts. The Mediterranean diet provides all the nutrients essential for healthy living.

Gestational hypertension is a syndrome that is characterized by high blood pressure, proteinuria, and edema. This syndrome usually develops after 20 weeks into the pregnancy. Blood pressure, in this situation, will be consistently recorded above 140/90. Some of the risks attached to this syndrome are placental abruption, poor fetal growth, stillbirth, seizures, and death of mother and child. There are very limited drug treatment options, as there is a risk of antihypertensive medicines affecting the fetus negatively. Gestational hypertension should be closely monitored to avoid the risks attached to it. An appropriate healthy diet during pregnancy will help avoid gestational hypertension complications. A good healthy diet is vital to fetal brain development, healthy birth weight, and to counter several pregnancy-related complications. Hence, a pregnant woman should give utmost importance to their diet. The following are the guidelines for a balanced diet during pregnancy to counter gestational hypertension: The diet intake during pregnancy should include a variety of foods containing optimal calories. Moreover, they should be rich in protein, calcium, potassium, vitamin A, sodium, iron, and folic acid. Foods containing sodium may be restricted in case of edema or high blood pressure. Salt aids in balancing the fluids required by the body during pregnancy.