Cholesterol is created in the liver and is required for cell membrane formation, as well as for the production of essential hormones, vitamin D, and substances that break down fatty foods. However, too much cholesterol in the body can result in blocked arteries that can turn into coronary heart disease, heart attack or stroke. There are two kinds of cholesterol: LDL cholesterol, known as the “bad” cholesterol, can build up in excess fatty deposits and lead to heart disease. While HDL cholesterol, known as the “good” cholesterol, helps to eliminate fats and bad cholesterol so it’s disposed of via liver. An ideal way to manage cholesterol is through diet. Let’s look at some foods that should be avoided to prevent bad cholesterol: 1. Fatty meats Red meats, such as pork, lamb, and beef have more saturated fat compared to what is found in chicken, fish, or vegetable-based proteins. Saturated fats are seen as bad for you due to how they can raise your cholesterol and worsen heart disease. Now, it’s still okay to eat meat as long as you limit your portions and choose leaner options. A healthy portion should be no more than three ounces or about the size of a deck of cards.

Smoking can be very harmful to your health. Heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (or COPD), chronic asthma, and lung cancer have all been linked to smoking. However, quitting is not easy. Triggers like stress can cause you to pick that cigarette back up. Did you know that certain foods can also trigger intense nicotine cravings? Here are some foods to avoid if you are trying to kick the smoking habit: 1. Coffee Nobody wants to hear that their morning cup of Joe can stimulate the cravings for a cigarette. It’s true. Coffee contains caffeine, a highly addictive stimulant. This stimulant can increase your desire for a stronger stimulant, one containing nicotine, a cigarette. The java you enjoy is also associated with break times, friends, and – you guessed it! – smoking. Your brain and body associate a cup of strong black brew at break time with that cigarette. It may be helpful while you are quitting smoking to quit drinking that caffeinated beverage. You could also have your morning Joe in a smoke-free zone to lessen the temptations associated with it. 2. Alcohol Alcohol and smoking seem to go hand-in-hand. If you drink, you want to smoke. Stress may be the link between the two.

There are many people in the world who eat a healthy diet but still suffer from excessive sweating (or hyperhidrosis) and body odor. Not only is it uncomfortable but sweating and body odor can become quite embarrassing. There are many things that a person can do to avoid this kind of embarrassment. Things like using certain deodorants and avoiding certain foods can help avoid excessive sweating and body odor: 1. Coffee and soup A healthy diet in any person’s life is of course ideal, but having a healthy diet and also avoiding certain foods can help combat excessive sweating and odor. Hot soups and caffeine (like hot coffee) can trick your body into thinking it is hot and therefore leading to excessive sweat. This has to do with part of your brain that sends signals to your nervous system and tells it the same thing it would on a 90 degree Fahrenheit day. By avoiding hot soup and caffeine you can essentially avoid sweating and body odor. 2. Dairy and bread High-fat milk and white bread can also be a culprit in producing sweat and odor. The reason this happens is fats and carbohydrates can take longer in your body to metabolize.

Whether you’re walking in the door and kicking off your shoes after a day of work or walking from your Zoom meeting to the couch, these days, we all need an easy, delicious cocktail. Next time you’re working on your at-home bartender skills, check out these simple and satisfying cocktails, turn on some music, close your eyes, and pretend you’re on vacation – even if it’s just for the evening: 1. Moscow Mule All you need are three simple ingredients to make a Moscow Mule. One of the quickest mixed drinks made with vodka has a little spice from ginger beer and a zing from freshly squeezed lime. Whether you’re entertaining a group or entertaining a party of one, Moscow Mules feel like an expertly crafted cocktail every single time. High-quality ginger beer is the key to a knock-out Mule, so be sure to purchase a brand like Fever-Tree. For vodka, we recommend Tito’s or Absolut. Follow these simple steps and enjoy: Fill a glass (or traditional copper mug if you have one!) with crushed ice. Add 2 ounces of vodka. Squeeze the juice of half a lime on top of the vodka (not lime juice in a bottle- it has to be fresh!) Top with 4 ounces of high-quality ginger beer.

Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which affects the colon and rectum as well as the body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients. Symptoms often appear in periods known as “flare ups”, resulting in diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, rectal pain and sometimes bleeding—passing small amounts of blood with stool, weight loss, and extreme fatigue. Management of colitis must be overseen by a medical professional who may recommend medications, therapies and certain lifestyle changes that include eliminating certain trigger foods from the diet that can worsen symptoms. Here are the known foods that often trigger ulcerative colitis symptoms: 1. Alcohol Beverages that contain alcohol, such as wine and beer, contain sugar that stimulates the intestines to cause diarrhea. When you have a flare-up, it is better to take tomato juice, water, or decaf tea instead. When the condition is in remission, you can enjoy a few drinks but be on the lookout for increased symptoms 2. Caffeine Food and drinks that contain caffeine, such as soda, chocolate, and coffee worsen ulcerative colitis symptoms. Soda is worse as it also has sugar which causes diarrhea. Carbonation in these drinks increases your trips to the toilet, which ends up triggering a flare-up.