Keep Your Lungs Happy

The 5 Best Ways to Keep Your Lungs Healthy 

                                           

Lungs are a critical component of the respiratory system; a group of organs and tissues that work together to help you breathe. The main role of the respiratory system is to move fresh air and get waste gasses out of the body. They take in oxygen when you inhale and force out carbon dioxide when you exhale, and play an integral role in maintaining the body’s overall health. Five of the best ways to ensure that your lungs are operating at their optimum level now and into the future: 

1. Avoid Smoking Smoking is by far the leading cause of lung cancer, responsible for around 80 percent of lung cancers. It is an extremely aggressive form of cancer. 

2. Get Regular Exercise Regular physical activity and exercise improves quality of life, and is important for maintaining a healthy heart, for maintaining a healthy weight and for reducing the risk of diabetes. Exercise also helps to keep your lungs healthy. 

3. Be Aware of the Air Quality Around You The air that people breathe on a day to day basis has a dramatic influence on the function of their lungs. Research has shown that smog can damage the lining of the lungs and irritate and inflame pulmonary membranes. Air pollution is not just an outdoor issue however. Fireplaces, wood stoves, fumes, mould, pet dander and even particular types of air fresheners and candles can also cause problems with lung function. 

4. Watch What You Eat Nutrition is an important component in overall health, but there is a significant body of evidence to suggest that particular foods are better than others for developing strong, robust lung function. Antioxidant-rich foods including broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bok choi and kale have been shown to be good for lungs as they absorb or attach to free radicals, preventing them from attacking normal, healthy tissue. 

5. Maintain your Overall Health Whilst influenza is not the devastating illness that it once was, it can still cause significant health problems, especially for lung function. Cold, dry air can stress the airways, so staying illness-free is an important step in maintaining overall lung health. Immunization is a good way to help ward off the virus that causes the flu, preventing potential problems before they affect the lungs. 


                            

Loving Your Liver

Loving Your Liver 

Loving your liver is pretty easy when you know how. Here are our top 12 tips you can follow every day for good liver health. 

1.  Maintain a healthy weight:  Measure your middle and keep it at a healthy circumference. Men should maintain a waist of less than 102 cm and women, less than 88 cm. Exercising and eating a diet that’s low in fat and high in fiber, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals will help you maintain a healthy weight and liver.

2. Avoid fad diets: Avoid any products that promise large amounts of weight loss in an unrealistically short period of time. These diets are usually lacking in essential nutrients and are not beneficial. Aim to lose weight at a healthy rate of ½ -1 kg per week. Liver cleansing and detox diets should also be avoided.

3. Drink alcohol in moderation Sensible consumption of alcohol is critical to your health. While alcoholism is more common among men, women are more susceptible to the adverse effects of alcohol on the liver. In fact, it takes as little as 20 grams of alcohol daily (only two standard drinks) for women to develop liver problems.

4. Quit smoking It’s been proven that smoking cigarettes is linked to the development of liver cancer. Smoking can also enhance the toxic effects that some medications (such as Paracetamol) have on the liver.

5. Take care with tattoos and piercings If you’re keen to get a tattoo or a piercing, take extra care to find an establishment that is clean and adheres to meticulous sterilization practices. Understand what makes your liver so important, try our liver-loving recipes, read more diet tips and make sure you get plenty of exercise.

                       

Diet which keeps your Liver healthy 

1. Almonds Almonds are the nuts. Jam-packed with fiber, riboflavin, magnesium and iron, they also have more calcium than any other nut.

2.  Oats Oats have a high soluble fiber content, a low glycaemic index and they are a whole grain, which means they contain many essential vitamins and minerals. So, a regular dose of oats in your diet may help lower cholesterol levels, reduce heart disease risk and prevent Type 2 diabetes.

3.  Soybeans Soy is a top quality protein that has no cholesterol or animal fat. It’s low in saturated fat, high in fibre and is known to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, may help prevent osteoporosis, alleviate those hot flushes during menopause and may even help protect against breast, prostate and bowel cancer.

4. Tea Put the kettle on and make yourself a nice cup of green or black tea. Brimming with antioxidants, a cuppa can help protect your body’s cells against damage and mutation. Green tea also packs ECGC – a powerful antioxidant that may inhibit the growth of cancer cells, while black tea can boost the immune system, lower the risk of stroke and may help prevent osteoporosis.

Prevent The Uric Acid To En gulp Your Maturity

These foods will help you keep uric acid at normal levels 

                                       


High levels of uric acid in the bloodstream, also known as hyperglycemia, can come about as a result of either an increase in the production of uric acid in the body or a decreased excretion of it through the kidneys.  Factors that can help contribute to high uric acid levels include a diet high in purines, excess alcohol consumption, obesity, renal insufficiency, genetics, under active thyroid, and diabetes. There are some tips and natural remedies that will help reduce and control your uric acid levels, and 8 of these can be found below.


                                                      

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

As a natural cleanser and detoxifier, apple cider vinegar can help remove uric acid from the body. Furthermore, it helps to restore the alkaline acid balance in the body and provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.

2. Lemon Juice

Squeeze the juice of a lemon into a glass of warm water, and drink it in the morning on an empty stomach. Continue to do this for a few weeks. Its vitamin C content helps to decrease uric acid levels. You can also take vitamin C supplements, but consult your doctor first so that they can give you the proper dosage.

3. Cherries

Cherries and other dark berries contain chemicals that help to reduce uric acid levels. Furthermore, purple and blue-colored berries contain flavonoids that help lower uric acid and reduce inflammation and stiffness. Eat half a cup of cherries each day for a few weeks.  Add blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes, bell peppers, and other vitamin C and antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables to your diet.

4. Baking Soda

Baking soda is very efficient at lowering uric acid levels and reducing gout pain. It helps to maintain the natural alkaline balance in the body, and makes uric acid more soluble and easier to flush out of the kidneys. Mix half a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water. Drink up to four glasses of this a day for two weeks. You can drink it every 2-4 hours.


                                         

5. Water

Drinking a lot of water helps to optimize uric acid filtering. It helps to dilute the uric acid and stimulates the kidneys to eliminate excess amounts through urine. Furthermore, drinking enough water can reduce the risk of recurrent gout attacks.  Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water each day. Include more water-rich fruits and vegetables in your diet. 

6. High-fiber Foods and Starchy Carbohydrates

Foods that are high in dietary fiber help lower uric acid levels by absorbing it, and then eliminating it from the body. Starchy carbohydrates are also safe to eat as they contain only small amounts of purine.  Whole grains, pears, apples, oranges, and strawberries are some good examples of high-fiber foods that you should incorporate into your diet.  Starchy carbohydrates are foods such as rice, whole grain pasta, potato, bananas, oats, and quinoa. 

7. Dairy Products 

Low-fat milk and other dairy products have been associated with lower plasma urate concentrations and a reduced risk of gout. Skimmed milk, for example, contains orotic acid that decreases the re-absorption of uric acid, and promotes its removal from the body through the kidneys.  Drink 1-5 cups of skimmed milk a day.  Include low-fat yogurt and other dairy products in your diet. 

8. Wheat grass Juice

Wheat grass helps to restore alkalinity in the blood. Furthermore, it’s rich in vitamin C, chlorophyll, and phytochemicals that help to promote detoxification. It’s also a very good source of protein and amino acids as alternative to eating animal protein. Each day, mix two tablespoons of wheat grass juice with a squeeze of lemon juice until your uric acid levels come down.