Ulcerative colitis or UC is an inflammatory bowel disease, a condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract. As the name suggests, the colon or large intestine lining gets inflamed, and sores and ulcers form. While the cause of UC is obscure and unknown, there are several risk factors, and if you notice early symptoms and fall in these high-risk groups, you should visit a doctor. 1. Risk factors There are several theories concerning ulcerative colitis. Some believe the immune system is to blame, while other doctors blame a variety of factors. The causes for this illness differ from individual to individual, but there are certain risk factors. 2. Genetics While it is not technically hereditary, ulcerative colitis is more common in some families than others. Most people with UC do not have a family member with the disease, and in fact, only 10% to 20% of people with ulcerative colitis had a close relative who had some inflammatory world disease. The link between DNA and UC is anything but simple, but it acts as another piece of the puzzle. 3. Autoimmune reaction Since it is a type of IBD, ulcerative colitis can impair the immune system. The immune system is supposed to react only when foreign substances enter the body.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is talked about in the context of heart health. The liver produces both good and bad cholesterol after digesting certain foods. Your diet loads the gun for heart conditions; it is a trigger. If you have high levels of cholesterol, especially LDL or the wrong kind, you should consider dietary modifications. The following are eating habits that people with high cholesterol levels must avoid. 1. Processed foods Processed foods contain trans fats and a great deal of sugar and salt, and harmful cholesterol forms in the body after the metabolism of sugary, fatty, and salty food. Those three words describe almost all fast foods. Avoid artificial trans fats, as these are produced by the hydrogenation of unstructured fats. Trans-fats are commonly used in restaurants because they are cheap alternatives to natural saturated fats. Hydrogenated fats raise harmful LDL levels while simultaneously decreasing good HDL cholesterol levels. Artificial trans fats have a 23% greater chance of triggering heart disease. 2. Sugar It is not just fats but added sugars that can also raise cholesterol levels. Adults who consume 25% of their calories from drinks with high fructose corn syrup have a 17% increase in LDL levels in 14 days.

Growing children feel hungry often, and they love munching on snacks in between. This is an incredible opportunity for parents to sneak in some healthy nutrition into their child’s tummy. But juggling between school, classes, and sports practice, you spend lots of time traveling, probably in a car, which is the most complicated place to clean food stains. Hence, you could stock up on the following healthy kid snacks. These are dry and mess-free. 1. Popcorn While its availability in movie theaters alongside candies and soda can make it seem like junk, popcorn is, at its core, a nutritious and healthy kid snack. You might not want to give this to your toddler since it can pose a choking hazard. But if you’re confident that it won’t be a problem, air-pop some corn regularly. It’s easy to pack in a ziplock or Tupperware and carry around on the way to classes or soccer practice. Drizzle some butter or sprinkle grated cheese to make it more appealing. 2. Dried fruits While fresh fruits are full of juices and can be messy, dried fruits are perfect since they contain essential nutrients and are travel-friendly. You can buy individual dried fruits and chop and mix them to make a healthy kid snack.

During the winter season, cold and flu are frequently experienced. So you have to keep your immunity system strong. There are cold and flu superfoods that will help you to spend the season in good health. Therefore, you will not end up in the doctor’s office very often. The vitamins and minerals in the foods will help in strengthening the natural defense of the body. Here is the list of the superfoods which you can eat to escape from cold and flu. 1. Ginseng tea The Ginseng tea tastes delicious. But it also keeps you safe against the seasonal cold and flu. That is why it comes on the list of cold and flu superfoods. For many years the tea has been used to treat upper respiratory tract infections, otherwise called the common cold. The tea can reduce the ill effects of cold and influenza. 2. Wild salmon There is a lot of zinc in wild salmon. It is a nutrient that can lessen the symptoms of the common cold and flu. So eating zinc-rich foods can help you to stay healthy. You can build your immune system, making you less likely to get cold and flu in the winter.

While there is lots of cancer information available everywhere, there is also a lot of obscurity surrounding effective treatments for the condition. According to several medical professionals, eating a healthy diet can help us lessen the risk of getting cancer. The right foods help the body maintain its overall health, and can also help manage one’s susceptibility to cancer. To that end, here are certain nutrition-rich foods to reduce the risk of cancer. 7 Healthy Foods Effective Against Cancer 1. Drink green tea every day Green tea is an excellent antioxidant. It is an important part of the cancer and lifestyle plan. Also, it has beneficial properties that can fight against pancreas, liver, lung and skin cancer. There is a nontoxic chemical present in the beverage that prevents the growth of urokinase. It is an enzyme that triggers the growth of cancer. Therefore you can try drinking one cup of green tea every day. 2. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables Fruits and vegetables are filled with beneficial vitamins and minerals, making them an integral part of any health-centric meal plan. When you eat plant-based foods, there is  little room in your body for foods high in sugar content. So, instead of snacking on junk foods, whenever you feel hungry, opt for fresh or dry fruits, along with things like nuts and baked or grilled vegetables.