A1C level is a measurement used to indicate your blood sugar levels. It is vital to have your blood tested regularly to determine your A1C levels and check if you have diabetes. Even if you don’t have diabetes, you should try to keep your blood sugar levels in control. What is A1C level? When sugar enters the bloodstream, it attaches itself to a protein called hemoglobin that is present in your red blood cells. This sugar-bound protein is known as glycated hemoglobin. The higher the amount of such hemoglobin in your blood, the higher your blood sugar levels will be. A1C tests are conducted to gauge your blood sugar levels over the past three months, to get an idea of your sugar level fluctuations. Hemoglobin cells live for about three to four months, so A1C levels give a good picture of your glucose level in the bloodstream for that period. What is the optimal A1C level? A1C levels are referred to in percentages. For a nondiabetic patient, the A1C level should preferably be less than 5.7%. Anything between 5.7% and 6.4% indicates prediabetes. An A1C level of 6.5% and above means that the patient has diabetes. For a person with diabetes, the target is to bring the A1C level below 7%.

The best diet for fibromyalgia usually contains foods that exclude dietary excitotoxins. They may be present in food additives or preservatives which are used in artificial sweeteners, processed foods as well as canned food. Avoiding these foods in your diet reduces the occurrence of fibromyalgia. How to choose the best diet for fibromyalgia To craft the best diet for fibromyalgia, one needs to determine the impact of dietary excitotoxins. Neurons in the brain get excited when one consumes chemicals like dietary excitotoxins, and excessive consumption could prove fatal. Food additives for making food sweeter or more flavorful are the most common types of dietary excitotoxins. Eradicating excitotoxins from the diet would be one of the most radical ways of reducing the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Here are some tips that will help you design the best diet for fibromyalgia: Avoid foods with added glutamate: A neurotransmitter, glutamate, is a chemical used by nerve cells to transmit signals to other cells. It is included in some foods as well. Sometimes, it is used to enhance the flavor of food. A common type of glutamate, monosodium glutamate (MSG) is found in some diets, and one should avoid the foods which use this additive at all costs.

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ located below the liver. It collects and stores bile, which is produced by the liver and releases it into the small intestine to aid the process of digestion. Majority of people seldom give a thought to the health of their gallbladder. Although unlike the liver, heart and the kidneys, the gallbladder isn’t really necessary for maintaining body health and proper functioning, yet it is an important body organ. There are varieties of foods that keep the gallbladder healthy while there are some that increase the likelihood of problems like gallstones or inflammation. These problems can trigger agonizing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bloating and abdominal pain. Such a scenario often leads to surgery, where the gallbladder is removed. Therefore, it is important to consume a healthy gallbladder diet to promote good health and keep problems at bay. Although diet doesn’t have a direct impact on gallbladder problems, watching what one eats and maintaining a healthy body weight can help to prevent the formation of gallstones and consequently, avoid the discomfort they cause. Diet and gallstone risk Diets that are high in fat and cholesterol and low in fiber are more likely to result in gallstones.

A balanced morning meal is highly essential and is also a great way to kick start and plan the day ahead. Research suggests that meals comprising of proteins can help you with satiety and even secure a toned body. Proteins are not meant only for bodybuilders anymore. For starters, there are several benefits of breakfast meals balanced with protein-rich foods. During its digestion, it breaks into different amino acids that trigger the increase in the levels of the gut hormone known as peptide YY. This hormone sends signals to your brain that you have eaten your fill. Moreover, protein slows down the rate of carbohydrate absorption, which in turn will help you to keep a check on your blood sugar level and will help you maintain your weight. So, it means that a protein-packed breakfast can keep you healthy and full until your lunch time. That’s why we have come up with different types of high-protein breakfast ideas, which are tasty as well as healthy. Yogurt-berry parfait You can opt for a 6-ounce non-fat yogurt, which contains 6 grams more protein than normal Greek yogurt as a morning snack to start your day. You can make it healthier by adding natural sweeteners like berries.

Supplements and vitamins can help your muscles, bones, and many other body parts. According to many medical study reports, some of the vitamins and supplements may help in improving the blood pressure, lowering the cholesterol level along with maintaining other things that can put your heart at risk. Here is a list of some of the best vitamins for a healthy heart and some supplements. Even though it is unclear whether these vitamins or food supplements help in preventing strokes, heart attacks, and other heart-related diseases or not, but still it is sure that these help in maintaining a healthy heart. Read on and try to add these vitamins, nutrients, and supplements to your daily diet to maximize the heart health. Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid) This is one of the best vitamins for a healthy heart, which you can add to your diet chart. It helps in regulating the homocysteine in the bloodstream. This homocysteine is an amino acid that is associated with the possible risks of causing blood clots. Broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, and lentils are great natural resources of vitamin b9. Vitamin D Many medical research reports have reflected the fact that deficiency of vitamin D can lead to higher chances of heart-related problems.

People spend most of their time talking about their physical health without paying any heed to their brain health. What you need to understand is, the brain is also an essential aspect for your health. Without the right functioning of your brain, your life could literally become a living hell. Also, if you can somehow boost the power of your brain, then it could provide you miraculous results whether it is in the professional field or studies. Your brainpower starts to decline in your 20s. Therefore, many people turn to brain-boosting supplements to increase their declining brain power. Here, we discuss some of the best boosting supplements that you can use to enhance your brain power. Fish Oils Fish oil supplements are one of the rich sources of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), and two types of omega-3 fatty acids. There many health benefits associated with these fatty acids and one of them is improving your brain health. DHA plays one of the most pivotal roles in the functioning of your brain and keeping it structured. EPA and other omega-3 fatty acids help to protect your brain from getting damaged. DHA supplements are regarded as one of the best brain-boosting supplements .

The formation of small pouches along the intestinal walls is called diverticulosis. When these small pouches are inflamed or infected, it could cause several problems. As far as diverticulitis is concerned, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest what its exact cause is. However, the symptoms of diverticulitis are well known, and it is necessary to identify the foods that trigger diverticulitis. Foods that trigger diverticulitis Here are some food items that trigger diverticulitis, and one should avoid them at all costs. Spicy foods Eating spicy foods may cause discomfort. Chinese or Indian food, as well as red chilies, may worsen your digestive problems. You could exhibit signs like vomiting, diarrhea or other complications due to an inflammation of the digestive system. Broccoli If you have diverticulitis, broccoli could be a problem for you. Broccoli causes flatulence and discomfort in the lower abdomen. Though broccoli usually smoothens the bowel movements, in some cases, it could lead to hardening of the stools. Cabbage You could experience flatulence while eating cabbage if you are suffering from diverticulitis. As the body breaks down the cabbage, it could lead to gut inflammation. Thus, you tend to belch or release gas, and this could be embarrassing if you are in a formal setting.

Apple cider vinegar is known to have been used for many purposes since ancient times. Fermentation of the cider of apples obtained by crushing and pressing apples gives you apple cider vinegar. Known to be used in a variety of ways, from cooking to heart health to losing weight, apple cider vinegar is very useful. Most of all, apple cider vinegar for gout is one of the most well-known uses of apple cider vinegar A Brief Understanding of Gout Gout is a form of arthritis that can afflict anyone. Most typical symptoms of gout would include pain in the joints; mostly, the joint that connects at the base of your big toe. These are sudden attacks of pain, accompanied by incidences of swelling and redness around your joints. You are most likely to experience severe bouts of pain in your joints like wrists and knees. You are also likely to experience pain in certain other parts of your body, such as the ankles, elbows, fingers. This pain can last from 4 hours to as long as 12 hours. Such episodes of pain often result in a lingering effect of discomfort. After a point of time, you may also experience problems in moving your joints normally.