Although cholesterol is required for the proper functioning of the body, high blood cholesterol levels can be quite dangerous. When the cholesterol levels in your blood are high, it tends to stick on the walls of the arteries, narrowing or even blocking them. High cholesterol levels increase the risk of coronary artery disease and other heart diseases, but a well-planned diet can help you lower your cholesterol levels. Let’s look at a few dietary tips for patients with high cholesterol levels: Choose healthy fats : Keeping a check on both total and saturated fats is an effective dietary tip for patients with high cholesterol. Lower than 25 to 30 percent of your total calories should come from dietary fats, and less than 7 percent should come from saturated fats. Saturated fats are extremely harmful, as they tend to shoot up your LDL or bad cholesterol levels. Trans fats can also raise LDL cholesterol levels, so the best option is healthy fats like nuts and lean meat. You should use unsaturated oil like olive oil, canola oil, and sunflower oil. Lower the intake of cholesterol-rich food : Foods rich in cholesterol are harmful, as your cholesterol levels are already high. So, it is best to avoid organ meats, egg yolks, whole milk, full-fat dairy products, and shrimp.

People with schizophrenia can show a variety of symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, mood swings, and disordered speech or behavior. The cause of schizophrenia, like with most mental illness, is unknown. Although the conventional treatment for the condition is antipsychotic medications, studies have proven that food has an important role in the treatment procedure. Some foods are best avoided by people with schizophrenia, and here we list some of these foods to avoid for managing the condition: Stimulants : Those with schizophrenia are most likely to have diabetes and blood sugar problems, and stimulants like amphetamines or caffeine can induce schizophrenia. So, people with schizophrenia need to stay away from foods that contain caffeine, refined carbohydrates, alcohol, and cigarettes. Stimulants affect the ability of one’s body to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, so they are a big no-no for patients of schizophrenia. Bread : Wheat can be a huge sensitivity factor in people with certain mental health conditions like schizophrenia. Studies show that the condition improved in some people when they avoided bread. It is also believed that people with schizophrenia fare better when put on a gluten-free diet. Refined sugar : People with schizophrenia face a higher risk of developing diabetes, and the symptoms can be eased if they follow a diet with foods that are low on the glycemic index.

Migraine can be difficult to deal with, particularly because of the different symptoms it manifests in different individuals. Due to this reason, it can become really difficult to understand what is triggering the migraine. There is no universal trigger, so a particular food that affects one group of people might not be harmful to others. As food triggers are some of the most common triggers for migraines, here are a few surprising food items that can trigger migraines: Chewing gum: A study that examined several people with recurring headaches and a regular habit of chewing gum showed that about 87% of these people reported little to even no headaches at all in a short span after quitting the habit. Immediately after the researchers asked these people to start chewing gum regularly, all of them reported more severe headaches and migraines. Chewing gum is considered to be a food trigger for migraines as it places heavy pressure on the temporomandibular joint. Disorders of this join have a connection with headaches, establishing chewing gum as a potential trigger for migraines. Cheese: Aged cheese contains a compound called tyramine, which is highly associated with triggering migraine attacks. The greater the age of the cheese, the higher the amount of tyramine present in it.

When it comes to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), it can become a challenge to understand what one should eat when there is so much focus on what one should avoid. While planning an IBS-friendly diet, only focusing on what wouldn’t worsen the condition can lead to overlooking the potential of food and diet in improving the symptoms. While there is little research on how much improvement can be brought about by dietary choices alone, individuals could always try to observe the results by including foods that are known to boost digestive health. Some foods to eat for IBS patients are: Eggs:  Eggs can be easily digested and are considered to be safe to eat for IBS patients. Eggs can be consumed hard, soft-boiled, or scrambled. In addition, frittatas and omelets can also make for a healthy meal at any time of the day. Some people, however, may develop a sensitivity to the protein content in eggs or the fat content in the yolk. In such cases, eggs should be left out of the diet. Lean meats:  The main component of lean meat is protein. As proteins can be digested easily and cannot be fermented by the gut bacteria, several symptoms of IBS can be eliminated by including protein sources in the meals.

The food we consume is the main source of energy for our bodies. Every activity, including breathing, requires energy, and the food we consume can make these activities easier by improving them or slow down the activities by developing further obstacles. Particularly in the case of COPD patients, dietary choices play a crucial role in triggering or alleviating the symptoms. Here are a few dietary tips for managing COPD effectively: Add high-fiber foods into the diet : Fiber is an important substance in food products and aids digestion. It is the part of a plant that is indigestible, and when consumed, it helps move the food through the digestive tract and enables the process of digestion. In addition, fiber can control blood sugar levels and reduce the amount of blood cholesterol. So, fiber can be a good addition to the diet for people with COPD. Some examples of high-fiber foods are cooked dried peas, whole-grain cereals, some fruits and vegetables, and rice. The recommended dietary intake of fiber is between 20 and 35 grams daily. Limit sodium intake : High amounts of salt or sodium can lead to increased water retention in the body, causing difficulties in breathing. So, avoiding foods with high salt content is a helpful dietary tip for COPD patients.