Diet

Blueberries are nature’s own multivitamin! They contain immune-boosting vitamins C and E, B vitamins for metabolism and energy, and vitamin K for normal blood clotting, providing you anywhere from 4% of your daily values (B vitamins) to as much as 24% DV (vitamin K).

If you have hypothyroidism, ensure you have foods rich in nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, zinc, and selenium which are needed for thyroid hormone production and regulation. Anti-inflammatory foods like omega 3 fatty acid-rich fish, apple cider vinegar, flax or chia seeds, and probiotics like fermented foods and yogurt can also help you cope better.

A balanced diet is essential during dialysis. Keep a strict tab on your fluid intake. Legumes, beans, and cottage cheese will provide safe protein. Eat oatmeal and oat bran to keep cholesterol levels low. Keep salt in check by cutting down on processed foods; use lemon zest, vinegar, mustard for flavoring. Choose foods low in potassium - apples, pears, berries, radish, asparagus, and zucchini.

Foodies who love their meat find it extremely hard to give up. Attachment to and an affinity for meat causes meat cravings. Not meeting the adequate dietary protein requirements might also be a cause for this. People who are deficient in iron, zinc, vitamin B12, folate, or magnesium might crave red meat. Pregnant women might also have these cravings. Often, craving for meat might be craving for junk food. The latter is highly addictive.

Chewing your way through your food can help you combat weight gain problems. Tricks like using smaller-sized tableware and loading half your plate with non-starchy veggies can also help you cut portions and lose weight. Eating a healthy breakfast in the morning will kick-start your metabolism and prevent unhealthy snacking, while swapping the soda for zero-calorie water can also make losing weight a lot easier.

Yellow watermelon, a lesser-known cousin of the more popular red variety, is a tropical fruit with a number of health benefits. Its abundant nutrients and compounds work well to ward off eye diseases, improve digestion, aid in managing weight, and relieve muscle soreness. Not just that, they also enhance immune function, heart health, and kidney function and may even prevent cancer.

Chromium-rich foods like broccoli, barley, and oats are easy to come by and great for your health overall. If you’re strapped for time, drink up your chromium through orange juice, grape juice, and even red wine! Other good sources of chromium are potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, and romaine lettuce – all readily available, so get shopping!

Whether you can give birth to fraternal twins depends on your genes. Other factors that raise your chances include age above 35 years, a higher BMI, a diet rich in dairy products, and multiple pregnancies. IVF is known to hike the chances too. Do note, however, that the factors responsible for the conception of identical twins remain unknown.

Nuts and seeds are a good addition to your line-up of omega 3-rich foods. Walnuts of all kinds – black, butternut, English – can get you healthy doses of omega 3 fatty acid ALA. So can flaxseeds, mustard seeds, chia seeds, and pecans.

Looking for a vegan/vegetarian alternatives to boost your omega 3 fatty acid intake? Seeds like chia seeds, flaxseeds, and mustard seeds can give you more omega 3 than you’d imagine! Walnuts also pack on the omega 3 fatty acids. Besides these, you could also opt for spinach, soybeans, tofu, winter squash, blueberries, wild rice, and beans and lentils.

Carotenoids can be found abundantly in bright red, orange, and yellow fruits and veggies like oranges, carrots, tomatoes, red peppers, and pumpkin. Green leafy veggies, raw papaya, and tomatoes have them too. While carotenoids like α and β carotene and β cryptoxanthin make vitamin A in your body, lutein and zeaxanthin protect the eye, and lycopene lowers blood pressure.

Iron is an essential nutrient that performs many vital functions in your body. Get your daily dose of iron (and yumminess) from fruits like mulberries, Zante currants, and dried apricots. Tomatoes, pumpkins, prunes, and coconut are also good sources of iron. As are refreshing watermelons, yummy peaches, and sweet dates.

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