Search Results for: Green

What should you do when sciatica flares?

It may take a combination of approaches to ease the discomfort of a sciatica flare-up. Strategies include staying active, modifying activities to make them less demanding on the back, stretching, using hot or cold therapy, meditating, and using oral or topical painkillers. If the flare-up lasts longer than a week or two and isn’t responding to home remedies, it’s time to make a doctor appointment. The doctor might order imaging tests and prescribe a prescription anti-inflammatory drug, such as oral or injected prednisone.

The colonoscopy diet

It’s a good idea to eat a certain diet before and after a colonoscopy. Eating a low-fiber diet a few days before the procedure helps move foods through the colon quickly, which can make colon prep easier. On the day before the procedure, it’s important to consume only clear liquids (such as broth or bouillon, black coffee, plain tea, clear juices, clear soft drinks or sports drinks, Jell-O, and popsicles). After the procedure, it’s safe to resume a normal diet. But eating too much fiber too quickly might cause gas, bloating, and discomfort. It might be wisest to restart a normal fiber-rich diet gradually.

What are foods that can strengthen bones with osteoporosis?

The two most important nutrients to help maintain bone strength and prevent further bone loss in people with osteoporosis are vitamin D and calcium. It’s possible to get some of your vitamin D from sunlight and food, but few foods contain it. Many people need to take a vitamin D supplement. Rich sources of dietary calcium include fortified beverages, dairy foods (milk, cheese, yogurt), nuts, seeds, beans, soy, certain vegetables (leafy greens, rhubarb, artichoke, squash), fruits, and seafood.

When would you consider sputum a high-risk fluid?

When sputum contains blood, it raises concern. But people with simple bronchitis can cough up a few specks of blood. Coughing up clots of blood or persistent bloody sputum may indicate a serious problem and requires medical evaluation. People often believe that green sputum means a bacterial infection. That is not a reliable indicator. White cells that are fighting a viral infection can turn sputum green or dark yellow. 

What are the symptoms of sinusitis?

When the sinuses become inflamed or infected, the mucus thickens and clogs the openings to one or more sinuses. Fluid builds up inside the sinuses causing increased pressure. Also bacteria can become trapped, multiply and infect the lining. Common symptoms of sinusitis include nasal congestion, thick green nasal discharge, fever, headache, tiredness and facial pain.

What is age-related macular degeneration and how can one avoid it?

There are two types of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), dry AMD and wet AMD. Most people with the dry type will have a slow loss of vision. If it converts to the wet type, the time to potential blindness is faster. People with a history of smoking are more likely to develop AMD. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you do smoke, try to quit. Some (but not all) evidence suggests that a diet rich in green leafy vegetables, fruits, fish and nuts may reduce the risk of AMD.

What your mucus says about your health?

When mucus produced from a cough contains blood, it raises concern. But people with simple bronchitis can cough up a few specks of blood. Coughing up clots of blood or persistent bloody mucus may indicate a serious problem and requires medical evaluation. People often believe that green mucus means a bacterial infection. That is not a reliable indicator. White cells that are fighting a viral infection can turn mucus green or dark yellow. 

The portfolio diet: A smart investment for your heart

The portfolio diet, which emphasizes foods rich in fiber and healthy fats, helps lower LDL cholesterol. A 2023 study suggests that the more closely people follow the diet, the lower their risk of cardiovascular disease. The diet discourages foods from animal sources and features foods from five main categories, including (1) plant protein such as legumes; (2) nuts and seeds; (3) foods rich in viscous fibers such as oatmeal, eggplant, and berries; (4) plant sterols such as phytosterol-enriched margarine; and (5) monounsaturated fats such as olive and canola oils.