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Dengue Fever Surges in the Pacific

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Last June 29, 2017, Hanoi, Vietnam reported 500 people infected with dengue fever. In the Indian state of Kerala, at least 86 people have been recorded dead in July 2017. In Sri Lanka, there have been more than 100,000 cases and almost 300 dead. The same disease plagues Malaysia, New Caledonia, and other countries in the Pacific.

Dengue is a viral disease that affects tropical and subtropical places. It is transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquito and passed on to humans through bites. Humans infected by dengue become carriers of the disease. When an uninfected mosquito bites these carriers, they get the virus. In this process, the number of infected mosquitoes and human victims continually increase.

Type 2 Dengue Fever in the Pacific Islands

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has been monitoring several countries in the Pacific. This includes Palau, New Caledonia, American Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, and French Polynesia. Dr. Salanieta Saketa, the deputy director of the SPC Public Health Division, says that the same type of dengue has been circulating these countries and more. They monitor each of them every week.

In a statement released by Saketa, she said that dengue type 2 has not been in circulation in the Pacific for about 20 years. Medical experts thought that people in the Pacific have finally developed immunity against it. However, recent records say otherwise. Locals and tourists are still susceptible to the disease.

The symptoms of dengue type 2 include fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, pain in the eye area, skin rashes, and muscle pain. For now, the SPC continues to monitor countries where dengue type 2 is detected.

Tourists Warned Against Dengue

Eleven people have been recorded dead in New Caledonia so far in 2017 because of the mosquito-borne disease. Over 4000 people have been affected by it. These include tourists. New Zealand has been alarmed as more than 9000 Kiwis go to the island during the holidays every year.

The government of New Zealand warns their citizens about the sudden surge of dengue. Within six months, there are already 71 Kiwis who have contracted the disease.

Dr. Colin Tukuitonga of the SPC says that dengue type 1 is present in more countries in the Pacific. However, the immediate danger lies with dengue type 2. There’s no vaccine for the disease yet and the best preventive measure appears to be avoiding infected mosquitoes. The public is advised to keep their surroundings clean and drain stagnant water.

The Cause of the Sudden Surge of Disease

While there are no concrete findings yet, climate change is said to have been one of the major causes of dengue fever outbreaks. Studies show that climate change has brought hotter and wetter weather, thus creating an ideal home for disease-spreading pests like mosquitos.

It’s not yet clear whether or not the dengue fever problem in the Pacific will create a health crisis. The SPC needs to observe affected countries for a longer time to get definite conclusions. For the meantime, locals and tourists should be careful. Precautions like using mosquito-repellent lotion should be taken. If they experience symptoms of the disease, it’s best that they consult a doctor right away.

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Food and drinks you should avoid if you suffer from acid reflux – Stay healthy

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Acid reflux occurs when the acid in your stomach leaks up into the wrong direction, right from the stomach to the oesophagus. Some of the most common symptoms of acid reflux are difficulty in swallowing food, heartburn and sometimes there can be no symptoms as well. It may be painful, inconvenient and even uncomfortable for the sufferer.

If you don’t know how this happens, here is some information for you. When you swallow some food, it moves down the oesophagus and then passes through a string of muscle called the LOS or lower oesophageal sphincter and then lands up into the stomach. The LOS controls whatever enters your stomach and to prevent the contents of the stomach from moving back again. When the LOS gets too relaxed, acid reflux occurs. Let’s take a look at the food and drinks which you should avoid if you suffer from acid reflux.

#1: Foods containing high fat

When you have food containing fat, it slows down the process of emptying of the stomach, thereby increasing the opportunity for a distended stomach. This boosts the symptoms of a reflux. There are some common high fat offenders and they are deep fried chips and fish, fatty cuts of meat, especially lamb and pork.

#2: Citrus

Do you have a glass of orange juice or may be food after squeezing lemon? No, citrus juice doesn’t lead to acid reflux but there are certain individuals who experience symptoms of heartburn.

#3: Spicy foods

There are some people who find that too much of spices aggravate the symptoms of acid reflux. However, the evidence for this is mixed and people should be careful about their individual spice tolerance capability.

#4: Onion and garlic

Onions can definitely be one of the biggest offenders for people who suffer from severe acid reflux. Garlic can also lead to this, but that is not too common. Nevertheless, the combination of garlic and onion together can definitely become problematic.

#5: Peppermint

Do you have an idea of after-dinner mint tea because someone recommended you as a digestive remedy for acid reflux? If answered yes, this could sometimes have a worse symptom as peppermint has a characteristic of relaxing the LOS and allows the acid in the stomach to flow back through the oesophagus.

#6: Chocolate

There are again few evidences that chocolate can worsen the symptoms of acid reflux but this is usually dependent on its dose. While there are some for whom even small amounts of chocolate can cause acid reflux, there are some others who have to eat enough chocolate to suffer from the symptoms.

#7: Alcohol

This causes increased production of acid and also relaxes the LOS, thereby causing acid reflux and even worsens the acid reflux symptoms.

Therefore, if you’re thinking of making a change to your diet so that you no longer suffer from acid reflux, make sure you follow the above mentioned tips from the experts.

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Best foods for a healthy liver

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Liver is the internal organ that breaks down carbohydrates, makes glucose and assists in detoxing the human body. It stores nutrients, creates bile, and thus, promotes proper digestion and absorption of nutrients present in food. So, it is extremely important to look after your liver in order to maintain a healthy body.

Now, the question is how to keep your liver healthy? There are many drinks and foods that you can consume for protecting your liver. Read the complete article to know all about those foods.

What foods protect our liver?

Here is a list of some drinks and foods that you can consume to strengthen your liver.

  1. 1. Coffee- Research studies have revealed that people who drink coffee on a daily basis have less chances of developing acute liver disease. Coffee is a liver friendly drink. It gives the liver protection against diseases such as fatty liver. It not only lessens buildup of fat in the liver but also increases antioxidants.
  2. 2. Green tea- Green tea is another liver friendly drink that you should commence taking. We all know about the multiple health benefits of green tea on our hair, skin, digestive system, and several other body parts. Green tea also decreases signs of NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease).
  3. 3. Grapefruit- Grapefruit is a beneficial fruit known to promote good health. It contains important oxidants, namely, naringenin and naringin. Both these antioxidants provide protection to our liver from injuries. They protect the liver cells and reduce inflammation.
  4. 4. Oatmeal- Including oatmeal in your diet is a simple way to consume fiber. Fiber has a great role to play when it comes to bettering the digestive system of a person. Oatmeal and oats are rich in beta-glucans. They modulate our immune system, fight against obesity, inflammation, and diabetes.
  5. 5. Garlic- You can also add garlic to your everyday diet as it stimulates our liver. Garlic consumption also helps us keep body weight in check, especially in people suffering from NAFLD.
  6. 6. Fatty fish- Cooking with fish oil and eating fatty fish can be a great help for people dealing with NAFLD. Fatty fish contains omega-3 fatty acids. They are the good fats, fats responsible for lessening inflammation. These fats are extremely liver friendly as they also maintain the liver’s enzyme levels.
  7. 7. Berries- Berries are also good for the liver. Moreover, there are so many options from cranberries and blueberries to raspberries that you’ll never be bored of eating them.
  8. 8. Nuts- As nuts are rich in Vitamin E and fatty acids, they also protect the liver from NAFLD. So, include almonds and walnuts in your diet.
  9. 9. Olive oil- Too much fat can cause serious damage to the liver. On the other hand, some fats can do wonders to the liver. Olive oil, for instance, helps in reduction of oxidative stress and improvement of liver function. So, start adding olive oil to your salads and other food items.

So, eating the foods mentioned above will ensure that your liver remains fit and healthy. Also, try to lessen the consumption of alcohol and sugar.

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Best foods for gaining weight quickly

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Only those who have remained skinny for years know that gaining weight is as hard as losing weight. There can be several reasons for which people fail to gain weight. Eating the right foods and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will definitely help you add muscles. Here are the foods that you should start having to put on weight fast:

Are you eating right?

Overeating is not the correct way of gaining weight as your body needs a balanced diet. Here is a list of healthy foods for you:

  1. 1. Homemade smoothies- Drinking smoothies made at home is the quickest and most nutritious way to gain body weight. You should refrain from depending on the commercial ones as they lack nutrients and contain excess sugar. The best thing about smoothies is that they are not just healthy but also extremely tasty. Chocolate banana nut shake, Caramel apple shake, Chocolate hazelnut shake and Vanilla berry shake are some tasty smoothie combinations.
  2. 2. Rice- If you are looking for a low-cost, convenient source of carbohydrate, nothing can substitute rice. One cup of steamed rice contains 43 grams carbohydrates and 190 calories. However, keep in mind that eating large quantity of rice is not wise as it can lead to toxicity.
  3. 3. Milk- Milk has remained the favorite muscle builder and weight gainer of young people forever. It contains proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Apart from being an excellent source of protein, milk also has vitamins, minerals and calcium. Try drinking one glass of milk after or before working out.
  4. 4. Nut butters and nuts- You must eat nuts as well as nut butters if you want to gain weight. Just some almonds can give you 18 grams of fat, and this fat is healthy fat. If you want to start eating nuts, walnuts have to be in your list.
  5. 5. Oily fish- Just like red meat, oily fish and salmon are great protein sources. They also provide a rare nutrient, omega-3 fatty acids. So, start consuming salmon once in a week and notice the difference yourself.
  6. 6. Protein supplements- The secret behind the amazing physique of body builders and athletes is protein supplements. Taking help of supplements containing whey protein can be a cost-effective, easy strategy for gaining weight. However, digesting supplements rich in protein can be difficult if your daily schedule does not permit you to work out or exercise.
  7. 7. Avocados- Avocados contain healthy fats. As opposed to most fruits that are light, avocados are calorie-dense and so, helps us gain mass. One decent size avocado can give you almost 322 calories, 17 grams fiber and 29 grams fat.
  8. 8. Dried fruits- Dried fruits are high in calorie and also contain micronutrients and antioxidants. They are also extremely tasty and a great variety of them are available for you to choose from.

Eating these foods will definitely help you get into your desired shape quickly. But, if you are one of those people who can never gain weight in spite of eating healthy foods on a daily basis, it is better to seek medical help and find out the reason behind it.

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