Diet

What Is BRAT Diet And Why Is It Discontinued?

The BRAT diet constitutes Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. It was a staple home remedy used to treat common gut problems like diarrhea and vomiting. But today it is no longer recommended. It isn’t that the BRAT diet had serious consequences but that it lacks the necessary nutrients needed for long-term benefits.

If you want to follow the BRAT diet, you should first know about the process, advantages, and reasons for discontinuing the diet. The BRAT diet is different for kids and adults. Also, you should know that it is a home remedy and you need to visit a doctor, if it doesn’t work.

Let’s discuss about the BRAT Diet ..

BRAT Diet For Kids

Children suffering from diarrhea should be administered ORS until they become stable. Also, avoid giving them liquid foods to help stabilize their condition. Start this diet for two to three days as it isn’t an alternative to healthier food.

Coconut water
Dry toast
Cooked vegetables
Mashed potato/sweet potato/banana
Rice boiled with lentils
Broth/clear soup

Continue the diet for the said period. If the symptoms improve, bring the child back to their normal diet.

BRAT Diet For Adults

First, give your stomach some rest after vomiting or diarrhea. Once you develop liquid tolerance, you can start sipping water, coconut water, apple juice, or broth. Start with small quantities and increase your liquid intake gradually. Continue your BRAT diet for three days and resume your normal diet after you feel comfortable.

First Day: Take only a liquid diet including coconut water, fruit juice, and broth. Continue drinking liquid every two hours until the symptoms improve.

Second Day: Start taking foods from the BRAT diet including bananas, toast, rice, and applesauce.

Third-Day: Resume your normal diet and add more fruits and vegetables to get nutrition.

Why BRAT Diet?

To understand how this diet works, you need to understand the treatment of a stomach bug. When you have diarrhea, the first six hours are crucial for the treatment. You should take rest after diarrhea or vomiting. Also, you should drink liquid like potable water in small amounts to avoid dehydration.

In clear liquid, you can drink apple juice, weak tea, broth, or flat soda. Taking enough liquid will avoid dehydration and allow your stomach to improve. Soon you will start feeling better and you can continue your BRAT diet.

Take the BRAT diet for three days and return to your normal diet after 72 hours. The BRAT diet will improve your gut health.

How Does Bananas, Rice, Applesauce & Toast Diet Work?

Foods included in the BRAT diet are bland. They have low-fiber content that makes them easy to digest. The bland food is easier on the digestive system. It won’t cause any gut irritation and allow your stomach to heal.

Earlier pediatrics used to recommend the BRAT diet to toddlers suffering from tummy problems. The objective of administering bland food to toddlers is to provide them with nutrition while allowing them to heal. Also, they are kept on … See More

10 Anti-Inflammatory Food Items Good For Your Health

Anti inflammatory food contain nutrients and compounds that help reduce inflammation in the body, such as omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and polyphenols. Examples include fatty fish, berries, leafy greens, nuts, and turmeric. Incorporating these foods into your diet can help with conditions like arthritis, asthma, and other inflammatory diseases.

Here’re 10 Food With Anti Inflammatory Properties

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a key component of the Mediterranean diet and is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It contains polyphenols and oleic acid, which have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body. EVOO may help prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Additionally, the healthy fats in EVOO may help improve cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Incorporating EVOO into your diet as a cooking oil or salad dressing can provide numerous health benefits.

Dark Chocolate And Cocoa

Dark chocolate and cocoa contain flavanols, which are anti-inflammatory compounds that may help reduce inflammation in the body. They also contain antioxidants that can help protect against oxidative stress, a key factor in the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Additionally, dark chocolate and cocoa may help improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels. However, it’s important to choose high-quality, minimally processed dark chocolate or cocoa powder with at least 70% cocoa solids to maximize the potential health benefits. Eating a small amount of dark chocolate or incorporating cocoa powder into smoothies or oatmeal can be a delicious way to support your health.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a good source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has anti-inflammatory properties. Lycopene may help reduce inflammation in the body by decreasing the production of inflammatory cytokines. Research has also shown that lycopene may have anti-cancer properties and can help protect against cardiovascular disease. In addition to lycopene, tomatoes also contain other anti-inflammatory nutrients such as vitamin C and beta-carotene. Cooking tomatoes may increase the bioavailability of lycopene, making tomato sauce or canned tomatoes a good option. Adding tomatoes to salads, sandwiches, or pasta dishes can be an easy and delicious way to incorporate anti-inflammatory foods into your diet.

Fatty Fish

Fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, and sardines, are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties. These fatty acids can help reduce inflammation in the body and may help alleviate symptoms of inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. Additionally, studies have shown that omega-3s may help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by decreasing inflammation in the arteries. Fatty fish is also a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, making it a healthy addition to any diet. However, it’s important to choose wild-caught fish over farmed to avoid harmful pollutants and chemicals.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms contain beta-glucans, a type of polysaccharide that has anti-inflammatory properties. Beta-glucans can … See More

Which Is The Best Milk For Weight Loss?

Contrary to the popular belief, milk is good for weight loss. Also, it isn’t advisable to avoid milk or milk-based products while dieting. It isn’t necessary to stop drinking milk even when you are trying to lose pounds. You should know that milk is an essential part of a balanced diet.

Why Is Milk Necessary For Your Health?

It is a source of protein and also it contains a fair amount of zinc, magnesium, calcium, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and other nutrients necessary for increasing bone density, boosting immunity, and increasing metabolism. Drinking milk is good for your overall health and there is no reason to exclude this nutritious beverage from your diet.

Do You Know That 250 ML Of Milk Contains 8 G Of Protein And 125 MG Of Calcium?

Myth About Milk For Weight Loss

Milk has a high amount of saturated fats and calories that make this nutritious drink unsuitable for weight loss. 250 ml of milk contains 5 g of fat and 152 calories which can add more fat and calories to your already obese body. It is for this reason that people following a low-calorie diet avoid milk and milk-based products to cut down their calorie consumption. They fear that drinking milk could make them more obese in the long run.

What Experts Say About Milk For Weight Loss

Experts find no reason to avoid milk just because it will add more calories to your body. On the contrary, they are of the opinion that there is little harm in consuming milk and milk-based products in limited quantity. Also, they highlight the benefits of consuming milk in the long run.

Studies done on people following a weight loss diet including dairy products found that consuming milk can help them lose weight faster. Also, milk calcium can reduce the risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, type-2 diabetes, and even cardiovascular diseases.

Should I Take Milk While Following A Weight Loss Diet?

You are on a weight loss diet and want to cut your consumption of milk and milk-based products. But little do you know that drinking a cup of milk (250 ml) a day can keep you energetic all day. With milk, your weight loss diet will become a balanced diet. The only condition in which you should stop drinking milk is lactose intolerance. If you are intolerant to lactose, you should exclude milk and milk-based products from your diet.

Which Is The Healthiest Milk?

Cow gives milk and so are buffalo, goat, and other animals. But how do you know which milk is the healthiest of all? As a personal preference, you can choose cow milk or buffalo milk. But if you ask experts about the healthiest milk, you will be surprised to know that cow milk is considered the healthiest of all.

Do You Know That A Cup Of Cow Milk Contains 8 G Of Protein?

A cup of cow milk … See More

10 Tasty Ways To Increase Your Protein Intake

Protein is one of the three macronutrients that the human body requires in large quantities, along with carbohydrates and fats. High Protein snacks is essential for the growth, repair, and maintenance of your muscles, bones, skin, hair, and nails, and is also necessary for the production of hormones, enzymes, and other important molecules in the body.

What Is Your Daily Need For Protein?

According to The DRI (Dietary Reference Intake), an average person needs 0.36 grams of protein per pound (0.8 grams per kg) of body weight. But the actual daily intake of a person depends on factors including activity level, age, and overall health.

For example, sportspersons require roughly 0.5-1 gram of protein for every pound of body weight each day. They need this much protein to complete strenuous training schedules. But an average person shouldn’t overdo it though as too much protein could cause problems.

Protein Deficiency Symptoms

Mood Swings

The human brain uses neurotransmitters to relay information between cells and these neurotransmitters are made of amino acids that are building blocks of protein. Lack of protein will affect the quality of neurotransmitters leading to slowing down of the brain function and mood swings like depression or being overly aggressive.

Weakness

A low level of protein can reduce your muscle mass, strength, and metabolism leading to weakness and fatigue. Also, it will become for you to maintain your posture, especially if you’re 55 or older. It could also lead to anemia which is a chronic condition.

Hunger

If you feel hungry even after regular meals, you are protein deficient. It is the protein that keeps you full for a long time and its deficiency could lead to hunger pangs. Also, you could overeat due to hunger pangs.

Feeling Sick

Amino acids are necessary proteins as they help build antibodies that strengthen the immune system. You need antibodies to fight bacteria, viruses, and other harmful elements. Lack of protein could lead to the weakening of the immune system leading to a feeling of sickness all the time. Also, protein can affect the level of good bacteria in your gut.

Skin, Hair, And Nail Problems

You need protein to make elastin, collagen, and keratin to keep your skin, hair, and nails healthy. If you are protein deficient, it will be visible on your skin, hair, and nails. Your hair will become thin and brittle due to a lack of keratin. Deep ridges will come up on your fingernails due to a lack of protein. Similarly, your skin will become dry and flaky, if you have protein deficiency.

Swelling

Lack of protein could lead to fluid buildup in your tissues. It will be visible in swelling around your abdomen, legs, feet, and hands. Protein deficiency is considered one of the prime reasons for edema because it is a protein (albumin) that prevents the building up of fluid in … See More