▪️Too much uric acid in your blood can cause a range of issues from gout to kidney stones. Uric acid forms in the body when the body breaks down purines in foods and drinks. While kidneys usually flush it out, but too much of it can stay in blood and cause a condition called hyperuricemia. 

The excess uric acid can form crystals and settle in your joints causing gout, a form of arthritis. Intense pain in your joints in the night, especially big toe is a telltale sign of gout. Slightly high uric acids do not show any symptoms but over the time it can build up and cause pain and other damage in the body. 

Hyperuricemia not only damages joints, bones, tendons and ligaments but also lead to other health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and fatty liver disease. 

▪️High uric acid can be managed with a series of lifestyle changes like intake of more water and making certain changes in the diet.

An overall healthy lifestyle is crucial to preventing high uric acid levels.

Daily routines such as exercise, a nutritious diet, and getting enough sleep can help your body fight inflammation and in turn prevent high levels of uric acid from building up in your body. 

DO drink plenty of water, elevate and apply ice to the affected joint, reduce stress, and take over-the-counter pain relief such as ibuprofen.

▪️ It’s also helpful to avoid 

• caffeine late in the day 
• moderate your alcohol intake
• AVOID Foods high in Purine:

•Vegetables: asparagus, cauliflower, dried lentils, peans & beans, green peas, mushrooms, spinach.

•Whole Grains: oats, wheat bran.

•Meats: 

anchovies, 

bacon, 

organ meats, 

red meats, 

•Fish

sardines, 

Scallops, kam mossel, saltwater clam , Pecten sulcicostatus, marine bivalve mollusk – Agulhas Bank and 

tuna

▪️7 morning foods 

lower uric acid levels, prevent gout and kidney issues

From hibiscus to banana, manage your high uric acid levels by consuming these amazing foods in morning.

7 herbs to reduce uric acid levels. However, it is always advised to consult your doctor before trying any of the remedies.

1. Hibiscus: Dried hibiscus or hibiscus tea can help in excretion of uric acid through urine and could be effective in lowering uric acid levels. Steep in hot water for 5 minutes before drinking.

2 Dandelion: Another tea that you can have in the morning to lower your uric acid levels in dandelion tea. Evidence supports Dandelion tea found in grocery stores or a dandelion extract can help reduce uric acid levels.

3. Celery: Grown and trusted since ancient times, celery is rich in various antioxidants and possesses anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-viral properties. Antioxidants found in celery can also help to reduce inflammation associated with gout.

4. Ginger: Ginger tea or cooking food with ginger can also help reduce inflammation. Boil a tbsp of grated ginger, soak a cloth in this and apply to affected joint once it cools down. Do it for 30 minutes daily to see the improvement.

5. Banana: A banana a day can be useful in controlling uric acid levels. They contain enough potassium for the organs to function properly. Also, the fibre content in it may help remove uric acid from body.

6. Magnesium: Consistently taking magnesium can help reduce uric acid flairs in future. Nuts like almonds, cashews, and veggies like spinach and pumpkin are rich in magnesium.

7. Apple cider vinegar: It is beneficial for overall health and is believed to reduce uric acid levels too.

Doctors usually diagnose gout based on your symptoms and the appearance of the affected joint.

Tests to help diagnose gout may include:

• Joint fluid test. Your doctor may use a needle to draw fluid from your affected joint. Urate crystals may be visible when the fluid is examined under a microscope.
• Blood test. Your doctor may recommend a blood test to measure the levels of uric acid in your blood. Blood test results can be misleading, though. Some people have high uric acid levels, but never experience gout. And some people have signs and symptoms of gout, but don’t have unusual levels of uric acid in their blood.
• X-ray imaging. Joint X-rays can be helpful to rule out other causes of joint inflammation.
• Ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to detect urate crystals in joints or in tophi.
• Dual-energy computerized tomography (DECT). This test combines X-ray images taken from many different angles to visualize urate crystals in joints.

—————————————————————-

Treatment

Gout medications are available in two types and focus on two different problems. The first type helps reduce the inflammation and pain associated with gout attacks. The second type works to prevent gout complications by lowering the amount of uric acid in your blood.

Which type of medication is right for you depends on the frequency and severity of your symptoms, along with any other health problems you may have.

Medications to treat gout attacks

Drugs used to treat gout flares and prevent future attacks include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs include over-the-counter options such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve), as well as more-powerful prescription NSAIDs such as indomethacin (Indocin, Tivorbex) or celecoxib (Celebrex). NSAIDs carry risks of stomach pain, bleeding and ulcers.
• Colchicine. Your doctor may recommend colchicine (Colcrys, Gloperba, Mitigare), an anti-inflammatory drug that effectively reduces gout pain. The drug’s effectiveness may be offset, however, by side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
• Corticosteroids. Corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone, may control gout inflammation and pain. Corticosteroids may be in pill form, or they can be injected into your joint. Side effects of corticosteroids may include mood changes, increased blood sugar levels and elevated blood pressure.

Medications to prevent gout complications

If you experience several gout attacks each year, or if your gout attacks are less frequent but particularly painful, your doctor may recommend medication to reduce your risk of gout-related complications. If you already have evidence of damage from gout on joint X-rays, or you have tophi, chronic kidney disease or kidney stones, medications to lower your body’s level of uric acid may be recommended.

• Medications that block uric acid production. Drugs such as allopurinol (Aloprim, Lopurin, Zyloprim) and febuxostat (Uloric) help limit the amount of uric acid your body makes. Side effects of allopurinol include fever, rash, hepatitis and kidney problems. Febuxostat side effects include rash, nausea and reduced liver function. Febuxostat also may increase the risk of heart-related death.
• Medications that improve uric acid removal. Drugs such as probenecid (Probalan) help improve your kidneys’ ability to remove uric acid from your body. Side effects include a rash, stomach pain and kidney stones.

Brain Fog is a type of cognitive dysfunction, characterized by confusion, memory issues, and lack of focus. It’s not its own diagnosis but a symptom of an underlying medical condition.

What is brain fog?

Brain fog itself is not a medical condition but instead a symptom of other medical conditions. It’s a type of cognitive dysfunction involving:

memory problems

a lack of mental clarity

poor concentration

an inability to focus

Some people also describe it as mental fatigue. Depending on the severity of brain fog, it can interfere with your work, school, or other daily tasks. 

But it does not have to be a permanent fixture in your life.

What are the causes of brain fog?

Here are six possible causes:

1. Stress

Chronic stress can increase blood pressure, weaken the immune system, and trigger depression. It can also cause mental fatigue. When your brain is exhausted, it becomes harder to think, reason, and focus.

2. Lack of sleep

Poor sleep quality can interfere with how well your brain function. The goal is to usually aim for 8–9 hours of sleep every night. Sleeping too little can lead to poor concentration and cloudy thoughts.

3. Hormonal changes

can also cause brain fog.

Levels of the hormones progesterone and estrogen increase during pregnancy. This change can affect memory and cause short-term cognitive impairment. 

Similarly, a drop in estrogen levels during menopause can cause forgetfulness, poor concentration, and cloudy thinking.

4. Diet

Diet can also play a role in brain fog.

Vitamin B12 supports healthy brain functioning . Vitamin B12 deficiency can affect cognitive function and bring about brain fog.

If you have food allergies or sensitivities, brain fog may develop after eating certain foods. These include:

aspartame

peanuts

dairy

Removing trigger foods from your diet may improve symptoms.

Avocado oil may help you fight free radicals and address oxidative stress in the body. 

The oil contains 99.99% pure, sublimated C60 (never exposed to solvents), and delivers 22 mg of active carbon 60 (C60) per ounce. 

This product has been third-party tested for safety, quality, and purity.

5. Medications

If you notice brain fog while taking medication, talk with your doctor. Brain fog is a known side effect of certain medications, such as certain sleep and pain medications. Lowering your dosage or switching to another drug may improve your symptoms.

Brain fog can also occur after cancer treatments. This is referred to as chemo brain.

6. Medical conditions

Medical conditions associated with inflammation, fatigue, or changes in blood glucose levels can also cause mental fatigue.

For example, brain fog is a symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), which involves persistent fatigue for a prolonged period of time.

People who have fibromyalgia may experience similar fogginess on a daily basis. 

Other conditions that may cause brain fog include:

anemia

depression

diabetes

migraine

hypothyroidism

autoimmune diseases, 

like lupus, 

rheumatoid arthritis, 

Sjögren’s syndrome, 

multiple sclerosis and

dehydration

Viral infections like COVID-19

How it’s diagnosed

A single test cannot be used to diagnose brain fog. Brain fog may signal an underlying issue, so healthcare professionals will conduct a physical examination and ask about your:

mental health

diet

level of physical activity

current medications or supplements

You should let a doctor know about other symptoms you might have. 

Blood work can help your doctor identify the cause of your brain fog. 

A blood test can detect the following:

irregular glucose levels

poor liver, kidney, and thyroid functions

nutritional deficiencies

infections

inflammatory diseases

Based on the results, your doctor will determine whether to run further tests. 

Other diagnostic tools may include imaging tests to look inside the body, like 

X-rays, 

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or 

computerized tomography (CT) scans. 

Your doctor may also conduct allergy testing to check for allergies or a sleep study to rule out a sleep disorder.

Keeping a food journal can help you determine if your diet contributes to brain fog.

Treating brain fog

Brain fog treatment depends on the cause. 

For example, if you have anemia, iron supplements may increase your production of red blood cells and reduce your brain fog.

If you’re diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, a doctor may recommend

corticosteroid or other medication to reduce inflammation or suppress the immune system.

Sometimes, relieving brain fog is a matter of correcting a nutritional deficiency, switching medications, or improving the quality of your sleep.

You can try these strategies at home to relieve brain fog:

Get at least 8–9 hours of sleep every night.

Manage your stress levels, knowing your limitations. Find activities you enjoy doing and try to make time for them. 

Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine.

Exercise regularly, but not too close to bedtime. 

Strengthen your thinking abilities — you can try volunteering or solving brain puzzles. 

Increase your intake of protein, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. 

Once the underlying cause is addressed, your mental clarity can improve.

Alzheimer’s might not be a brain disease after all: The common theory that Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the buildup of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain is now being challenged by a Alzheimer’s new theory. Scientists say Alzheimer’s may be an autoimmune disease.

It suggests that beta-amyloid, rather than being an abnormal protein, is actually a component of the brain’s immune system. Its role is to protect the brain from injury and infection, but due to the similarity between the fat molecules in bacterial membranes and brain cell membranes, beta-amyloid mistakenly attacks the brain cells it’s meant to defend. This leads to a chronic, progressive loss of brain function, ultimately resulting in dementia.

This autoimmune misfire redefines Alzheimer’s as a disorder of the immune system. The autoimmune theory opens up new avenues for treatment by focusing on immune-regulating pathways in the brain, rather than solely targeting beta-amyloid. It offers a promising new direction for research and treatment, potentially leading to more effective therapies for Alzheimer’s disease.

Autoimmune diseases occur when your immune system mistakenly attacks your body’s own tissues, leading to inflammation and damage.

There are over 80 recognized types, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. Common symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes, and fever. While the exact causes are unclear, factors like genetics, infections, and environmental exposures may contribute.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this is the first US bird flu case linked to a backyard flock. A patient has been hospitalized with the first severe case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in the US. CDC confirmed the presence of the virus on December 13, 2024.

Genomic analysis of the H5N1 bird flu virus shows it belongs to the D1.1 genotype, linked to recent detections in US wild birds, poultry, and human cases in Canada and Washington.

This differs from the B3.13 genotype seen in dairy cows, some human cases, and poultry outbreaks. The CDC is conducting further sequencing and virus isolation from the sick patient.

Health comes from peace of mind, peace of the heart and peace in the soul. It comes from laughter and love.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has been steadily increasing in prevalence and incidence over the past three decades. 

Today, EoE has evolved from a rare case-reportable condition to a disease that is commonly encountered in the clinic and endoscopy suite and is a major cause of upper gastrointestinal morbidity and increasing healthcare costs.

Delays in diagnosis persist and management of the disease can be complex. 

While significant advances in the treatment of EoE have been made, studies show many clinicians continue to prescribe therapies with limited effectiveness. 

Moreover, clinicians often forego efforts to engage patients with EoE in shared decision-making, despite evidence demonstrating that patients who participate in decisions around treatment report higher levels of treatment satisfaction.

To provide patient-centered EoE care, clinicians must recognize and navigate 

the diagnostic and management challenges of the condition and tailor therapy selection considerate of patient preferences and values. 

is a calculated geometric index used to quantify a person’s individual body shape. 

Based on the principle of body eccentricity, it provides a rapid visual and anthropometric tool for health evaluation.

Body roundness index

BRI vs height (vertical axis) vs

waist circumference (horizontal axis)

BRI scores ranged from 1 – 16

Scores >  6.9  indicate a wider, rounder bodies – found to have a 49% risk of all-cause mortality. In a 2020 review, a high BRI was associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome.

Vaccines protect against more than 20 diseases:

Cervical cancer
Cholera
Diphtheria
Ebola
Hepatitis B
Influenza
Japanese encephalitis
Malaria
Measles
Meningitis
Mumps
Pertussis
Pneumonia
Polio
Rabies
Rotavirus
Rubella
Tetanus
Typhoid
Varicella
Yellow fever
COVID-19

VaccinesWork!

7 Drinks high in Iron:

• Floradix. Although not technically a beverage, Floradix is a liquid iron supplement that’s a good choice for people with low iron stores. … 
• Prune juice. … 
• Aviva Romm’s iron tonic. … 
• Green juice. … 
• Pea protein shakes. … 
• Cocoa and beef liver smoothie. … 
• Spinach, cashew, and raspberry smoothie.