Skincare products are formulated to help cleanse, exfoliate, and counter surface odors. But most of these daily-use sunscreens, moisturizers, and creams are made using synthetic compounds. Regularly using such products intensifies chemical concentration on the skin and triggers irritation and allergies. People with sensitive skin or a disorder like eczema usually switch to organic products to protect the skin. This article elaborates five skincare ingredients that can be quite aggravating for those with eczema. Parabens A lot of beauty products come with a “paraben-free” disclaimer. This ingredient is one of the most used preservatives in almost all cosmetic products in the market, especially fragrances. Compounds like propylparaben and Iosbutylparaben will increase the shelf life of the product but are quite harmful to sensitive skin and people with eczema. Moisturizing agents Lanolin, propylene glycol, and petroleum jelly are largely used in moisturizing products and protective lotions. Any skin care product with these ingredients worsens the symptoms of atopic dermatitis or eczema. Improper refining processes trigger a release of irritants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Synthetic fragrances Fragrances are formulated to mask body odor and have a long-lasting effect even on hot days. But a lot of these fragrances are made with chemicals and added scents that may smell good but trigger irritation in eczema patients.

Osteoporosis is a condition in which the patient’s bones become brittle and porous. This increases the chances of getting bone fractures and experiencing joint pain. Sometimes bones become so brittle that coughing or bending over causes a fracture. Although osteoporosis does not have a permanent cure, there are ways to manage its symptoms and strengthen weakened bones. Listed in this article are some of the steps that can be taken to promote bone health naturally. Opt for calcium-rich foods Calcium plays an integral part in the maintenance of bone density for osteoporosis patients, which is why it needs to be incorporated in every meal. Dairy products are an ideal source of calcium. However, calcium-fortified food options like cereals, yogurt, juices, and more can be equally resourceful. Include physical activity In our fast-paced lives, physical activity often takes a backseat. This lack of daily physical activity can prove to be a concern, especially for patients with osteoporosis. Strength training or weight-bearing exercises like swimming, walking, running, hiking, and more are recommended by health care professionals. Eat vitamin-rich foods While vitamin D helps the body improve calcium absorption, vitamin K2 ensures that the absorbed calcium is not lost. Both these crucial components can be obtained from food.

Dealing with eczema can be extremely frustrating due to its erratic flare-ups and symptoms. The skin inflammation is painful and irritating. Using harsh soaps is one of the biggest triggers of eczema flare-ups. Therefore, make sure you read the label carefully to avoid all the trigger ingredients mentioned below. These ingredients can cause an allergic reaction and should be avoided at all costs. Read to know more about them. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate SLS is commonly used in soaps and even shampoos for its quality of breaking up oil and grease, which makes it a great cleaning agent. While cleaning excess oil and dirt is important to stay hygienic, SLS is known to break down the natural oil barrier on the skin. Although it doesn’t directly cause any irritation on the skin, due to no oil, the skin becomes dry and flaky and allows for other allergens to cause a reaction. Fragrance ingredients Any soap with fragrance should be avoided to prevent eczema flare-ups. Fragrances are a mix of esters, aldehydes, amines and ketones, and other ingredients. Unfortunately, due to the secrecy followed by most cosmetic companies, we never really know the ingredients that bring out the fragrance in soaps. Coconut Diethanolamide Another ingredient that helps break down oil and grease from the skin is coconut diethanolamide.

Finding it hard to sleep at night? Staying away from your phone and reducing psychological stress can help, but these are not enough. You also need to be wise when choosing foods late in the evening and before bedtime. Some foods have ingredients that can induce insomnia and cause tummy troubles, making it hard to sleep well at night. Below, we’ve listed seven such foods you should avoid eating before hitting the sack. Chocolate Post-dinner chocolate cravings are pretty common, but it’s not good when struggling to get proper sleep. Chocolates, especially dark chocolate, contain lots of caffeine, which can prevent you from getting deep, restful sleep. Coffee Talking about caffeine, it’s hard not to mention coffee. A shot of espresso is a go-to late-night drink for many, but it can hurt your objective of sound sleep. Coffee contains very high levels of caffeine, more than dark chocolate. So, it’s best to avoid any type of coffee at least six hours before bedtime. Potato chips Potato chips are fried foods loaded with unhealthy fats. Such foods take long to digest, cause indigestion, and can keep you up at night. Some studies even show that eating lots of fried, greasy foods can cause disturbing dreams.

You may experience nights where no matter how tired you feel, your mind refuses to let you sleep. This could happen despite going to bed at a reasonable hour after a tiresome day. You might even buy a mattress from popular brands like Tempur-Pedic, Sleep Number, Saatva, Essentia, or Wilderness RV Mattress and yet lack eight hours of sleep. So, if you want a good night’s rest, avoid doing these five things before sleeping: 5 things to stay away from before going to bed Using electronics Nine times out of ten, people scroll through various social media sites after getting into bed. The blue light from the gadgets and the constant stimulation from the media keep your mind awake and make it difficult to fall asleep early. Instead of reaching for your phone or laptop before bed, reach for a calming book to get a good night’s sleep. Eating a large, heavy meal Consuming an entire pizza or a couple of tacos may not be the best idea to eat right before hitting the bed. Our digestive system is meant to rest while we sleep. The process of digestion is also the slowest at night, and a heavy meal can cause complications like disturbed sleep.

Quite a few things can cause bad eyesight, and one of these major factors is aging. However, there are some day-to-day choices we make and activities we partake in that slowly but surely impact our eyesight. This article discusses some obvious and not-so-obvious things that weaken our vision and force us to visit an ophthalmologist. Most of these causes are rooted in lifestyle habits and linked to preexisting health conditions. Too much screen time Sitting on the computer for extended hours is quite detrimental to eye health. The majority of the population spends time staring at their laptops, phones, or television. Screen pixels on the screen emit blue rays. While these rays are not as harsh on the eyes as UV rays, they have a better penetrative range and can end up causing deeper damage. Other side-effects of extended screen time include dry eyes, pricking of the eyes, strained eyesight, and headaches that can result in progressive worsening of the condition. Rubbing the eyes Rubbing the eyes can be an unconscious reaction for those dealing with dry eyes. It’s difficult to control the urge when allergies trigger itchy eyes. This can damage the cornea and increase pressure on the eyes.

Having 20/20 vision or poor eyesight is not in one’s control. Any changes in eyesight are predominantly dependent on one’s genetics. Not to mention, age can also play a role in worsening one’s vision. But, experts also believe that many everyday habits could be a factor in this deterioration. In this article, we focus on understanding these habits, how they harm us and discuss ways to tackle them. Avoiding eye protection One of the biggest causes of eye and eyesight damage is the lack of proper eye protection when doing certain tasks. There are many everyday tasks where dangerous elements can enter the eye. The only way to prevent eye damage in such cases is to use proper safety sunglasses. Excessive screen time These days we rely on technology for even the most simple task. This has led to an increase in screen time for almost all professions. Not to mention, screens are also used in personal aspects. We love watching TV and browsing the Internet on our phones. But, all this screen time can have an adverse effect on one’s eyes. Staring at screens can make us blink less, which eventually dries out our eyes. Dry eyes tend to become red and itchy, affecting eyesight in the long run.

In most asthma cases, food allergies and intolerances will trigger inflammation or result in the narrowing of the lung airways. An estimated 19 million individuals in the country have mild to moderate asthma, and it is vital for them to monitor their food intake. Drastic changes in daily eating habits will not necessarily help; however, moderation lowers the risk of flareups. Here are 4 such foods that trigger breathing difficulties for those with asthma. 4 foods that worsen breathing issues in asthma Foods high in fat content Red meats are heavily processed and contain saturated fats, which leads to an increase in LDL (low-density lipoprotein) levels in the body. Most saturated and processed fats tend to worsen symptoms like inflammation, causing difficulty breathing. The risk is especially high among people who suffer from conditions like asthma or COPD. Dairy foods and beverages Whole milk (the full fat variant) can trigger excess mucous production when the body breaks down the dairy product during digestion. Mucous buildup in the lungs increases the risk of infection and worsens the inflammation linked to asthma flareups. Preservatives and artificial sweeteners Most foods bought off the shelves in the supermarket are laced with preservatives and additives to increase their shelf life.

Asthma is a respiratory condition where the airways narrow, swell, and produce extra mucus. These factors make it difficult for the person to breathe and trigger wheezing and coughing. Apart from treatment and home remedies, people with asthma tend to eat foods that can boost their recovery. But not all foods are suitable, and some may even worsen the condition. Here are seven such foods that may trigger severe respiratory symptoms. Eggs Eggs contain healthy nutrients, including proteins, vitamins, and minerals. However, asthma patients prone to egg allergies should avoid them. Egg allergies generally lead to reactions on the skin, such as hives. Eating eggs can also cause inflammation in the respiratory tract and lead to an asthma attack. Soda Soda produces gas, which may apply pressure on the diaphragm. The excessive pressure may make it difficult to breathe, worsening the symptoms of asthma and other respiratory disorders. Bread Bread is a wheat-based product that may also cause allergic reactions because of its gluten content. Those allergic to gluten are likely sensitive to albumin and globulin. These are amino acids that lead to inflammation in the respiratory tract and subsequently cause an asthma attack. Dried fruits Despite their healthy nature, people with asthma must avoid dried fruits.

Lungs, an integral part of the respiratory system, hold oxygen which is then supplied to the rest of the body through the bloodstream. It is essential to keep the lungs healthy to maintain optimum oxygen intake. However, there can be things in the environment that can trigger lung damage. This article lists five such household factors that can trigger lung damage, which can, in turn, cause diseases. Let’s check them out. Mold Mold is a type of fungus that grows on damp surfaces and corners. It is common in houses with issues of leaking pipes. The fungus releases spores in the air and can trigger a severe reaction in those allergic to mold. The response is relatively severe in people with lung damage and diseases like asthma and COPD. Carpet Carpets add to the allure and warmth of our homes. But there are some other harmful things that they add. Carpets can act as a storage space for dust mites, cockroach droppings, mold, dander, pet hair, and other allergens. These are released back into the air often. As a result, it is advisable to clean and vacuum carpets multiple times a week to ensure they do not work as carriers for lung-damaging components.

Lung conditions affect a lot of people across the globe. In most cases, people tackle these conditions and diseases with various treatments. But, aside from treatments, individuals can fight these ailments and promote lung health with the help of food. Certain foods can strengthen the lungs and keep symptoms at bay. But, some can aggravate the condition, negatively impacting lung health, increasing the risk of lung diseases. Read to know foods that you should avoid. Bread Bread is one of the foods that can contribute to poor lung health. Bread is made of simple carbohydrates such as refined flour and sugar. These foods are known to affect the overall health of the body. They can even have a negative impact on lung health. This is because these foods are harder to break down and require the body to work harder to metabolize. Foods that are low in carbohydrates are less taxing on the body. They also produce less carbon dioxide in the body, which bodes well for those with existing lung conditions. To promote better lung health, individuals can opt for complex carbohydrates instead. Chips Processed foods, in general, are not good for the overall health of the body. They are packed with saturated fats, preservatives, and other harmful food additives.