There are multiple reasons why one would want to gain weight, but this is not always easily possible. Contrary to popular misconceptions, while eating an excessive amount of junk food does make you gain weight, it isn’t the kind anybody wants to. If you are keen on gaining some weight, whether to be more athletic, or to combat diseases such as anorexia, hyperthyroidism, type 1 diabetes, or cancer that is preventing you from gaining weight, a paleo diet will work wonders for you. It is advisable to consult your doctor before opting for a particular diet plan as they will be able to tell you if that is the right step considering your medical history. Once you are set on that front, here are 5 tips that are centered around the paleo diet, for gaining weight. Keep in mind that it is not how much carbohydrate or protein you eat that is important. It is how many calories your body is absorbing that makes all the difference. Hence, if you have problems with your liver or intestines for example, then nutrient absorption becomes difficult and this will make gaining weight a challenge. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, celiac disease, a leaky gut, are all some of the reasons why your body might not be absorbing nutrients.

If you need to switch to a vegetarian or vegan diet due to health issues like heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, or cholesterol, you do not have to worry about having limited options to choose from when you crave a snack. You can choose from a variety of healthy snacking options to fulfill your daily nutritional requirements. The following healthy vegetarian and vegan snack ideas are easy as well as delicious: Almond oat energy bites (vegan) This is a no-bake dish ideal for when you are in a hurry. You need only 10 minutes to make this healthy yet delicious recipe when you crave a snack. Take raisins, oats, and sunflower seeds and powder them to a coarse powder. Use almond butter to blend them together and roll the mixture into medium-sized balls. Avocado dip (vegetarian) Blend avocado, goat cheese, and lemon juice for a creamy and tangy dip. This healthy vegetarian snack goes well with vegetables. Cucumber with spices (vegan) Cucumbers are a healthy vegetarian and vegan snack option for any season. You can simply slice a cucumber, sprinkle some ground pepper and salt, and garnish with cilantro or parsley when mid-meal hunger pangs strike. Cucumber with finely chopped onions and a splash of fresh basil is another healthy snack option.

When we eat food containing purines, uric acid is released into our blood. When the body is functioning normally, the kidneys will flush out the uric acid via urine. Any interruption in this process or the excessive consumption of purine-high food leads to the accumulation of uric acid crystals in our joints, causing gout. Gout flare-ups could last from a day, a week or even ten days. You should avoid high purine foods during flare-ups and until your symptoms go away completely. Gout can also happen as a side effect of certain medications. Other factors like age, menopause, obesity or even a recent trauma surgery can lead to the condition. Diseases like metabolic syndrome, hypertension, kidney and heart diseases can also lead to it. Therefore, along with the low purine diet, your diet should also avoid those food items that can worsen the underlying cause. The dietary tips for gout given below will help you get an idea of the same. 7 foods to avoid if you have gout If the uric acid levels are higher than 7 mg/dL, then you are at risk of a flare-up. The following food items have very high levels of purines and are likely to worsen the conditions leading up to a gout attack.

A condition that affects the innermost lining of the large intestine, ulcerative colitis leads to inflammation and chronic ulcer formation. While dietary choices may not cause the condition, certain foods only trigger but worsen it as well. By identifying trigger foods, you can reduce the frequency and severity of the symptoms of ulcerative colitis. Keep in mind that not all patients suffering from this disease have the same triggers. Given below are some dietary tips for ulcerative colitis that will help you prevent triggering it. Foods to avoid when suffering from ulcerative colitis Caffeine Caffeine is a stimulant that can increase the urge one has to pass stools, which can worsen the diarrhea already present due to the condition. This leads to more frequent trips to the bathroom and hampering of daily life. Caffeine is found in energy drinks, coffee, tea, and chocolate. Carbonated beverages Drinks like soda and beer are carbonated, which means they irritate the digestive tract and cause gas. They also contain ulcerative colitis triggers like sugar, caffeine and artificial sweeteners. Alcohol In most cases, alcohol stimulates the intestines and trigger diarrhea. However, it is tolerated better by some than others and may not aggravate their ulcerative colitis to the same extent.

If you are an adult and have been diagnosed with ADHD or if you are a parent and your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, doctors would have spoken to you in length about how to manage the condition. Apart from medication and lifestyle changes, diet is a key part of treating it. Here are some of the dietary tips for managing ADHD that you have to keep in mind while planning your or your child’s menu. Balanced diet All of us today know the importance of a balanced meal. Proteins, vitamins, complex carbs, fats and of course, fruits and vegetables have to be part of every meal, for it to have all the nutrition a person needs. Even if you are not able to prepare a meal exactly to a nutritionist’s specification, ensure that it is not heavily tilted towards one group and less of the other. Just make sure the items balance out by the end of the day. An ideal balance is this – ¼ plate of protein, ¼ plate of complex carbs – whole grain or vegetable carbs. The other half should consist of fruits and vegetables. Protein With ¼ of your plate to be made of protein – you need to plan so that you can cook accordingly.