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CONSUME PLENTY OF
• Fluids such as water and juice.
• Fresh fruits and vegetables for vitamin C and bioflavonoids,
• Garlic, onions, and chilies to alleviate sinus congestion.

AVOID
• Smoking.
• Dry, overheated rooms.
Sinusitis is a painful inflammation of the membranes lining the sinus cavities in the skull, It occurs most often after a cold or in people who suffer from hay fever or other allergies involving the nasal passages. Normally, mucus produced by these membranes drains through narrow ducts into the nasal cavity. Acute sinusitis is usually the result of a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. Chronic sinusitis is more apt to be caused by allergic reactions or dental infections. Regardless of the cause, the sinus lining swells and blocks the passages, resulting in a stuffed-up feeling, and possibly swelling, and a deep, dull headache. A good clue in the diagnosis of sinusitis is that the pain tends to worsen whenever you bend over. There may also be a thick yellow or green nasal discharge. Depending upon the cause, a doctor may prescribe anrihisramines, decongestants, antibiotics, or steroids.

DIETARY AND OTHER APPROACHES
Although nutrition does not play a direct role in sinusitis, some dietary measures may help. In one study, patients with chronic sinusitis reported improvement after eliminating milk products from their diets. People trying this approach should ask their doctor about supplements or increase their consumption of non- dairy calcium. Fluids can help dilute secretions and promote drainage. Drink at least 8 to 10 cups daily of water, juice, tea, and even soup. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables for vitamin C. Citrus fruits (rather than just the juice), grapes, and blackberries are useful because they also contain bioflavonoids, plant pigments that have anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin E, too, has anti-inflammatory benefits. Dietary zinc is also an important immune booster and may have anti-inflammatory properties.

Zinc-rich foods include seafood, meat, poultry, milk, yogurt, beans, nuts, and whole grains. Some foods are natural decongestants. These include garlic, onions, chilies, and horseradish. Decongestant herbs and spices include ginger, thyme, cumin, cloves, and cinnamon. you smoke, make every effort to stop. Smoking causes nasal and sinus inflammation, as can secondhand smoke. Heat and dry air can produce swollen, dry nasal membranes that are predisposed to sinusitis; a humidifier may be a simple solution. For fast relief, cover the face with hot, wet towels to promote drainage and increase blood flow to the area. Steam inhalation also promotes drainage. Hot tea may help reduce congestion; it contains theophylline, a compound believed to ease breathing by relaxing the smooth muscles in the walls of the airways.

CONSUME PLENTY OF
• Lean meat, poultry, eggs, and fish for high-quality protein.
• Fresh fruits and vegetables for vitamin C and beta carotene.
• Fortified milk, soy or rice beverages, and fatty fish for vitamin D.
• Lean meat, shellfish, iiilk, beans, and nuts for zinc.

AVOID
• Alcohol, smoking, and exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Sharing eating utensils and other personal objects.

With about 17,000 new cases a year, tubercu’ losis (TB) is relatively uncommon in North America, but worldwide it’s a leading cause of death, claiming 3 million lives annually. Further, it is estimated that one-third of the world’s population is infected with one of several strains of Mycobacterium, the bacillus that causes TB. Although the disease is inactive in most of thest people, at any given time there are some 30 million active cases of TB. The TB bacillus is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, releasing the microorganism into the air.

Infection occurs when the bacillus is inhaled and enters the lungs, where it can silently multiply. The immune system usually eradicates the infection at this early stage, but in some people the bacillus remains dormant in the body. Even so, most infected people never develop symptoms, although they will still have a positive TB skin test, indicating the presence of antibodies against the disease. causing organism. A latent infection can develop into full- blown TB if the immune system becomes weakened by malnutrition, age, or a serious disease, such as AIDS or cancer. The initial symptoms— loss of appetite and weight, night sweats, fever and chills, and general malaise—may resemble a lingering bout of flu. But as the disease progresses, more severe manifestations appear: typically, a chronic cough, profuse sputum that may be blood-tinged and malodorous, increasing weakness, and eventually, muscle wasting. Although the lungs are TB’s most common target organ, the disease can attack almost any part of the body, including the brain, kidneys, spine, bones, and skin. Throughout the 20th century, the number of TB cases in North America declined steadily. By the mid-1980s, however, a sharp increase was reported, mostly among AIDS patients and the homeless. In addition, some people who had been treated for (and presumably cured of) TB decades previous suffered recurrences.

Consume
• A balanced, varied diet to promote healing.
• Lean meat, poultry, enriched or fortified breads and cereals, legumes, and dried fruits for iron lost through bleeding.
AVOID
• Coffee, including decaffeinated, and other sources of caffeine.
• Spices such as pepper, chili peppers, cloves, and garlic, which trigger acid secretion.
• Alcohol.
• Smoking.
• Fatty foods.
• Late-night snacks.

CAUSES OF ULCERS
The antacid industry is based on the notion that oversecretion of stomach acid causes ulcers as well as indigestion and heartburn. Although excess acid secretion plays a role, most ulcers develop when a common bacterium, called Helicobacter pylon, infects the intestinal tract. Smoking, emotional stress, and heavy drinking can also contribute to a person’s risk of ulcers, and some people may have a hereditary predisposition. Ulcers frequently occur in people subjected to extreme physical stress, such as serious burns or surgery. The other major cause of ulcers is the heavy use of drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammat6ry drugs (NSAIDs), which erode the mucous membranes. Aspirin’s effects are particularly serious, because it also inhibits blood clotting and promotes bleeding.

All sores that erode mucous membranes or the skin and penetrate the underlying muscle are referred to as ulcers. Those that occur in the lower part of the esophagus, the stomach, or the duodenum are known mote specifically as “peptic ulcers,” because they form in areas exposed to stomach acids and the digestive enzyme, pepsin. Peptic ulcer disease is one of the most common disorders diagnosed in North America today, and men and women are equally affected, When the erosion occurs in the duodenum, the upper part of the small intestine, the term duodenal ulcer is used to describe the lesion; an ulcer in the stomach is called a gastric ulcer. A person with an ulcer may describe the pain as gnawing or burning and can often pinpoint the exact spot. The pain usually occurs 2 to 3 hours after eating, is worse when the stomach is empty, and can be relieved by eating a small amount of food or taking an antacid. Some people never have ulcer pain; however, they may develop intestinal bleeding, heartburn, bloating, and gas, as well as nausea and vomiting.

MEDICAL TREATMENT
Better understanding of the causes of ulcers has enabled doctors to devise new treatments. If tests confirm the presence of H. pylon, the treatment includes antibiotics to eradicate the bacteria and an acid secretion inhibitor to prevent secrerion of acids by the cells of the stomach. The bacteria are usually eradicated in a week, but a significant percentage of patients experience side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, or a metallic taste. A daily yogurt supplement with live lactobacilli and bifidobacteria during treatment can reduce these symptoms. Stop smoking. Smoking is one factor closely linked to poor healing and ulcer recurrence. Cigarette smokers often continue to suffer from ulcers until they quit. Stop harmful medications. People with ulcers caused by NSAID use must discontinue the offending drug. People who need ongoing pain relief for a condition such as arthritis should ask their doctor to prescribe a gentler alternative. Exercise to raise your endorphin level. Mindful that  “it’s not what you’re eating, it’s what’s eating you,” people with ulcers may benefit from relaxation techniques and biofeedback to cope with stress. Regular exercise promotes the release of endorphins, brain chemicals that dull pain and elevate mood.

WHEN THINNESS IS A PROBLEM
Thinness is a problem if it is a result of poor nutrition, such as chronic dieting, which can lead to infertility in women. For those who conceive, being underweight during pregnancy may cause anemia, heart and lung complications, and a high risk of toxemia. Their babies are often premature, have a low birth weight, and may experience slow growth and development. Adolescents with erratic schedules are prone to slip below their ideal weight—especially if they exercise a lot. Overly thin teenagers and adults alike sometimes feel too busy to eat.

CORRECTIVE DIET
Gaining 1 lb (0.45 kg) a week can require 500 to 750 extra calories a day. For some, dietary adjustments can be as taxing as a weight-loss regimen. The aim should be to build up muscle tissue and increase the level of energy to sustain the weight gain. Unless extremely weak, underweight people should exercise regularly to help build lean tissue as well as store some fat. Extremely important to increase dietary calories from fat. A plan for increasing weight focuses, first, on increasing food intake. second, on consuming foods that provide lots of calories in a compact volume. Raw vegetables, for example, are nutritious but satisfy hunger long before they’ve provided significant calories. And although a low-fat diet is important, an underweight person may need to relax the rules about fat consumption until the desired weight goal has been reached, Increasing dietary fat can rapidly make a difference, because fat contains more than twice as many calories (9 per gram) as protein and carbohydrates do (4 per gram).

Increase your portions of calorie-dense foods. Nutrition experts advise adhering to your food guide recommendations, but gradually increasing portions and choosing the more nutrient and calorie-dense foods within each group: peanut butter or cheese instead of lean meat, avocados instead of cucumbers, pancakes instead of toast, a milk shake instead of skim milk. Because caffeine suppresses the urge to eat, replace tea or coffee with juices and milk. Augment, your diet with liquid supplements. People who have lost weight due to illness may benefit from a concentrated liquid formula, which is easy to swallow. Doctors and dietitians can recommend liquid supplements. Many underweight people feel uncomfortably full when they begin eating larger, more frequent portions to gain weight. This feeling eventually passes. People trying to gain weight, like those trying to lose it, occasionally reach a plateau. Increasing calorie intake is necessary to restart the process.

UNDERWEIGHT

EAT PLENTY OF
• Larger portions and high-calorie choices.
• Nutritious between-meal snacks.

LIMIT
• Alcohol and caffeine, which can suppress the appetite.
In a society that prizes leanness and spends billions on weight-loss products, people find it hard to accept that excessive thinness (unrelated to anorexia nervosa) is unhealthy. But while obesity is dangerous, surveys show that people who are of average weight at age 50 live longer than those who are markedly underweight. There’s no such thing as a perfect weight; however, for every height and build there is a desirable range in which the rates of disease and death are lowest, Underweight is defined as 15 percent or more under the low end of the range (your doctor can advise you what your range should be). Mild underweight is not associated with serious health hazards, but people who are very thin lack energy reserves, are vulnerable to infections, and often feel the cold because they lack insulating fat. Patients weighing less than 80 percent of their desirable weight on admission to a hospital are at high risk for complications. Severely underweight people who are confined to bed rest easily develop pressure sores over bony areas.