Choose Your Foods Wisely To Prevent Heartburn

By Keira Adams

A lot of people experience heartburn regularly. If you're one of them, you may find that your favorite foods are also your enemy. Not too long after an excellent meal, you may suddenly be subjected to a burning sensation in the chest area that's very painful. At times it's so terrible that your stomach contents threaten to come back up your throat. Still, for the majority of individuals with a heartburn condition, it's completely possible to make peace with food. The secret is to establish which foods are easy on your system and which of them will lead to distress.

Healthy eating by itself isn't a perfectly effective way to deal with heartburn. Eating in accordance with the food pyramid can have some effect on easing your symptoms. But those who are afflicted with heartburn will most likely have to make some other changes in their eating habits as well. The only way to alleviate the pain of your heartburn is to decrease your levels of stomach acids. You also have to calm and restore the esophageal lining, which protects your body from all kinds of toxic substances.

When you study the food pyramid, you'll observe that grains need to be the main focus of your eating habits. For heartburn relief, this is all the more essential to maintaining your health and easing your pain. Whole grains particularly are vital. Stay away from overly processed, starchy foods that have a lot of sugar and fat.

The next level of the pyramid suggests the consumption of plenty of fruits and vegetables. Yet if you suffer from heartburn, not all produce is created equal. Some of these products can actually make your condition worse. Fruits like pears, grapes and apples are full of nutrients and won't exacerbate your condition. But fruits that contain citric acid, for instance grapefruit, lemons, oranges and limes, can lead to an immediate occurrence of heartburn.

Most vegetables won't lead to heartburn problems and should be eaten in abundance. But don't forget to serve them up healthfully. Avoid using overly generous amounts of fat as a garnish, especially the kinds that are considered to be harmful. Heartburn is very often triggered by eating excessive quantities of fat.

When it relates to protein, keep in mind that low fat cuts are your best choice. For example, you can't go wrong with lean meat that's well trimmed. Stay away from cuts that are marbled with fat. But similar to vegetables, the preparation of the meat could make or break the situation. Bake, grill, or broil it and your heartburn symptoms are less likely to make an appearance. - 32390

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Want Better Digestive Health in 2010? Here are Ten Easy Tips.

By Chris B. Robinson

10. Eat slower. By eating slower, you'll chew your food better, which leads to better digestion. You'll consume fewer calories and you'll enjoy your food more.

9. If you're overweight, you've got to lose the extra pounds this year! If you're not overweight, make sure you maintain a healthy weight this year.

8. Reduce your fast food intake this year. Plan ahead and pack a healthy meal when possible. If you have to eat fast food, most fast food places have "better" choices with fewer calories, less fat, or lower sodium.

7. Drink plenty of high quality filtered water. Do some research on bottled water versus filtered water and decide which is best for you. Do some brief research on BPA and look for BPA Free bottles.

6. Try to increase your intake of organic food. Try to set a goal, maybe 20-25% of your food intake could be organic? Organic food will be worth the extra expense.

5. Reduce and effectively manage your stress levels this year.

4. Exercise regularly this year. Add some weight training in addition to cardio. Walking counts as great exercise.

3. Pay attention to and manage any heartburn triggers such as caffeine, chocolate, peppermint, citrus juice, overeating, certain medications, and bed-time snacks.

2. Learn about and try some digestive enzymes.

1. Probiotics! Research and and try some high quality probiotics. Hundreds of different species of bacteria live inside you, and some of these bacteria are "friendly" and some "unfriendly." Helpful bacteria are often absent from our diet, making it a good idea to include probiotic supplements for intestinal health and immune support. There is simply no single probiotic type or brand that is good for everyone so do some research and try a few different types/brands of probiotics. Personally, I take my probiotics in powder form because I have difficulty swallowing. - 32390

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Nissen Fundoplication: Increasingly Used for the Treatment of GERD, Right for You?

By Chris B. Robinson

Laparoscopic nissen fundoplication for the treatment of severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been increasing in recent years.

GERD patients like myself often debate whether drugs or surgery are the best option for treating this chronic condition. I was in my late twenties when I decided to undergo nissen fundoplication and forego a lifetime of heartburn drugs. However, my fundoplication experience became a living nightmare and made me wonder if drugs or surgery were really my only options.

I experienced difficulty swallowing after my heartburn surgery but post-operative testing did not reveal any major findings. I was told that my reflux was cured and that my swallowing would improve with time and I was released from care. A little over a year after my surgery, I could barely drink liquids or swallow regular foods and I had lost 55 lbs from my pre-surgery weight. I suffered for months and desperately sought answers for my difficulty swallowing.

Finally, I was referred to a center specializing in motility disorders. I discovered that I was not alone in my struggles after heartburn surgery. In some patients, the severity of new problems after surgery range from mild to debilitating and may include bowel dysfunction, gas-bloat syndrome or trouble swallowing.

Four years after my nissen fundoplication surgery, I am doing much better thanks to a combination of conventional and natural health treatment. I still require daily treatment for heartburn even after surgery. I deeply regret not exploring more natural health options beyond drugs and surgery before my decision to undergo nissen fundoplication. It is unfortunate that drugs and surgery are often promoted as the only treatment options available. I know people who have had great success with heartburn surgery. However, my experience has shown me first hand the more disappointing results sometimes associated with surgery. I would urge anyone considering fundoplication surgery to carefully evaluate their treatment options and seek medical advice from at least two or more qualified physicians. - 32390

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Dealing With Heartburn Symptoms

By Keira Adams

Heartburn is a medical condition that has an effect on millions of individuals throughout the planet. While it is a very common condition it is not one that folks should just expect to have to suffer with. Heartburn leads to a burning sensation which is noticed in the chest and sometimes all the way up the esophagus and into the back of the throat. Heartburn ranges when it concerns intensity and while some individuals experience simply mild heartburn that goes away quite rapidly, others might get heartburn so severely that they often must lie down for several hours to wait until it goes away.

It's essential for people to be aware of what the symptoms of heartburn are so they will know when they're experiencing this problem. Some people have reported having difficulty swallowing, while others might develop a constant cough or be afflicted with severe chest pain. Anybody dealing with heartburn is going to want to deal with their symptoms as soon as possible. A number of folks don't realize that heartburn is not just uncomfortable, it can lead to permanent damage to the lining of the stomach.

For those who suffer from heartburn the good news is that there are a lot of different treatments that can be utilized for their heartburn symptoms. Tums are among the most popular antacids that are available today and can be used in milder cases of heartburn. These are not going to do much in more serious cases, though, so be prepared to have to keep looking to find another treatment to manage the problem. You have to keep in mind that each remedy is different and what works for one person might not work the same for them.

People who suffer from very intense heartburn or who have been dealing with this situation for some time are going to need to turn to a different treatment, such as non-prescription medications. There are medicines that work to treat heartburn symptoms by lowering the amount of acid that is produced in the stomach. There are a few different medications that are on the market and most are associated with few if any side effects. Medications work well but must only be used for a few months since they can in fact be hazardous if they are taken for too long.

There are some folks who are basically obligated to keep on making use of drugs for the long-term either because their heartburn symptoms are so powerful or due to the fact that they're just not having success with other types of treatment. Heartburn can even be so bad that it sometimes makes people feel as though they're having a heart attack. Talking to a doctor is very important when heartburn symptoms are felt, so you can begin working on finding a treatment. - 32390

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