It seems everywhere you turn you see ads for heartburn relief. I still remember jingles I learned as a kid for over-the-counter medications for upset stomach and heartburn. Many people I’ve known over my life have suffered from these ailments. What is it? Why do we get it?
Heartburn and acid-reflux (the two are almost synonymous) are most commonly the result of poor diet. Think about it: kids don’t get heartburn; it’s only when months or years of poor diet choices build up that the problems begin. Research confirms this is true. Ask anyone who gets heartburn and they can tell you which foods are likely to set them off.
In general, fatty foods or foods with high alkalinity or acidity are the most likely to be problematic. Number one on the list: fatty foods, such as ground beef, nuggets and wings, cheesy foods, and chips. High starch foods, coffee, wine, liquor, dairy products, and foods with tomato or citrus fruits are also commonly associated with acid-reflux. Smoking or eating large portions influence digestion as well. While no two people will have the same specific triggers, any of these can influence the likelihood of upset stomach and heartburn.
Once acid-reflux occurs, stomach acids are introduced to the tissues of the esophagus and throat, resulting in immediate tissue damage. While the tissues will repair themselves after the occasional exposure to these acids, prolonged or redcurrant exposure can permanently impair the ability of the tissues to self-repair and can destroy these areas.
If you do have heartburn, there are several common over-the-counter remedies. For people with chronic problems, there are prescription medications available as well. However, the best remedy is figuring out which foods or habits trigger acid-reflux and avoid them in the first place.
Resources:
- 1 in 4 Suffer Heartburn Every Month [www.webmd.com]
- Heartburn: Foods to Avoid [www.webmd.com]
- Experts Lay Down the Law on Acid Reflux [www.webmd.com]
Other news
- Yet another reason to move to my favorite state: Top States for Life Expectancy [www.webmd.com]
- Think stress and diet might have something to do with this? Younger women turn to fertility specialists [www.msnbc.msn.com]
- Look out, Popeye! E. coli outbreak traced to bagged spinach; 1 dead [edition.cnn.com]
Book review: The Wellness Revolution
Paul Zane Pilzer has written a very idea-inspiring book in “The Wellness Revolution”. A quick read, this book is a great way to get up to speed on an industry that is growing by leaps and bounds.
The book is aimed predominantly to those who are looking to build a business around wellness in its many forms, and as such offers a ’state-of-the-industry’ look at what wellness is and means to people and what opportunities the author sees in both the near-term and the long-term as a result. He covers such diverse areas as natural foods, next-generation medicine, wellness insurance, and distribution of products. Some of his predictions are already coming to light, others are still over the horizon.
Now, he is in final production of the next version, “The New Wellness Revolution”. While I have not seen this book yet (it comes out in February), I expect it to be as full of insights and useful predictions and to move that horizon out a little further.
If you work within the industry, these books are a useful reference and source of ideas. If you just want to know what’s coming in the next few years, these are a great overview of where we’re at and where we’re going. Either way, you’ll enjoy “The Wellness Revolution”.
From the editor
We’re approaching the equinox, and that means a major seasonal change is on the way. Winter is coming for most readers. Time to put away the sunscreen and break out the sweaters.
My favorite part of fall is the cheerfulness everyone seems to take on as we approach all the upcoming holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas (yep, it’s almost time for the decorations to come out!). In the summer, everyone is focused on being active, but in the fall the focus changes to friends and family and celebrations of bounty and harvest and togetherness. When the equinox arrives, it seems there is a shift in the cultural mindset to warmth and to connection.
The days are getting shorter, sure, but that means more focus on the light of friendship and of family… here’s to fall!
Healthy thoughts,
Jeff
