Heartburn or GERD can Kill

Heartburn is a common annoyance. The busy lifestyle, quick meals, fatty or spicy foods all contribute to the occasional need of a chewable pain reliever. The acceptance of heartburn as an inconvenient, but natural, part of the daily grind can blind you to the warning that a severe heartburn symptom can bring.

Heartburn as a Disorder

Heartburn can be a symptom as well as a disorder. Simple heartburn or GERD can be controlled and dealt with. However, heartburn can signal the presence of a much more serious problem. If it’s heartburn, you will have a burning sensation in the chest usually after eating. There may be a spread of the burning to the throat, sometimes accompanied by a bad taste, difficulty in swallowing, belching, coughing, hoarseness and/or wheezing.

It can become worse by lying down or bending over or by eating. Relief can come from an antacid. While the more severe heartburn symptoms may be mistaken for a heart attack, simple heartburn is usually not made worse by exercise. If there is any concern that the pain may signal a heart attack, get help quickly.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Are You On A Low Carb Diet?

By Diether Jones

People tend to delve in the misconception that getting into a diet with low carbohydrates is a solution to lose weight and gain better health. They avoid taking in food which are high in carbohydrates thinking it would give them better health.

Foods rich in carbohydrates is a major source of energy that we use for our daily activities. Without it, we would be less effective in handling daily tasks because of lesser energy production.

It does not mean that we have to eat only high carbohydrates food. That would be unhealthy as it is with skipping it altogether. To achieve good health, you have to maintain a balance between high and low carbohydrates food.

Having a low carb diet may give you health problems later on. Better change your diet if you are doing it. To determine a balance of these foods, a nutritionist is the best person to consult with.

People who are in a low carb diet has to eat foods which are high in proteins. Meat is a rich source of proteins. Having too much protein though may pose some risks on your health such as osteoporosis.

Calcium is needed by our body to counterbalance the acids which form as a result of digesting protein. If your body have a low supply of calcium, the body uses the calcium in your bones to maintain the process involved in the digestion of protein. That's where the risk of osteoporosis comes in.

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, low carb diets - high in animal foods but low in vegetables, fruits and whole grains - poses a risk of developing different kinds of cancer.

Furthermore, international studies has observed that countries whose people have low fat intake have lower incidence of breast cancer. On the other hand, countries whose people have higher fat intakes tends to have higher incidence of breast cancer.

To further minimize the risk of cancer, include foods that have high fiber content in your diet. Fiber is another important substance that our body can well benefit from.

To achieve the highest benefit from food, a combination of high and low carbohydrates food must be maintained. Add foods rich in fiber and your health profile will be much healthier. The person to consult with regarding food is your nutritionist. Schedule a consultation so you'll have a healthier body to meet the challenges of life as well as enjoy it.

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