Happy New Year 2017

May all the expectations and goals for each day be fulfilled on the day itself! Happy New Year to all!

Merry Christmas 2016

May the melody and spirit of Christmas fill your home with love and peace. I wish you all the best and happy New Year too!

Acid Reflux Remedies and Tips

Acid Reflux, also known as Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a long term condition in which stomach acid escapes through the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). The contents in your stomach come back up into your esophagus that causes  either symptoms or complications. The Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) is a valve that separates the stomach from the esophagus. Acid reflux symptoms includes:

•     pain and burning in the chest
•     increased salivation (also known as water brash)
•     heartburn and nausea
•     burping and hiccups
•     hoarseness
•     chronic sore throat
•     coughing

Another nasty symptom of acid reflux is regurgitation, it's a foul acidic taste in your mouth when you not "fully-vomit" in your mouth after a meal. Yes, it's a common experience however, if it occurs most of the time about more than two times a week then you have acid reflux disease. Common risk factors of this disease are obesity, pregnancy, smoking, hiatus hernia, eating large meals, taking certain medicines and lying down after meals.

Another cause for acid refulx is lack of digestive enzymes in which the stomach produces more acid to compensate. This may be caused by old age, poor diet, stress and certain antibiotics that reduces the digestive enzymes required to balance the stomach acid responsible for reflux.

Medications use to get rid of acid reflux includes antihistamines, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, and sleeping medication.

In addition, a spoonful of sodium bicarbonate, can help reduce or end the gnawing, burning, sensation of heartburn caused by acid reflux. Baking soda, as sodium bicarbonate is more commonly known, can help your reflux and in turn help your heartburn because it is a base substance.

Other ways to relieve acid reflux includes, chewing gum since it increase the flow of saliva that neutralizes stomach acid. Lose weight and eating smaller meals will also help. Avoid smoking since it loosens the LES valve. Avoid foods that are known for causing gas and acid reflux, which includes beans, soda, fatty foods, citrus fruits, tomatoes, coffee and tea.

Low Carb Diet

Low Carb Diet is a diet that usually involves limiting the consumption of carbohydrates like those found in sugary foods, pasta and bread. This diet is high in protein, fat and healthy vegetables that includes meat, poultry, fish and eggs. It also limit most grains, legumes, fruits, breads, sweets, pastas and starchy vegetables, and sometimes nuts and seeds.

There are different kinds of low-carb diets and each of them has varying restrictions on the types and amounts of carbohydrates you can eat.

According to an article by Business Insider high-fat, low-carb diet may improve athletic performance. It said that our bodies normally first try to burn through our glycogen energy stores, which are easily accessible and we get from breaking down carbohydrates. After we burn through those glycogen energy stores, our bodies eventually can start getting energy by burning through ketones, energy produced from fatty acids (basically, energy from fat). However, it also said that this diet is not for everyone it may work for some but not for others.

Check out "Big Easy On Low Carb" for more information on low carb lifestyle.