Living Clean

Acid Reflux

(See also Acid Reflux Relief)

When the inside of the throat becomes inflamed and swollen as a result of regurgitation of the contents of the stomach, this is called “acid reflux” or “reflux esophagitis.”

Almost everyone has experienced it at some point – where the contents of the stomach rise up into the throat. But some people experience this more than others, and some experience it severely and frequently.

In a drug-happy society, there are bound to be a variety of drug-related treatments available to address this condition. And plenty of people making lots of money off of these drug treatments. The drug industry is big – legal or otherwise.

But for those of us who do not wish to fall into the pharmaceutical trap – what can be done about acid reflux?

Some of the drugs which are on the market as treatments for acid reflux have been said to be very harmful. These drugs reduce the amount of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Hydrochloric acid is used by the body to digest food. So reducing it can be very harmful to your ability to digest and this can carry other consequences as well. A failure to properly digest one's food can put one at risk of other diseases, can reduce one's resistance to infections and harmful organism-borne bacteria in foods, can increase susceptibility to food poisoning, and can put one at risk of chronic degenerative diseases.

While I am not one to recommend testing human problems on rats or mice, it does bear mentioning in this article that tests on mice performed by scientists in one university did indicate that reduction of hydrochloric acid could be exactly what not to do in treating acid reflux.

As time moves forward and as the “information age” progresses, many of us become more and more aware that drugs are not the answer.

There are a number of natural methods of addressing acid reflux.

But lets look at the alternative – drugs. Why do I recommend so strongly that you stay away from them?

Some of the drugs sold for treatment of acid reflux are “Prilosec,” “ Nexium,” “The Purple Pill,” "Prevacid", "Zantac", "Pepcid" "Tagament.”

My advice? Stay away from drugs, pharmaceutical or otherwise. I mean ... there must be a reason why many of these drugs are only supposed to be used for eight weeks as a maximum.

Well, as a general rule (and this goes for street drugs, psychiatric drugs, “anti-depressants,” over-the-counter pain killers, etc.) drugs don't solve anything in the long run. They only mask the problem. And in the long term, they often make it worse. Used sparingly and infrequently in moments of extreme pain or urgency, I can admit that some drugs can have their uses. If you are on that vacation you have waited for for five years, and your jet-lag is giving you a headache from hell, I won't blame you for grabbing a painkiller from the local supermarket. I've done the same myself.

But – in terms of truly handling an illness or long-term condition, it is always my advice to stay away from them! And most level-headed people would say the same. There is just too much evidence of the harmful effects of drugs, physically and mentally.

For information on natural treatments of acid reflex, please see %LINK2%. I hope this information is of use to you or to any of your friends who may be battling this ailment. Something can be done to relieve it for real, and it doesn't have to come with a prescription.

- By Anna

Low Calorie Vegetarian Recipes

Health, Nutrition, and Wellbeing

Low Calorie Recipes and Cabbage

Cabbage is a strong vegetable, which is easy to grow.  It inexpensive, and is found in almost all parts of the world.

Cabbage has been known throughout the ages, both for its nutritional values, and for its medicinal values.  It has recently become recognized that it can reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer (such as colon cancer and breast cancer).

Cabbage is also used in the famous Cabbage Soup Diet which has become a popular method of weight loss.

Following is a short listing of the nutritional facts of cabbage: -

     - Cabbage helps to promote weight loss in some people.  This is because of its content of Vitamin C, which helps burn fat, as well as of Vitamin B, which increases metabolism and thereby helps the body burn off fat.
     - If one is looking for ingredients for Low Calorie Recipes, cabbage is at the top of the list.  One cup of cabbage only holds about 15 calories.  It is an ideal food for weight loss.
     - Vitamin C:  Due to its relatively high amount of Vitamin C, cabbage helps boost the Immune System.  It assists in removing toxins from the body, and plays a role in burning fat.
     - Vitamin A:  Cabbage is a source of Vitamin A, which your body needs for healthy skin and eyes.
     - Vitamin E: Vitamin E is known for keeping the skin healthy, as well as for assisting oxygen uptake of the blood cells.  Having sufficient amounts of Vitamin E in one’s body also helps to reduce acne.
     - Vitamin B: An essential vitamin for your nervous system, also known to assist in reducing stress and in boosting metabolism. - Drinking juiced cabbage is known to assist in curing stomach and intestinal ulcers.
     - Cabbage is even known to help keep your skin in a healthy condition, due to its vitamin E content.  - It contains quantities of fiber and iron, which help to keep the digestive tract and colon in a healthy condition.

     This is by no means a complete list of all the benefits of cabbage.  It serves to give you a general outline.  
     In earlier times, the ashes of burnt cabbage leaves were a key ingredient in disinfectant ointments.  These days, commercial disinfectants are widely available, so one need not go through motions of burning cabbage in order to disinfect a small cut.
     The primary benefit of cabbage in modern times comes when it is simply made part of one’s diet.  Special diets exist which are based on cabbage.
     There are many different varieties of cabbage.  Green  Cabbage and Red Cabbage are the most common, and are the types we are most familiar with.  Other types include Savoy Cabbage, Bok Choy cabbage, and Nappa cabbage (which are used in many Asian dishes, but are equally useful within other recipes).
     Does this mean one should switch to a diet of eating only cabbage?  Of course not.  There are many more vegetables with equally important nutritional ingredients. But it including cabbage in one’s diet on a regular basis can be beneficial health, weight loss, and well-being. 


- by Anna Stone

Anna Stone is always looking for new recipes to share with the world.  If you have a recipe you would like to share, you may sign up for a free account and publish it at Your Vegetarian and Low Calorie Recipes