If you suffer from indigestion, you’re not alone. Indigestion accounts for roughly 70% of all gastrointestinal complaints.

Every year Americans spend millions of dollars on medications for dyspepsia, a catchall term for an assortment of upper abdominal symptoms — including pain, bloating, and burping — commonly referred to as indigestion. At any given time, about one fourth of American adults suffer from some degree of indigestion. Indeed, indigestion accounts for 5% of all office visits to primary care doctors and up to 70% of all gastrointestinal complaints. Women are more vulnerable to indigestion than men, but older adults are often spared. The prevalence of indigestion appears to remain stable or even decline with age.

Although effective treatment for indigestion is available, only about one fourth of those with persistent symptoms of indigestion see a doctor for help. About 40% of those who do seek assistance for indigestion are worried that they may have a life-threatening disorder — in particular, stomach or esophageal cancer. In reality, such malignancies are the culprit in fewer than 3% of cases.

Indigestion is far more likely to be caused by one of a host of other, less serious problems. Nevertheless, these conditions should still be treated — sometimes to prevent complications, sometimes simply to relieve discomfort and improve the quality of life. Fortunately, the proper medications — often combined with lifestyle measures — are usually helpful.

Searching for the causes of indigestion

The hallmark of indigestion is persistent or recurrent pain or discomfort in the mid- to upper abdomen. Other symptoms of indigestion include bloating, a premature feeling of fullness after meals (early satiety), and excessive burping. Nausea and heartburn (a burning sensation just under the breastbone that sometimes radiates to the neck) may be present, but recurrent vomiting and nutritional problems are not typical.

Many underlying causes can prompt these symptoms of indigestion. Among the most common are gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and stomach ulcers. GERD is characterized by upper abdominal pain and heartburn. Stomach ulcers cause periodic episodes of upper abdominal pain that get worse with hunger and improve after eating or taking antacids. Nighttime pain is often so severe that sufferers waken frequently.

Dismotility disorders, such as esophageal spasms or weak esophageal contractions (achalasia), are another possibility. These neurologic problems are characterized by peristaltic impairment, malfunction of the involuntary muscle contractions that push food down the esophagus into the stomach. Symptoms include generalized upper abdominal pain that is usually aggravated by food and accompanied by other symptoms such as bloating, early satiety, loss of appetite, nausea, retching, and occasionally vomiting. Finally, indigestion is a potential side effect of many medications. Among the more likely culprits are aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), certain antibiotics, theophylline, digitalis, corticosteroids, iron, niacin, chemotherapy drugs, and certain narcotics. No matter what the cause of indigestion, stress and other psychological factors can clearly trigger or worsen symptoms.

When to see a doctor for indigestion

Antacids and histamine (H2) blockers are the two most effective over-the-counter medications for indigestion. But they are appropriate only for occasional episodes. Antacids such as calcium carbonate (Tums and others) and magnesium salts (Mylanta and others) neutralize stomach acid, which can cause inflammation in the stomach and the esophagus, resulting in abdominal discomfort or heartburn. Antacids are intended for quick symptom relief.

H2 blockers such as cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid), and ranitidine (Zantac) suppress the production of stomach acids so that irritated tissues have a chance to heal. When these medications are effective, there is no reason to see a doctor. But recurrent or persistent symptoms require medical attention. Be specific about your symptoms. Describe the location and quality of the pain. Explain whether it is sharp or dull, concentrated or diffuse, burning or stabbing. Note whether you feel better after eating or when you are hungry; if over-the-counter medications help; if you feel very full after eating a small meal; and if you are plagued by bloating, nausea, or burping. Diagnostic studies include endoscopy (direct examination of the esophagus using a flexible, illuminated tube), certain imaging studies, blood work, and testing for Helicobacter pylori (the bacterium responsible for most stomach ulcers).

Therapeutic options for indigestion

Proper treatment of indigestion usually brings significant relief and prevents complications, such as Barrett’s esophagus (cellular changes due to persistant irritation that may lead to cancer) from GERD, and perforation of the stomach wall from stomach ulcers. If either of these disorders is suspected, a trial of therapy may be recommended based on symptoms alone. Prescription-strength H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors (a potent type of acid suppressor) such as omeprazole (Prilosec) are useful for GERD. Also essential are lifestyle measures — such as not eating near bedtime (because lying down encourages partially digested food and stomach acid to flow backward from the stomach into the esophagus) and avoiding caffeinated and alcoholic beverages (which may irritate the stomach and esophageal lining).

If symptoms persist despite GERD treatment, a stomach ulcer is often suspected. H. pylori causes about 90% of all stomach ulcers; NSAID use is responsible for most of the remainder. If H. pylori is thought to be the cause, antibiotic therapy can cure it. However, many people harbor H. pylori, and yet this is not the cause of their indigestion symptoms. In such cases, antibiotic therapy is not helpful. If NSAIDs or other medications are implicated, it is necessary to stop using the offending drug. Other alternatives, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) for short-term, over-the-counter pain relief, are usually available — but consult your doctor before adjusting any prescription medications.

When the cause of indigestion is elusive

In at least 25% of cases, no underlying cause of indigestion can be found. Yet, certain abnormalities are prevalent in these patients. In about one third, solids leave the stomach more slowly than normal, a condition called impaired gastric emptying. In some, the amount of food the stomach can comfortably hold may be limited, a condition called postprandial accommodation impairment. Finally, the stomach may be unusually sensitive to stimulation, a condition called gastric hypersensitivity. Exactly what causes these abnormalities, how they contribute to dyspepsia, and whether or how they should be treated is unknown.

When symptoms persist and the known causes of indigestion have been ruled out, the lifestyle measures used for GERD are sometimes effective. Some people find that keeping a diary of symptoms, foods, and emotions helps them identify and control factors that trigger symptoms of indigestion. If symptoms continue, antianxiety medications, dismotility drugs, or antidepressants (especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) may be helpful.

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Most people fail realize that water is extremely essential to their weight loss program. In fact even if you are not trying to lose weight; you should still be drinking at least eight glasses per day.

Our bodies can not live without water; as a matter of fact we can go longer without eating than we can without air and water. So why is water so important and how does water weight loss determine whether I will actually lose weight? Well our bodies are composed of about 60-70% of water.

Without drinking the proper amounts of water; our bodies will not be able to digest the foods and rid of the waste in our bodies. All the foods that we eat consume some sort of toxins and just by drinking the proper amounts of water; out bodies will help flush those toxins out of our bodies.

Not to mention that when we drink water before we sit down to eat our meals; then we have less of a chance of overeating and gaining excess weight.

It helps our bodies regulate temperature and helps keep us cool when we are hot. If you fail to drink the proper amount of water you can compromise the evaporation process that your body goes through and this will put your kidneys under unnecessary stress.

Regardless of what you choose to believe the truth is that losing weight and drinking water go hand in hand. If you really want to lose weight; then it is time to begin drinking the proper amounts of water and leaving the soft drinks and other sugar drinks at home.

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Nutrients are based on 100 grams

•    Calories: 407.14 kcal
•    Protein: 25 grams
•    Carbohydrates: 0 grams
•    Fibre: 0 grams
•    Fat Saturated: 21.43 grams
•    Fat Mono unsaturated: 9.28 grams
•    Fat Polyunsaturated: 1.07 grams
•    Calcium: 728.57 milligrams
•    Phosphorus: 517.86 milligrams
•    Sodium: 625 milligrams
•    Potassium: 100 milligrams
•    Zinc: 3.21 milligrams
•    Iron: 0.71 milligrams
•    Magnesium: 28.57 milligrams
•    Vitamin A: 278.57 micrograms
•    Vitamin B1: 0.036 milligrams
•    Vitamin B2: 0.39 milligrams
•    Vitamin B3: 0 milligram
•    Vitamin B6: 0.071 milligrams
•    Vitamin C: 0 milligrams
•    Vitamin E: 0.357 micrograms
•    Folate (folic acid): 17.86 micrograms

(A low carb food that will still add on the pounds to your body – Beeble)

Why is salt added?

During the making of Cheddar, the curds are cut into blocks while still soft and only just beginning to set. These blocks are regularly cut and turned so that the moisture drains out. The blocks are then cut up again or ‘milled’. This breaks up the curd again and it is at this point that the cheese is salted, the milling also ensuring that the salt is distributed evenly through the curd. Apart from seasoning the cheese, the salt also has the effect of reducing and then stopping the further production of lactic acid, which is what gives Cheddar its characteristic taste – so salt helps to control the flavour and also it is important as a preservative. Taste is also affected by the age of Cheddar: the older the cheese, the stronger the taste. The recommended daily limit for salt is 0.2 oz or 6 grammes, so bear that in mind when you are eating cheddar cheese. Check the label, for example, the Cheddar cheese I have in my fridge has 0.50 grammes of salt per 30 gramme serving.

A high fat cheese, but plenty of good things too

You will know if you have read the introductory post on cheeses that Cheddar, a hard cheese, is one of the cheeses that is high in fat so you should limit your weekly intake to just 4 oz (120 grammes). But don’t forget its benefits: calcium – strong bones and teeth, protein – for growth and repair, iron – for production of red blood cells, zinc – for the immune system and potassium which helps to protect the body against strokes and high blood pressure (obviously trying to combat all the fat in the cheese – Beeble).

What’s special about Cheddar?

Cheddar is one of the cheeses that has been demonstrated to help reduce tooth decay and it also contains little or no lactose for those who are lactose intolerant and cannot drink milk – so they can get those important nutrients from Cheddar cheese instead.

Summary

With the high salt levels and saturated fats you must have your cheese in moderation as is the case with most foods. The nutritional values we have given you are from an average Cheddar. You may consider swapping your standard Cheddar for a low sodium and low fat alternative which are readily available from your local store. These alternatives reduce the harmful qualities whilst still giving you a lot of the benefits. However in my opinion they also sacrifice the most important part of cheese and that is the taste. I would always rather have my cheese in moderation than sacrifice that great taste.

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However, if you are watching your weight and cholesterol levels or you just want to eat healthily, then you will have to be careful not to have too much of some cheeses with a high fat and salt content.

So What is the Fat Content of Cheese?

Cheeses vary in their fat content and here is some information from a guide produced by the British Cardiac Patients Association that divides cheeses into categories according to their fat content:

Low Fat Cheeses – can be eaten freely

These include: Cottage Cheese, Quark, reduced fat Cottage Cheese and reduced fat Edam and Ricotta.

Medium Fat Cheeses – eat up to 6 oz (180g) a week

These include: Brie, Camembert, Cheese Spread, Danish Blue, Edam, Emmenthal, Feta, Goats’ Milk Soft Cheese, Medium Fat Soft Cheese, Mozzarella, Processed Cheese, reduced fat Cheddar and Cheshire Cheese, Smoked Processed Cheese and Soya cheese.

High Fat Cheeses – eat up to 4 oz (120g) a week

These include: Caerphilly, Wensleydale, Cheddar, Cheshire, Cream Cheese, Derby, Double Gloucester, Full Fat Soft Cheese, Gouda, Gruyere, Lancashire, Leicester, Lymeswold, Mascapone, Parmesan, Red Windsor, Roquefort, Stilton and Vegetarian Cheese.

…And don’t tell me, your favourite cheeses, like mine, are all in the High Fat section! Never mind, it’s not that we can’t eat them at all, is it? We shall just have to eat less of the high fat cheeses and more of the low fat ones.

And What is the Salt Content of Cheese?

Salt is an important part of the cheese making process and also helps to preserve its freshness. However we need to make sure we don’t have too much salt in our diets – the recommended daily amount for adults is 6 grammes (0.2 oz), for children between 4 – 6 years no more than 3 grammes (0.1 oz) and older children no more than 4.6 grammes (0.16 oz).

Salt or Sodium?

The salt content on the labelling of some cheeses is sometimes referred to as sodium and is shown as the sodium content in grammes or milligrams per 100 grammes of cheese. A sodium content of one gramme per 100 grammes of cheese (1%) would be equivalent to a salt content of 2.5% (to convert sodium to salt, multiply by 2.5).

So What is the Salt Content of Cheeses?

Your best guidance is of course to check the labels. But the following will give you a rough idea of the salt content in some cheeses:

Cheeses high in salt: Danish Blue, Processed Slices of Cheese, Feta, Roquefort, Gouda and Edam

Cheeses quite high in salt: Cheddar, Parmesan, Stilton, Red Leicester, Brie, Double Gloucester, Cheshire/Wensleydale/Lancashire.

Cheeses low in salt: Cottage Cheese, fromage frais and Philadelphia Cheese Spread.

Enjoy!

Do continue to enjoy your different cheeses, but just be aware that some contain more fat and salt than others, so eat those in moderation.

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Bad eating habits

We come home from work hungry and grab a packet of biscuits and munch through most of them as we check our emails, then it’s a rushed meal in front of the TV. We all know that’s not healthy but it’s a habit we’ve got into and when we’re bored or a bit depressed the problem gets worse.

So what is ‘Mindful Eating’?

Mindful eating means being conscious about why you are eating: are you hungry, bored, tired or depressed? We need to look at our behaviour and our attitude to food. Often our addiction to comfort food such as chocolate needs to be looked at more closely if we want to improve our health. . Dr Albers says: “The problem is that people often think about eating the next piece of candy before they’ve even finished enjoying the one they have, then they feel unsatisfied and go for more.”

Instead of rushing and eating the chocolate or candy as quickly as possible she recommends slowing down and enjoying it in stages:

1.    Sit comfortably and be aware of all your senses and what emotions are involved.
2.    Notice the sound of the paper as you unwrap it and the weight of it in your hand.
3.    Be aware of its shape, colour, the smell of the chocolate and your thoughts and emotions during this whole process.
4.    Place the chocolate in your mouth and notice the texture, flavour and richness of taste

Just like enjoying fine wine

In other words, behaving just like the wine expert I mentioned at the start. The belief is that when people are more ‘mindful’ or, in other words, more aware and thoughtful about what they are eating then they are less likely to over-indulge. I also think she has a good point about monitoring your feelings while you are eating as it could reveal a lot about your state of mind and how food may be not just a hunger thing but part of a deeper emotional problem.

According to Dr Albers: “A mindful eater is nonjudgmental, compassionate and above all aware of the taste, texture and process of eating. Being mindful means knowing exactly how your body feels at all times. You are so closely in touch with what is going on inside that you know the exact moment you are satisfied rather than stuffed or starving by learning the why, what, when and how you eat.”

If you want to snack try and have healthy snacks in the house and avoid buying biscuits and chocolate on a regular basis: keep them for occasional treats. By eating sensibly throughout the day you will be less tempted to snack. Remember: be mindful not only of the food you eat but of the effect it has on your health.

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The French reaction

This has of course annoyed the French sheep farmers who reacted violently to a previous increase in 1999 when hundreds of them demolished a McDonald’s restaurant in Millau, the largest town in the southern cheese-producing department of Aveyron. There is even talk in the French Parliament about a heavy tax on imports of Coca-Cola concentrates which are produced in the US.

Well, I’m not going to get into a political discussion here, (that’s a relief – Beeble) but as we are doing a series on cheeses, I thought we could look at Roquefort this week.

The King of Cheeses

So what’s so special about Roquefort? Well, the French call it ‘the King of Cheeses’ and it is delicious. It can only be made using traditional, centuries old methods, with milk from the Lacaune mountain breed of sheep, grazed within 60 miles of the village of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon. It is a soft, moist, crumbly cheese and has blue-green veins running through it.

Nutrients are based on 100 grams

•    Calories: 367.65 kcal
•    Protein: 20.60 grams
•    Carbohydrates: 2.94 grams
•    Fibre: 0 grams
•    Fat Saturated: 19.12 grams
•    Fat Mono unsaturated: 8.53 grams
•    Fat Polyunsaturated: 1.18 grams
•    Calcium: 655.88 milligrams
•    Phosphorus: 388.23 milligrams
•    Sodium: 1797.06 milligrams
•    Potassium: 91.18 milligrams
•    Zinc: 2.06 milligrams
•    Iron: 0.60 milligrams
•    Magnesium: 29.41 milligrams
•    Vitamin A: 297.06 micrograms
•    Vitamin B1: 0.029 milligrams
•    Vitamin B2: 0.588 milligrams
•    Vitamin B3: 0.588 milligram
•    Vitamin B6: 0.117 milligrams
•    Vitamin C: 0 milligrams
•    Vitamin E: 0.765 micrograms
•    Folate (folic acid): 47.06 micrograms

(This should be the national cheese of Salt Lake City with that much Sodium – Beeble)

Health benefits

One serving – 1oz or 28g of Roquefort contains around 29% fat so you will need to eat it in moderation, but like all cheeses it is an important source of protein, containing 20%. This cheese is particularly useful for those who are allergic to cheese made from cows’ milk. It is also worth mentioning that cheese made from sheep’s milk contains twice as much calcium than that made from cows’ milk.

… but take care

Roquefort contains huge amounts of Sodium and in a serving of 28 grams you can expect to consume around 500 milligrams of sodium which is nearly a third of your recommended daily allowance. You better make sure that if you are fond of Roquefort that you have a diet very low in Sodium the rest of the time.

Also if you are pregnant you should avoid eating Roquefort and other blue-veined cheeses (e.g. Stilton and Danish Blue) and also soft mould-ripened cheeses (e.g. Brie and Camembert) this is due to the very slight chance of contracting listeria which can harm your unborn child.

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Portugal has introduced a new law that will allow women to have an abortion up to the 10th week of pregnancy. However the new law has also imposed a three-day reflection period in which women will have to seek the procedure and grant doctors’ right to opt on moral grounds. The law will become effective from July 15. It is estimated that around 10,000 women in most of the Roman Catholic countries are hospitalized every year with complications arising from failed, illegal abortions.

Portugal had rigid restrictions on abortion as compared to its neighboring countries but with the implementation of the new law Portugal will stand together with most of its European neighbors. For the law the Health Ministry had to really work hard and had spent months drawing up medical guidelines annexed to the law.

As per the new law now the woman who wish to seek abortion will have a meeting with the concerned doctors, where she will be warned of all the possibilities of danger due to the abortion. After a three-day reflection period she can either get the abortion done free of cost at a public hospital or go to a licensed private clinic. After all the medical procedures she must visit a family planning session to get informed about contraception methods.

The doctors are also given freedom to accept or reject the abortion cases and on unavailability of the doctor the hospital will have to give a woman access to a doctor elsewhere.

In the previous law the women could undergo abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy only if her health was at risk and in rape case she was granted through the 16th week. On the other side if there was a case in which it was the only solution left to save the mother then there no time restriction.

The government hopes that the new law will put an end to risky backstreet abortions .

[Source:to be mom] 

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A new study done by University of Florida has revealed that being in a relation alone can solve your problem of differing sexual attitudes. The research that appeared in Sex Roles substantiate that men usually are more anxious about sex than women. However, when we undergo through a relation the sexual attitudes tend to equalize. It also helps in overcoming traditional sexual behaviors that we grow up following.

Paul Perrin of UF(University of Florida) said:

Men experience a lot of pressure in our society to have sex with a number of different partners, the opposite of what women experience as kind of the gatekeepers of sexuality. [In a relationship] the pressure on men to have sex is not as strong and the pressure on women to not have sex goes away. People in romantic relationships give more importance to their own feelings and their partners’ than they do to social expectations bout sexual behavior.

Perrin explains:

The difference found in the study was that men find sex more pleasurable and gratifying then women. “Though not as frequently talked about, gender roles also restrict men to a narrow range of acceptable sexual behavior in the sense that others deem him immature and unmasculine if he doesn’t have frequent sex.

However, men also find sex more “personally costly” due to the reasons like unwanted pregnancies, STD’s because they indulge in more risky sexual activities.

Women, who might be as much interested in sex, however, cease from it due to the fear of breaking the so-called moral conducts of society. They rather believe in finding the right person and moment to have sex. As per Perrin the biggest connotation of this study is that “we aren’t slave to the gender roles that society imposes on us but have a lot more freedom, especially sexually.”

[Source:body of wealth] 

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Tracy Anderson is the hottest fitness guru who is shaping up the Hollywood’s A-list right now. She has helped 33-year-old mom of two, Gwyneth Paltrow shed her baby belly and Madonna transform her body into that of a professional dancer-thin, long and lean.

She claims that her clients lose about nine inches from the stomach and thighs in the first ten sessions, and that’s a good number, really! Her work out called ‘Dancer’s Workout’ is a combination of the Pilates techniques, diet and aerobics.

If you are someone who believes that the shape of your body is in your genes and you can’t do anything about it, then Tracy will be glad to prove it all wrong. She says that she can transform a woman with any body shape into that of a professional dancer.

She has designed her own version of the Pilates machine called the Hybrid Body Reformer, which has a moving pulley system that hits the muscles from different angles and these allow umpteen numbers of positions, all of which mimic dancing movements.

What is Tracy’s approach? She believes that waking up the muscles that are weak is the key to shaping up. Instead of building up the major muscle groups in the abs, she focuses on muscles around them. She says:

When the accessory muscles are properly developed, they pull in the larger ones, creating a tinier body structure. In this way you can reshape your body.

She charges $30-$40 /session and recommends a minimum of three months of training and that’s not a big amount to get that great body.

Not all of us can afford to have her as our personal trainer or her Pilates machine, so she plans to come up with a fitness DVD that’ll take you through her fitness route.

If you are impatient like me, and can’t wait to start off, check out some of the moves designed by her for a lifestyle magazine and get that fabulous body you’ve been dreaming of.

[Source:Dream figure] 

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In its latest report, the mental health charity, ‘Mind’ claims that doctors in u.K. lack knowledge regarding how to treat postnatal depression. About seventy percent women were given anti depressant medication. About twenty percent were offered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Even as the National Institute of Clinical Excellence recommends CBT as effective as drugs.

The report says that the use of anti-depressants is not suggested during pregnancy. It also points out the confusion in managing perinatal care. It shows a sharp decline in services. About three-fourth of mental health trusts have no mother and baby unit in England.

Surprisingly, there are only seventeen mother and baby units across England and Wales. They work without particular guidelines. A new program would help to access psychological therapies. It offers extra treatment alternatives and reduces trust on medication. Furthermore, some guidelines from National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence are expected to come out for NHS.

[Source:depressionblog] 

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