BLG Health - How Many Calories Do You Really Need

How Many Calories Do You Really Need?

To hear people talk, you'd think metabolism was the only factor that comes into play when determining body weight. A skinny person may shrug off their ability to polish off a burger and large fries and never gain an ounce with "I have quick metabolism," while an overweight person may say slow metabolism is to blame for their extra body weight.

But metabolism is simply the process by which your body converts the food you eat into the energy your body needs to fuel you. In truth, it's the number of calories you consume compared to the amount of energy you burn that determines whether your weight stays the same or whether you gain or lose pounds.

So how can you determine that magic number?

For starters, think about the things your body needs energy for. Just the acts of breathing, circulating blood through the body, growing and repairing cells, and digesting food require fuel. The number of calories your body uses to accomplish just these things is called your basal metabolic rate. For most people, these basic processes account for most of the calories you burn every day. Any physical activity, from cleaning the house to going for a jog, burns calories above and beyond this basic amount.

Basal metabolic rates vary from person to person, and there are a number of factors that can influence how many calories your body needs to function.

• Body size: Just as an SUV requires more fuel to run than a regular sedan, bigger bodies require more calories for fuel than smaller ones. As a result, your height and weight will affect the number of calories you burn.
• Body composition: Muscle requires more energy than fat, so the more muscle you have in relation to fat, the more calories your body needs to function.
• Age: Metabolism naturally slows as you age. As well, many people lose muscle and gain fat as they age, contributing to the slowdown.
• Gender: Because men usually have more lean muscle mass than women, their metabolism tends to be slightly higher.

The number of calories you need per day depends on your basal metabolic rate and on the number of calories you burn through physical activity.

The calculation's simple. If you want to maintain your weight, you need to burn the same number of calories per day as you consume. To lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you consume, while to gain, you need to consume more calories than you burn. 

Written and reviewed by the MediResource Clinical Team 

 As found @ http://www.medbroadcast.com/

Presented By Larry Guzda

NOTE!!! I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations. Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease. This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health - Fit vs.Fat

Fit vs. Fat

Over the years, some experts have touted fitness over fatness as a measure of health. But does that mean it's OK to be overweight if you hit the gym on a regular basis?

It's been a common line of thinking that the high blood pressure and cholesterol levels that are often seen in overweight individuals are to blame for the increased disease risk, rather than the fat itself. And because regular exercise can help to keep blood pressure and cholesterol in check, it was believed that overweight individuals might not face an increased risk so long as they got enough exercise.

While being overweight and fit is better for your health than being an overweight couch potato, research shows the excess weight itself is still a major risk factor for developing heart disease and diabetes.

But if you are of normal weight or even on the thin side, that doesn't mean you are off the hook either.

Where you carry your weight plays an important role in how healthy you are. Carrying excess fat around your middle - even if your weight isn't otherwise a problem - increases your risk of developing health problems more than weight carried anywhere else on the body.

But here's where working out comes into play: Research has shown exercise works better than diet alone when it comes to targeting deep belly fat.

Written and reviewed by the MediResource Clinical Team 

                                                                                  As found @   http://www.medbroadcast.com/


Presented By Larry Guzda

NOTE!!! I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations. Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease. This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health - Who Are You Calling Fat

Who Are You Calling Fat?

Sure, you know the risks of being overweight or obese, but that doesn't mean you have a problem, right? Or maybe you are fully aware that you could stand to lose some weight but are putting off doing anything about it until the summer, your sister's wedding, vacation time, or some other occasion down the road.

How can you tell if you need to lose weight and, if so, is now the right time?

For starters, you need to be honest with yourself about whether your weight is a problem. Don't just go by how snug your clothing feels or when the last time was that you had to go up a size in jeans. Even using those as a gauge, it can still be easy to bury your head in the sand. For example, a survey of New Yorkers found that only 39% of obese adults described themselves as such.

There are some concrete measures to tell whether your weight is putting you at risk for health problems.

• BMI (body mass index): Your BMI is calculated based on your weight and height, and determines whether you are underweight, at a healthy weight, or are overweight or obese. Don't know your BMI? Ask your doctor or use our BMI calculator.
• Waist circumference: Don't think your BMI is an accurate reflection of how healthy your weight is? For a few people, it isn't. If you have a high proportion of muscle, your BMI may define you as overweight even if your weight isn't actually a problem. Or, your BMI may say you're at a healthy weight, when in fact, you are carrying a high proportion of dangerous belly fat. For women, waist circumference should be below 88 cm (35 inches), while for men, it should be below 102 cm (40 inches).

The cold, hard numbers don't lie. But even if you know your weight is a problem, do you have to take action now? In a word, Yes!

While you may have the best intentions in the world to start a weight loss plan some time in the not-too-distant future, there really is no time like the present.

It may seem harmless to "weight it out a little" but if you don't take action now, you run the risk of gaining even more weight. According to a report, once people are overweight, their weight is more likely to keep increasing, eventually pushing them into obesity territory. The report found that almost one quarter of adult Canadians who were considered overweight were found to be obese 8 years later. In comparison, only 10% of those who were overweight were at a normal weight after the same time period.

Through adulthood, many people slowly gain small amounts of weight, even as little as a pound or so a year.

That may not seem like much, but over time it can add up - turning a little excess poundage into a "growing" problem.

Need another reason to maintain a healthy weight? A loss of 5% to 10% of your body weight along with 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise can reduce your risk of diabetes by almost 60%.

Written and reviewed by the MediResource Clinical Team

As found @   http://www.medbroadcast.com/

Presented By Larry Guzda

NOTE!!! I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations. Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease. This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health - The Fuss About Fat

The Fuss About Fat

So what's all the fuss about fat anyway? To put it simply, obesity is a leading cause of preventable illness and death in North America.
Some of the conditions associated with obesity are:

• breathing disorders (e.g., sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• certain types of cancers (e.g., prostate and bowel cancer in men, breast and uterine cancer in women)
• coronary artery (heart) disease
• depression
• diabetes
• gall bladder or liver disease
• gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD)
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• joint disease (e.g., osteoarthritis)
• stroke

If you are diagnosed with many of these conditions, being obese can also worsen your prognosis and increase your risk of complications. And the more obese you are, the more likely you are to have medical problems related to obesity.
Aside from the medical complications, obesity is also linked to psychosocial problems such as low self-esteem, discrimination, difficulty finding employment, and reduced quality of life.
But the good news is that losing even a small amount of weight can help to reduce your risk of many of these medical conditions. Talk to your doctor about what an appropriate weight is for you and what you can do to get there.

Written and reviewed by the MediResource Clinical Team 

                                                                              As  found @ http://www.medbroadcast.com/

Presented By Larry Guzda

NOTE!!! I will probably make money from purchases frffom recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations. Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease. This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health - Overweight Or Obese

Overweight or obese?

If you've been paying any attention to the news lately, you've likely heard a lot about obesity. But what is obesity and how does it differ from plain old overweight? And why is a little body fat so harmful anyway?

Your weight "status" is roughly determined by your body mass index or BMI, which is a number that compares your weight to your height. A healthy BMI ranges between 18.5 and 24.9, while anything under 18.5 is considered underweight. If your BMI is between 25 and 29.9 you might be considered overweight, depending on your age and muscular status. If it's over 30.0, you've joined the 23% of Canadians that are considered obese.

Are you overweight? Check your BMI

So what causes obesity? It's not just a question of eating too much - though that can be a factor. Actually, there are many contributing factors. These can include:

• consuming more food than your body actually needs
• not being active enough
• genetics
• your metabolism
• social factors
• economic factors
• psychological/emotional factors

So, what's all the fuss and concern? The fact is that obesity has health consequences. The complications resulting from obesity can have a considerable negative effect on the quality and length of a person's life. These complications can also have a significant impact on health care costs. People who are obese are at a higher risk of numerous illnesses, including heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and more.

As Found @   http://www.medbroadcast.com/

Presented By Larry Guzda

NOTE!!! I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations. Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease. This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

You've Reached Your Weight Loss Goal

Now that you've reached your goal

If you've recently set a weight-loss goal and achieved it, congratulations! But here's the bad news: the hard part isn't over yet. Now you have to maintain your new weight.

Given that you need to cut more calories from your diet to lose weight than you do to maintain your body weight, you'd think from here on out you'd be cruising. But studies have shown that even if you successfully lose weight, your chances of keeping it off are, well, slim.

So why is weight maintenance so hard?

There are a few factors at play. For starters, at your new, lower weight, your body needs fewer calories to fuel itself, which means you need to consume fewer calories than before you lost weight just to stay the same. If you lost weight through diet alone, rather than diet and exercise, chances are, you also lost muscle - which also affects the rate at which your body burns calories.

And that's just the physical stuff. There are some emotional factors, too, some of which have to do with how you viewed your diet in the first place.

Many people view dieting as a means to an end, rather than as a permanent change. That means that all the good habits they picked up along the way - from exercising to making good meal choices to regularly weighing themselves - fall to the wayside as soon as they've reached their goal. But if your old eating and exercise habits are what made you overweight to begin with, it makes sense that resuming those ways will cause the pounds to creep back on.

Even if you are fairly committed to maintaining your new habits, motivation can be a problem. Back when you were dieting, the regularly-declining numbers on your scale probably went a long way towards helping you stay on track. But it's just not as exciting when the goal is just to keep the number the same, week in and week out.

With all those obstacles in the way, it's a wonder anyone ever manages to keep the weight off. But maintaining your new weight is as important to your health as losing it was in the first place. Did you know that the cycle of losing weight and then gaining it, sometimes referred to as "yo-yo dieting," can actually cause health problems?

One study that was published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association suggests that yo-yo dieting may weaken the immune system. There is also some evidence that yo-yo dieting may increase your risk of developing high blood pressure and gallstones. But while many experts say the risks associated with this type of dieting shouldn't stop you from trying to lose weight if you are overweight, they do underscore the importance of finding a weight-loss plan that will help you not only lose the fat, but keep it off as well.

Written and reviewed by the MediResource Clinical Team

As found at  http://www.medbroadcast.com/   

Presented By Larry Guzda

NOTE!!! I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations. Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease. This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health - Keeping The Weight Off

Keeping the weight off

After all your hard work, the last thing you want is for the weight you lost to come creeping back on. So here are some strategies to make sure those pounds stay gone for good:

• Keep exercising. At your new lower weight, your body needs fewer calories to stay fueled. But you can compensate for that decrease by burning extra calories through regular exercise. Increasing your lean muscle mass through weight training can also give your metabolism a boost.
• Weigh yourself regularly. While you don't need to step on the scale every day, regular weigh-ins, for example, once a week or every couple of weeks, can help to identify small changes in your weight before they become a big problem.
• Be ready to handle setbacks. The unwanted 5-pound souvenir you brought home from your vacation doesn't have to be a permanent fixture. Be prepared to act as soon as you recognize slip-ups by having a plan in place that involves the same weight loss strategies that helped you in the first place.
• Keep a food journal. You don't need to do it all the time, as you may have done when you were dieting. But writing down what you eat over the course of a few days, as well as measuring out your portions can make sure you aren't easing back into the habit of eating more than you think.
• Find new motivators. If the ever-declining number on the scale helped bolster your willpower when it came to losing weight, you may need to find some new motivators to stay on track. Think about the things about your new body that make you happy - whether it's the fact that you're not too embarrassed to wear a swimsuit in public or that you can run a mile without feeling like you are going to collapse.

Written and reviewed by the MediResource Clinical Team
As found at http://www.medbroadcast.com/ 

Presented By Larry Guzda

NOTE!!! I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations. Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease. This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health - Workplace Diet Makeover

Workplace diet makeover

How long has it been since you made (or at least thought about making) that determination to lose some weight and get healthier? Between the stress of a big project, the Tim Horton's timbits and double-cream coffee breakfasts, the 10-hour workday with your butt glued to your chair, and the homemade cookies and pies and chocolate truffles brought in by coworkers who moonlight as chefs and bakers, your chances of losing the weight and keeping healthy on the job may be, well, quite slim.

What you feed your body can have a big impact on how you feel, think, and move on the job and hours after you've left the office. And when you are super busy with work, one of the first things you compromise is your health and diet.

Not everyone can do a total diet makeover, but adding little health twists into your workplace diet is a good start. Here are some tips on how to get started.

Do the breakfast thing. Studies show that your metabolism works best in the morning, and by skipping breakfast you are signaling your body to go into starvation mode, causing it to slow down your metabolism. But eating breakfast doesn't mean 2 doughnuts and a chocolate éclair, which only provides lots of unhealthy fat and empty calories. Learn more about a balanced breakfast from Canada's Food Guide.

Balance a packed lunch with eating out. If you are eating out Mondays to Fridays, try to cut back and designate a few days during the week where you bring your lunch instead. That way, you can better control what you eat and ensure that you are balancing fast food or restaurant food with healthier homemade meals.

And if you get takeout at the deli, they usually have a fresh fruit basket you can add to your meal.

Keep your snack stash away from your desk. Put your snacks in a cabinet or in the communal office fridge. Avoid having your snacks lying around on your desk so that you are not tempted to reach for it absentmindedly while you are focused on your work. On the same note, avoid eating your lunch at your desk while you work. Enjoy your lunch and give yourself a mental break.

Do frozen wisely. This is one of the easiest and most economic solutions during a busy workday - popping a frozen meal into the microwave. If this is your routine, take extra time at the supermarket to scan the nutrition labels and select healthier frozen options that are lower in fat and salt and smaller in portion. As tempting as it may be to pick up that no-name frozen chicken or beef pot pie for $1.99 sans nutrition label, it's not worth it!

Add a fresh fruit to fill up your stomach if you still have room.


Hydrate with water. Water helps regulate your body temperature, keeps your skin moisturized, and helps your body flush out waste. Many people do not drink enough water while they are at work, and this would mean they do not drink much water at all during the waking hours. Being dehydrated can lead to fatigue and more snacking. More often than not, you see people toting a can of pop or a cup of coffee rather than a glass of water around the office. These other beverages may have high sugar content and empty calories that can affect your productivity at work. Caffeine-containing drinks such as coffee and tea in small amounts can increase your alertness and ability to concentrate, but in larger quantities it can cause headaches, irritability, and nervousness. Keep a large bottle of water by your desk and make sure you get up to refill it at least once a day.

Get moving. While your company may have rules about how many 15-minute breaks you get and how long your lunch time should be, there are ways that you can make healthy use of that time. Keep a pair of walking shoes by your workspace and partner up with a colleague to go for a walk during your lunch hour - getting some fresh air can also help release some of the pent-up stress of a hectic work day. Take the stairs instead of the elevator if this is an option for you, and opt to park your car further from the building entrance. Another easy thing to do is to get up and walk over to talk to your coworker rather than email when he or she is just down the hall.

Joanne Lee

As found  at  http://www.medbroadcast.com/

Presented by Larry Guzda

NOTE!!! I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations. Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease. This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health- Emotional Eating

Mind over matter: emotional eating

Does this scenario sound familiar: You had a bad day at work, got into an argument with your partner over the phone, and then got stuck in traffic on the way home? And now that you're finally home, you can hardly wait to put on your sweats and dig into that carton of double chocolate chip ice cream or that bag of chips in your cupboard?

Or how about this one: You're sitting at home with nothing particular to do, and so you go rooting around your kitchen cupboards, just to see what's there. Before you know it, you find yourself sitting at the kitchen table with an empty bag of cookies in front of you.

Quick! Before you take that bite, have you thought about why you are eating? There are a whole host of reasons aside from hunger that prompt people to eat - boredom, sadness, nervousness, anxiety, stress, even happiness. But if you look at what these things all have in common, it's that they are emotions, and not signals of your body's need for nourishment.

While we are programmed to eat as a result of feeling hungry, many people also feel an urge to eat certain foods when they experience certain emotions, or when they find themselves in certain settings. Often, the foods of choice in these cases are "forbidden foods" - the same fat- and calorie-laden foods you try to resist while on a diet.

The first step to overcoming so-called emotional eating is to learn the difference between emotional and physical hunger cues.

Here are some clues that can help you tell the difference:

• Are you craving something specific? If you really are hungry, you'll likely find a host of foods to be satisfying. But if it's a craving, only specific foods will fill the void.
• Does the craving pass? Hunger doesn't go away until you've had something to eat, while cravings sometimes (but not always) pass.
• How hungry are you really? It may seem obvious, but next time you are tempted to chow down, stop and rate your hunger on a scale of 1 to 10. By forcing yourself to think about how hungry you actually are, you can learn to identify instances where you are eating for reasons other than hunger.
• When was the last time you ate? If it's been hours, you may truly be hungry. But if you just finished dinner, it may be a case of emotional eating.

Keeping a food journal and jotting down your mood every time you eat can help you learn to identify situations where you're eating for emotional reasons and not because you're hungry.

But now that you've learned to identify your emotional eating triggers, what can you do when you're faced with a situation that makes you want to eat for all the wrong reasons?

• Exercise. OK, working out may be the last thing you want to do, but exercise can be a 2-front attack against emotional eating: firstly, exercise has been shown to have positive effects on stress and depression. Secondly, if you've just had a tough workout, you may be less likely to want to undo that hard work with a fattening treat.
• Indulge, but in moderation. Sometimes, nothing else but a piece of chocolate or another treat will do. Instead of suffering through the craving or eating a bunch of different healthy snacks that just don't do the trick, treat yourself - but savour a small portion rather than pigging out.
• Make a list of feel-good alternatives. If you often turn to food to bring yourself up when you're down, make a list of pick-me-ups that aren't related to food. Some suggestions: calling a friend, getting a manicure, or reading a magazine.
• Wait it out. Sometimes cravings pass. Hunger won't. So if you're tempted, wait 20 minutes and see if you're still in the mood to indulge.

Written and reviewed by the MediResource Clinical Team

As found @  http://www.medbroadcast.com/

Presented by Larry Guzda

NOTE!!! I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations. Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease. This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health-Dieter Beware

Dieter beware!

Think you've been pretty good about eating well but find you're still not losing weight? Beware these hidden sources of calories, which can mean diet sabotage despite your best intentions.

• Oversized portions: The calories listed on the package are the amount contained in a specific amount of food, but that's not necessarily the amount you're eating. For example, your box of cereal may list a one-cup serving as having 120 calories. But if your bowl holds 2 cups of cereal and you're filling it, you're actually getting 240 calories. Oversized restaurant servings are also a major culprit. So familiarize yourself with proper portion sizes by measuring and weighing out your food - and don't be afraid to ask for a doggie bag when you go out.
• Oversized products: It's not just the foods you dish out yourself that are big. Bagels, muffins, and other "single-serving" foods are also growing in size and making you do the same. Some pack 4 servings of bread into just one piece.
• The salad bar: Think opting for salad for lunch is a diet-friendly choice? If you load up on veggies and a small amount of dressing, you're right. But if you pile on creamy coleslaw and pasta salads, creamy dressings, or salads swimming with oil, you're loading up on extra calories. Toppings such as bacon bits, croutons, and Chinese noodles can also take your salad from a dieter's dream to a dieter's nightmare.
• Liquid calories: Obviously regular pop and other soft drinks are loaded with sugar. But even if you are guzzling down juice and congratulating yourself for making a healthy choice, you are getting more calories than you need. Juice is a good source of vitamins, but it's also a great source of calories - 8 ounces of orange juice, for example, rings in at around 110 calories. The problem with drinking your calories, however, is that the body doesn't seem to register them the same way as it does food, so while a 100-calorie snack can make a dent on your appetite and reduce the number of calories you consume later, a drink won't. And if you are drinking soft drinks sweetened with fructose, there is some evidence that this sweetener causes changes in metabolism that promote the body to store more fat.

Written and reviewed by the MediResource Clinical Team 

As found @ http://www.medbroadcast.com/

Presented by Larry Guzda

NOTE!!! I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations. Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease. This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health - Diet traps

Diet traps

There are some mindsets that can derail even the best weight-loss intentions. And while making over your body is a great goal, it's possible that to reach it, you also need a mental makeover - at least where your attitudes and beliefs about dieting are concerned.
Here are some commonly held beliefs about dieting, why they can lower your chances of success, and how to beat each obstacle.

Trap #1: Dieting has to be all or nothing.

The truth: It may feel virtuous to turn down chocolate cake, french fries, and every other treat that crosses your path, but in time, the temptation is likely to wear you down. And if you've been deprived of treats for a long time, you're all the more likely to load them on when you do cave in.

The fix: Make sure you indulge in the occasional treat. But make sure it's in moderation and only splurge on foods you really love.

Trap #2: Once you fall off the wagon, there's no point in getting back on.

The truth: The road to weight loss isn't always smooth, and you are bound to encounter some pitfalls along the way. Whether you've gone on vacation or just had a heavy restaurant meal, going off the plan can make you feel like you've blown your whole diet. But you've really only blown it if you decide to give up altogether rather than resume your healthy eating habits at your next meal.

The fix: Pick yourself up and get right back on the plan. It's normal to feel disappointed in yourself if you slip up. But in the long run, one little slip-up doesn't make a difference if you get right back on the plan. Don't wait until tomorrow or after the weekend - do it at your next meal.

Trap #3: A serving is the amount of food you can fit in your bowl.

The truth: The calories listed on the package are the amount contained in a specific amount of food, and that's not necessarily the amount you're eating. For example, your cereal may have 120 calories in a one-cup serving. But if your bowl holds 2 cups of cereal and you fill it right up, you're actually getting 240 calories. And extra calories from oversized portions add up!

The fix: Familiarize yourself with how big your portions should be, from a 3-ounce chicken breast that's about the size of a deck of cards to a half-cup serving of pasta that's the size of an ice-cream scooper. To start, weigh or measure out portions until you start to get a good idea of what different amounts look like.

Trap #4: Food doesn't count if it's fat-free.

The truth: While this belief was popularized with the invasion of fat-free products in the 1990s, it couldn't be further from the truth. The amount of weight you gain or lose is determined by the number of calories you eat compared to the number you burn. Still, few of your calories should come from fat. Instead, focus on getting your calories from foods that will fill you up and help you gain muscle.

The fix: If you're trying to lose weight, keep an eye on your overall caloric intake, and try to get your energy from foods rich in fibre, protein, and other important nutrients.

Trap #5: Nighttime snacking turns directly into fat.

The truth: Food you eat after dinner doesn't automatically land on your thighs, but if you've already had your fill of calories for the day, the extra snack could get the scales tipping in the wrong direction. But it's the extra calories that cause the problem, not the timing.

The fix: If you really enjoy a bedtime snack, then budget for the extra calories after dinner. But if you find you are getting hungry despite already having had your fill, consider adding a bowl of soup or some salad to your dinner, or swapping pasta or bread products for the whole-wheat version to help you fill up.

Trap #6: It's best to stick to the same foods.

The truth: When you're dieting, it can be easy to get stuck in a rut. Maybe you've settled on a meal that exactly fits your caloric needs so you find yourself eating it again and again or you're afraid to veer outside of a select group of diet-friendly foods. But if you're bored with your meals, you're more likely to cave when temptation comes along.

The fix: Diet food doesn't have to be boring. Focus on high-quality ingredients, which tend to have more flavour, and really try to mix it up. Adding fresh herbs, balsamic vinegar, or even a small amount of good-quality olive oil or parmesan cheese to your meal can help keep things interesting without adding too many calories.

Written and reviewed by the MediResource Clinical Team 

As found @  http://www.medbroadcast.com/

Presented by Larry Guzda

NOTE!!! I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations. Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease. This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health- Acid Reflux Therepy

Pillows and Positional Therapy as Immediate Remedy for Acid Reflux

When we eat, the contents in the stomach normally proceed into the intestines with the aid of digestive muscle contractions. However, for those who have acid reflux disease, the digestive contents travel back into the esophagus. And since the digestive materials contain acids, a patient suffers from inflammation in the throat which may be associated with pains in the abdomen and breastbone. Other symptoms include dyspepsia, vomiting, regurgitation, and respiratory-related indicators.

Acid reflux is a chronic health condition. Once it has started to transmit in the body, it will continue to inhabit indefinitely. Although treatments are available, symptoms usually tend to be applied repeatedly. And this means that treatments also need to be employed recurrently.

The act of stomach liquids backing up into the esophagus is actually normal. It also happens to those without acid reflux disease. In the case of acid reflux patients, however, the stomach contents have more acid than the normal and that the acid tends to stay in the esophagus in a longer period of time.

The human body, of course, has its own mechanisms to lessen the harmful effects brought about by the refluxed acids. An example of such is the salivary glands found in the mouth. These glands produce saliva, a liquid which contains bicarbonate. When we swallow, the saliva containing bicarbonates passes through the esophagus.

Bicarbonates have the ability to neutralize acids, which may have remained after an earlier regurgitation. Also, studies have shown that most cases of reflux happen during daytime. At this time, individuals are usually on an upright position. With the aid of gravity, reflux is minimized because the stomach contents are held back down. Moreover, when awake, individuals recurrently swallow. And this practice maximizes the benefits that saliva does in reducing the level of acids in the throat.

The mentioned natural ways of the body to protect itself are important in the maintenance of the esophagus. But saliva, swallowing, and gravity can only work when a person is in an upright position. During night time, when individuals are asleep, gravity cannot help much. Also, the saliva secretion is trimmed down and swallowing does not take place. It is for these reasons why acid reflux which comes about at night becomes more severe sore in the esophagus because the acids stay longer and therefore do more damage to it.

Acid reflux can be more susceptible to the pregnant and obese. The increased levels of hormones during pregnancy and high levels of fats in the body can induce acid reflux because of the pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle that prevents the stomach contents from moving back to the esophagus, is reduced. As such, it will be easier for the partially digested contents to come back because less force is holding them back down. In addition, for the pregnant women, the pressure in the abdomen rises due to the developing fetus in the womb.

There are ways to help the body minimize the occurrences of reflux. One of the easiest to implement is positional therapy. This is done by elevating the head and the torso when in a sleeping position. Pillows, which are readily available, can be positioned to raise the torso at about six to eight inches. This position can provide maximum effectiveness in holding back reflux. Surveys have shown that the use of increased recommended elevation results to greater efficiency.

Visit us at  BLG Health.com

Presented by Larry Guzda

NOTE!!!
I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations.
Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.
Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease.
This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health- Acid Reflux Medicines

Using Acid Reflux Medicine to Get Rid of the Annoying Heartburns


Alcohol lovers would often love to match their drink with spicy dishes and greasy and fatty foods. The perfect combination makes the drinking perfect to the palate. Unfortunately though, this is bad for the esophagus and the stomach. The alcohol, the spicy dishes and the greasy and fatty foods causes acid reflux or also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Other causes of acid reflux are pregnancy, genetic influences, presence of infection in the gastrointestinal tract, and the Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).

The Gastrointestinal System of the body is composed of the following: the oral cavity, the esophagus, the stomach, small intestine, large intestine and the anus. The main function of the Gastrointestinal System is to digest food particles, absorb digestive juices and eliminate undigested materials which are of course the feces.

The acid reflux affects the stomach and the esophagus. This occurs when the liquid from the stomach which contains pepsin, an irritating substance produced by the chief cells goes up to the esophagus passing through the cardiac sphincter. The cardiac sphincter is the opening to the stomach from the esophagus. Its function is to prevent reflux of the substances in the stomach because these substances cause esophageal irritation and ulcer. If the cardiac sphincter fails to close after receiving food from the esophagus, acid reflux occurs.

Acid reflux is a chronic condition. Once a person suffers from it, it becomes a life-long ordeal. Injury in the esophagus also is a chronic condition. Even if the esophagus has healed with treatment and it is being stopped, the injury will return in most patients within a few months. Once treatment for said illness is begun, it usually needs to be continued indefinitely.

Normally, liquid reflux in the stomach occurs to a healthy individual. However, people with the acid reflux or GERD, has more acid in the liquid. This may be caused by the genetic influences, specifically, an increased number of parietal cells which produce pepsin in the stomach.
The body has mechanisms to protect itself from the harmful effects of reflux and acid. Most reflux happens during the day when individuals are upright. In said position, the refluxed liquid is more likely to flow back down into the stomach due to gravity. Moreover, while individuals are awake, they continually swallow, regardless if there is reflux or not. Each time individuals swallow the reflux liquid slide back into the stomach. The last body defense to reflux is the salivary glands in the mouth. These glands produce saliva, which contains bicarbonate. Every time an individual swallows, the bicarbonate-containing saliva slides down the esophagus. The bicarbonate neutralizes the small amount of acid that remains in the esophagus.

Basically, acid reflux medicines inhibit the production or release of pepsin produced by the chief cells and hydrochloric acid produced by the parietal cells in the stomach. Other medicines may not totally inhibit the production but they neutralize the acid.

The acid reflux medicines are the Histamine Blockers or the H2 receptor antagonists. Histamine stimulates a pump in the stomach that releases hydrochloric acid. The H2 receptor antagonists prevent the histamine from stimulating this pump. They block the production of the hydrochloric acid thereby reducing secretion and concentration into the stomach. 

One of the acid reflux medicines is the Cimetidine which was introduced in 1975. It has a short half-life and short duration of action. The three most popular H2 blockers are Ranitidine, Famotidine and Nizatidine. They are more potent than Cimetidine because in addition to blocking gastric acid secretions, they also promote healing of the ulcer by eliminating its cause. They also have longer duration of action.

As the cliché goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, you can avoid having an acid reflux or GERD by avoiding too much smoking and alcohol, and by eating less of spicy and greasy food. When taking NSAIDs, be sure you take it after meals. Lastly, avoid stress because it stimulates the release of the deadly acid.


Come visit us at  BLG Health .com

Presented by Larry Guzda

NOTE!!!
I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations.
Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.
Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease.
This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health- Acid Reflux And Baby

Acid Reflux in Baby: Keeping Your Baby Protected

Acid reflux, which is also termed as gastroesophageal reflux, is one of the most frequent problems among infants. Babies with acid reflux often suffer from a range of conditions, from a mild degree to a severe one, such as recurrent spitting up, abdominal pain, and night waking.

This discussion would be more comprehensive with the understanding of the physiological or the mechanical aspect of the condition. The body has a band of muscle in a circular structure that is called the lower esophageal sphincter. This muscle detaches the esophagus from the stomach. When food comes into the stomach, it closes so as to prevent the stomach acids and contents from backing up into the esophagus or regurgitating. But in the case of some babies, the lower esophageal sphincter has grown immature. As such, the partially digested food and digestive acids are allowed to be refluxed. This condition causes irritation in the esophagus lining which results to inflammation that is also commonly called as heartburn.

Acid reflux among babies usually develops when they are between two to four weeks old. Doctors usually prescribe medicines that minimize the production of digestive acids. Within six to nine months, the acid reflux starts to naturally subside. At this time period, the babies spend most of their time in an upright position. This is to apply the law of gravity on the food taken in; that is, the food stays down more naturally and reduces possible regurgitation.

The following are helpful pointers on feeding and positioning of babies to lessen acid reflux:

Prepare smaller feedings recurrently. It makes sense to feed your baby more than usual but less than the accustomed. If lesser volume of milk goes into the stomach, the digestion will be faster and there will be fewer amounts of contents available for regurgitation.

Maintain the baby in an upright position after feeding. As discussed earlier, gravity helps to keep the digestive contents down. Position your baby seated in your lap while his head rests on your chest. Keep this position for at least half an hour after feeding.

Breastfeeding helps a lot. Breast milk is well-known to have many advantages over other commercial formula, mainly for babies with acid reflux. Breast milk can be digested faster, which of course lessens spitting up, and it has special enzymes that assists digestion. In addition to that, breast milk does not trigger allergy to babies compared to other milks available in the market. But for those who are formula-feeding, it is advisable to use milk with a hypoallergenic formula as advised by a doctor. Aside from having higher tolerance with sensitive intestines, hypoallergenic milk can also be digested faster by the stomach so as to minimize refluxes.

Set your baby in a comfortable position when asleep. Since when a baby lies flat when sleeping, gravity cannot help in keeping the food down in this set-up. As a result, a baby with acid reflux often has to endure a sore night waking. If a baby can sleep soundly, then there will be no need to call for a change in his habit. But some babies become restless, which can be noted by abdominal pain, acid breath, and wet burps. In this case, it is recommended to elevate the baby’s crib to about 30 degrees. This will be enough to reduce the regurgitation. You may also try to train him to sleep on his left side. It is in this position where the inlet of the stomach is higher than the exit. This will also help to keep the food down.

We appreciate your visit to our website  BLG Health.com

Presented by Larry Guzda

NOTE!!!
I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations.
Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.
Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease.
This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health- Acid Reflux And Diet

Heal Your Heartburn Through Acid Reflux Diet

Acid Reflux, another term for heartburn, is a disease which is created by a simple imbalance of chemical make-up in the body--the attack of acid reflux in the esophagus when it is supposed to be in the stomach only.

The fact that Acid Reflux, the acid indigestion, affects not just adults but also infants and children, make it essential for everyone to be aware of its symptoms and how it can be prevented.

Since the Acid Reflux is triggered by various foods like chocolate, citrus fruits, spicy foods, including fried and fatty foods. Together with the time of day the foods are eaten and over eating which causes excessive weight. Therefore, the key to avoid the heartburning uneasiness brought by the Acid reflux also lies on the foods—a manage diet.

Truth in studies show that a specific food can head out acid reflux, so it is vital that everyone must take a careful observation of their eating habits.

Nevertheless, any person who is suffering from Acid Reflux needs a diet that would suit to treat the illness, the foods that should be taken and those which should not be.

Now, you might be wondering what could be the best diet to observe to avoid acid reflux, the heartburn-free recipes that are fitted to an Acid Reflux diet.

It was distinguished that drinking milk can be a speedy cure to alleviate acid reflux trouble. Although, milk produces an action and encourages discharge of more stomach acid, causing then acid reflux.

So, people affected by heartburn should follow a diet wherein they eat a small meal during dinner and follow it up with a small snack before they go to sleep, crackers for instance.

Likewise, they should make sure that they their meal are rich in complex carbohydrates. This includes breads, rice and pasta; this fixes the excessive acid in the stomach, hence, giving it an easy feeling.

Chew your foods well, do not rush on eating, 20 minutes for each meal will do. Extract all the nourishment that you can get in your food.

Along with the diet, it is also advisable to keep yourself in a straight position during and after eating, for least 45 minutes.

Remove from your diet high-fat foods, this will tend to stay in the stomach longer, with this, the stomach will be forced to produce more acids for digestion.

In addition, avoid eating large meals; this will also stimulate the stomach to produce more acids to digest them.

One the medical specialists’ recommendations is to add more plant protein in your diet, like beans and lentils, in this process the animal protein that you have taken will be replaced.

Also, try to observe in your diet the time you spend for eating, the amount of your meal, your relaxation when you eat, and how thorough you chew your food. It is advisable that you take several small meals in a day, than you take large meals regularly, for instance six small meals a day will do than having three large ones. The procedure is simply breaking up the meal.

If you want additional information regarding proper diet to battle Acid Reflux, you can visit a nutrition-oriented health care practitioner like a dietician, naturopathic physician, or nutritionist. They can give you accurate dietary schemes that will fit your private health needs and objectives.

Visit us at  BLG Health.com

Presented by  Larry Guzda

NOTE!!!
I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations.
Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.
Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease.
This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health- Acid Reflux And Pregnancy

Keeping Pregnant Women Away From Acid Reflux Dilemma

Many women tend to experience heartburn symptoms when they are still carrying their babies, and this happens for several reasons.

One of these is the increase of hormones in the women’s body while they are pregnant. The occurrence of this will result in softening the ligaments which function is to keep the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) firmly closed. When the LES rests at unsuitable periods, tendency is, this will let the gastric acid and food to reflux back to the esophagus and throat.

One more reason of experiencing heartburn during pregnancy is because the changes in the body and the development of the baby creates more pressure in the women’s stomach. Therefore, the stomach contents are forced right into the LES, and then to the esophagus.

However, there are several methods that a pregnant woman can observe to lessen the discomfort brought by heartburn. The following are good advices, although this may not remove the heartburn totally:

•    Avoid the food that triggers heartburn. Examples of this are chocolates, spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, mustard, tomatoes and tomato based products, fatty foods, fried foods, and highly seasoned dishes. Try to refer to medical specialists to know the complete list of foods to avoid Acid Reflux. Also, for foods that you may take which contains little danger of causing heartburn.

•    Get rid of drinks that have caffeine, like tea, coffee, and soda. Too much of these will cause the LES to relax and let the acid to return into the esophagus.

•    Stay away from alcohol beverages. This, like caffeine tends to relax the LES thus, creating the same effect—triggering heartburn.

•    Avoid eating large meals. It is suggested that taking numerous small meals throughout the day will be better.

•    Avoid rush in eating your meals. Chewing food thoroughly will really help in avoidance of heartburn, so better take your time in eating.

•    Rest for at least three hours after having your last meal before taking your sleep.

•    A pregnant woman is advised to take more glasses of water a day, at least 8 to 10 glasses, though this must be taken not just during meals. Through this, the stomach will expand, and then the LES will be given more pressure, obliging it to open inappropriately. Hence, it is really recommended to drink more water and other fluids in between meals.

•    When sleeping elevate the head of the bed for at least six to eight inches. Try to sleep with an elevated head and shoulders through a wedge pillow. Through this, the gravity will work as much that it will keep the acids in your stomach in their place—in the stomach, not in the esophagus. Try to consult physicians to gain additional knowledge on how to relieve nighttime heartburn.

•    Don’t wear tight fitting clothes. Tightness around the waist and stomach will trigger heartburn as it causes uneasiness.

•    When bending, do it at the knees, not at the waist. This will avoid in creating too much pressure in the stomach.

•    Don’t slouch; rather sit erect in a relaxing chair.

•    Maintain a sensible amount of weight, too much weight and fatness will give more stress in your stomach. As a result, this will force stomach contents throughout the LES and to the esophagus. Stay with your doctors guidelines.

•    Avoid smoking. Doctors stated that smoking could cause several effects to a pregnant woman, much that it can add to the possibility of experiencing heartburn.

Visit our website at  BLG Health.com

Presented by  Larry Guzda


NOTE!!!
I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations.
Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.
Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease.
This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health-Magnifying Acid Reflux

Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), the medical term for “Acid Reflux” is defined as the product of abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus thus, creating a mucosal damage, likewise known as the chronic symptom.

This disease strikes adult primarily, while infants and children can also be affected. Normally spurred by eating certain foods, if not pregnancy, or taking a sleep right after eating a heavy meal, a large number of persons suffer from acid reflux at one time or another.

Heartburn or acid indigestion is another name that refers to acid reflux. Heartburn, the major symptom of Acid Reflux in the esophagus, is described to cause a burning uneasiness at the back of the sternum.

The symptoms may come as coughing, voice transformation, hoarseness, constant ear ache, or sinusitis. The complications brought upon by acid reflux may lead to esophageal ulcers or worse this can lead to esophageal cancer.

However, constant heartburn sensations do not necessarily mean that one has captured GERD already. The risk occurs when heartburn happened more than once a week, this occasion could possibly lead in developing GERD.

The usual cause of GERD is the increase in acidity or gastric acid production in the body, obesity, pregnancy, or tight-fitting apparels, these all can add to the problem. The yeast infections are also thought to be one of the causes of GERD-like symptoms.

An added ironical cause of the GERD is the insufficient production of stomach acid in the body. The explanation says that the valve, the hollow organ with a flap that insure the one-way course of fluid through the organ, once emptied triggers acidity in the intestines. If the valve fails to open, the contents of the stomach will be blended into the esophagus, and then irritation occurs.

Meanwhile, there are already several treatments for GERD today, one of which is the balance and healthy eating habits. Now if proper diet fails to work, one can shift to medication therapy or surgery as suggested by the doctors. Below are the lists of several selections of Acid Reflux treatment:

•    Proper Diet: the natural way to cure Acid Reflux is through change in their eating habits. A good number of people affected by GERD found success in following this method. Avoid the food ingredients which can intensify heart burn such as caffeine, soft drinks, and smoking. Avoid eating two hours before sleeping; likewise, avoid lying down after taking meal. These are the regular suggested change in lifestyle.

•    Another easy way to treat GERD is to elevate the head of the bed. The pharmacologic therapy, the combination of prevention of food two hours before sleeping and the rise of the head of the bed, there is a great chance for a patient to gain a 95 percent relief. The rise of the head of the bed is suggested to range for only 6 to 8 inches or 20 cm. Using this method the backflow of gastric fluids will be hampered.

•    Drug Treatment: Drugs reduce the secretion of the gastric acid, for instance and famotidine and omeprazole lessen the secretion of gastric acid and the Antacids counteract the acid.

•    Surgical treatment: the Nissen fundoplication, the standard surgical treatment for Acid Reflux, the medication process will only cover a short period of time. The function of this is to support the sphincter, a spherical bond of muscles that opens and closes to let the food or waste to pass, as well as stop Acid Reflux, and of course restore the hiatal hernia.

Please Visit our Site at BLG HEALTH.com

Presented By Larry Guzda



NOTE!!!
I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations.
Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not
meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease.
This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health-Acid Reflux And Children

Overlooking Acid Reflux Disease in Children

An 11-year-old boy in Boston developed a Gastro esophageal reflux Disease (GERD). According to his mother, Cathy, it was the end of June in the year 2005 when his son developed a cough which usually happens during sleep, and even during daytime. It is only a short dry cough symptom. His pediatrician thought it was only allergy, however, when his son was tested, result showed that his son had no allergy. According to her, it was his son’s asthma that relates to GERD.

Studies show that GERD is likewise normal to infants and children like in adults, though this fact is often times being overlooked. The symptoms come in continual sickness, coughing, and other respiratory trouble.

Children are vulnerable to GERD because of their immature digestive system. Truth is majority of the infants grow out of GERD once they reach the age of one year old.

The medical specialists further stated that symptoms for children may come in difficulty in swallowing foods, or failure to grow. The doctors recommended that in situation like this it is best to lessen the amount of acid in the children’s stomach before it could lead to acid reflux, since this disease is not very curable in children.

However, the doctor suggested some approaches to avoid acid reflux on children; an example of these is burping the infant quite a few times during feeding, or letting the infant stay in an erect position for 30 minutes after nourishing.

Although, for a child ages three and up, doctors suggested to keep them off from sodas that includes caffeine like soft drinks, carbonated drinks,  spicy foods like peppermint, acidic foods like citrus fruits, too much chocolate, and fried and fatty foods. Ideally, establishing a healthy eating habit diet can really decrease the acid reflux in children.

It is also suggested that children will eat smaller meals before sleeping, if possible, do not allow them to eat two to three hours before sleeping, also, elevate the head of their bed for at least 30 degrees.

Further treatments include the use of H2 blockers; this is available in any drugs store. Prevacid, proton plump inhibitors, can also be used in treating acid flux for children.

However, if these treatments fail to stop the symptoms, other treatment method needs to be done. It is very atypical, but doctors’ recommends surgery, this is so far the best treatment for relentless symptoms which do not anymore counter to other treatments.

The Esophageal reflux surgery for children is designated for children who have had unsuccessful medical treatments, and continuous surgery is essential as the child grows.

Now, if you get confused whether when is the time to consult a pediatrician regarding acid reflux. The answer is you observe, observe the amounts of vomiting of the child, if it already comes out in green or yellow or appears to be like blood or coffee grounds, there difficulty in breathing after vomiting, and there is pain in swallowing, immediately consult a pediatrician before the symptom gets aggravated.

So to prevent the occurrence of this disease, stay away from the habit of leaning forward after eating, or worse, sleeping after taking a large amount of food.

Take note, advanced acid reflux disease has a great possibility to end serious medical complications, and it may lead to hospitalization.

Be keen of the possible symptoms so will not overlook it. Take care of your kids.


We would love to have you visit  our site at   BLG Health.com

Presented by  Larry Guzda

NOTE!!!
I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations.
Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.
Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease.
This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

Costco - Unbelievable Drug Costs !!!!

 Costco - Unbelievable!
Story verified @http://www.snopes.com/medical/drugs/generic.asp medical/drugs/generic.asp>  medical/drugs/generic..asp medical/drugs/generic..asp> >
Make sure you read to the end. You will be amazed.

  

Let's hear it for Costco! (This is just mind-boggling!)

Make sure you read all the way past the list of the drugs. The woman that signed below is a Budget Analyst out of federal Washington, DC offices.

Did you ever wonder how much it costs a drug company for the active ingredient in prescription medications? Some people think it must cost a lot, since many drugs sell for more than $2.00 per tablet. We did a search of offshore chemical synthesizers that supply the active ingredients found in drugs approved by the FDA. As we have revealed in past issues of Life Extension a significant percentage of drugs sold in the United States contain active ingredients made in other countries. In our independent investigation of how much profit drug companies really make, we obtained the actual price of active ingredients used in some of the most popular drugs sold in America.

Celebrex: 100 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $130.27
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.60
Percent markup: 21,712%


Claritin: 10 mg
Consumer Price (100 tablets): $215.17
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.71
Percent markup: 30,306%


Keflex: 250 mg
Consumer Price (100 tablets): $157.39
Cost of general active ingredients: $1.88
Percent markup: 8,372%


Lipitor: 20 mg
Consumer Price (100 tablets): $272.37
Cost of general active ingredients: $5.80
Percent markup: 4,696%


Norvasc: 10 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $188.29
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.14
Percent markup: 134,493%


Paxil: 20 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $220.27
Cost of general active ingredients: $7.60
Percent markup: 2,898%


Prevacid: 30 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $44.77
Cost of general active ingredients: $1.01
Percent markup: 34,136%


Prilosec: 20 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $360.97
Cost of general active ingredients $0.52
Percent markup: 69,417%


Prozac: 20 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets) : $247.47
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.11
Percent markup: 224,973%


Tenormin: 50 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $104.47
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.13
Percent markup: 80,362%


Vasotec: 10 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $102.37
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.20
Percent markup: 51,185%


Xanax: 1 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets) : $136.79
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.024
Percent markup: 569,958%


Zestril: 20 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets) $89.89
Cost of general active ingredients $3.20
Percent markup: 2,809%


Zithromax: 600 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $1,482.19
Cost of general active ingredients: $18.78
Percent markup: 7,892%


Zocor: 40 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $350.27
Cost of general active ingredients: $8.63
Percent markup: 4,059%

Zoloft: 50 mg
Consumer price: $206.87
Cost of general active ingredients: $1.75
Percent markup: 11,821%


Since the cost of prescription drugs is so outrageous, I thought everyone should know about this.
It pays to shop around! This helps to solve the mystery as to why they can afford to put a Walgreen's on every corner. On Monday night, Steve Wilson, an investigative reporter for Channel 7 News in Detroit, did a story on generic drug prices gouging by pharmacies. He found in his investigation that some of these generic drugs were marked up as much as 3,000% or more. So often we blame the drug companies for the high cost of drugs, and usually rightfully so. But in this case, the fault clearly lies with the pharmacies themselves. For example if you had to buy a prescription drug, and bought the name brand, you might pay $100 for 100 pills.


The pharmacist might tell you that if you get the generic equivalent, they would only cost $80, making you think you are saving $20. What the pharmacist is not telling you is that those 100 generic pills may have only cost him $10!

At the end of the report, one of the anchors asked Mr. Wilson whether or not there were any pharmacies that did not adhere to this practice, and he said that Costco consistently charged little over their cost for the generic drugs.


I went to the Costco site, where you can look up any drug, and get its online price. It says that the in-store prices are consistent with the online prices. I was appalled. Just to give you one example from my own experience I had to use the drug Compazine which helps prevent nausea in chemo patients.

I used the generic equivalent, which cost $54.99 for 60 pills at CVS. I checked the price at Costco, and I could have bought 100 pills for $19.89. For 145 of my pain pills, I paid $72.57. I could have got 150 at Costco for $28.08.

I would like to mention that, although Costco is a 'membership' store, you do NOT have to be a member to buy prescriptions their as it is a federally regulated substance. You just tell them at the door that you wish to use the pharmacy, and they will let you in.

I am asking each of you to please help me by copying this letter and sending it to everyone you know with an e-mail address.

Sharon L. Davis
Budget Analyst
U.S.  Department of Commerce
Room 6839


Remember that the prices shown are in US dollars.

Presented By Larry Guzda

NOTE!!!
I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations.
Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not
meant to be a substitute for medical
advise. Contact your physician for
diagnoses of all health related problems
as soon as possible.Dietary supplements
HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease.
This article may be copied but not changed
in any way.

BLG Health- Acid Reflux Medications

Acid Reflux Medication: Keeping Heartburn at Bay

In a normal digestive process, the partially digested food is being forwarded by muscular movements from the stomach to the intestines. However, for some people, the stomach contents travel back to the esophagus from the stomach. This condition is known as acid reflux.

Common symptoms of this disease include heartburn, difficulty in swallowing, regurgitation, chest pains, dental erosion, hoarseness, asthma, dyspepsia, vomiting, and many others.

If not properly treated, acid reflux can last for several months. But drug treatment can play an essential part in the treatment process of a patient.

The most common medications used include the following:

Antacids. These drugs are used to neutralize the acids in the digestive tract and are primarily taken in for relief of mild symptoms, such as occasional episodes of indigestion and heartburn. They also act to incite the defensive mechanisms of our stomach by building up the secretion of mucous and bicarbonate. Most antacids can be bought over the counter even without a medical prescription. Moreover, these drugs are one of the first to be recommended by professionals to lessen the pain brought about by heartburn or mild symptoms. The three basic ingredients of antacids are magnesium, calcium, and aluminum.

Acid suppressants such as histamine blockers are also commonly used. Histamine blockers obstruct the production of stomach acids by alienating the actions of histamine. Histamine is a chemical in the body that promotes the production and secretion of acids in the stomach. Anti-histamines are available even without prescription and offers relief of symptoms in most of the patients with frequent acid reflux. Patients have to wait for 30 to 90 minutes for these drugs to take effect. But their effect also lasts six to 24 hours. In cases of severe symptoms, a patient may have to take two dosages a day. In some researches, histamine blockers have shown to improve asthmatic symptoms in those who endure from both acid reflux and asthma.

However, in a study dated 2001, it was suggested that histamine blockers occasionally impart complete relief of symptoms for dyspepsia and heartburn.

Proton pump inhibitors are also employed as a medication. They act to trim down the production of stomach acids by reacting with the cells found in the stomach wall which produce and release acids into the stomach. However, researches have revealed that the use of proton pump inhibitors poses some concerns. Side effects, although uncommon, include diarrhea, headache, itching, and nausea. Moreover, these drugs should also be stayed away from by pregnant and breast-feeding mothers.

Another medication that is generally handled is the use of agents which protect the mucus lining in the gastrointestinal region. This kind of drug acts by attaching to an ulcer crater so that it will be guarded from damage caused by digestive acids. It is advisable for people undergoing maintenance therapy with mild or moderate acid reflux conditions. Likewise, it has minor side effects, including constipation.

Anti-spasm drugs are also utilized to prevent acid and even non-acid reflux. A gamma-amino acid butyric acid agonist, an anti-spasm drug is generally used to abate the spasms in the muscles. Unlike most medicines used for acid reflux, it can also lessen non-acid refluxes and amplify the pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle that separates the esophagus from the stomach and prevents backing up of stomach contents.


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Presented by  Larry Guzda

NOTE!!!
I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations.
Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.
Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease.
This article may be copied but not changed in any way.

BLG Health- Acid Reflux Disease

 Acid Reflux Disease Symptoms: Knowing your Body


Acid reflux disease is a condition in which the stomach acids abnormally reflux into the esophagus. This phenomenon is irregularly experienced by most people, most especially after eating.

Our body uses gastric and stomach acids to break down the food that we eat. Normally, after the digestion in the stomach, the food is delivered by the digestive muscles to the intestines for extra digestion. But in patients who have acid reflux disease, the acidic stomach contents are moved back to the esophagus, which then causes inflammation. Cigarettes, alcohol, caffeine, pregnancy, and fatty foods are some factors which worsens acid reflux conditions.

Our present knowledge about acid reflux based on medical researches tells us that this disease is common in men as it is in women. There is no sexual preference. Moreover, the prevalence of acid reflux is more frequent in people of 40 years of age or more.

Symptoms of acid reflux may be typical or atypical.  But based on the diagnosis of acid reflux patients, only 70% of those who have this disease manifest typical symptoms.

Typical or esophageal symptoms concern indicators which are related with the esophagus. Such symptoms include the following:

Heartburn. This is a condition in which the patient feels a painful burning feeling in the esophagus. The pain often develops in the chest and may swell to the neck or throat. This is most probable to occur in relation with these activities: after a heavy meal, lifting, bending over, and lying down. Based on one study, about 75% of acid reflux patients experience this symptom at night. These nigh-time patients also tend to experience more harsh pain than those whose symptom occurs at other times.

Dyspepsia. Researches show that about half of acid reflux patients have dyspepsia. This is a syndrome which consists of pain and distress in the upper abdomen, nausea after a meal, and stomach fullness. It is not a rule however, that those who have dyspepsia have acid reflux.

Regurgitation. This is when the gastric contents back up into the pharynx and sometimes as far as the mouth. In cases where the acids have spilled into the tracheobronchial tree, respiratory complications can be stimulated.

There are many instances, though, that acid reflux patients do not manifest symptoms such as regurgitation and heartburn. Instead, they experience atypical or extraesophageal symptoms which include the following:

Throat Symptoms. Although it does not commonly happen, acid reflux patients suffer from symptoms that occur in the throat. Hoarseness, the feeling of having a lump in the throat, dry cough are undergone by those who have acid laryngitis, a throat symptom. Patients can also have difficulty in swallowing, a condition known as dysphagia. In critical cases, the food may get trapped in the throat or even choke, which can result to a severe chest pain. Other throat symptoms are chronic sore throat and persistent hiccups.

Vomiting and Nausea. When a patient suffers from nausea which persists for weeks, he may have acid reflux. There are few instances where vomiting can occur as often as once a day.

Respiratory Symptoms. Coughing and wheezing are counted as respiratory symptoms. These result from the overrunning of the stomach acids into the tracheobronchial tree creating bronchoconstriction.

Acid reflux disease can last for several months if not given proper medical attention. Drug treatment may only be required for a short time. But when the symptoms tend to repetitively occur, the drug treatment may have to be reapplied.

Come visit our website at   BLG Health.com

Presented by  Larry Guzda

NOTE!!!
I will probably make money from purchases from recommended sites on this blog, assume that I will profit from recommendations.
Information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advise. Contact your physician for diagnoses of all health related problems as soon as possible.
Dietary supplements HAVE NOT be evaluated by The Food And Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose,treat,cure or prevent any disease.
This article may be copied but not changed in any way.