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Food and drinks you should avoid if you suffer from acid reflux – Stay healthy

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Acid reflux occurs when the acid in your stomach leaks up into the wrong direction, right from the stomach to the oesophagus. Some of the most common symptoms of acid reflux are difficulty in swallowing food, heartburn and sometimes there can be no symptoms as well. It may be painful, inconvenient and even uncomfortable for the sufferer.

If you don’t know how this happens, here is some information for you. When you swallow some food, it moves down the oesophagus and then passes through a string of muscle called the LOS or lower oesophageal sphincter and then lands up into the stomach. The LOS controls whatever enters your stomach and to prevent the contents of the stomach from moving back again. When the LOS gets too relaxed, acid reflux occurs. Let’s take a look at the food and drinks which you should avoid if you suffer from acid reflux.

#1: Foods containing high fat

When you have food containing fat, it slows down the process of emptying of the stomach, thereby increasing the opportunity for a distended stomach. This boosts the symptoms of a reflux. There are some common high fat offenders and they are deep fried chips and fish, fatty cuts of meat, especially lamb and pork.

#2: Citrus

Do you have a glass of orange juice or may be food after squeezing lemon? No, citrus juice doesn’t lead to acid reflux but there are certain individuals who experience symptoms of heartburn.

#3: Spicy foods

There are some people who find that too much of spices aggravate the symptoms of acid reflux. However, the evidence for this is mixed and people should be careful about their individual spice tolerance capability.

#4: Onion and garlic

Onions can definitely be one of the biggest offenders for people who suffer from severe acid reflux. Garlic can also lead to this, but that is not too common. Nevertheless, the combination of garlic and onion together can definitely become problematic.

#5: Peppermint

Do you have an idea of after-dinner mint tea because someone recommended you as a digestive remedy for acid reflux? If answered yes, this could sometimes have a worse symptom as peppermint has a characteristic of relaxing the LOS and allows the acid in the stomach to flow back through the oesophagus.

#6: Chocolate

There are again few evidences that chocolate can worsen the symptoms of acid reflux but this is usually dependent on its dose. While there are some for whom even small amounts of chocolate can cause acid reflux, there are some others who have to eat enough chocolate to suffer from the symptoms.

#7: Alcohol

This causes increased production of acid and also relaxes the LOS, thereby causing acid reflux and even worsens the acid reflux symptoms.

Therefore, if you’re thinking of making a change to your diet so that you no longer suffer from acid reflux, make sure you follow the above mentioned tips from the experts.

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Best foods for a healthy liver

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Liver is the internal organ that breaks down carbohydrates, makes glucose and assists in detoxing the human body. It stores nutrients, creates bile, and thus, promotes proper digestion and absorption of nutrients present in food. So, it is extremely important to look after your liver in order to maintain a healthy body.

Now, the question is how to keep your liver healthy? There are many drinks and foods that you can consume for protecting your liver. Read the complete article to know all about those foods.

What foods protect our liver?

Here is a list of some drinks and foods that you can consume to strengthen your liver.

  1. 1. Coffee- Research studies have revealed that people who drink coffee on a daily basis have less chances of developing acute liver disease. Coffee is a liver friendly drink. It gives the liver protection against diseases such as fatty liver. It not only lessens buildup of fat in the liver but also increases antioxidants.
  2. 2. Green tea- Green tea is another liver friendly drink that you should commence taking. We all know about the multiple health benefits of green tea on our hair, skin, digestive system, and several other body parts. Green tea also decreases signs of NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease).
  3. 3. Grapefruit- Grapefruit is a beneficial fruit known to promote good health. It contains important oxidants, namely, naringenin and naringin. Both these antioxidants provide protection to our liver from injuries. They protect the liver cells and reduce inflammation.
  4. 4. Oatmeal- Including oatmeal in your diet is a simple way to consume fiber. Fiber has a great role to play when it comes to bettering the digestive system of a person. Oatmeal and oats are rich in beta-glucans. They modulate our immune system, fight against obesity, inflammation, and diabetes.
  5. 5. Garlic- You can also add garlic to your everyday diet as it stimulates our liver. Garlic consumption also helps us keep body weight in check, especially in people suffering from NAFLD.
  6. 6. Fatty fish- Cooking with fish oil and eating fatty fish can be a great help for people dealing with NAFLD. Fatty fish contains omega-3 fatty acids. They are the good fats, fats responsible for lessening inflammation. These fats are extremely liver friendly as they also maintain the liver’s enzyme levels.
  7. 7. Berries- Berries are also good for the liver. Moreover, there are so many options from cranberries and blueberries to raspberries that you’ll never be bored of eating them.
  8. 8. Nuts- As nuts are rich in Vitamin E and fatty acids, they also protect the liver from NAFLD. So, include almonds and walnuts in your diet.
  9. 9. Olive oil- Too much fat can cause serious damage to the liver. On the other hand, some fats can do wonders to the liver. Olive oil, for instance, helps in reduction of oxidative stress and improvement of liver function. So, start adding olive oil to your salads and other food items.

So, eating the foods mentioned above will ensure that your liver remains fit and healthy. Also, try to lessen the consumption of alcohol and sugar.

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Best foods for gaining weight quickly

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Only those who have remained skinny for years know that gaining weight is as hard as losing weight. There can be several reasons for which people fail to gain weight. Eating the right foods and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will definitely help you add muscles. Here are the foods that you should start having to put on weight fast:

Are you eating right?

Overeating is not the correct way of gaining weight as your body needs a balanced diet. Here is a list of healthy foods for you:

  1. 1. Homemade smoothies- Drinking smoothies made at home is the quickest and most nutritious way to gain body weight. You should refrain from depending on the commercial ones as they lack nutrients and contain excess sugar. The best thing about smoothies is that they are not just healthy but also extremely tasty. Chocolate banana nut shake, Caramel apple shake, Chocolate hazelnut shake and Vanilla berry shake are some tasty smoothie combinations.
  2. 2. Rice- If you are looking for a low-cost, convenient source of carbohydrate, nothing can substitute rice. One cup of steamed rice contains 43 grams carbohydrates and 190 calories. However, keep in mind that eating large quantity of rice is not wise as it can lead to toxicity.
  3. 3. Milk- Milk has remained the favorite muscle builder and weight gainer of young people forever. It contains proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Apart from being an excellent source of protein, milk also has vitamins, minerals and calcium. Try drinking one glass of milk after or before working out.
  4. 4. Nut butters and nuts- You must eat nuts as well as nut butters if you want to gain weight. Just some almonds can give you 18 grams of fat, and this fat is healthy fat. If you want to start eating nuts, walnuts have to be in your list.
  5. 5. Oily fish- Just like red meat, oily fish and salmon are great protein sources. They also provide a rare nutrient, omega-3 fatty acids. So, start consuming salmon once in a week and notice the difference yourself.
  6. 6. Protein supplements- The secret behind the amazing physique of body builders and athletes is protein supplements. Taking help of supplements containing whey protein can be a cost-effective, easy strategy for gaining weight. However, digesting supplements rich in protein can be difficult if your daily schedule does not permit you to work out or exercise.
  7. 7. Avocados- Avocados contain healthy fats. As opposed to most fruits that are light, avocados are calorie-dense and so, helps us gain mass. One decent size avocado can give you almost 322 calories, 17 grams fiber and 29 grams fat.
  8. 8. Dried fruits- Dried fruits are high in calorie and also contain micronutrients and antioxidants. They are also extremely tasty and a great variety of them are available for you to choose from.

Eating these foods will definitely help you get into your desired shape quickly. But, if you are one of those people who can never gain weight in spite of eating healthy foods on a daily basis, it is better to seek medical help and find out the reason behind it.

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Say No To Drugs: 5 Good Reason Why You Should Do It

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Drugs is a growing problem in the US as well as other countries. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the US government has spent about $193 billion for the health care and lost work productivity due to drug abuse. This is to say that drugs do not only affect you personally but also your nation as a whole.

Once you start taking drugs, it will be difficult to quit. It’s better that you avoid trying it at all. If you feel that you are pressured to take drugs, you might find it good to remember the following points.

Drugs harm you.

Narcotics damage a person mentally and physically. Though recreational users often deny the risk of taking drugs occasionally, there’s no denying the truth.

Some physical problems you can encounter when you take drugs are stroke, liver failure, heart attack, asthma, diabetes, sexual impotence, and more. When the drugs are injected, you’re more likely to get infected with AIDS or HIV. If you think that physical damage caused by drugs is not grave, then you should think about the mental damage. Those who take narcotics are prone to hallucination, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and worse, addiction. It’s not an understatement to say that drugs can change you as a person.

Drugs are illegal.

If you are not scared about your wellness, then think about the law. Narcotics are illegal in most parts of the world. When you consume them, you break the law. The consequence of breaking the law can range from giving a monetary fine to serving an extreme sentence and receiving the capital punishment.

Drug-related crimes like homicide, extortion, kidnapping, embezzlement, and bribery are also common. Though not all drug users violate the law by doing these, the possibility of getting yourself involved in a criminal activity is higher when you take drugs.

Drugs are expensive.

Taking drugs is not a cheap hobby. Being illegal, drugs are hard to come by. Thus, they are expensive. When you do it once, you might not feel that you are losing so much money. However, you have to remember that drugs are addicting. You take it once, and you’ll take it again. In which case, you’ll have to repeat your purchase.

No matter how rich you are, drug addiction will consume you and your financial resources. Even recreational users sometimes end up cheating, stealing, and lying just to get enough cash to buy drugs.

Drugs are harmful to your community.

There’s a reason why the government has made drugs illegal. They do not only affect you. They also affect those around you.

For one, it destroys the environment. In order to grow illegal crops, wilderness areas like rainforests are often destroyed. Studies have shown that narcotics farming is one cause of deforestation.

Drug addiction also harms your family and friends. The more you take drugs, the more your health will deteriorate. Who will take care of you when you suffer? It’s most likely your family. Who will have to pay the hospital bills? Again, it will be your family.

The consequences of taking drugs are grave. You don’t need to try them in order to know what these consequences are. What you have to do is to educate yourself. Decide what’s better for you, your family, and your community.

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