Losing Weight May Ease Heartburn

Obese and overweight men and women who suffer from heartburn often report relief when they lose weight, a new study shows.

The researchers tracked the effects of weight loss over a year in patients who had a persistent form of heartburn known as gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD.

"If you lose weight, you will have improvements in your reflux symptoms," said study author Dr Preetika Sinh, a gastroenterology fellow at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. In women, but not men, long-term exercise also helped reduce symptoms, she added.

Previous research also has linked weight loss with a decline in GERD symptoms.

Heartburn, or acid indigestion, is very common, with more than 60 million Americans having it at least once a month, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. Stomach acid flows backward up into the esophagus, and the burn begins.

The Health Benefits of Breastfeeding

Health benefits for babies

Breastfed babies gain the following health advantages if they are breastfed for at least 6 months or longer:

a) Immediate benefits: 

• Fewer infections and increased resistance to infectious diseases, including:
• Bacterial meningitis, which can occur when bacteria migrate into the brain and spinal cord causing infection (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2013)
• Bacteraemia - particularly community-acquired bacteraemia in less advantaged children which may be caused by a variety of pathogens, but mainly Salmonella species 
• Diarrhoea, which is extremely prevalent in Africa and can have life-threatening consequences
• Otitis media or ear infections
• Infections of the respiratory tract (colds, pneumonia, bronchitis, croup)
• Urinary tract infections (bladder and kidney infections)

b) Long-term benefits:
 
Reduction in disease in later life. Children who were breastfed:

• Have less asthma
• Have a reduced tendency to develop food allergies possibly because children are exposed to allergens in mother’s milk so that they produce their own antibodies at an early stage and/or also benefit from the mother’s antibodies
• Are less likely to develop Hodgkin disease (a type of cancer) and lymphoma
• Tend to have less high blood cholesterol in adulthood
• Develop leukaemia less frequently
• Are less susceptible to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• Are less prone to overweight and obesity
• Are less likely to suffer from types 1 and 2 diabetes
• Are likely to have better cognitive skills and fewer learning problems

Eat Your Iron

Top Water Rich Foods

16 Heart Smart Tips

Did you know that 1 in 3 men and 1 in 4 women will develop a heart condition before the age of 60? According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa, 17.1 million people die globally every year from heart disease and stroke. In South Africa 33 heart attacks, 37 heart failures and 60 strokes occur every day. 

Follow these heart smart health tips for better heart health:

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet including a variety of foods
• Eat smaller, more regular meals
• Choose the Heart Mark! When shopping, look out for products bearing the Heart Mark logo as these are better, heart healthier food choices i.e. lower in saturated fat, cholesterol, salt and sugar and often higher in fibre
• Include at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day

7 ways to love your heart

Heart Disease is the number one killer in the world. In South Africa, one in three men and one in four women will have a heart condition before the age of 60. Fortunately there is much you can do to reduce your chances of getting heart disease in the first place. Follow these steps to keep your heart strong and healthy:

Quit smoking

If you smoke, quitting is the single most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease. It has been found that smokers have a two to four time greater risk of developing heart disease, compared to non-smokers. 

Smoking increases blood pressure and decreases HDL (good) cholesterol; it increases the build-up of fatty substances in the arteries (atherosclerosis) and it decreases oxygen to the heart. The good news, though, is that after only one year, your risk of heart disease is half of what it was when you smoked. 

Do You Know Your Heart Age?

September is Heart Awareness Month. Knowing your heart age can help determine how healthy your heart is and whether you need to take action to change your lifestyle habits.

Your heart age is different from your actual age and can be higher or lower than your chronological, or actual, age, depending on the number of risk factors you have for heart disease. 

These risk factors include things like having high cholesterol or blood pressure, being overweight or obese, and smoking. Your heart age can give you a good indication of your heart health status and can help you determine whether you need to make any dietary and/or lifestyle changes.

According to the SA Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) at least 80% of premature (under the age of 60 years) deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided if the main risk factors of tobacco, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity are controlled.

10 Foods That Cause Bloating

If you’ve ever felt bloated, you’ll know the symptoms: you start the day with a flat stomach, but as the day progresses your belly starts to swell, feeling full and tight, until by the end of the day, you look like you're pregnant. It can be so bad that you can’t close a pair of pants that fitted perfectly a few days earlier!

Bloating is a result of excess gas in the intestines. There are many possible causes for this highly uncomfortable condition, ranging from air swallowing, overeating, constipation and hormonal changes during PMS to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, certain medications, gastroesophageal reflux and food intolerances. Abdominal bloating can also be caused by more serious disorders such as coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease and colon cancer.