For some GERD sufferers, the burning in their chest at times feel like they may be experiencing a heart attack. This is common because stress is an indirect contributor to heartburn.

Managing your stress is vital to your health if you want to lessen the heartburn you endure on a daily basis.  Scientists haven’t been able to link stress directly to heartburn, but we do know that there’s an indirect connection.

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Products for improving your skin’s condition are widely available, however many of these products do not work the way you are expecting them too. For instance, if you have a dry outer body and purchase a moisturizer specifically made for this condition, you would expect it to work, right? Wrong! Why is this? Because you must also examine the product’s ingredients to ensure that you are not using a product that is causing more harm than good in the long run.

Think about the number of products you use every day. Chances are you use a body wash, toner, lotion, fragrance, deodorant, and makeup–as well as specialty products for fine lines, sags-and-bags, blemishes, or other dermal conditions.

Smart consumers realize that an attractive label or well-known brand name does not guarantee the absence of ingredients that could undermine the health of your bodies surface Most of us are aware of the necessity of guarding our bodies from environmental pollutants or damaging sunburns. However, we may not know how to protect the condition of our bodies from damage caused by the products we use daily.

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When you start feeling a burning sensation in your chest that irritates you and sometimes causes great discomfort, you want to evaluate it to see if you’ve become a victim of gastroesophageal disease (GERD) or just experiencing a simple bout of heartburn.

Almost everyone encounters heartburn at least once in his or her life.  Maybe it was that spicy meal they ate too late at night, or the fact that they’re carrying twins and are in the late stages of pregnancy.

But for some, the burn never eases, and what was originally thought to be heartburn is turned into a disease that can wreak havoc on your life – emotionally and physically, causing sleep deprivation and misery on a daily basis.

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To people who suffer from heartburn, food often seems like the enemy. After eating a meal, within minutes or hours a horrible burning sensation rises up in their chest and sometimes sends food back up into the esophagus.

But Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) sufferers can actually learn to coexist with food if they know which ones to consume and which to avoid in an effort to cut down on the heartburn they’re experiencing on a constant basis.

It takes more than just healthy eating when you want to rid your body of heartburn. Still, following the guidelines of the food pyramid is a good place to start. People who have GERD may need to make some additional guidelines for their eating regimen.

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By Al Sears, MD

If you go to a doctor for anxiety or depression, chances are he’ll hand you a prescription for an antidepressant drug, like Zoloft or Prozac. As popular as these drugs are, they have dozens of unfortunate side effects, including impotence, weight gain, and low blood pressure.

Now there’s another one: osteoporosis. Researchers in Canada recently discovered that people over 50 who take antidepressants have double the risk of this bone-loss condition. The study - published in the Archives of Internal Medicine - found that the pills may have a direct effect on bone cells, decreasing bone size and strength. The result is an increased risk for broken bones and further loss of bone density.

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Several studies have shown that high doses of aspirin (300 mg a day or more) and possibly ibuprofen can protect against colorectal cancer. Not surprising in our pill-happy culture, thousands upon thousands of people have embarked upon this regimen with gusto. But before you run out and buy a bottle, you should know that popping aspirin can cause serious problems.

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So far as anyone knows, there is no magic pill to keep your youth intact forever – but there is a lot of hype out there about how taking a pill will restore your energy, build your muscles and help you lose weight.

Don’t believe the hype. All you’ll get for your money and time is the possibility of developing a real health problem.

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What’s the best way to lose weight and prevent heart disease and diabetes? The finding by Stanford University below seems to suggest that a low fat diet isn’t the best diet for the obese.

The recent Stanford study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association compared the Atkins diet (very low in carbohydrates), the Zone diet (low in carbohydrates), the Ornish diet (very low in fat and high in carbohydrates), and the U.S. government guidelines (low in fat, high in carbohydrates). The 311 subjects of the one-year study were overweight or obese premenopausal women. The researchers discovered that the Atkins diet was the most effective for weight loss and reduction of body fat percentage. But they also discovered that those who stayed on the high-protein, healthy-fat, and low-carbohydrate Atkins diet also improved their cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and blood pressure levels more than those on the other diets.

This is contrary to those who tout the benefits of a low-fat diet.

Keep in mind, however, that there are two common misconceptions about the Atkins diet. First, it is not a “no” carbohydrates diet. The idea is to consume whole foods and low-glycemic carbohydrates in place of refined carbs, starches, and foods with added sugars. Second, not all meat is created equal. As much as possible, you want to choose meat from animals that are raised on their natural diet (like grass-fed - not corn-fed - cattle) and without antibiotics and hormones.

Follow this diet, and not only will you gradually get closer to your ideal weight… you will enjoy better health too.

Men and women are frantically searching for “Fountain of Youth” remedies to make them look as young as they can. Unfortunately, many are choosing medical treatments rather than searching for more healthy alternatives.

There are some things you can do to look younger besides opting for injections of Botox or invasive surgeries like liposuction and facelifts. Take a look below at some of the “gentler” ways to seem younger than you really are:

1. Dress Your Age – Almost nothing makes you look older than you are than attempting to dress in the same style of clothing that your daughter or granddaughter wears. Dress your age and appear younger than you are.
2. Sleep Your Way to Youth – Your best sleep happens during what is called the “rejuvenation hours.” Your face won’t reveal as many lines and your eyes won’t be as puffy. If you’re in a habit of waking up at 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning, try meditation or take the natural herb, melatonin before turning in for the night.
3. Your Diet Can Make You Younger — Obesity can become a problem as you grow older because of a slower metabolism. Keep your weight on track, make your skin glow and your blood healthy by eating foods with beneficial properties.
4. Exercise Regularly – Nothing benefits your overall health like having an exercise regime that you enjoy and perform on a regular basis. No matter what exercise you choose, getting your body moving can drop the years from your body and mind.
5. Use Makeup Sparingly – You’ll appear to be much younger than you really are if you use makeup more to enhance your natural assets rather than attempting to cover up the flaws. Get a professional makeup artist to show you how to apply your makeup in the best and most flattering way.
6. Choose the Proper Hairstyle – Are you still wearing the same style you had in the 70s – or is your hair dull or gray? Do yourself a favor and visit a professional hairstylist and let him or her design a style that fits your face and coloring.
7. Break Those Bad Habits – If you smoke or drink too much alcohol, cut down or quit if possible. Too much alcohol will dry out your skin and smoking will rapidly age your entire body.

In your quest to look and feel younger, don’t forget your “attitude”. Do what you can to keep yourself upbeat and positive – and don’t forget to smile!

~ By Al Sears, MD

You’ve probably heard that red wine has health benefits. You may even know about research linking those benefits to the powerful antioxidant called resveratrol. One study has found that resveratrol lengthened the lives of mice by 30 percent.

I’ve recently uncovered more evidence that this antioxidant may be the most versatile and powerful anti-aging supplement (with the exception of CoQ10) you can take. The newest round of studies, from the Institute of Genetics, Molecular, and Cellular Biology, found that resveratrol helped mice run twice as far during exercise. It super-charged their muscles, reduced their heart rates, and gave them a boost in endurance comparable to the boost humans achieve through athletic training.

A study of men and women from Finland showed that resveratrol is likely to operate the same way in humans. And one of the lead researchers from a French study, Johan Auwerx, said, “Resveratrol makes you look like a trained athlete without the training.”

What’s more, resveratrol protected mice from gaining weight and developing the symptoms of diabetes and obesity. Other benefits included a heightened sensitivity to insulin (a sensitivity which declines with age). When you reverse this decline in insulin sensitivity, you have not only reduced the effects of aging, you’ve also helped maintain your ideal weight and avoid diabetes.

Aside from red wine, good sources of resveratrol are blueberries, cranberries, bilberries, and red grapes.

You can take resveratrol in supplement form as well, which you can find in most health food stores. I recommend a dose ranging from 20 mg to 50 mg daily.