A year in the making, Sandra Ramacher has released Healing Foods: Cooking for Celiacs, Colitis, Crohns and IBS, a visually stunning and intelligently written cookbook.

It is specifically designed to please and inspire all those who suffer from these debilitating intestinal diseases, as well as those who already live happier lives thanks to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (TM). This book strictly adheres to the diet prescribed by Elaine Gottschall in her revolutionary… More >>

Healing Foods: Cooking for Celiacs, Colitis, Crohn’s and IBS

If you are one of the millions of people suffering from IBS, immediate help is finally at hand. Contrary to what many believe, eating for IBS does not mean deprivation, never going to restaurants, boring food, or a limited and therefore unhealthy diet.

It does mean learning to eat safely by realizing how different foods physically affect the GI tract, and how these foods can prevent or trigger IBS. For example: * There are two kinds of fiber…one soothes the col… More >>

Eating for IBS: 175 Delicious, Nutritious, Low-Fat, Low-Residue Recipes to Stabilize the Touchiest Tummy

“This is the reference guide you dream about–answers to all your important questions written in a language you can understand. For everyone who wants better health and peace of mind.”
–Diane Sawyer, Co-anchor of ABC News’ Good Morning America and PrimeTime Thursday

“An important, practical, easy-to-read, and easy-to-understand source of information for anyone with a chronic gastrointestinal problem.”
–Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D., Rossi … More >>

The Doctor’s Guide to Gastrointestinal Health: Preventing and Treating Acid Reflux, Ulcers, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Diverticulitis, Celiac Disease, Colon … Pancreatitis, Cirrhosis, Hernias and more

It is easy to get into bad habits with financial matters. Few people have enough money to simply buy what they want without a thought. Most people have to plan their purchases and stay vigilant to keep themselves solvent.

Many people have bad habits of getting too far in debt with credit cards. The cards are easy to get. You can get a handful of Visas and Master Cards, an American Express Card, a Discovery Card, and several cards from retail stores without much effort. You do not have to have much income to get this many cards, either.

None of the card companies seem to consider that you might have to pay payments to the other cards. You may think you have all these cards just for emergencies. However, if you get into bad habits with them, you can end up spending them to their limits. You may reach a point where you cannot even make the minimum monthly payments.  Read more...

This groundbreaking book unleashes a brilliant new plan for permanently curing heartburn by relieving the root cause of the problem: low stomach acid…. More >>

Why Stomach Acid is Good for You: Natural Relief from Heartburn, Indigestion, Reflux and GERD

Clearly written with easy-to-understand explanations, this book presents natural solutions for living comfortably with this common ailment. It maintains that thoroughly addressing the causes of IBS—diet and stress—can effectively relieve symptoms without resorting to medication.

The authors offer creative dietary alternatives and recipes as well as proven methods for controlling stress—including meditation, yoga, and relaxation exercises…. More >>

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Natural Approach

Heartburn isn’t just a minor inconvenience–it is very painful and can inhibit your sleep, affect your work, and make you feel miserable. Of course, if you are one of the 60 million Americans who get heartburn at least once a month, you already know this.

Heartburn happens when the lining of the esophagus comes in contact with too much stomach juice, which can produce a burning pain and injure the esophagus. There is a valve that connects the end of the esop… More >>

Tell Me What to Eat If I Have Acid Reflux: Nutrition You Can Live With

GERD or known as gastro esophageal reflux disease is a kind of condition that is focused on the digestive systems of people. The chronic pain of the acid reflux is suffered by many people around the world. This condition is very widespread and it is a disease that is commonly incurred by the stomach contents reflux that reaches the esophagus.

The disease is quite common among adults and even to infants and although it may not be life threatening but it can lead to more serious conditions if it is not treated properly or at the right time. Many people will experience a very mild case of acid reflux every once and awhile, and pregnant woman are also prone to this disorder.

One can tell if one has acid reflux disease because of symptoms that include heartburn, problem in swallowing and some hurting in the chest area. Other common symptoms of GERD are harshness in the throat along with constant coughing, a sensation of burning pain in the chest, ear aching, sinusitis and nausea.  Read more...

When the membrane lining of the large intestine or bowel becomes inflammed, this is called colitis. There are many different things that can cause colitis to occur. Colitis is also the shortened name for ulcerative colitis where ulcers and inflammation occurs in the topmost layers of the large intestines lining.

When the colon or large intestine becomes inflamed then it must empty itself. It does this in the form of diarrhea. If the cells lining the colon are killed off then ulcers can form which produce pus and mucus, or could start bleeding.

If you suspect colitis then it is time to pay the doctor a visit. They will take a close look at your abdominal region and other applicable body systems. A rectal exam might be used to check to make sure that there is no blood in the stool. X-rays are commonly used to make sure that everything in the colon is alright. A sample of your blood might be taken for further testing.  Read more...

There are trigger foods that aggravate your acid reflux when you eat them. When trying to control your acid reflux you must pay attention to what you are eating and drinking. There are such things as “acid reflux friendly meals. It is possible to identify those foods that cause you pain and those that you can eat and remain symptom free. Another thing that you need to be aware of are food sensitivities. Food sensitivities can influence your acid reflux too and you should be able to recognize those ingredients in food that tend to aggravate you acid reflux symptoms. Once you identify the foods that cause your reflux to act you, you can plan your acid reflux friendly meals and start enjoying eating again.  Read more...

No one wants to deal with the discomfort of acid reflux, but it is a common part of life for millions of people. Acid reflux is so common that almost everyone suffers from it at one time or another. If you have ever had acid reflux, then you most certainly know the foods that cause you distress. But, did you also know that there are foods that you can eat that may help you?

It almost seems common sense when you look at the foods that do cause acid reflux. If you love spicy foods, then you know the havoc it can wreak on your digestive system. That spicy plate of Mexican food or Chinese food will most likely give acid reflux either right away or later in the day. How about that indulgent plate of fried catfish and fried okra? Fatty foods and fried foods are top culprits for acid reflux. There are other foods that hurt, too. How about citrus fruits, coffee, carbonated beverages and wine? These all top the list, too. What about the foods that helps?  Read more...

We all may get a little heartburn from time to time but how do we know if what we are experiencing is something more serious, such as acid reflux?

One way is to learn the symptoms of acid reflux and then if you feel you may have acid reflux, speak with your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Common symptoms of acid reflux:

Heartburn is a familiar symptom with those who suffer from acid reflux. Typically they experience a burning sensation that may move up from the stomach area to the chest and even into the throat (heartburn) after eating a big meal or a meal with lots of rich or spicy foods, or when they eat and then bend over, lift objects or children and/or if they lie down immediately after eating a big meal, especially if they lie down on their back. The majority of patients who report having heartburn say they have it at night. Commonly those who report nighttime acid reflux say the pain is so severe they are uncertain as to it being heartburn or chest pain as in angina or congestive heart failure.  Read more...

It is important to surround yourself with resources and support when you are dealing with acid reflux especially when you are newly diagnosed with acid reflux.

Your doctor can steer you in the direction of some general helpful resources including some community support groups. You can also find some great online support forums and Websites with useful information about living with acid reflux. You are not the only one living with acid reflux so get out there and find others who can relate to what you are going through and can tell you what methods have worked for them when dealing with acid reflux. Read on to discover some useful resources and support networks for when you are dealing with acid reflux.

When you network with others who also have acid reflux you can share tips for how to eat and stay comfortable, find medications that others are taking that do not aggravate their symptoms of reflux, and discover other alternative treatments that you can explore with your doctor including lifestyle changes that may benefit you. Google the keywords, “GERD forum” or “acid reflux forum” in order to find some online networks.  Read more...

If you suffer from heartburn you are not alone. It can turn a relaxing meal into a four-alarm fire inside your body. For those who are suffering with heartburn, here are fifteen foods that may be safe for you to eat.

What is heartburn? Another name for heartburn is acid reflux. Heartburn occurs when acid from the stomach moves backwards from the stomach, up into the esophagus. When stomach acid comes in contact with such delicate tissue it can cause pain and discomfort. Left untreated, heartburn can cause problems such as esophageal strictures due to the erosion of the lining there.

No one wants that to happen. You may take medicine to control your heartburn, but the simplest thing you can do is learn what foods you can and cannot eat. While most of the foods we will discuss here are on the heartburn-free side, each person is different. Some foods that may really irritate your stomach and lead to heartburn may not faze someone else.  Read more...

If you or a loved one suffers from acid reflux you will find yourself asking what are the causes of acid reflux?

Everyone experiences temporary acid reflux as a result of overeating, participating in drinking or smoking or being stressed out to the point of experiencing mental or emotional stress. All of these can be causes for acid reflux. Other causes for acid reflux include abnormal biologic or structural factors.

One cause for acid reflux can be malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter the LES muscles. This is the band of muscle that allows food to flow from esophagus to stomach and this is one reason why acid reflux exists. A weak muscle value will allow stomach content to back up into the esophagus. There are many things that can affect this muscle as in dietary substances, use of certain medications, and nervous system factors that weaken the muscle as well cause some malfunction to the sphincter muscle.  Read more...

Sadly, many of us have experienced the burn of acid reflux and either ignored it, popped a Tums or perhaps did something we thought was going to help like drink a glass of milk only to find out that we made it worse. Someone right now, may be reading this article and feeling the burn of acid reflux and not really know what they are feeling. Most of us tend to chalk the burn to that second slice of pepperoni pizza we know we shouldn’t have had or to that heavenly rich and extremely fattening dessert that we indulged in just before bedtime. All of us can experience the occasional heartburn or indigestion but some of us are actually feeling acid reflux, are you?

When stomach content and stomach acid hits the esophagus it can cause a burning sensation in the chest or throat because unlike the stomach lining the lining of the esophagus and throat are not designed to accommodate the acidic content that the stomach can withstand.  Read more...

We are probably used to being told that certain diseases and conditions carry with them the possibility of complications and the same is true for those who have acid reflux. Usually is you suffer from occasional acid reflux or it occurs only when you indulge on occasion with either fatty, spicy foods or too much alcohol you will experience mild discomfort that goes away with the incident or occasion. There are those however for which acid reflux is a common occurrence and for them the possibility of complications is greater. If you have persistent acid reflux with frequent relapses and if your reflux remains untreated, you can experience serious complications as time goes on. These serious complications can include Barrett’s esophagus, erosive esophagitis, problems with your airway, lungs, throat and teeth, and severe narrowing of the esophagus. The elderly are at special risk for complications from acid reflux.

If you already have an inflamed esophagus, your beginning symptoms of acid reflux are intense, your symptoms persist despite treatment or you have any underlying muscular abnormalities you are at special risk for complications from acid reflux.  Read more...

While acid reflux seems harmless enough, there are complications that can occur when this becomes a chronic problem. Acid reflux happens for a number of different reasons, but the cause is always the same. If you eat too much, or the muscle in your esophagus does not function properly, the stomach acids can rise up into your esophagus. This causes the burning and uncomfortable feeling you can get. Of course, some people only experience acid reflux occasionally, while others have it every day.

There are plenty of ways to treat the symptoms of acid reflux and there are ways of preventing it as well. One of the best ways to treat the symptoms is to take antacids or other over the counter medication that can stop the stomach acids. You can prevent acid reflux in many instances by simply watching what you eat and how much you eat, too.  Read more...

When you have acid reflux, then you want to find a good treatment. It is not easy to suffer from acid reflux, especially if you have it chronically. There are plenty of ways to treat the symptoms, too. You can find a whole line of over the counter medications that will treat most cases of acid reflux quite quickly. More serious cases can usually be treated by stronger medication from a doctor.

Now that you know what you can to do treat the symptoms, you need to learn what you can do to make sure you do not get acid reflux in the first place. When you learn how you can prevent the problem in the first place, then you reduce the chances of getting it again in the future. As we explore ways to prevent acid reflux, it is important to realize that what works for you may not work for another. People get acid reflux for different reasons. Sometimes people with chronic problems may get it no matter what they do. This is just a general list of common ways to prevent it and will give you a place to start.  Read more...

Everyone has stomach acid. It is a natural part of the body and you need it to properly digest the food you eat. However, if you have acid reflux, then you have to deal with your stomach acid more than you would like. Under normal circumstances, you eat and the muscle in your esophagus closes after your food passes. However, if that muscle does not work properly, then it allows stomach acid to travel up where it should not go.

The back flow of the stomach acid is what gives you the unpleasant side effects and symptoms of acid reflux. There are many treatment options out there for people that have this problem. The following are all FAQS when it comes to acid reflux.

What is acid reflux? Simply put, acid reflux is a problem with the digestive system. When the esophagus does not close properly after eating, the stomach acids can get pushed back up into the esophagus. This cause discomfort and pain after eating.  Read more...