Bad Eating Habits
You probably already know that extremely spicy or acidic foods can irritate the stomach lining and cause heartburn. However, high-fat foods, on the other hand, increase the risk of heartburn in a different way. The higher the fat content, the longer a food takes to digest. And when this happens, it means the stomach stays distended longer, which is a potential cause of acid reflux.
Getting extremely full also distends the stomach. It increases pressure on the esophageal sphincter, and as we've already established, this pressure allows stomach acid back into esophagus. Eating smaller, more frequent meals (with a low fat content) may help if you’ve been suffering from acid reflux frequently.
Other times, an overly relaxed sphincter lets out the acid when you have an empty stomach—this often leads to heartburn between meals. To remedy this problem, try keeping a small snack around to alleviate it. Other behavioral techniques that can make a difference include not eating or drinking while lying down, sleeping with the head slightly elevated, and not eating right before going to sleep.
Did you know...
- Does your job make you stressed? We all know that stress is psychologically bad for you, but it also has an effect on…your allergies? A Harvard Medical School study has shown that stress causes your allergies to become worse because your body's defense response loses efficacy when repeatedly triggered by stress. Then, when you really need to physically fight something off, you're less able to!
- Just saying the words "thank you" can measurably improve your mood. Researchers can actually measure happiness and changes in brain structure when people practiced regular "grateful thinking." This included things like writing thank you notes, writing gratitude journal entries, mindfully counting their blessings, and thanking friends. It may be helpful in overcoming depression!
- Need a quick cool down? Try drinking some hot liquid. It's true! As counterintuitive as it may seem, the heat from hot liquids will raise your body temperature. This will heat you up and cause you to sweat. The increased perspiration will wind up helping you feel cooler as it evaporates. Try it out!
- Starting to feel claustrophobic? The smells of apples may help keep your claustrophobic feelings at bay according to a 1995 study by Dr. Alan Hirsch. Green apples, specifically, helped people change their perception of their space. Maybe they thought of expansive apple orchards? Cucumbers and barbecue made the feelings worse.
- Have you ever told your husband something and he promptly forgets it? It's not his fault, actually. It really is because he's a man. The hippocampus (the part of the brain that deals with memory) begins to shrink with age faster in men than it does in women. That's why you can remember everything, and he can't!