Issue Date: November 28, 2004
GERD: The price of overeating
If you have GERD -- gastroesophageal reflux disease -- taking some of these measures can help you tremendously:
Don't let acid reflux get the best of you.
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Play detective. Pay attention to when symptoms (heartburn, regurgitation) occur, and recall what you were eating. Avoid the foods you pinpoint as culprits.
If you use tobacco (smoked or smokeless), quit. Tobacco aggravates acid reflux by relaxing the valve at the base of the esophagus.
Don't eat large meals or late at night. Big meals create more reflux, and eating late is a setup for reflux when you lie down at bedtime.
If your weight is up, work at getting it back down. Even dropping just a few pounds can make a difference.
Raise the head of your bed by about 6 inches. This subtle incline can keep stomach contents in the stomach, where they belong, and out of your food pipe. Simply put wooden blocks under the bed frame, use a wedge under the mattress at the head of the bed, or use a "hospital"-type bed that can be adjusted.
Try over-the-counter antacids, such as Rolaids, Tums and Maalox, which neutralize acid that's already formed in the stomach. Acid reducers, like Zantac 75 and Pepcid AC, decrease the production of acid in the stomach. Even stronger acid reducers, such as Prilosec OTC, also are available. When combined with lifestyle changes, these treatments can put the lid on reflux.
If your symptoms are severe and you've never been evaluated or treated, you should see a doctor.
Contributing Editor Tedd Mitchell, M.D., is medical director of the Wellness Program at the renowned Cooper Clinic in Dallas.
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Lower-fat fun food
Here's an easy, lower-fat version of warm artichoke-cheese dip. In new research, artichoke hearts tested surprisingly high in antioxidant activity -- even more per cup than strawberries. Garlic and chives are high in antioxidants, too, and fat-free cottage cheese helps keep the fat and calorie counts down.
Cheesy Artichoke Dip
2 8-ounce packages frozen artichoke hearts
1 1/2 cups fat-free cottage cheese
4 ounces herbed goat cheese (chèvre)
1 Tb. plus 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
3 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 Tb. Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup light mayonnaise
1/3 cup fat-free half-and-half
1 cup chopped chives
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup grated
Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook artichokes according to package directions; chop roughly. Set aside.
In a food processor, mix all ingredients except artichokes and Parmesan cheese until smooth.
Stir in artichokes. Pour mixture into a 9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan.
Bake for 30 minutes. If top hasn't browned, put under broiler.
Let sit for 15 minutes before serving (it may be watery when first removed from the oven). Serve with toasted whole-wheat pita chips.
Yield: 4 1/2 cups.
Per 1/2-cup serving: 130 calories, 9g protein, 8g carbohydrates, 6.5g fat (3g saturated), 3g fiber, 427mg sodium.
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Score Super Bowl tickets
You'll need deep pockets to be in the stands for Super Bowl XXXIX. Companies like GoTickets (gotickets.com) are selling seats starting at $1,850, long before anyone knows who's playing Feb. 6 in Jacksonville. Others sell tickets with hotel packages; a three-night package from Sports Travel and Tours (sportstravelandtours.com) is $3,595 per person, double occupancy.
Why the steep prices? Only a relative handful of Super Bowl tickets are sold directly, via lottery, to the general public. The rest go to NFL teams and business partners. Some end up in the hands of ticket brokers, who often resell them at a markup of 300% or more.
Sure, you can buy a marked-up ticket on eBay or from a scalper. But a bona fide broker, registered with the Better Business Bureau and the National Association of Ticket Brokers, is a safer bet. For extra protection, pay with a credit card.
You can get in on the 2006 Super Bowl lottery for a chance to buy two tickets at face value. Between Feb. 1 and June 1, 2005, send a request via registered or certified mail to: Super Bowl Random Drawing, P.O. Box 49140, Strongsville, Ohio 44149.
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Get fit, get promoted
Want a boost up the corporate ladder? Try exercise. Workers who are physically active have better overall job performance than those who don't exercise, a recent study found. The fitter you are, the more work you can do. "Physical activity is important to overall psychological and physical health," says Mark Roberts, M.D., board member of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Being active doesn't have to mean competing in a triathlon. Anything you do to increase your heart rate -- walk, jog, climb stairs, dance -- helps.
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