Could Your Own Stomach Re-Infect You With An STD?

Doctors have found that it may be harder to get rid of a sexual disease than was ever previously thought. Recent findings from scientists represent a serious blow to the wellness and wellbeing of anyone who has previously suffered from a sexually transmitted disease.

 

The scientists behind this discovery have revealed that your own stomach could re-infect you with a sexually transmitted disease: tests revealed that chlamydia can linger on in the stomach even after a course of antibiotics.

 

Although antibiotics can often eliminate the disease chlamydia from the genital region, it struggles to remove it from the gut. The disease then lingers on in the gut, albeit benignly, and has the ability to re-infect the body at a later date.

 

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases throughout the world, and becoming reinfected is surprisingly common.

 

This means that if you are diagnosed with an STD, having had one previously which ‘cleared up’ it is not a clear-cut case where you can point an accusing finger at your partner. This new research means that people should think twice before pointing the finger of blame, particularly if they have had chlamydia in the past.

 

Researchers from the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute found that this reservoir in the gut of benign chlamydia is the most common source of reinfections. This is a breakthrough in the world of sexual health treatment, as, although reinfections are common, the source has previously been unknown.

 

Another source of reinfection could be continued intercourse with a partner who is carrying an active infection. This often occurs because chlamydia in men usually doesn’t have any symptoms.

 

This new study was carried out on mice, where it was shown that even those who had eradicated chlamydia from their genitals still carried the disease in their gut.

Categories: Chlamydia, common, Disease, gut, nbsp, previously, sexually transmitted, stomach, transmitted disease

How To Achieve Washboard Abs In No Time

Everyone wants a toned stomach that they’re not ashamed of showing off at the beach, but wanting one and getting one are two very different things. Unfortunately, getting a toned stomach takes a little bit of effort, but the good news is that these exercises are simple to learn, helping you get there that little bit quicker. Mix up the exercises regularly so as to keep your body guessing and your muscles developing all the time.

 

Reverse curl

This exercise requires a medicine or Swiss ball, the latter of which is easier to use so if you want a challenge you should use a medicine ball. Lie on your back, holding the Swiss ball between your calves and thighs. With the ball firmly between your legs, pull your knees up towards your chest and squeeze your lower ab muscles. If you want to improve your stability, use your arms by keeping them flat on the floor.

 

The plank

Begin by lying flat on your stomach, placing your forearms on the floor, then press down through your forearms to push yourself up. Use your toes as a support until your neck, back and legs are all aligned. This is fantastic for toning your stomach, as it strengthens your inner core muscles and burns more calories while you’re doing it than many other stomach exercises, because you’re using other parts of your body to achieve it.

 

Boat pose

The boat pose is perfect if you want to try something a little tougher to get that toned stomach. This yoga pose will quickly whip you into shape. Begin by sitting on the floor with bent knees, then lean back slightly and bring your legs up, straightening them until your body forms a V shape. Your arms should be stretched out and parallel to one another; keep your palms facing inwards. Engage your abs while you do this and keep your stomach relaxed and flat. This tones your lower stomach, which can be a tricky area to tone up.

 

Mountain climber

Begin by getting into the plank position and pull your right knee inwards towards your chest, then straighten your leg and return to the starting position. Repeat the exercise using your left leg. This is good not just for getting a cardiovascular exercise but also for engaging your core, so it’s perfect for burning fat and building stronger muscles.

 

Medicine ball slam

You will need a non-bouncing medicine ball for this exercise; using both hands, lift the ball above your head and place your feet shoulder-width apart. Bend your knees slightly and then explosively bring the ball down, bending at the waist and throw it on the floor. You shouldn’t lose your balance or posture during this exercise. You need to maintain a strong core and ensure you engage your abs at all times to keep this area of your body strong and toned.

 

Bicycle crunch

This is a must if you want a flat stomach, so begin by lying on your back and place your palms beneath your head. Lift your legs until they are positioned at a 90-degree angle. Keep your right hand on your head, twist your body, and bring your right elbow towards your left knee. Alternate then, bringing your left elbow toward your right knee. Do not rush this exercise – it needs to be performed slowly in order for you to really feel the benefit. This is ideal for toning your abs and obliques.

Categories: Abs, ball, boat pose, body, exercise, fitness, medicine ball, nbsp, stomach, swiss ball, Toned Stomach

Tone And Tighten Your Stomach With These Tips

Everyone wants a flat stomach, six-pack or washboard abs – it’s what every fashion magazine headline or celebrity body targets. In both men and women, a toned stomach is the pinnacle of success. Whether you simply want to tone up what you’ve got or sculpt an improved stomach that’s rippling with muscles, you need to put the effort in. Transformation doesn’t happen by chance, after all! The first step is to understand what ‘transformation’ looks like to you. Do you want to decrease your body fat so you can see more muscle definition, increase the muscles in your midsection or make your stomach flatter and leaner. These tips are perfectly suited to helping you create the stomach you’ve always wanted, from sleek to muscular – whichever you desire.

 

Decrease your body fat levels using optimal nutritional practices

For most people, lowering your body composition is the first step in order to decrease your body fat levels. In men, this can be between 8 to 10 per cent body fat, and for women 12 to 15 per cent. Nutrition is the best way to target this, but people get too obsessed with counting calories in what they’re eating. Really, the key is to ensure that your caloric intake is less than maintenance over the weekly period. Everyone responds differently to nutritional practices, and everyone needs their own unique mix of macronutrients. You should ensure that you get enough protein though, as well as lowering your intake of fatty and sugary foods. Speak to your GP about how to change your diet healthily.

 

Decrease your body fat levels by performing the most effective training exercises

Resistance training or weight exercises are more important than cardiovascular activities when it comes to burning fat, but don’t skip cardio completely – you should find a good balance of the two. High intensity cardio is best if you’re trying to lose weight. Exercises which are best for utilising the fat in your core include deadlifts, squats, power clean, bench presses and pull-ups. By making use of the motor units and muscle fibres and using more of your body to perform the exercises, you will be creating a more effective workout.

 

Build up the muscle in your midsection

There’s no point in burning fat if the muscles beneath it are not defined. Toning and developing the muscles in your core will help you to look more streamlined and lean. But building your core doesn’t mean doing crunches and press-ups for hours on end. You need to train your whole body and gain muscle mass in your core this way, as well as adjusting your diet. Avoid doing a lot of oblique exercises if you want a sleek midsection, as this will create a thick waist. Hanging leg raises and such exercises are better for this. A personal trainer can help if you’re unsure which exercises are best to help you achieve your desired look.

 

Avoid your ‘problem’ foods

Everyone has foods they know they need to avoid for calorie or fat reasons, but if you have an allergy or are sensitive to a food, it can cause your stomach to bloat up or can cause fluid retention. Food reactions can also cause metabolic disorders and cravings for different foods, so be sure to check this with your GP if you suspect this may be the case. You can have allergy tests which are simple to carry out and could identify any foods you need to avoid to stop your stomach swelling up.

Categories: body, diet, exercises, foods, muscles, nbsp decrease, nutritional practices, stomach, toning, weight exercises

The Real Paleo: Why You Wouldn’t Go Near Ancient Cuisine

Lots of wellness experts recommend the paleo diet for enhancing your wellbeing, but are you really eating the same things as your caveman ancestors? According to John Williams, PhD, and Lou Schuler, author of the Home Workout Bible, ‘The paleo diet gets a lot of things right. First and foremost, it’s a simple and effective system for reducing your daily calories without starving or depriving yourself of important nutrients. The recommended foods include most of the best protein sources—meat, fish, poultry, eggs—along with plenty of fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. It’s hard to go wrong with a diet in which 100% of the foods are unprocessed, with no added sugar or salt. But no one should ever claim with a straight face that it represents what people actually ate in the Paleolithic, an era that started roughly 2.5 million years ago and lasted until the rise of agriculture about 10,000 years ago.’ In fact, some of the actual choices on the original paleo menu will give you a whole new appreciation for modern foods:

 

1. Stomach Stew: Paleo people used to love a bit of Chyme or the semi-digested stomach contents of animals. ‘Imagine you’re a caveman living in an ice age,’ note Williams and Schuler. ‘You have zero access to plant food for months at a time. Along comes an unsuspecting herbivore, looking for moss and lichen and whatever else it can scrape off rocks or bark. After you kill it, those stomach contents give you the first hot meal of the day—no microwave required—and provide nutrients you wouldn’t otherwise get, including active live cultures to aid digestion.’ However, the desire for stomach stew didn’t stop in the Paleolithic area. Williams and Schuler point out, ‘Inuits of the 19th and 20th centuries were observed eating partly fermented, pre-digested mush from the rumen of reindeer. Deer, like cattle and sheep, are called ruminants because they digest food through a circular process of chewing, digesting (in a part of the stomach called the rumen), regurgitating, chewing again, and repeating.’

 

2. The Original Gatorade: You might be worried about the contents of your energy drinks, but that’s nothing compared to what the Comanche drank in the 19^th century. Pulitzer Prize-winner Sam Gwynne, author of Comanche-inspired novel Empire of the Summer Moon, writes, ‘Children would … squirt the salty bile from the gallbladder [of animals] onto the liver and eat it on the spot, warm and dripping blood.’ All fluids were appreciated, including ‘warm curdled milk from the stomach of a suckling calf.’ Yum.

 

3. Man ham: Williams and Schuler comment, ‘Today we think of cannibalism in terms of the Donner party—something desperate people do during desperate times. But archaeologists and historians have found lots of evidence of cannibalism throughout human history, including the remains of 11 juveniles who were butchered and eaten 800,000 years ago at a cave in Spain. Our close cousins, the Neanderthals, were also known to have feasted on their own.’ For the Tonkawa tribe, who rivalled the animal fluid-drinking Comanche, ‘the goal was to absorb the mojo of their badass enemies,’ Williams and Schuler explain.’ In fact, there is an eyewitness report of dead-guy goulash from Noah Smithwick, one of the rare palefaces to live and travel with Indian tribes in the 1800s. According to Smithwick, ‘Having fleeced off the flesh of the dead Comanche, they borrowed a big wash kettle … into which they put the Comanche meat, together with a lot of corn and potatoes – the most revolting mess my eyes ever rested on.’

Categories: cannibalism, comanche, Paleo, paleo diet, schuler, stomach, stomach contents, stomach stew, Urine, williams

Stomach Pain: One of the Biggest Problem in Children

When we think about illnesses that children suffer from there is actually a huge number of them that instantly come to mind. Of course there is the chicken pox which blights the young lives of many children (although is actually more a serious conditions if contracted later on in life). Asthma is another problem that we mostly only think of as one of that children tend to suffer with but one that they often shrug off later in life. Other issues that children have include skin rashes and obesity. But perhaps there is another problem that we don’t think about but should be more in our thoughts than some of the others. This is chronic stomach pain.

 

Chromic stomach pain has brought more closely to public attention recently by a report by German researchers that suggests children to dwell on and fret about chronic stomach pain are likely to have a lower quality of life than those children who have a better attitude about the condition. The report also noted that parents can play a very key role in the way that their child copes with the problem itself. This clearly shows that we should be thinking more about the problem of chronic stomach pain and parents should be equipping their children with strategies on how to deal with it.

 

Another of the more surprising aspects of study was that children with chronic stomach pain were found to report a lower quality of life than those kids who have to deal with asthma, skin rashes and obesity. This is a very worrying trend that appears to suggest that chronic stomach pain is one of the worst conditions for children to have, as it can affect their life for a long time and do a lot of damage to their overall wellness and wellbeing.

 

“If the children [with the condition] think, ‘My pain will not stop,’ then this can lead to further impairment and increase psychological strain,” said Claudia Calvano of the University of Potsdam in Germany who is a co-author of the study. Given the fact that it is estimated that between 8 and 25 per cent of young people suffer from chronic stomach pain and bring it with them into adulthood this is certainly something that we have to look at in terms of sorting out the problem and improving the wellness of many people around the UK and the globe in general.

 

The researchers looked at two different forms of stomach pain – firstly, the kind which doctors can identify a medical reason for the pain, which is referred to as organic pain, and secondly, another type where doctors can find no clear source, which known as functional pain. The more obscure of the two, functional stomach pain may come as a result of interactions between stress, diet, exercise or psychological challenges for child. This can much so much be harder to identify that specific problems and find a solution for them. Organic stomach pain may be present alongside obvious symptoms like vomiting or fever, although it can also simply be a standard pain in the stomach that does not go away.

 

When Calvano’s team of researchers examined data on 170 children and teenagers from the ages 8 to 18, the team found that it was poor coping skills, rather than gender, economic status or type of abdominal pain, was directly linked with the child having a lower quality of life. We must find ways to give children better coping strategies to deal with the pain so that they can lead a normal life more easily.

Categories: Asthma, Children, Chronic, chronic stomach, life, Pain, skin rash, skin rashes, stomach, stomach pain

Is Your Child’s Reaction to Pain Worse than the Pain Itself?

No child reacts perfectly when their wellness is affected by stomach pain, but if your child dwells on or ‘catastrophises’ this health concern, they may have a lower quality of life than kids with a more positive attitude. This is according to German researchers, who add that, as parents, you can help your child learn to cope more effectively, and improve their outlook.

The surprising outcome of the study is that young patients with chronic stomach pain reported lower quality of life than kids who deal with chronic asthma, skin rashes and even obesity. Study co-author Claudia Calvano of the University of Potsdam in Germany explained, ‘If the children think, “My pain will not stop,” then this can lead to further impairment and increase psychological strain.’ Between 8% and 25% of all youth deal with chronic stomach pain, which can affect their wellbeing as they progress into adulthood.

Stomach pain is a complicated issue. There is organic pain, or the type in which the doctors can identify a medical cause, and then you have another type with no clear source, known as functional pain. This may occur due to stress, diet, exercise or psychological challenges, or a mixture of these factors, and so pinning down the root of the problem becomes more difficult. For the study, the researchers looked at both types of pain, examining data on 170 young people aged eight to 18. Instead of finding gender, economic status, or type of abdominal pain to be the cause of lower quality of life scores, poor coping skills was deemed the culprit.

According to Calvano, ‘The way parents react is very important.’ As parents, you need to acknowledge your child’s pain and not fob it off, but then introduce your child to healthy coping strategies. Frequently staying home from school, for example, may not help your child in the long run. Calvano notes, ‘Stress can increase the pain,’ especially in the case of stomach pain, as the connection between the mind’s stress and the abdomen is very sensitive in children. A better way to help your child handle the pain is through cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Calvano says, ‘Parents should be involved in the therapy and know which strategies the children learn so they can help them.’

Dr. Joel Rosh, a paediatric gastroenterologist at Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, New Jersey, who was not involved in the new study, comments, ‘Recognizing that fear and anxiety can be major causes of pain is very important.’ It’s a good idea to pay close attention to your child’s different descriptions of the pain. If your child complains of a one-day stomach-ache, he or she faces a very different problem than a child who has dealt with pain for three months. Ask your child questions, such as what does the pain feel like? Does it interfere with activities in the day? Is something new going on? What did you eat today?

Still, while Rosh supports the study results, paediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Ritu Verma of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia was less impressed. ‘I was a little disappointed because [the study] only confirmed things that researchers have talked about before,’ says Verma, albeit adding that affirming previous research still has value. ‘From a gastroenterologist perspective, we may not read a lot of literature that deals with the psychology of abdominal pain, and that’s important. ‘There is a misperception that girls or women tend to have more issues with pain and quality of life. But here it confirmed that the gender of the patient did not make a difference.’

Categories: abdominal pain, attitude, Child, Children, chronic stomach, paediatric gastroenterologist, Pain, Research, stomach, stomach pain, study

Easy Ways to Get the Toned Body You Can be Proud of

Fitness does not have to be a massive chore – there are easy ways that you can help to create a leaner, toner figure for yourself. These ten second tricks may not have a massive effect on your wellness, but they will boost your wellbeing through the increased confidence that comes with thinking that you look nice.

 

One of the most important ways that you can look nice is to have good posture. If you are hunched over you are creating the illusion of excess body fat and you are not creating a confident, elongated body shape either.

 

Rounded shoulders also thicken your torso by making it look shorter, so try hard to keep your ears up over your shoulders, with your shoulders relaxed and down. A good trick for this is to imagine that you are wearing long, dangly earrings that touch the top of your shoulders. This will help you to remember to keep your shoulders down.

 

In addition to this, keep your rib cage up. If you have weak upper-back muscles, you may tend to angle your chest in a downwards angle, which makes your boobs look less perky. Lift up the sternum (the breast bone that is inside your chest) up by a few inches to create an elongated torso for yourself.

 

Keeping your pelvis parallel is a good way to improve your posture too. Try to imagine that your pelvis is a bucket full of water. When you tip your hips forward or lift your bottom up, you will spill water out of the bucket. Keep the bucket level and this will avoid making your stomach stick out at the front.

 

The mere mention of a sticking out stomach has probably just made you suck yours in, but if you want a smooth, toned-looking stomach try to imagine it as a sponge, and squeeze out a little of the water rather than sucking it in altogether.

Categories: Easy Ways, imagine, nbsp, shoulders, stomach, toned, Tricks, tummy, Water

The Best Ways To Get Your Stomach In Shape

What do you think is the most common thing people want to improve about their body? Many people will love to have better hair or longer legs or stronger arms. But probably for most people asked, the answer would be that they would love to have a flat stomach. There is just something about the toned abdomen that is so visually appealing to people. They would love to have a stomach that does straight down instead of curving into a bump. So given that this is something that almost everyone would love to have, why do so many people fail in their attempts to achieve it?

 

Well, part of the problem is the way in which human beings store fat. We all need fat to survive, but the moment that we get any excess, in accumulates around our mid-section first. This means that the first place to suffer if you’ve ingested more fat than you should have is your stomach. That means it can be very difficult to get a flat stomach in the first place, but even harder to try to maintain it. But that does not mean that all is lost and that there is no way for you to achieve that flat stomach that you’re looking for. It just means to you need to know the right tips and tricks if you are going to succeed.

 

Interestingly, it is also true that having a flat stomach is good for you in more ways that just it means you’ll look the way that you want to. Indeed a recent study has shown that focussing on yours abs and stomach can help to reduce your risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. So clearly even if you don’t want a flat stomach for the cosmetic reasons, it really is something you should do for the good of your health.

 

So with that in mind we’ve come up with some great tips to help you avoid stomach fat and stay slim around your midriff. The number one on our list is that you should avoid drinking beer. We’ve all heard of the phrase ‘beer belly’ and it’s more than just a stupid cliché. Beer is surprisingly heavy on the calorie side of things and drinking lots of beer is simply empty calories that you’ll never use because you’re sitting in a pub, a bar or just at home. So definitely avoid beer if you want to slim down.

 

The second tip on our list is that you should start eating more blueberries. Blueberries are a superfood that is full of a fantastic range of vitamins and minerals perfect for keeping you feeling full for as long as possible. These will stop you from gaining because you will be getting so many of the vital vitamins and minerals you need from them.

 

Unsurprisingly we would also recommend that you do more crunches if you wish to strength your stomach muscles. When it comes to improving your abs there really is nothing better to do that the simple crunch. So you should start doing them and you will soon see some impressive moves forward in your dream of a toned stomach.

 

Finally, we would recommend eating more eggs. Eggs are a great source of protein but that have very little fat in them, so in this sense that are very good for you because they keep you filled up for longer without making you put on any weight and thus increasing the level of fat that begins to build up around your midriff.

Categories: beer, blueberries, flat, Flat Stomach, nbsp, people, Slim, stomacb, stomach

Five Fantastic Ways To Build Your Six Pack

Everyone would love to have a great stomach. For men, there’s nothing more impressed than the ripped six pack, while almost every woman pines for a flat stomach they can show off come the summertime. Yes, the stomach is an important part of our perceptions about beauty and good looks. Yet so many people struggle to maintain their mid-section. What is it about the stomach that people find so difficult to stay in shape? The truth is that fat accumulates around your mid-section more quickly than it does around other parts of the body leading to the famous ‘beer belly’. So that means if you’re going to get the washboard abs of your dreams you’re going to have to put the work in. So here are our top five tops for getting the perfect stomach.

 

Number One – Decrease Your Body Fat

As we have already said, body fat tends to accumulate around the belly, so that means if you have a less than optimal body fat ratio, the first thing to suffer will be your stomach. The optimal range for men is to be between 8-10 per cent body fat in order to have defined abs. For women that figure is around 12-15 per cent. But the only way that you’re going to this effectively is by eating a better diet and exercising more; it’s not rocket science. Do the right things and reduce your body fat – this is your first step to the amazing stomach you’re looking for.

 

Number Two – Build Up The Muscles In Your Mid-Section

This is another obvious one, but you’re going to have to put in a lot of work where it counts – your stomach muscles. But that doesn’t mean that you should just sit around all day doing crunches and other abdominal exercises. The abs need quality workouts rather than quantity if they’re going to be effective. Weighted exercises are always going to be the best idea if you really want to have deep lines or ‘ripped’ abs.

 

Number Three – Decrease The Stress In Your Life

You weren’t expecting this one, were you? Yes, that’s right, stress is bad for you if you’re looking to work on your abs. This is due to a complicated scientific process where our bodies release more cortisol when we are under stress. Cortisol is very bad news if you are trying to build muscle or trim fat off, so it’s no surprise that as soon as you get the cortisol as a part of your life, it ruins your plans pretty quickly. So avoid the stress – find whatever way is best for you to relax and do some more of it.

 

Number Four – Stay Properly Hydrated

When it comes to building muscle, it can’t be said strongly enough that water is your best friend. You really do need to stay hydrated if you want to get a great six pack and a flat stomach. And water is the best way to hydrate your body without any doubt. So drink plenty of water and you’ll be doing you and your stomach a big favour.

 

Number Five – Avoid Those Problem Foods

We’ve all got our vices and our bad habits. There will be certain foods in your life that you really love but that you know are not good for you. Unfortunately we have to suffer for our art, and we have to suffer especially for our six packs. If you’re going to get the stomach that you crave you’ll need to stay away from those foods that you know are bad for you.

Categories: Abs, body, Flat Stomach, mid section, nbsp, nbsp number, number, Six Pack, stomach, Stress

How to Get Sexier Abs By Doing Some Simple Exercises

One of the biggest weight and fitness goals that women have is to tone up their abs. Having a flat, toned and sexy stomach seems like a direct route to sexual wellness and wellbeing, and so women are often desperate to find that magic formula to help them achieve these.

 

Not all exercises lead to nicer abs, however, and you need to ensure that you are targeting your core muscles if you want to have that movie star and athlete style of flat, toned tummy.

 

First of all – you need to be doing cardio work and burning off fat. Coupled with a low fat, healthy diet, this is one of the keys to having nicer abs. You can do all the tummy work you like, but unless there is no fat at all on top of your abs, it’s going to be very hard to see the definition you’ve created in the muscle. Cardio needs to be serious, fat-burning exercise and your diet needs to be healthy and nutritious to reduce body fat as you build muscles.

 

The first exercise you should try is the belly button to the spine move. Wherever you are and whatever position you are in, be it lying down in bed, sitting in the bath or at your desk at work, you should practise pulling your belly button in towards the spine on a daily basis. This trains your tummy to be naturally pulled in in the middle. Just make sure that your spine is straight when you do the exercise, and then imagine that a cord is pulling your belly button backwards towards your spine.

 

Downward dog with a plank is also a move that you should perfect to improve your abs. Start by lying on the stomach and pulling up into a plank position, where you support your body on your elbows and toes, and then pull your bottom up towards the ceiling, whilst keeping your abs tight. Keep switching between plank and downward dog for tight and toned abs.

Categories: Abs, belly button, Downward Dog, exercise, flat toned, nbsp, nicer abs, spine, stomach, toned, tummy, work

Could Stress be Giving You Gastrointestinal Reflux?

If you suffer from health concerns associated with gastro reflux disease (GERD), you may have noticed that it acts up more when your mental and emotional wellness and wellbeing are under strain. You may have noticed, for example, that your GERD plays up at all the worst times, such as when you have a job interview, when you are giving a speech at a big event or when you are hosting a big family get together. This is most likely because stress can have a strong effect on the symptoms of reflux.

 

Unlike hot chilli sauce or orange juice, which are food triggers for reflux, stress cannot be easily avoided. There are some coping techniques that you can use to help settle your stomach, however, and you should remain aware of trying to lower your stress levels where possible, for your physical and emotional health. A survey was carried out which highlighted this link between stress and heartburn. During the study, women reported that stressful family situations made their symptoms worse, whilst men in the study said that long working hours or business trips made them more susceptible to the symptoms of acid reflux. Researchers also noted that exhaustion in particular was linked to a worsening of symptoms.

 

Adopting coping techniques is definitely the way forward when it comes to gastro reflux, and a vast number of other health conditions, as stress can also be linked to stroke, heart disease, obesity, depression and IBS. Coping techniques should always include exercise. Exercise helps to stimulate the release of the natural happy hormones. It also helps to loosen up tight muscles and gives you some thinking space just for you. Yoga, meditation or tai chi can also be helpful, as they may focus on the mind and get rid of all the busy thoughts that can build up problems into more than they are and make you feel stressed.

Categories: Coping, coping techniques, gastro reflux, reflux, stomach, Stress, Symptoms, techniques

Are You Ingesting Pesticides in Every Bite of Food?

Genetically modified crops are one of the UK’s most passionately debated environmental subjects. Those who advocate them claim that they are beneficial for your wellness and wellbeing because they don’t have any pesticides sprayed onto them. They say that GM crops naturally resist pests, which gives a false impression of a crop that insects do not go anywhere near. In truth ‘resists pests’ means that the GM crops have their own built in pesticides, which means that when an insect bites into it, the stomach of the insect splits open and this kills them.

 

It is quite worrying, therefore, to think that human beings may well be consuming these same pesticides in every bite of food. The Environmental Protection Agency, however, along with the biotech companies, claim that this pesticide (bacillus thuringiensis) is perfectly safe as it is naturally produced in soil bacterium. They claim that there is a long history of safe use. They point out that organic farmers have been using solutions that are made up of natural bacteria for many years now, as an organic way of controlling insects and stopping them from destroying their crops. What genetic engineers do is simply to remove the gene that makes the soil produce this bacteria and implant it into the DNA of a plant, so that the plant then naturally produces this bacteria, too.

 

The GM crops industry also claims that this Bt-toxin is very rapidly destroyed by the human stomach, and that humans (and other mammals) don’t have the right receptors for this toxin, anyway. There are arguments, however, that seem to present a different side to the story. There was a recent case where a natural BT spray was used in an area surrounding Washington State and Vancouver, and about 500 people reported to hospital suffering from flu or allergy-like symptoms, six of whom had to go to the emergency room. Other reactions included ulcers of the cornea, burning, swelling, itching and redness. Those with suppressed immunity are also thought to potentially be at risk.

Categories: claim, Crops, eating, gm crops, naturally, Pesticides, stomach

Could Stomach Iinfections be Making HIV much Worse?

New HIV treatments could work on eliminating harmful bugs in the digestive tract, as research has shown that they can worsen the infection. Reports into the sexual health and physical wellness of those with the HIV infection have shown that those who have dangerous bacteria in their digestive system were more likely to be HIV positive, and that this in turn made the infection even worse.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a sexual health condition which is transmitted by sexual contact. Over time, it deteriorates the immune system, and gradually destroys wellness by leading to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), for which there is no cure. People who have HIV/AIDS often die from acute infections that would be otherwise curable, as their immune systems are not able to defeat them the way the human body normally would. Thus, acquiring HIV/AIDS represents a serious threat to wellbeing and means that sufferers have to be extra careful about their health at all times.

As a new study suggest, those who have the HIV infection have been shown to have high levels of harmful bacteria in their digestive system, and this can in turn lead to increased problems due to their lack of immunity. Looking at all the evidence, researchers believe that this bacteria may cause an overall weakening of the immunity of the digestive system, as well as working directly to weaken the barrier to the digestive system.

Now that this has been discovered, however, there may be a positive outcome. Researchers believe that restoring normal digestive bacteria could help to manage the progression of the disease.

The study involved 32 men – nine of whom did not have the HIV infection and 23 who did. The infected men had a much higher level of bacterias such Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia and Staphylococcus present, when compared to the uninfected men.

 

Categories: Bacteria, HIV, stomach

Lose Weight From Your Stomach in One Week

Sometimes life gets on top of you and you can’t find time to attend the gym or get started on that diet you’ve been saying you’ll start for weeks. Before you know it, that wedding or event you’ve had marked on the calendar is a week away and you need to find a way to get in shape quickly. While it may seem like an impossible task, there are some changes you can make to get a toned stomach in next to no time.

Step one:

Circuit training is the best way to build muscle and burn fat at the same time – you should aim for three sessions a week. Full body exercises such as lunges, push-ups and pull-ups are great – you should be able to burn around 500 to 600 calories with each workout.

Step two:

In order to build strong abdominal muscles in a short space of time, you will need to work on them three times in the week. Crunches and leg raises, for three sets of 20 repetitions, are the perfect choice. You should also aim to do planks by holding your body in a push-up position, on your elbows, for 30 to 60 seconds. Do four sets of these.

Step three:

Your diet is important in order to limit the amount of fat you gain so you should aim for natural foods, such as fruit, vegetables and whole grain breads. You need to limit your intake of processed foods with lean meats, such as chicken and fish, as well as whole wheat pasta and brown rice.

Step four:

You need to minimise your water retention, as this will cause your stomach to bloat, so in order to achieve this you need to avoid salt. Try flavouring your food with herbs and spices instead.

Step five:

Stress and anxiety can cause your cortisol levels to spike, which encourages weight gain around the stomach area. In order to combat this, take time out each day to do some deep breathing exercises and relax.

Categories: Fat, Lifestyle Changes, stomach

Side effects of aspirin

Aspirin can cause side effects, although serious reactions are rare.

Common side effects include:

• irritation of the stomach or bowel


• indigestion


• nausea (feeling sick)

However, less than 10% of people taking aspirin experience these side effects. If you experience side effects, try sticking to basic food and taking your aspirin after a meal. See your doctor if you are worried or continue to experience them.

Less common side effects

Less common side effects of aspirin include:

• worsening of asthma caused by narrowing of airways


• vomiting


• inflammation (swelling) of the stomach


• bleeding in the stomach


• bruising

In rare cases, a possible side effect of taking low-dose aspirin is haemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain).

See your doctor if you experience any of these side effects when taking aspirin.

Allergic reaction

In some cases aspirin can cause an allergic reaction, although this is more common in people who have asthma. Go to the nearest hospital’s accident and emergency department (A&E) if you experience:

• swelling of the lips, mouth or throat


• breathing problems


• a skin rash which appears quickly

Side effects of aspirin

Categories: allergic reaction, aspirin, common, Effects, Experience, stomach

Side effects of clopidogrel

Clopidogrel can cause side effects, although serious reactions are rare.

Common side effects of clopidogrel can include:

• headaches or dizziness


• nausea


• diarrhoea


• indigestion (dyspepsia)


• stomach ache or abdominal pain


• nosebleeds


• increased bleeding (your blood taking longer to clot – for example, when you cut yourself), or easy bruising

Speak to your GP if any of these side effects get worse or do not go away.

Serious side effects

More serious side effects can include:

• rashes and itching


• severe stomach ache or abdominal pain


• uncontrolled bleeding or unusual bruising


• vomiting with blood


• blood in your urine


• blood in your stools

Speak to your GP immediately if you experience any of these side effects or any other unusual problems while taking clopidogrel.

Allergic reaction

In some cases clopidogrel can cause an allergic reaction. Go to the nearest hospital’s accident and emergency department (A&E) if you experience:

• swelling of the lips, mouth or throat


• breathing problems


• a skin rash that appears quickly

Side effects of clopidogrel

Categories: abdominal pain, allergic reaction, Blood, clopidogrel, Effects, speak, stomach, stomach ache

How NSAIDs work

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) work by interfering with particular enzymes in your body.

Enzymes are a special type of protein which help to bring about, or speed up, a chemical reaction within your body. For example, digestive enzymes help your digestive system break up large food particles into smaller pieces so your body can absorb them.

Cyclo-oxyganase

NSAIDs interfere with an enzyme called cyclo-oxyganase (COX). Different parts of your body have different types of COX enzymes, which control the production of chemicals called prostaglandins. Different prostaglandins have different functions.

For example, the stomach contains COX-1 enzymes, these control the production of prostaglandins that help protect the stomach from acid (which is normally present in the stomach). White blood cells contain COX-2 enzymes, these control the prostaglandins involved in pain and inflammation.

NSAIDs can reduce pain and inflammation by preventing COX enzymes releasing the prostaglandin chemicals that cause pain and inflammation. However, prostaglandins carry out many different functions within your body. Interfering with them can cause a number of side effects, such as indigestion and stomach ulcers.

COX-2 inhibitors

To prevent side effects, researchers developed a new ‘family’ of NSAIDs known as COX-2 inhibitors.

These are designed to block the enzymes that cause pain and inflammation but avoid blocking the enzymes that protect the stomach lining. This helps reduce the risk of indigestion and stomach ulcers.

Although COX-2 inhibitors have less effect on the stomach, they may be more likely than traditional NSAIDs to cause side affects to the heart. This means they may be more suitable for someone at risk of developing stomach or intestinal problems, but less suitable for those with a heart or circulation problem.

Pain:Pain is an unpleasant physical or emotional feeling that your body produces as a warning sign it has been damaged.
Swelling:Inflammation is the body’s response to infection, irritation or injury, which causes redness, swelling, pain and sometimes a feeling of heat in the affected area.
Tissue:Body tissue is made up of groups of cells that perform a specific job, such as protecting the body against infection, producing movement or storing fat.

How NSAIDs work

Categories: body, cox enzymes, cyclo oxyganase, enzymes, nsaids work, Pain, stomach, stomach ulcers

Side effects of NSAIDs

Many people take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) without having any side effects. They can be a very effective form of treatment and are widely used to treat a number of conditions.

However, it is important to remember that any medicine can carry a risk of side effects. In a small number of cases, the side effects of NSAIDs can be very serious. So if you are taking NSAIDs for a prolonged period of time, or in high doses, your reaction to the medication will be closely monitored.

Some of the side effects that can be caused by NSAIDs are described below.

Common side effects

NSAIDs most commonly affect the gastrointestinal tract (the stomach and intestines). Common side effects associated with the long-term use of NSAIDs include:

• indigestion


• stomach ulcer (a sore in the lining of the stomach)

Stomach ulcers can sometimes cause more serious complications, such as:

• gastrointestinal bleeding – internal bleeding within the digestive system


• anaemia – where blood is unable to carry enough oxygen around your body which can cause shortness of breath and tiredness


• gastrointestinal perforation – where a hole occurs in the wall of your stomach or intestines

Less common side effects

Research has found that taking NSAIDs on a daily basis causes persistent headaches in around 1 in 10 people.

Some types of NSAID can make people feel drowsy or dizzy. If you have these side effects while taking an NSAID, avoid driving or using tools and machinery.

Rare side effects

In rare cases, NSAIDs can affect your heart and the rest of the circulatory system. Side effects can include:

• heart failure – the heart is having trouble pumping enough blood around the body


• heart attack


• hypertension (high blood pressure)


• stroke

Although these side effects are potentially very serious, it is important to note they are rare and most likely to affect someone who has an existing cardiovascular condition.

This is why NSAIDs are not usually recommended for people with a history of these types of condition.

If the use of an NSAID is thought to be vital, then naproxen is thought the safest choice.

Additionally NSAIDs may affect your liver or kidneys. Again, this only happens in a small number of cases, and is most likely to affect those with existing liver or kidney conditions

Allergic:An allergen is a substance that reacts with the body’s immune system and causes an allergic reaction.
Blood:Blood supplies oxygen to the body and removes carbon dioxide. It is pumped around the body by the heart.
Kidney:Kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs located at the back of the abdomen, which remove waste and extra fluid from the blood and pass them out of the body as urine.
Stomach:The sac-like organ of the digestive system. It helps digest food by churning it and mixing it with acids to break it down into smaller pieces.
Stools:Stool (also known as faeces) is the solid waste matter that is passed from the body as a bowel movement.
Ulcers:An ulcer is a sore break in the skin, or on the inside lining of the body.
Vomit:Vomiting is when you bring up the contents of your stomach through your mouth.

Side effects of NSAIDs

Categories: Blood, body, Effects, nsaids, small number, stomach

It’s a common misconception that exercising needs to be a lengthy and time consuming endeavour, but this is not always the case. There are smaller steps you can take that will provide you with effective results. One of the first things you can do to make changes to your lifestyle is to take care of your stomach – eating more slowly and making sure you sit down to eat can help to ensure your digestive system has time to work properly. If you are in a hurry and have no choice but to eat on the run, opt for a smoothie packed with nutritional ingredients such as fruit and probiotic yoghurt. Make sure you use as much of the fruit as possible and as little of the juice, and make sure you have plenty of protein in it. If you want to add some healthy fats, you could also add nuts or seeds. If you’re hungry during the day and want a snack, be sure to choose wisely. Make sure that your meals throughout the day are healthy and wholesome, so that you have less need to snack, and opt for fruit, vegetables or nuts throughout the day if you’re a little peckish ­– if you are going to eat nuts, choose unsalted varieties to make them healthier. Eating a healthy diet is one part of making positive changes to your lifestyle, but the other is to eat in moderation. This means eating three filling but nutritious meals a day, eating them slowly and stopping when you feel full rather than finishing the food regardless. A healthy lifestyle encapsulates every element of your body, and that includes your mind. It is important for a calm and positive outlook to relax and relieve stress, so put time aside to switch the phone, turn off your computer and take a break. This time will allow you to recharge your batteries and focus. Finally, one area of a healthy lifestyle that often gets overlooked is keeping hydrated. Most people don’t drink enough water and this can be seriously detrimental to your health – it helps your body to work more efficiently and helps to improve vitality. If you’re thirsty, chances are you’re already dehydrated so drink little and often throughout the day to replenish the water you lose. How to make small changes that see big results

It’s a common misconception that exercising needs to be a lengthy and time consuming endeavour, but this is not always the case. There are smaller steps you can take that will provide you with effective results.

One of the first things you can do to make changes to your lifestyle is to take care of your stomach – eating more slowly and making sure you sit down to eat can help to ensure your digestive system has time to work properly. If you are in a hurry and have no choice but to eat on the run, opt for a smoothie packed with nutritional ingredients such as fruit and probiotic yoghurt. Make sure you use as much of the fruit as possible and as little of the juice, and make sure you have plenty of protein in it. If you want to add some healthy fats, you could also add nuts or seeds.

If you’re hungry during the day and want a snack, be sure to choose wisely. Make sure that your meals throughout the day are healthy and wholesome, so that you have less need to snack, and opt for fruit, vegetables or nuts throughout the day if you’re a little peckish ­– if you are going to eat nuts, choose unsalted varieties to make them healthier.

Eating a healthy diet is one part of making positive changes to your lifestyle, but the other is to eat in moderation. This means eating three filling but nutritious meals a day, eating them slowly and stopping when you feel full rather than finishing the food regardless.

A healthy lifestyle encapsulates every element of your body, and that includes your mind. It is important for a calm and positive outlook to relax and relieve stress, so put time aside to switch the phone, turn off your computer and take a break. This time will allow you to recharge your batteries and focus.

Finally, one area of a healthy lifestyle that often gets overlooked is keeping hydrated. Most people don’t drink enough water and this can be seriously detrimental to your health – it helps your body to work more efficiently and helps to improve vitality. If you’re thirsty, chances are you’re already dehydrated so drink little and often throughout the day to replenish the water you lose.

How to make small changes that see big results

Categories: consuming, digestive, stomach