Dear friends,

many - if not all - of us have at least ocassionally suffered from heartburn. When that happens, we reach out for the bottle of anti-acids and pop one tablet or more. But is that the best thing to do?

First of all, where does heartburn come from? As you know, a few minutes after finishing your meal, your stomach starts producing acids to digest what you ate. At the lower end of the esophagus there is an anular muscle (forgot its name) that senses the presence of acid, closing in response the entrance to the stomach.

Well, at least that's how it should work. Unfortunately, sometimes our body doesn't produce very much acid - and as we get older, that happens quite frequently - so this muscle doesn't sense enough of it to react. Consequently, it doesn't close the entrance to the stomach, and some acid enters the esophagus, causing the burning sensation. After all, the stomach is protected by a mucose, but not the esophagus.

So what would be the best way to correct this problem? Well, give this muscle the acid it is waiting for! Next time you have a heartburn, don't reach out for the antiacids, but for an acid fruit, like an orange, or dilute a little vinegar (just half a teaspoon) with an equal amount of water. Drink that in tiny sips, and as soon as relief sets in, stop drinking.

This is the healthiest thing to do, as anti-acids only calm the sensation of heartburn, but don't allow your body digest the food properly. And after all, you both want to feel right and nourish yourself, don't you?

Germex

Replying to [germex]:Dear Germex, you drink hot water. It is very help ful to digest the food as well burn the extra calorie. Walk after your dinner. Take deep breath.

Replying to [germex]:

Thank you: its a good practical guide :

Replying to [germex]: Hello Germex, I know you eat a lot but I didn't know you eat so fast.

Enjoy your meal, chew slowly, savoring the good things from nature.

Next meal, please chew 36 times before swallow to see what happen.

Bon appetite!

Moolan

Replying to [Moolan99]:

Hi Moolan and Marx,

hmm, you seem to believe that my life style is really lousy, but it isn't, at least not in this regard. In my case it's mostly my age that causes my heartburn. That's why I mentioned it, so other "old-timers" don't worry too much when they also start having this problem.

I drink hot tea (not water) with or after each meal, chew slowly, and so on. In fact, when my daughter sees me eating, she gets a little desperate, because I eat "way too slowly" in her opinion. Though of course others might have heartburn for the reasons you mentioned, so let's hope that with your comments you influenced their life style for the better.

Germex

Replying to [germex]:
Extrapolating from your theory, I am going to try chewing on a vitamin C tablet instead. It got plenty of ascorbic acid; do you think it will help?

Regards,
--
raoon

Replying to [raoon]:

Hi Raoon,

unfortunately I can also only talk theory here. It exclusively depends on the pH this tablet produces. If it's low enough, it will work - otherwise not. But I guess that's easy to find out, right?

Germex

Replying to [germex]:

I feel "Heart-burn" when I see an * enjoying the company of a beautiful and rich girl.

Replying to [vshanker]:

Me, too! (when I was younger)

Germex

Replying to [Moolan99]: Hey never knew we had so many medical advisers here, what is the consultation fee?

Replying to [eloho]:

Hi Eloho,

It's a thousand thanks per advice - cash!

Germex