We are inundated with a slew of advertisements for antacids and acid-suppressing drugs, including the "purple pill" (Nexium), Prilosec, Prevacid, Pepcid AC, Zantac, and numerous other medications that lower stomach acid. Understandably, you may be under the impression that the symptoms of heartburn, indigestion, and gastrointestinal acid reflux disease (GERD) are caused by too much stomach acid. As acid-suppressing drugs are among the most commonly used prescription and over-the-counter … [Read more...]
Study Finds Muscle Strength Fades After Just Two Weeks of Inactivity
It takes just two weeks of physical inactivity for those who are physically fit to lose a significant amount of their muscle strength, new research indicates. In that relatively short period of time, young people lose about 30 percent of their muscle strength, leaving them as strong as someone decades older. Meanwhile, active older people who become sedentary for a couple weeks lose about 25 percent of their strength. The more muscle a person has, the more they will lose if they are sidelined … [Read more...]
New Research Finds Americans Lack Diversity Of Gut Bacteria
This new research lends even more support to taking daily probiotics. Americans have fewer types of intestinal bacteria than people in less-developed countries, according to a new study. The likely cause? Bacteria are less likely to be passed from person to person due to better sanitation and cleaner drinking water in the United States, the researchers reported in the journal Cell Reports. "These findings suggest that lifestyle practices that reduce bacterial dispersal -- specifically … [Read more...]
Did You Know This About Soda?
A 12-ounce can of soda delivers about 10 teaspoons of sugar, more than the American Heart Association's daily recommendation of 6 teaspoons per day for women and 9 teaspoons per day for men. Normally, you'd gag on such intense sweetness, but the phosphoric acid added mellows the sugary flavor. Not only does this phosphoric acid "trick" the body into being able to ingest this absurd amount of sugar, but it also binds to calcium, magnesium and zinc in your body. You'll soon be flushing … [Read more...]
The Most Important Reason To Drink More Water
So you're probably sick of hearing how you need to drink more water, but despite all the efforts to get Americans to drink more water, 75% of us are still chronically dehydrated. Many of the benefits of staying hydrated are well known, but here's a lesser known, but crucial reason to drink more H2O. A new report shows that when you drink water, your brain works better. "Lot's of studies have shown that dehydration is linked to poor performance on memory and attention tasks," says Caroline … [Read more...]