Heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and acid reflux are often considered the same, but heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux and GERD. Heartburn is not related to the pain in any way. It occurs in the digestive system, particularly in the esophagus. The esophagus lining is very delicate as compared to the lining of the stomach, so the acid present in the esophagus is felt in the chest with a tightening sensation. Let’s understand what acid reflux and GERD are before looking at the foods to prevent heartburn and other GERD symptoms: 1. Acid reflux The Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) is a bundle of muscles between the esophagus and the stomach. It opens to let food pass into the stomach and closes once this is done. However, if this muscle weakens, it doesn’t close properly, which means the acid from the stomach moves back into the esophagus, causing reflux. Heartburn is the key symptom of acid reflux, and other symptoms include: Cough and a sore throat A bitter taste in the throat A sour taste in the mouth A burning sensation and pressure in the chest or the breastbone 2. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) GERD is very similar to acid reflux, but it is more chronic.

The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the throat. This small but mighty organ is a part of the body’s endocrine system and thyroid hormones impact the entire body. A slight imbalance in the levels of thyroid hormones in the body can have a serious impact on energy and metabolism. There are two distinct types of thyroid hormone imbalances, and it is important to understand the differences between them. Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the body produces excess levels of thyroid hormone. The most common type of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease. Hypothyroidism is where the body does not produce enough thyroid hormones. The most common type of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s disease. Diet can have a significant impact on thyroid diseases. Here are some foods that affect thyroid diseases: 1. Brazil nuts These tasty treats are high in not only iron but also selenium. Selenium is a micronutrient that helps support thyroid health. Selenium is beneficial for both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Selenium also helps symptoms of thyroid eye disease. Just a few nuts each day supplies enough selenium to support good thyroid health. 2. Cruciferous vegetables Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and greens may be great for some aspect of healthy living but if you have a thyroid condition, this group of foods is part of the family of vegetables known to have goitrogens.

Asthma and food allergies go hand-in-hand for many people. For example the majority of food-related anaphylaxis occurs in people who have asthma. An asthma attack is caused when muscles inside the lungs become inflamed and spasm thus constricting the bronchial tubes and restricting air intake. Treatment is a combination of lifestyle changes, daily medications and rescue medications (including EpiPen’s used in anaphylaxis). Identifying asthma trigger foods and avoiding them is primary to treatment: 1. Eggs Eggs are common food allergens among children, although most will outgrow it. After ingestion an Egg allergy can take from a few minutes to a few hours to show up. The most common reaction is hives or inflammation however a few people will develop symptoms of asthma including coughing and shortness of breath. 2. Cow’s milk A cow’s milk allergic reactions will show up shortly after consumption. Asthmatics do not have a higher incidence of anaphylaxis compared to people without asthma. However, milk allergies are still the third most common cause of anaphylaxis. 3. Peanuts Allergic reactions can occur with simple cross-contamination of food or ingestion. As the symptoms of a reaction and asthma are very similar some asthmatics may not at first realize they have a peanut allergy.

A healthy diet is linked to a lower risk of cancer and, specifically, lung cancer. Taking a closer look at and including specialty foods and superfoods in your diet to combat lung cancer is the need of the hour. It’s imperative to consider these categories of foods since lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Herein, we enlist some foods that fight lung cancer due to the composition and substances they contain: 1. Apples Flavonoids, the white or yellow plant pigments are abundant in apples, which is why this fruit is one of the top foods that help prevent lung cancer. Likewise, flavanols, kaempferol, and flavones are compounds present in apples, especially in the skin. Hence, it’s advisable to eat apples without peeling off the skin. If you like to consume apples in liquid form, then choose to use the skins also since they are used to prepare apple cider. 2. Garlic Garlic has diallyl sulfide that can prevent cancer-causing substances from forming in your body. You can mince garlic and leave it open for a few minutes. This process enables a chemical reaction that promotes cancer-protective properties. 3. Pears Among the foods that help prevent lung cancer, pears have a phytochemical called phloretin that has anti-tumor properties.

If you have been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis, it means your liver is inflamed and this condition may have been triggered by fatty liver, viruses like hepatitis B or hepatitis C, or certain medications, etc. With such a condition, symptoms like fatigue and nausea develop that do not seem to go away when you are rested. You may also lose the urge to eat or suffer from an upset stomach. Those diagnosed with hepatitis may even suffer from diarrhea, fever, and joint pains. So, it becomes important to know about the top foods to manage hepatitis better. You must understand that the goal of any hepatitis diet is essential to minimize any kind of stress on your liver (in addition to doctor-prescribed medications). The liver is already compromised because of this inflammatory condition and so, knowing the foods to manage hepatitis can come in very handy. A good diet will not only help you manage all symptoms of hepatitis but also make your liver stronger. Top foods to manage hepatitis include: 1. Veggies and fruits To begin with, vegetables and fruits are highly recommended for managing hepatitis as these will offer you body the much-required vitamins and minerals. These are rich in fiber and help you stay away from snacking on unhealthy tidbits.