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Recovering from Addiction to Prescription Medications

I never thought of myself as an addict, but I did end up addicted to anti-anxiety medication after developing Generalized Anxiety Disorder. At some point, the medicine stopped being a way to deal with the nervousness and panic attacks, and became something my body craved. I knew that I needed help fast. Fortunately, a local drug rehab program includes support for people like me. They helped me wean off the medication, use methods like massage therapy to help my nerves heal, and even provided ongoing counseling for our family. I don't know how I would have made it without their help. If you suspect that your medication has crossed the line from being helpful to hurtful, take heart. Let me tell you about my journey out of addiction and back to wholeness.

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Recovering from Addiction to Prescription Medications

Why Pizza Is A Big "No-No" When You Have GERD

by Valerie Stevens

Like most people, you love eating pizza. Unfortunately, you suffer from the acid reflux disease (GERD) which makes it more difficult for you to enjoy a variety of foods and one food that you should definitely avoid is pizza. Here is why.

Pizza Can Cause Major GERD Symptoms

There are a variety of ingredients in pizza that trigger GERD symptoms, chief among them tomatoes and cheese. The tomatoes in pizza sauce are highly acidic and will upset your stomach and cause GERD to flare up. Cheese produces a similar effect, and as pizza is smothered by both, it is problematic.

This is especially true if you're a fan of meat pizza. As meat is difficult to digest, eating it will cause your stomach to work more strenuously. This will cause an increase in acid concentration and more GERD symptoms. While vegetable-based pizzas are a healthier option, they still won't counteract the tomatoes and cheese.

It Also Causes Weight Gain

Pizza is popular because it is delicious, but it is incredibly unhealthy. Pepperoni pizza contains about 311 calories and 13 grams of fat per slice. Eating just one slice may not be too problematic for your GERD or weight gain, but chowing down on two or more will add a lot of unhealthy calories to your diet.

Unfortunately, this can cause weight gain that will directly lead to worsened GERD symptoms. Multiple studies have found that overweight and obese people are more likely to suffer from GERD than those who are a healthy weight. Sadly, eating pizza isn't likely to help you lose much weight.

Even Moderate Pizza Consumption Can Make Exercise Difficult

Unfortunately, all this means that pizza is definitely a "no-go" if you suffer from GERD. This is particularly true if you are trying to exercise to lose weight. Beyond the high caloric intake associated with pizza is the fact that exercising after eating pizza is more likely to increase your GERD symptoms.

Stay away from this food and try out these simple exercises to lose weight and decrease GERD severity:

  • Spinning bike
  • Elliptical machine
  • Treadmills
  • Walking
  • Deep-breathing exercises
  • Yoga

Make sure to stay well hydrated before, during, and after exercise since dehydration is a common trigger for GERD. But focus strictly on water; sports drink and soda can trigger GERD and aren't as satisfying as water for your thirst.

By losing weight and carefully monitoring what you eat, you can help decrease the severity of GERD in your life. Just be ready to cut out some of your favorite foods until you've achieved a healthy balance. In time, you may even be able to return to pizza again.

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