Blood Sugar Levels: Why Low Blood Sugar Levels Cause Cravings and Lead to a Sugar Binge

sugar addiction image

Why Low Blood Sugar Levels Cause Cravings and Lead to a Sugar Binge

Are you concerned about your blood sugar levels? If you’re like most people, you probably already know the difference between a good diet and a bad diet – or at least you may be able to distinguish healthy foods from unhealthy ones. However, one major issue most of us face with our diets is dealing with those unwelcomed, nasty cravings. Caving into your unhealthy cravings may not be a result of weak willpower, but they can tarnish your motivation to carry on eating healthy.

On the bright side, you can stop blaming your lack of willpower for your inability to control your cravings and start blaming something else…
Your brain chemistry! Research monitoring the blood glucose levels in people indicates that sugar cravings have little to do with your willpower and more to do with how your brain functions. Your subconscious mind ensures that you are safe. You need it for your survival. In life-threatening situations, like with an approaching car, your subconscious mind takes action and allows your body to make a rapid movement for your safety. In an incident like this, you can’t use your intellect or strategic thinking skills to take action – you just don’t have the time.
Similarly, your body needs food for survival. Your brain thrives on glucose therefore, it needs a regular flow of glucose in the blood to function properly.

image of sugar donuts

However, in case your blood glucose level drops excessively low, your subconscious mind tries to correct the problem by signalling your body to have a high-carb or high-sugar food. Is this a valid reason to excuse ourselves whenever we have a sugar binge? No. However, it does help to understand the problem in order to rectify it effectively. Just one bite may not be enough to satisfy you; therefore, you keep having more and end up in sugar binge. It’s important to understand that consumption of high-sugar foods such as chocolate creates sensations of pleasure and happiness in the body – you must be familiar with this already. This is mainly because such foods stimulate the release of “feel good” chemicals in the brain, hence making it even more difficult to control yourself. You need to hold yourself accountable. You’ve understood the chemistry of your brain, now you need to familiarize yourself with your hunger and craving patterns. Hold yourself accountable for everything and you’ll be able to control your next sugar attack. Research indicates that it becomes hard for a person to stop consuming a high-sugar snack without losing control.

Therefore, the solution is to opt for complex carbs rather than refined carbs. Refined carbs include the unhealthy carbohydrate varieties including white flour, white sugar and white rice. You can replace them with foods containing complex carbohydrates such as oats, whole grains, quinoa, fruits and vegetables and nuts and seeds.

It doesn’t matter where you get your carbs from, they will be broken down to glucose and eventually serve the same purpose.

What’s your favourite sugary “treat”?

Have you any weird binging habits, let us know by leaving a comment below!

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Did you know?

That the average person consumers 24 kilograms of sugar each year. This number is larger in developed industrialized countries and is around 33 kg!

Source: www.sugarhistory.net

[Infographic] Acid Reflux Guide All you Need to Know!

Acid Reflux Infographic

Info-graphic – Visual guide containing facts relating to Acid Reflux aka gastroesophageal reflux disease (gerd) that takes a look at;

  • The estimated number of sufferers from around the world
  • Symptoms of the condition
  • A clear definition of what reflux is
  • What causes acid reflux
  • Prevention of gastro-esophageal reflux
  • The testing and diagnosis of reflux
  • and Discusses the long term risks and the associated diseases that can result from exposure to long term untreated acid reflux.

Symptoms of acid reflux
Acid reflux is normally characterized by the unpleasant feeling in your chest and can be confused or called heartburn. It occurs due to the backward flow of the acid in the stomach into the esophagus, which is a tube that connects your throat to the stomach. Acid reflux is also called gastroesophageal reflux.

Acid reflux is one of the most researched health issues on the internet –  a common complaint that affects millions of people worldwide.

Causes of Reflux
Acid reflux is common in people of all ages and can sometimes occur due to no apparent cause. However, in most cases, it is linked to lifestyle factors. In some cases, it may occur to from effects that cannot be controlled such as pregnancy. Sometimes pregnancy may cause the acid in the stomach to be pushed upwards to the oesophagi. In addition, development of a hiatal hernia – an anatomical abnormality which causes the upper part of the stomach to insert into the chest cavity – may lead to acid reflux.

Some controllable risk factors may include obesity, active and passive smoking, too much alcohol, low fibre intake, lack of physical activity, medication such as painkillers, antidepressants and asthma drugs.

Common symptoms of acid reflux include heartburn and regurgitation – sour-bitter taste in the mouth. Other symptoms such as bloating, burping and nausea may result too.

Preventing Reflux
Having large meals before bedtime, being overweight and having certain foods and beverages such as citrus, spicy or oily food, alcohol, carbonated drinks and coffee are common causes of acid reflux as well.

Fortunately, acid reflux can be prevented by taking medications and following some lifestyle changes.

Click on the image to enlarge to full screen

info-graphic reflux image

Infographic – Acid reflux worldwide statistics & info

Click on the image to enlarge to full screen

Medication

If you suspect GERD or acid reflux due to it’s tell tale signs, try modifying your eating habits and taking OTC medications. If improving your lifestyle doesn’t help, see a doctor.
Your doctor will prescribe drugs that may improve symptoms.

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About Creating Comforts

Did you know ... That the symptoms of Acid reflux are exacerbated when lying down / sleeping. By using a wedge pillow for acid reflux (aka a bed wedge) to elevate your sleeping position by 6-8 inches can help eradicate some if not all of the symptoms.

Vegetable Weight Loss Diet Plan

Veg good for health

If you want to lose weight fast,  vegetables can be the way to go. A vegetable diet has less calories and lower fat than a standard diet. The basic math of losing weight does not change: you need to burn more calories than you take in each day and a good way to do this is have a regular exercise routine, but you have a better chance it you are on a veggie diet. Vegetables are not only low calorie, but also high in fibre, which means that they are filling and will quench your diet.

This can all be done while keeping an appropriate healthy weight.vegetable diet also provides the essential nutrients. Many of those nutrients are important in fighting cancer and other diseases.

A vegetable would be considered all or portion of an edible plant. This includes leaves, roots, and vegetables that are actually fruits, such as peppers or tomatoes. People may not think of sweet fruits, and dried beans as vegetables, but if you were putting together an all-vegetable diet, these would fit in, as would herbs. The broader definition of vegetables means proper substitutes for meat and dairy. This will allow for a healthy approach to losing weight.

There is a long tradition of vegetarian diets that is as ancient of civilization. Roman leaders such as Plutarch and Diogenes were vegetarians. The leader of Greek thought, Socrates, and his protégé Plato were also vegetarians. Many of the longest religious traditions have vegetarianism as part of its tenants such Buddhism, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism. Not are these considered healthy, but they are also spiritually satisfying.

To get the proper benefits from one of these diet plans, you will need to stay on a plan. For example, if you are on a cabbage soup diet plan, you will need to make sure that you eat the supplemental foods with your daily meals. According to Travis van Slooten, editor of Men’s Total Fitness, this means having two or three servings of fruit and four to five servings of vegetables with your diet every day. You should get nine servings a day.

There is some question of what is exactly a vegetarian diet; some think that a vegetarian diet can include things from animals as long as no animal is killed, such as milk. Others think that if you take anything that comes from an animal whether it is alive or dead makes is not part of a vegetarian diet.

So, if you have decided to take up this diet, remember to not make that mistake that too many dieters make: there is no magic bullet; you have to keep your intake below how many calories you burn. You should also realize that some diets, such as the cabbage soup diet may help lose weight by reducing water weight, which reduce weight quickly only to make have it return.

The best way: make a plan and stick to it.

Do you follow an effective healthy diet plan?

Why not share it with us by leaving a comment below!

About Creating Comforts

Did you know ...That diet plays an important factor for all of us especially for those suffering from acid reflux. As well as modifying your diet to help combat reflux our wedge pillow for sleeping will elevate the body when lying down reducing or eliminating the symptoms at night time.

Ways to Avoid Acid Reflux Symptoms

image of reflux symptom

Acid reflux – What are the the causes and symptoms?

Just as importantly: how do I control the symptoms and keep a bad situation under control?

For those dealing with this painful condition, this article will show you ways to both prevent and control your acid reflux and get some comfort.

If you have acid reflux symptoms, make sure that you let your dinner settle for three or so hours before you go to bed as this is the time that most feel it the most due to lying down. Allowing this time gap will allow the acid in your stomach to work and prevent the reverse flow of the stomach acid back through your oesophagus.

If at all possible try avoiding  drinking too much during meals. Quenching that thirst separately from your meals will slow down the effects of reflux. Drinking too much during meals can make you feel bloated. If you think you are hungry between meals, try having a drink first, you may find that satiates your need.

It is nice to relax after a meal, but do so sat up in a chair, not lying down. When you lie down, your stomach can push acid back up through the oesophagus. Any position that involves sitting or standing will give you a better chance of relief.

If you prop up the head side of your bed, your stomach will have a better chance of not backing up. If you raise the top of the bed more than six inches (achieved by placing “raisers” under the legs of the bed or the use of a bed wedge pillow  placed on or under the mattress), your body will feel some relief.

As if smoking does not cause you enough problems, here is one more reason to quit. If you have acid reflux, it can be made worse if you are a smoker. Smoking will affect your oesophageal sphincter that keeps the acid in the stomach. The smoking will also prevent the production of saliva and stymies the digestive process, which means stomach acid will remain longer.

You may think that tight fitting pants are a great way to avoid overeating. You may be right; however, pushing in that waist also will push in that stomach giving acid nowhere to go but inevitably back up past the oesophagus and which in turn will heighten acid reflux symptoms. Make sure your pants and any undergarments are loose enough to allow the digestive process to work unrestricted.

Exercise helps and is a superb way to avoid acid reflux symptoms. It will help you avoid carrying a spare tire around your waste. That unnecessary weight that you are carrying may cause acid reflux to flare up as the correlation of being overweight and acid back are well documented.

 

antacid pillsDo you realize that a food’s pH level has no impact on its ability to form acid in your stomach? Foods you might think are acidic could be more alkaline after you digest them. This causes a lot of confusion for many acid reflux / gerd sufferers. You should get to know the pH content in the food that you are eating if you suffer from acid reflux.

 

 

 

PH Levels in food may or may not aggravate an existing acid reflux condition. In fact, some foods become more alkaline when they enter the digestive tract. Working out which foods are good and which are bad foods for acid reflux,  do your research. To avoid the issues that might come from acidic foods, look up your favourite foods to see what their acid levels are.

 

Your mother was right what she said to slow down while you eat. You are not shovelling coal when you are eating. Make sure that your meal is fully chewed properly will help that it gest digested more easily. Focus on eating and stop when you are full. Enjoying the meal is not just a way to relax; it is a healthy way to avoid acid reflux.

Acid reflux can be soothed with cinnamon gum. Along with the gum itself, the chewing action will keep the stomach feeling better and allow the acid to work through the system.

As you can see above, acid reflux conditions can be relieved & controlled if you take the proper precautions. Take the time to review your eating and sleeping habits to see where you can make the changes that will make your life much more comfortable.

How do you control the symptoms of acid reflux or excessive heartburn (gerd)?

Let us know by leaving your comment below.

About Creating Comforts

Did you know ... About 1 in 3 adults suffer from heartburn once every few days, but that number is about 1 in 10 every day & is common in overweight persons, smokers, heavy drinkers, pregnant women & those in the 35-64 age bracket!

5 Top excercises to build muscles without going to the Gym

Popular belief is that one can only build muscles if you hit the gym. But what most do not understand is the fact that physical training is never limited to the gym alone. It is always possible to increase the overall fitness and develop muscle mass without going to gym.

Its all about discipline and a few other tips without the use of fancy or expensive gym equipment.

Exercises involving bodyweight according to some old school trainers are that bodyweight exercises are better than  artificial weight to obtain muscle mass gains.

Five of the best exercises in this category are as follows;

 

1.Push-Ups

girl doing press-ups

The exercise can indirectly help in bringing in muscle mass in triceps and biceps. Some consider the effects of push ups to that of a bench press. Push-ups use the entire body as a weight for during the up & down movements. One thing to note here is the fact the more closer the hands are to each other, the more the emphasis is developing the triceps.  Further away from each other and the emphasis is on developing the chest muscles.

 

2.Pull-Ups

Man doing pull-ups

Another great exercise that does not need any major equipment is pull ups. Considered as one of the most basic of the training exercises, the exercise targets the gains on back, neck and arms. All that is needed for this exercise is a horizontal pole in the house, normally mounted between door ways / frames. The horizontal pole or  bar used should be smooth and straight ( as well as secure). Keep doing the pull ups until there is muscle fatigue and do the exercise in repetitions.

 

3.Squats

Man squatingPerhaps an unchallenged exercise among all, squatting is capable of toning and developing a proportional body which is also muscular. The exercises focus on legs and back. After getting used to free hand squats, one can try one legged version. This exercise can also be done with lot of repetitions. Lower back strength can also be achieved through this exercise.

4.Crunches

Girl doing crunches

One of the best exercises to target the abdominal muscles and is most effective especially to remove flab around flattening the stomach.

5.Simple dumbbell Exercises

Girl with bumbbellsOne can use the dumbbells without hitting the gym as they are easily attainable, cheap and easy to store. Dumbbells if used properly can help in targeting each and specific areas of the body. Some of the exercises which can be done with dumbbells are weighted lunges, dead-lifts, weight walking, side fly for shoulders and military presses.

“routine, consistency and discipline are needed”

To observe any visual results, routine, consistency and discipline are needed although you should feel better well before you start seeing the results and combined with a good balanced diet should help you on your way to a healthy body.

Safety has to be paramount and prior to and during exercising and  precautions taken in the prevention of personal injuries. Ensure that you consult your doctor if you suffer from, think you suffer from or have any doubts with regards to your health prior to or during the partaking of any physical exercises.

What  “gym free” exercise do you find useful?

Let our readers know by leaving a comment down below!

About Creating Comforts

Strenuous exercise can take its toll on the body and the importance of a comfortable mattress & pillow is vital in helping sustain a good nights sleep & recovery that will set you up for the day ahead!

12 Common Foods to Avoid To Prevent HeartBurn

man with reflux image 

Have you ever felt a sudden, throbbing pain on your chest that usually occurs immediately after your meals? This tight sensation may be minute or felt  for only a couple of seconds but for others, the pain may last longer and may reoccur more often.

What you may be experiencing is called “heartburn” and it affects at least twenty percent of the population. It is the reaction inside our stomach that occurs whenever acidic fluids pass by the oesophagus and in extreme cases is commonly known as acid reflux or gerd. The burning sensation that one feels is that acid crossing the lining. Its frequent occurrence can cause lasting effects and can be a serious health red flag if not accessed by a medical practitioner (you should seek medical advice if you suffer regular bouts of excessive heartburn, reflux).

While an overhaul of one’s unhealthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent heartburn, watching what you eat can be the crucial first step.

This article will provide you with the twelve sinful food choices you should not make in the battle to control reflux and excessive heartburn.

 

 Acid Reflux Diet – List of foods to avoid

 

Fried Food - a Reflux no no

 1.       Go Easy on the oil.

Simple logic will tell you that food drenched in oil, when introduced into the digestive system, will require more work for the intestines to digest.

Crispy food stuff does look enticing, but for a person prone to acid reflux too much oil can trigger heartburn. Instead of deeply fried food, go for their grilled (or better yet, steamed) alternatives. You can also remove the fatty part and lessen the risk of too much oil getting into your system.

 

Acid reflux avoid Spicy food

2.       Don’t bathe on the spices.

All those spices that make meals come alive — from salt to pepper to the simple spicy condiments — they are instant acid triggers! It is because spices, as strong as they are, create a hostile environment for our intestines. Even for people without acid reflux, use of too much salt may start their heartburn hell.

 

 

Beef increases hearburn

3.       Regulate your beef intake.

Another seemingly safe food is beef. While it is considered leaner and lesser in fat as opposed to pork, beefy foods such as the delectable T-bone steak is high in fat. As previously pointed out, too much fat is not good for the stomach.

It is thus best to go for the low fat beefy meals — those that are marinated or stewed — unless you want to feel those acidic juices seething through your intestines.

 

 

Cheese

4.       Skip the fillings.

All-time favourite butter and / or cheese, are culprits of heartburn too.

Cheese, for instance, while healthy and beneficial when taken in moderate doses, is high in fat. This type of food causes the stomach to relax which in turn, delays digestion. Even the low fat cheese types are capable of this.

When the stomach relaxes, it puts pressure on the oesophageal sphincter. We don’t want to quibble with the terminologies — it simply means that a relaxed stomach will mean acid will flow through. Butter is included in this sinful category.

 

Heartburn wowes! Garlic & onion

5.       Take a breather from garlic and onion.

Studies show that people with heartburn history should stray away from garlic and onion. Use some other alternative herbs (but NOT spices) to add flavour to your meals instead. (See: Number 2 for the main reason.)

 

 

 

Sweets & mints dont help heartburn reflux

6.       Don’t always reach for the mints.

After a satisfying meal, we usually reach for mints. Be it candies or a peppermint tea, we think it can ease the food we have just taken in. But the soothing effect of the mint and / or the rush of sweetness of the candies trigger’s acids to attack your insides.

 

 

 

Tomatos and excessive heartburn

7.       Moderate those red tomatoes.

Tomatoes are advertised as rich in everything. They are healthy for the heart and good for the skin and eyes. But for those with acidic insides — they should be crossed out from the menu. That includes the pasta sauce and salsa. Skip them or feel the wrath of tomatoes later at night when you wish to be resting.

 

 

Acid reflux & citrus fruits

8.       Remember that citrus fruits are acidic.

You ate a piece of orange for breakfast and you wonder why your stomach aches hours after. Any fruit from the citrus family are acidic. If you are prone to heartburn, or is not planning on experiencing one, skip feasting on any member of the citrus family in the morning. Take them only after a healthy and balanced meal, and always have them in moderation. Your alternative? Fruits that are high in alkaline such as pears, apples, melon and bananas!

 

Soft drinks effect on reflux

9.       Sodas are a No-no.

Beverages like sodas are not good if you suffer from occasional heartburns. Even the ones being packed as juices are also dangerous for anyone who do not wish to increase chances of suffering from acidic episodes. Water is still your best choice to wash down any food you have eaten.

 

 

 

Chocolate Heart

10.   Chocolates shouldn’t be your treat.

Chocolates are the ultimate pleasure-bringers, but they can also be bringers of doom. They are high in fat making them hard to digest and is also a relaxant — both of which are sure to trigger your burns inside.

 

 

 

Coffee bad for heartburn

11.   Coffee is not a solution.

Some patients swear that a cup of unsweetened black coffee can cure  heartburn. But from a medical point of view, it doesn’t.

For people with acid reflux, drinking coffee as part of a breakfast regimen won’t be harmful but taking them in later in the day will.

 

 

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12.   Moderate the liquor.

There is a reason why we are advised against drinking without eating solid food first. Imagine pouring strong, acid-like liquid to your empty stomach — it’ll be like putting in acid on a cold empty container. It will “burn”. Same rule applies when you have eaten one spoon too many, and suddenly decided to drench it away with a glass of your classy wine. The wine is not really the culprit. It’s the mix of the full meat meal along with all the other usual offenders — pasta, tomato sauce — wine will then boost the acid reflux and cause severe stomach pain.

 

Summary

A quick scan of the contents of this article will show you two simple themes. First, that everything we eat should be taken in moderation. Most foods are beneficial as long as they are not abused. For people prone to heartburn, it pays to know the effects of the common food they take and work their way around it, mainly by avoiding them.

Secondly, that we should “listen” to the signals given by our body. There is a reason why our body sends us signals such as heartburn. It allows us to have a glimpse of what is happening inside us. Treat these signals as an early alarm system or a plea for help. Try and live a healthy lifestyle, and do not forget to consult a doctor in the severe of cases.

Acid reflux / heartburn is manageable, but it is up to you to free yourself from all of its symptoms just by  following some of these food avoidance tips will ensure a heartburn free lifestyle.

About Creating Comforts

Did you know that we are manufacturers of wedge pillows that will prevent stomach acid flowing back through the oesophagus whilst sleeping or lying down. You can find our range of bed wedges on our e-commerce site.

Wedge Pillow – Quick Remedy For acid Reflux / Gerd

Sleepless nights for many of us are due to a multitude of reasons which may include

sleepless night reflux

Insomnia

Worries;

financial

work related

relationships

Acid Reflux & Excessive heartburn!

Heartburn or GERD can be exasperated when lying down, sleeping. Many expert physicians prescribe bed wedge pillows to those who suffer from the disease called GERD or even to those who sometimes feel a sensation of heartburn while they are asleep due to acid reflux.

Acid reflux refers to a disorder wherein the digestive acid present in our stomach starts moving upwards towards and seeps through the oesophagus area creating an uncomfortable feeling which is sometimes called heart burn which can disturb our sleep. When this situation persists for a long period of time for a particular person, he or she is then said to be suffering from a disease called GERD (Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease).

Everyone has “acid” present in their stomach as it is a major factor that helps facilitate the digestion system. These acids remain in the stomach when we stand or sit since the gravitational force holds it downwards in the stomach itself but for some people this acid starts moving upwards towards (and past) the oesophagus when they are lying down. This is because when we lay themselves down, both our stomach and oesophagus area are in a levelled position unlike when they stand up or sit down. This situation leads to acid leaking past the oesophagus which in turn can lead to a disturbed sleep pattern or even sleeplessness and can be so aggravating that it effects their daily routines the next day.

HOW IS A WEDGE PILLOW ONE OF THE BEST REMEDIES FOR GERD?

Wedge pillows are a rational invention that is tailored-made to unravel the problem of acid reflux. Since acid reflux occurs only due to the fact that both stomach and oesophagus are at the same level the wedge pillow addresses this issue with a purely natural and simple approach. The wedged shaped pillow is designed in such a way that it lifts up the upper body (torso) of the sufferer (creating an incline) that is steep enough to make the stomach acid stay below the oesophagus therefore facilitating the acid to stay in the stomach.

 BWL sleepingThough a bed wedge pillow is an excellent temporary measure (as stated used mainly when lying down or sleeping) it eliminates the discomfort caused due to the condition, remember that it is not a permanent “cure” or “fix”  for the ailment but it is definitely a great relief to those suffering from GERD.

The victims of severe night time reflux can have a natural remedy that is purely logical and trustworthy without any (known) adverse side effects. With the wedge pillow, you can enjoy a blissful sleep at night that makes it possible for you to wake up fresh the next morning and continue your work and family life without any limitations.

Besides all these, the wedge pillow also acts as a good multi-purpose support that can give comfort when used while;

  • watching television
  • using your laptop
  • reading books
  • or as a leg raise and so on.

For those who suffer from back pain, a wedge pillow is a must have since it reduces pressure on your back, shoulders and neck. Thus, a wedge pillow is not only the best remedy for GERD or acid reflux, it is also a multi-use aid that eases many activities at home.

Know of a better way to use a wedge pillow? How do you get the best use out of your wedge-pillow?

Have your say and leave your comments below

About Creating Comforts

If you think that you are suffering from acid reflux then you must consult with a medical professional before you try any solution.Reflux wedges are a great multifunctional non prescribed device that carry little to no risk and are available in a number of shapes & sizes depending on personal requirements, as available from our bed wedge range.