Chub 'n' Tuck is nothing to laugh at

I've had the pleasure of talking to some readers of this blog, and talking to them has reinforced my impression that for some people, maybe most people who have experienced LPR, there is no definite end. For many of us, being "healed" really means feeling normal most of the time mixed in with some not so great days. Old, bad memories are revived when we take chances on a beer or soda. For me, discomfort appeared during a bad spate of allergies. So it is an ongoing struggle for most of us.

I've tried a variety of diets in an attempt of avoid exposing my throat to acids, minimize too much acid production, and slim down to cut down on esophageal pressure. Readers probably already know about Jamie Kaufman's Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook & Cure. I followed that diet for several months, and I am sure it contributed to healing, as during that time the acute symptoms (every swallow hurting, pieces of food getting stuck in my throat) disappeared.  I found it restrictive as an ongoing diet, however.

 Lately I have been having good experiences with a low-fat, high-fiber diet. Fat is harder to digest, so there is a danger of excessive acid production. Conversely, fiber speeds food to digestion, and signals the brain to stop the digestive process. Furthermore it helps keep digestion active and, as the term goes, "regular." By moving food through digestion, fewer calories are consumed, which of course helps out with the old waistline. The book that clued me into this idea is

The Choose to Lose Weight-Loss Plan for Men: A Take-Control Program for Men with the Guts to Lose by Ronald S. Goor. Goor explains the biology related to fat and fiber in a way that totally clears up the fuzzy thinking I've had about it all this time. It's quite simple: when you eat fat, it goes right to storage. It makes more fat. When you eat carbs, they are burned since carbs are the preferred fuel. When you eat refined carbs, they are burned completely. When you eat unrefined carbs, they are burned inefficiently- a lot of it passes through undigested. So the body has to turn to fat stores to make energy. It's quite easy to wrap your brain around it when presented that way. 

  Granted, it is a man-centric book, but men do have their own special needs regarding weight loss. For one thing, excess calories go to a guy's spare tire, and when yours is overgrown, it can cause all kinds of problems. The one that is most pertinent to LPR sufferers is the extra pressure it puts on your esophagus, which creates more opportunities for reflux, especially at night- when most cases of LPR occur. Other problems include more danger of developing metabolic syndrome, heart problems and cancer. So trimming down the gut is of utmost importance.

  

So, guys, it's incumbent upon us to get real about controlling our cravings, getting out there and being more active, and making better choices at mealtime. It will help our reflux and lead to a longer, healthier life. We can do it!