Diet Bites.com - The World of Dieting

Personal Note: The daughter of a sailor, I was born with a stomach disorder which required life-saving surgery. The surgical procedure had only been discovered five years prior to my birth, or otherwise I would have died. The surgical procedure was performed in a California Naval hospital.

Unfortunately, I have always been plagued with tummy issues - and in my experiences I have discovered that ingesting one the following natural foods works for me in ridding an acidic tummy: a dill pickle, a Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water, or a piece of raw potato.

These notes are not intended to take the place of your personal doctor - and as another note, I only use these methods for occasional flare-ups. And of course, if you suffer from frequent digestive issues - it's time to get to your doctor for a check-up.

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Papa Joe's Magic Mushrooms

Did the Demise of the Family Table Contribute to the Obesity Epidemic?

Symptoms of Diabetes

Quick Low Calorie Recipes for Dieters

Food is Energy - A prospective that may help dieters keep on track. continue

3 Diet Bears - What is too fat? What is too thin? And what is just right for you? continue

Thinking Out of the Diet Box - Vanna successfully lost those 50 pesky pounds only to find them re-attached a short four months later. Unfortunately, a simple step that Vanna excluded in her diet plan could have prevented such. Time for Vanna to begin thinking 'out of the Diet Box'. continue

Overweight & Overwhelmed - The physical & emotional effects of weight gain. continue

Diet Bites Color Wheel Diet Plan - Using color to add pleasure to your diet plan. continue

The Diet Double-Take - Using your Diet Marbles to achieve weight loss success. continue

French Fry Comparison - Fast food french fry calorie comparison. continue

Hamburger Comparison - Fast food hamburger calorie comparison. continue

Fighting Diverticular Disease With Diet - Free diet menu, including foods high in dietary fiber. continue

The Diet Progression of the Taco - It all began with a rustic corn tortilla - a rather healthy insert for the daily diet providing grain and energy values that range from 40 to 60 calories per corn tortilla. So how did this innocent flat-bed of corn go swiftly to heck in a bread basket? continue

Are You Addicted to Over the Counter (OTC) Medication?

Self Medication Addiction - Including a Self-Help Quiz

Although OTC medications can provide quick relief, it's temporary and doesn't come without health risks. If you find that you are continually reaching for a temporary cure, you may be doing more harm than good - particularly if that OTC is masking a serious condition such as diabetes. And for those with the Silent Killer (high blood pressure), many OTC medications raise levels significantly which sets the stage for stroke, heart attack and other no-nice events.

On that note, let's peer into Jack's life and get a glimpse of an individual addicted to over the counter medications - a 'self-medicator' if you will....

Jack's OTC Addiction

Jack couldn't sleep AGAIN last night so he took an over the counter medication so he could fall to sleep. As the alarm rings, he finds great difficultly in shaking his slumber. The weather doesn't help; it's allergy season and his sinuses are acting up again. Can't breathe. And he's got one-mother of a headache. Time for the OTC sinus medication, a shot of OTC nasal spray, a pain reliever - and perhaps an allergy tablet. Should help in knocking him into a better world, along with the coffee spiked with caffeine. He'd read that a pain reliever combined with caffeine were just the combo to knock out a headache.

Once Jack reaches work, he feels a bit sick to his tummy. The OTC overload doesn't even cross his mind as he reaches for a roll of anti-acids, along with a pink one for good measure.

After a filling lunch, Jack returns to work and shortly begins to feel woozy. The lack of sleep, the allergy medication and the full tank of food have collided. Jack reaches for more caffeine to help get him through the day. He must wake up....

Wow! Quitting time already? That coffee worked like a gem. Jack is ready to play! Perhaps a quick game of golf with the guys he thinks.

Bedtime. "Man - same old, same old," Jack thinks as he reaches around to rub his back. Not use to all that activity and he's got Backzilla in a bad way. Can't sleep with a kinky back - so he reaches for the backache OTC medication......

Although Jack is unaware, he is addicted to OTC medications. In addition, he suffers from 2 commonly suppressed conditions: hypertension and diabetes. His tired state and headaches are a direct link to the rattlesnake poised to strike as the OTC medications are negatively impacting these hidden conditions, rather than defusing them as Jack assumes.

Use OTC's Wisely - The Good News, The Bad News, The Uncertain News

Over the counter (OTC) medications can really make a body feel good at times - and can indeed be a godsend. When pain medication relieves aches and pains, the body is under less stress and may more easily recover. And although OTC medications may work wonders in providing relieve, we must wisely pause and ask before we reach for that magic bottle or pill:

Do I want temporary relief with increased health risks OR can the OTC be avoided until my body naturally returns into balance?

As mentioned above, OTC medications are temporary fixes - not intended to treat serious medical conditions - and many times, they mask hidden health conditions. They may impact these hidden health conditions and create life-threatening circumstances - such as boosting an already dangerously high blood pressure. Even this issue aside, OTC's may present great health risks for the otherwise healthy individual - which leads us to another issue. Are we as a society becoming addicted and/or dependent on OTC's? On that note, does Jack's life sound a bit familiar?

To create self-awareness of OTC addiction, we've attached the following mini-questionnaire. We hope that your answers provide insight to your level - or your loved one's level of OTC addiction, if any.

How many over the counter medications do you take per day? Per week? Per month? If you are currently taking an OTC medication once a week or more, please meet with your doctor particularly if the condition is recurring as this may signal a serious problem that may actually getting worse due to self-treatment.

What about prescription medications? Are they necessary? Could the medical issue spawning the prescription be remedied though diet, rest, stress reduction and exercise? Prescription medications generally come with greater health risks than OTC medications.

Do you take a daily vitamin? If so, try to get your vitamins naturally as nature intends. Feed the body the things it recognizes naturally rather than via synthetics.

Do you use dietary supplements such as fiber supplements, calcium supplements, iron supplements, or sugar substitutes? Again, feed the body the things it recognizes naturally rather than via synthetics.

How often do you hit caffeine spiked beverages? (tea, soda & coffee) Switch to decaf for healthy benefits. Cutting caffeine may greatly help with those suffering from occasional panic attacks.

How often to you take herbal remedies? Because herbs are not regulated by the FDA they may present greater health risks than OTC meds. Please see your doctor before starting any herbal regime.

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Diet Bites.com - The World of Dieting

Quick Low Calorie Recipes for Dieters

Are You Addicted to Over the Counter (OTC) Medication?

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