My Stomach's On Fire and I Can't Put it Out

Most of us call this common complaint indigestion, but doctors call it dyspepsia.  Indigestion is an old English word that means, "lack of adequate digestion." Dyspepsia means impaired gastric or digestive function.  But what we are trying to communicate is "suffering from discomfort, burning, or pain in our upper central abdominal area."  We explain our feelings by saying we have an upset stomach, heartburn, acid indigestion, and acid regurgitation.  

Fifty-six per cent of the people in Western countries report they have suffered from heartburn at some time in the past and 36% have symptoms at least once every 4-6 months. Half to two-thirds of pregnant women suffer heartburn during pregnancy. Patients with indigestion and acid reflux report worse emotional well-being than do people with heart failure, symptomatic heart disease, diabetes and hypertension.

Mammography is Unjustified - A Letter Few Newspapers Will Print

The following is an editorial I sent to over a dozen major US newspapers and so far I know of only one to print it (the Honolulu Advertiser).  You may want to submit this letter to your newspaper.  At the end of this article you will find the links to the original papers cited so you can read and come to your own conclusions.

Mammography is Unjustified

The Cochrane review on screening mammography and an accompanying editorial2  published in the October 20, 2001 issue of the Lancet have created an emotionally charged stir in the medical business and many responses to try to control the damage. (See "Playing with Women's Lives" by Spyros Andreopoulos in the Wednesday 12/19/01 San Francisco Chronicle and "Changing Medical Advice" in Wednesday 12/26/01 San Francisco Chronicle.

The Heart Association Condems High-Protein Diets

The Atkins Diet, The Zone, Protein Power, Sugar Busters and the Stillman Diet all came under the attack of the Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association (AHA) in a report in the October 9, 2001 issue of the journal Circulation (104:1869-74, 2001).¹

Join the National Weight Control Registryhe Heart Association Condems High-Protein Diets

Successful dieters have been tracked by the National Control Loss Registry, which was founded in 1993.¹  This registry is simply a database of people successful at maintaining a weight loss of at least 30 lbs. (13.6 kg) for at least one year. The average registrant has lost about 60 pounds and kept it off for more than five years.

Featured Recipes

CHOCOLATE DECADANCE PUDDING

KITCHEN SINK SOUP

HONEY MUSTARD DRESSING