Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 12-6-19

Health
CHICKEN BREASTS
FENNEL
It has a mild licorice flavor and is low in acid, which can help soothe the upset stomach that can be both a cause and symptom of GERD. You can roast it and serve it as a main course, saute it as a side dish, or slice it raw and add it to a salad.
GINGER
This root can help calm an upset stomach. Try some hot ginger tea -- without the caffeine that can make acid reflux worse. Or chew on some dried ginger -- just check the label to make sure it doesn’t have lots of sugar. That’s something else that can irritate reflux.
BROWN RICE
Looking for a side dish that won’t aggravate your reflux? This is a complex carbohydrate, which means it takes longer to di- gest than simple carbs like white rice, pastries, or sug- ary drinks -- and that's bet- ter for reflux. The extra fiber, compared with regu- lar rice, also helps.
WATERMELON
It’s a low-acid fruit that won’t trig- ger your symptoms. And nothing beats a big wedge of ripe watermelon on a hot summer day. Cantaloupe and hon- eydew are also good low-acid choices.
WATER
This is your best bever- age bet if you have acid re- flux. Sugary drinks can irritate it, and alcohol and acidic juices can, too. And carbonated drinks can add to your gas and make you burp, which may make things worse.
OATMEAL
Breakfast is full of land mines: Bacon, sausage, pancakes, doughnuts, and greasy hash browns all can make things worse. Oat- meal is a better choice. It’s got plenty of fiber, will fill you up, and is
hearty enough to give you energy for hours. But watch the extras: Cream, sugar, syrup, and dried fruit can all trigger symptoms. Go with fresh fruit instead.
OLIVE OIL
Your body needs fat to work right, but fatty foods can make GERD symptoms worse. So you’ll probably want to stay away from things like butter or margarine. In their place, try a healthier fat like olive oil to see what might work for you. But you’ll want to have a light touch, because it does have fat and calories.
WHAT IS IT?
When stomach acid flows the wrong way -- back into the tube that connects your throat to your stomach (your esophagus) -- that’s called acid reflux. If it hap- pens often and doesn’t get better, it’s called gastroe- sophageal reflux disease
(GERD). Symptoms include chest pain, a cough, and trouble swallowing, especially when you lie down. Sometimes it can bring up bits of food or sour liquid into your mouth.
FOOD PLAYS A ROLE
What you eat can have a big effect on GERD. There’s a long list of foods that you may want to stay away from, including chocolate, onions, acidic foods, and red meat. But other foods may help -- or at least not make it worse.
Lean and packed with protein, chicken breasts are pretty easy to di- gest. Just make sure to take off the skin and bake or saute them.
PAGE 8-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2019