The effect of smoking on acid reflux

The effect of smoking on acid reflux

The lower esophageal sphincter is a muscle that keeps acid produced in the stomach from entering the esophagus. Anything that relaxes this muscle (cigarettes, alcohol, foods, or medications) causes the esophagus to be exposed to acid.
Some studies have shown a link between smoking and acid reflux. Even though smoking does not directly cause acid reflux, it can exacerbate acid reflux symptoms.
The nicotine in cigarette smoke can reduce the ability of the lower esophageal sphincter to contract or close, allowing acid to reflux. Studies have shown that smoking increases irritation of the esophagus when acid refluxes and increases symptoms of heartburn. Aside from discomfort caused by reflux, the greatest complication of acid reflux is the development of cancer, and smoking greatly increases esophageal cancer risk.
Cigarette smoke, particularly nicotine, can dry out the mouth, which decreases saliva production. Normally we swallow saliva constantly, and this aids digestion of food and lubricates the esophagus. Saliva neutralizes acid and is protective when stomach acid refluxes into esophagus by helping to clear it.
Some people are in the habit of reaching for a cigarette right after a meal, which can exacerbate problems. After eating, the stomach produces acid for digestion. Following smoking, nicotine and cigarette smoke enter the bloodstream and impair contraction of the lower esophageal sphincter. The relaxed lower esophageal sphincter and a plentiful supply of acid are setup for acid reflux to occur. So, in this way, even though smoking may not directly cause acid reflux, it can make acid reflux worse.
Smoking is also a bad habit associated with many health problems. Smoking is a cause of many cancers,heart disease, vascular disease, stomach ulcers, and lung disease, to name a few.

Natural remedies for acid reflux

Acid reflux has been on the rise over the past twenty years and occur most often in people of Caucasian descent. Four to five million Americans seek medical advice each year for acid reflux. Acid reflux is caused by stomach acid backing up into the esophagus. The esophageal sphincter is supposed to keep the stomach contents in place, but if the sphincter relaxes, acid can push up into the esophagus. The most common symptoms are heart, and a sour taste in the mouth. For most people, acid reflux is a mild, self-limiting problem, yet for 20 percent of those affected, it becomes a serious health problem.
Although some foods have been found to contribute to acid reflux, acid reflux is rarely seen in people eating high fiber diets. Some drugs can cause acid reflux, including birth control pills, diazepam, nicotine, nitroglycerine, progesterone, provera, and theophylline. Acid reflux is also common among pregnant women whose organs are squashed in a most peculiar way. Stress plays some part in it. Other triggers include wearing tight-fitting clothes, lying down, bending over, and eating large meals or specific foods. If you experience acid reflux in the middle of the night, be sure to eat at least four hours before going to bed.
The first step in acid reflux treatment is to discover what your trigger foods are so that you can avoid?
Although not everyone reacts the same to these substances, all of them have been found to contribute to acid reflux in some people:

· Alcoholic beverages

· Fried, greasy, or fatty foods

· Chocolate and cocoa

· Coffee, both regular and decaffeinated

· Mints, including peppermint and spearmint

· Citrus juices or fruits

· Tomato products including tomato sauce and ketchup

· Carbonated beverages

· Mustard

· Onions, raw or cooked

· Garlic, raw or cooked

· Vinegar, especially vinegar-laced sauces and dressings

· Spicy foods, including pizza, chili, salsa, and curry

General considerations:
Make dietary changes. Eat healthy foods. Increase fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, and high-fiber foods. Foods that are more acidic, like tomatoes and citrus, are more likely to cause acid reflux. Dairy products have been shown to trigger symptoms, but more symptoms were provoked with milk with higher fat contents, suggesting that fat was the culprit, rather than the milk. Alcoholic beverages, coffee, and to a lesser extent, tea provoke acid reflux, as well as high-fat, fried, and spicy foods; onions; and chocolate.
Trigger foods are individual—you need to discover what yours are. If you are overweight, lose weight.
Drink plenty of water . Some people find that increasing water consumption up to a gallon of water a day resolves acid reflux.
Place a six-inch beam under the head of your bed. If you suffer from nighttime acid reflux, raising the head of your bed can alleviate symptoms. Although you might think that raising your bed would feel strange, the difference is barely noticeable, and the acid reflux improves.

Natural remedies:
Drink cabbage juice. Cabbage juice has been a long-standing folk remedy for acid reflux. Its high glutamine content is probably the key to its success. Cabbage juice has a strong fiavor, so dilute with other vegetable juices.

Try slippery elm bark. Slippery elm bark has demulcent properties, and it’s gentle and soothing to mucous membranes. It has been a folk remedy for both acid reflux and ulcers in European and Native American cultures and was used as a food by Native Americans. It can be used in large amounts without harm. Drink as a tea or chew on the bark. To make a tea, take 1 teaspoon of slippery elm bark in 2 cups of water. Simmer for twenty minutes and strain.
Sweeten if you want, and drink freely. You can also purchase slippery elm lozenges at health-food stores and some drugstores.

Use lobelia.Massage tincture of lobelia externally onto the painful area and take 2 to 3 drops internally. This is a remedy recommended by Dr. Christopher, one of the greatest American herbalists of our times.

Use ginger . This root can provide temporary relief in a tea. Steep 1½ teaspoons of powdered ginger or a few slices of fresh ginger per cup of boiled water for ten minutes and drink. If you like, sweeten it with honey. Use freely.

Try meadowsweet herb. Also a demulcent, meadowsweet soothes inflamed mucous membranes. To make a tea, steep 1 to 2 tea-spoons of the dried herb in 1 cup of boiled water for ten minutes. Sweeten with honey if you like. Drink 3 cups daily.

Acid Reflux Diet

If you are suffering from acid reflux it does not matter what
you eat you will find that it just keeps reoccurring. In order
to help improve the situation you will need to start using a
special acid reflux diet. This particular diet will help you to
find those foods which are safe for you to eat and those which
you should be avoiding at all costs.

If you find yourself suffering from acid reflux a great idea to
find out just what foods are causing you problems is to keep a
food diary for 2 weeks. So when ever you have something to eat
you write down what it is you have eaten and beside it not any
symptoms that may have occurred after you have eaten it. This
will not only help you in understanding just what may be
aggravating your condition, but it will provide the doctor with
a better understanding as well so that they will be able to
suggest the best type of acid reflux diet for you and ways in
which you should be changing your eating habits.

A good acid reflux diet should contain plenty of fresh fruit and
vegetables such as apples, bananas, broccoli, cabbage, carrots
and peas. Also you can still have meat which is very lean and
fish as well. If you are still wanting to include dairy products
into your diet it is best if you eat either feta or goat's
cheese as well as cheeses that are either low in fat or fat
free. Also when it comes to include bread into your acid reflux
diet you should really eat multigrain or white is perfectly
satisfactory.

As you can see from above an acid reflux diet does not restrict
everything that you would normally enjoy. But is certainly a
diet which contains more healthy products. However, what you
should do is avoid processed foods as much as possible as these
often can cause the problems you are to be exacerbated further.

There are many sites available on the web today which are able
to provide you with a complete list of all the foods which are
safe and can included into an acid reflux diet.

By: Bart Rutherford

About the author:
The www.acidrefluxcureinfo.com website is brought to you by Bart R. For more great acid reflux information and tips
read here: http://www.acidrefluxcureinfo.com

Acid Reflux Diets

Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), is not technically a
disease at all. Acid reflux is a condition brought on by poor
eating habits. Not only eating the wrong foods, not chewing food
properly is also a root cause of acid reflux.

What you eat can overcome acid reflux. If you get acid reflux
during the night then the cause could very well be eating too
much at dinner. Eating a large meal may cause the stomach to
produce too much acid. Try eating smaller, more frequent meals
during the day. A smaller amount of food puts less workload on
the stomach therefore requiring less acid secretion needed for
digestion.

Try to include foods that are high in complex carbohydrates in
each of your meals. Foods such as breads, rice and pasta can tie
up any excess stomach acid, making them easier on the stomach.
Foods with high fat content remain in your stomach longer, which
causes the need for more stomach acid to aid in digestion. Fast
food is a huge contributor to this problem.

Over-eating any type of food can cause acid reflux because of
your stomach needing more acids for digestion. Wine, beer and
pop are common in causing acid reflux, especially beer, which
can double your stomach acid in an hour.

There is the belief that drinking milk before bed with control
acid reflux. However, milk can end up causing acid reflux during
sleep. Milk can cause more stomach acid secretion, which of
course causes acid reflux. Never lay down right after eating.
You should remain in an upright position for 45 minutes or more
after eating. When you do lie down, elevate the head of the bed
about six to eight inches.

Your suggested acid reflux diet plan could quite likely look
different from another fellow sufferer. There may be a
particular food that is sensitive for you but not be so for
another person. It is therefore important that you see a doctor
to help your work out your own acid reflux diet. You can
experiment with different food groups to pinpoint what exactly
causes your acid reflux and what does not cause it.

You may also wish to consult a dietician who could provide you
with a list of foods that would be compatible with your acid
reflux problem. Many sufferers of acid reflux are reluctant to
give up their favorite foods. It is the favorite foods, which
are the main cause's acid reflux.

In conclusion, acid reflux would not exist without a damaged
esophagus. You must heal the esophagus if you are going to cure
yourself of acid reflux. Change how you eat and properly chew
your food. Eat mild, easy to digest foods until your esophagus
has completely heeled. Once you have done that, it would be wise
to maintain your better eating habits.
By: Tom Houser
About the author:
Thomas D. Houser http://www.acidcurereflux "Acid Reflux
Treatments"

A Change In Lifestyle - Overcoming Acid Reflux

When many people think of treating a disease they normally think
of some scientific, surgical or medicinal treatment first. It's
the mentality of "take two aspirin and call me in the morning".
We pop a pill, go asleep and everything should be ok. Is this
the answer? It all depends on what you're suffering from but
there are certain conditions which can be treated with a change
in lifestyle just as easily as they can be treated with medicine
or surgery. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one such
condition.

So why go for lifestyle change before medicine?

It's simply because most medication provides a short term cure
to the problem by either neutralizing or reducing the amount of
stomach acid produced. A change in lifestyle offers a "cure"
over the longer term - possibly even permanently. The lifestyle
change required for acid reflux sufferers is a change in diet.
Different people react to different foods and you are what you
eat after all!

How You Sleep

This is the first area to examine when treating your acid
reflux. When you sleep laying down flat your stomach acid can
work its way back up into your esophagus. So instead of sleeping
perfectly flat try placing an extra pillow or two underneath you
as you sleep. This is so your body is in a more upright position
which in turn keeps your stomach acid where it belongs - in your
stomach.

Big Meals Are Bad

Eating food is one of lifes more simple and more enjoyable
pleasures. The traditional big family meal is something we all
look forward to at the end of each day. Once done we can retire
to another room and relax for the evening. This is the worst
possible move for any acid reflux sufferer. You need to eat
smaller meals and more often - give your digestive system a
chance to catch up and actually digest the food. If not then
expect heartburn at any moment.

Foods To Avoid

Avoid chocolate, cola drinks, peppermints, citrus fruits, too
much dairy and alcohol. These have all been proven to have an
irritating effect on the lower esophageal sphincter and the
stomach itself. Excessively fatty foods and smoking should be
also be moderated or eliminated. Most smokers will be familiar
with the sour taste and feeling in their stomach most days - if
you can feel it imagine what it looks like on the inside. Oddly
enough chewing gum can be one positive "junk" food in your acid
reflux diet. The extra saliva that the body produced during
chewing can prevent attacks of acid reflux as your saliva has an
active antacid in it.

So if you do suffer from acid reflux don't reach for the bottle
of antacids every time you get heartburn. Why not consider
reviewing your diet and making the big change that your body is
telling you that you need?
By: Jill Seimer
About the author:
Jill Seimer writes on health issues at RefluxLife.com reporting
recently on naturalhealing for acid reflux from experience with acid reflux
disorder symptoms.

Number 1 Acid Reflux Diet Tip - Eat Frequent, Eat Small

Diet does not really directly cause acid reflux. But acid reflux
can be aggravated by the food and drinks we take. Hence to look
for a cure for acid reflux, we also need to create a good acid
reflux diet plan that helps to ease the condition. And the
number 1 tip we are going to learn today is to eat frequent,
small meals instead of less frequent big meals.

There are 2 ways to carry out this step. You can either eat
smaller and more frequent meals in a day, or avoid eating a big
and heavy meal in a day. A lot of people, especially those who
are always busy in work, tend to skip meals and eat 1 big meal
at a time. This can perhaps be a tough habit to stop. Just try
to remember this key point that may help you to keep your diet
in check: eat when you are hungry and stop eating when you feel
comfortable.

By constantly remind ourselves with this point, we will start to
eat smaller sized meals over time. And by eating smaller meals
we get hungry sooner and ends up eating more often, which is
what we want to achieve. Keep your stomach full is not ideal if
you have acid reflux condition. A stomach that is full is more
like to have an acid reflux attack that cause stomach acid to
flow into the esophagus, resulting in heartburn.

Hence eating more often and smaller amount at a time is
particularly helpful for people with acid reflux. Smaller, low
fat meals do not stay in the stomach for a long time and move
more quickly into the intestines as compared to large meals. The
shorter the time for food to be in the stomach reduce the chance
for acid reflux to occur.

Also large meals are not welcomed because it put more pressure
on the stomach, especially the esophageal sphincter and cause it
to open easily. Once the sphincter opens, it will give the
stomach acid a chance to splash up the esophagus. Researchers
have confirmed that the large volume the food takes up in the
stomach can easily induce an acid reflux attack.

So, start making this first change to your acid reflux diet plan
by eating frequently and eating smaller meals each time. This is
not only good for acid reflux, it is also good for health. A
heavy meal in the afternoon always makes one feel sleepy right?
Stay tune for more food tips to acid reflux.
By: Christopher Wen
About the author:
Christopher Wen is the webmaster for
http://greenhealthinformation.com where he provides you latest
articles, news, and remedies to current health issues. Check out
his site now to sign up for his newsletter and get a free
specially prepared 5 part health course. So sign up for it now!

Prevent acid reflux with the acid reflux diet

Acid reflux occurs when the acids that can be found in the
stomach get into the esophagus because the valve that separates
the esophagus from the stomach cannot close properly. These
acids are very strong, and they can severely damage the
esophagus' walls. They do not damage the stomach's walls because
it is protected by a special membrane.

Acid reflux is pretty serious, it can cause pain in the chest
area, and if it is left untreated the esophagus will become very
erroded and gastric acid will also reach the lungs, where is can
cause coughing and asthma, and the mouth, where it corrodes the
teeth.

Diet has an important role in both treating and preventing acid
reflux, and an acid reflux diet is not expensive or hard to
follow. The idea is to reduce the acids inside the stomach and
to keep it from filling, which can cause the food and acid
inside it to reach the esophagus.

Here is what you can eat and what you should avoid:

You can eat all the cereals and vegetables you want. They
contain a lot of vitamins and nutrients that help the body fight
not only acid reflux, but other illnesses too.

You should definitely stop smoking, because tobacco smoke
damages the esophagus' walls and weakens it. You should also
avoid chewing gum, because when you chew the stomach starts to
produce acids that it won't use and that can get into the
esophagus.

If you are overweight you should try to loose some of your
weight, and avoid fatty food, because at overweight people the
levels of gastric acid are higher.

The foods that are know to help acid reflux advance by
stimulating the acid production are: chocolate, milk, chewing
gum, fatty foods, spicy foods, alcohol and garlic. Coffee can
irritate the esophagus so try not to drink any.

Also try to avoid wearing tight clothing that can press the
stomach, because this way the acid inside it is almost forced to
leave the stomach. Furthermore, if you lie down right after you
eat you help the content of your stomach came back, so try
sitting on a chair for a few minutes, depending on how damaged
the valve that separates the stomach from the esophagus is.

If you follow the advises mentioned above you can prevent acid
reflux, and your treatment will be more effective, but also
consult your doctor and take the medication that he prescribes
you if you want to be fully cured.
By: Groshan Fabiola
About the author:
For more resources about many acid reflux
subjects like acid reflux symptoms, acid reflux treatment or many
more please visit us at http://www.acid-reflux-info-guide.com .

How to Heal Restore your Health by way of Acid Reflux Diet

The alternate word for heartburn is acid reflux. It is a
disorder caused by an imbalance of the chemical composition in
the body - the attack of acid reflux in the esophagus when it is
supposed to be only in the stomach.

Acid reflux is an acid indigestion and affects not just adults.
They also can affect infants and children as well. That is why
it is important that everyone must be aware of the symptoms of
acid reflux and must have knowledge on how to prevent from
having one.

Acid reflux is mainly caused by various foods that we normally
eat, such as chocolates, spicy foods, citrus and mostly by fried
and fatty foods. And combined with time, types of foods eaten
and excessive weight caused by over eating, acid reflux can be
dangerous to one's health. For that reason, in order to prevent
the heart disorder brought by acid reflux, one must have a
healthy and balance diet.

As a matter of fact, studies show that there are certain types
of foods that can cause acid reflux. That is why it is essential
that you must carefully observe proper and healthy eating habit.

Nonetheless, a person who suffers from acid reflux must have
eating habits that are suited to treat the illness. One must
observe what types of foods are to be taken and not to be taken.

The best type of diet to prevent acid reflux is by observing a
heartburn-free diet. It is determined that milk can immediately
lessen the acid reflux dilemmas. However, milk can also produce
an action that will encourage more stomach acid discharge, of
which may lead to acid reflux.

That is why, those who are affected by heartburn must observe
proper eating habit wherein they must consume small amount of
food during dinner and then follow it with a light snack before
going to bed. Crackers are highly recommended.

Also, they must also make certain that the food they consume
rich in complex carbohydrates. Breads, rice and pastas are
highly recommended because these types of foods removes the
excess stomach acids, of which will provide immediate relief.

It is important that one must chew the food they eat properly.
Proper chewing of food will provide the body with all the
nourishment they can obtain from the food that they eat. It is
essential not to rush eating. Eat at least twenty minutes per
meal. Combined with proper diet, it is also recommended that you
must also have proper posture when eating.

Lessen (or if possible remove) from you diet, foods that are
high on fats, because foods that are high on fats tend to stay
on your stomach longer, thus forcing the stomach to produce more
acid for it to digest. Also, it is best that you must avoid
consuming large meals, because this will also force the stomach
to produce more acids.

Health experts recommend more protein taken from plants on your
diet. Replace your animal protein intake with vegetables like
beans and lentils. Observe and follow proper and healthy eating
habits. To conclude, one must observe proper time one will spend
on a meal, the amount of the meal, the proper posture when
eating and chewing your food properly. It is recommended that
one have several meals per day rather than consuming hefty meals
regularly. A six small meal a day is a lot healthier than three
large ones.

For more information regarding proper eating habits, you must
seek advice from a nutrition oriented expert or health care
dietician or nutritionist. They will give you more accurate
dietary plans that would suit your health needs.
By: Russel Esquibel
About the author:
Russel Esquibel is a nutrition oriented expert. He is a writer
of Acid-Reflux-faqs.com,
a site where you can find information about acid reflux
and gives advice regarding proper eating habits.

Acid Reflux Recovery Diet and Recipes Presents the Perfect Cold

As the leaves start to turn to fall colors and in the evenings
we are tempted to sit by a warm fire, hearty food comes to mind.
The fall and winter bring a host of root vegetables, squashes
greens and fruit from which hearty meals can be easily made. The
challenge is to keep these dishes healthy - that means keeping
them as alkaline as possible.

When attempting to reverse the symptoms of acid reflux, diet is
probably the most important consideration. That old cliché, "You
are what you eat", has never been more true. If you eat food and
drink beverages which are acidic in nature, then it follows,
that you will be acidic in nature, as well. If you eat a diet
which mainly consists of so called "convenience food", you don't
stand a chance of being alkaline.

In order to defeat the acid reflux condition, one must strive to
correct the pH factor of the body. 7.5 pH is the ideal alkaline
body level. You can test the pH level of your saliva with pH
paper, which can be purchased at any pharmacy. Some medical
authorities claim that all illness, including cancer, cannot
exist in an alkaline environment. If that is true, it is
certainly food for thought!

It is important to remember that the acid reflux condition could
not perpetuate itself without a damaged esophagus. In order to
heal this affliction, the esophagus must be allowed to repair.
This can be accomplished by eliminating food and drink that are
irritants and, or acidic. Avoiding anything which relaxes the
LES (lower esophageal sphincter) is another important
consideration. The LES is the muscular valve which separates the
esophagus and the stomach. It is when this valve relaxes, that
acid and pepsin splash up from the stomach into the esophagus
and throat, causing acid reflux.

The hydrochloric acid in the stomach has been compared in
strength, to the acid in a car battery. With acid reflux, the
constant assault of acid causes little lacerations to develop on
the lining of the esophagus. Until these lacerations have had a
chance to heal, spicy foods, such as acidic tomato products, hot
peppers, raw garlic and raw onions should also be eliminated
from the diet. They just further irritate the condition.
Smoking, drinking alcohol and eating chocolate also relax the
LES, thus impeding the healing process. The key to acid reflux
recovery is to eat alkaline, easy to digest nourishing food
until the esophagus has healed. Eating early, allowing at least
three hours before lying down is an essential habit to develop.
Eating slowly and chewing food completely in a relaxed, pleasant
and stress free environment is of paramount importance, as well.

I have listed a few of my favorite hearty fall and winter
recipes that I enjoyed during my own recovery period. Cooking
meat, vegetables, fruit and shellfish in liquids produce
delicious dishes which can be made quickly and easily. I have
employed a technique called "braising" for the main dish below.
It is one of my favorite cooking methods, because it
concentrates flavor in a one pot dinner. I have also included a
seasonal soup starter and a special desert to complete the
perfect cold weather dinner.

Try doubling the main dish and desert recipes so that you can
have them later in the week.....less time in the kitchen.
Remember, that cooking from scratch instead of relying on
convenience foods is a better approach to good health, in
general. It's also nice to know what you're really eating.

I hope that you enjoy the following seasonal recipes. Even
though I have cured myself of acid reflux, I still serve these
wonderful hearty dishes on a regular basis. The entire family
should enjoy these, too. Well, the children might not like the
oysters, but you certainly will. This menu is great for
entertaining, as the main and last courses are made in advance
and the first course is a breeze. For those of you who live in
warmer climes, remember that winter is a state of mind.

Bon appetite!

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH TURNIPS AND ONIONS

This is a rustic country-style dinner dish which truly embodies
the concept of "Comfort Food". Unlike thick cuts of meat,
braising chicken takes a fraction of the time and the chicken
absorbs all the flavors of the vegetables and liquids. Mashed
potatoes are a perfect accompaniment. This is a serving for four
and requires about an hour to prepare.

1 (3 ½ lb.) chicken, cut into 8 serving pieces ½ cup flour for
dredging Olive oil 2 medium sweet onions roughly chopped 4
medium turnips peeled and sliced into ½" pieces * 3 cloves of
garlic, finely minced 2 cups chicken stock 2 cups white wine or
dry vermouth 2 sprigs of thyme or ½ tsp. dried 1 tbsp. parsley,
chopped

Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Dredge in flour
and set aside. Heat a heavy skillet to medium high and add
enough olive oil to coat well Brown chicken pieces skin side
down and turn over in about 7 minutes (This can be done in two
batches, if necessary) Transfer browned chicken to a plate and
cover to keep warm Pour off all but 2 tbsp. of the fat and lower
heat to medium low Add onions and cook covered, stirring
occasionally until soft and lightly golden Add turnips and
garlic and cook uncovered for five minutes stirring occasionally
to keep onions from burning Return browned chicken to skillet
and mix with vegetables to coat both sides, arranging chicken
skin side up Pour stock and wine over chicken mixture Sprinkle
with thyme Cover and lower heat to gently simmer until chicken
is cooked through and turnips are tender, about 30 to 40 minutes
Transfer chicken and vegetables onto a serving dish Reduce sauce
over high heat, if needed, to thicken Season sauce with salt and
pepper to taste and pour over chicken and vegetables Sprinkle
with parsley

*Parsnips may be substituted for the turnips, or a mixture of
the two.

CREAMY NEW ENGLAND STYLE OYSTER STEW

I have heard rumors that oysters are a bit acidic; however, they
have never given me indigestion. I confess that this is a rather
rich dish, but a small serving will give you more pleasure than
pain. One has to spoil themselves occasionally.

1 ½ tbsps. unsalted butter I dozen freshly opened oysters (or
the freshest you can find) with liquid 1/8 tsp. celery salt 1 ½
ounces sherry Splash of Worcestershire sauce to taste Cayenne
pepper 1 ½ cups whole milk with a little cream added Chives,
chopped Oyster crackers

Into a double boiler place butter, oysters with liquid, celery
salt, sherry and Worcestershire sauce (water in the bottom pan
should not touch the top pan) With a wooden spoon, stir until
the oysters are just curling on the edges (do not overcook),
about a minute Pour in milk mixture and continue stirring Remove
from heat just before the boil and serve immediately Sprinkle
each serving with a little cayenne pepper Garnish with chives
Offer oyster crackers on the side

POACHED ANJOU PEARS IN RED WINE

You have to plan a little ahead for this dish. The pears should
be ripe, but still springy to the touch. Buy them a week ahead
and place in a paper bag with a banana. Don't ask me why, but
this works. Choose pears with the stem in tact.

8 smallish red Anjou pears Juice of one lemon 1 cup extra fine
granulated sugar 2 cups red wine ¼ tsp. vanilla extract 1
cinnamon stick

Carefully peel pears to the stem (the stem comes in handy for
turning and for presentation) Coat each peeled pear with lemon
juice and set aside Into a saucepan place the sugar, wine,
vanilla and cinnamon Stir over medium heat until the sugar is
dissolved Add pears and reduce heat to a gentle simmer, covered
Poach pears until they are just tender, about 10 to 20 minutes,
depending upon the size of the pears, turning once Remove from
heat and allow pears to sit in liquid, turning again so that
color is even, another 20 minutes Remove pears from liquid to
desert plates Reduce liquid over medium high heat to a syrupy
consistency and pour over pears Serve with a dollop of whipped
cream and a sprig of mint
By: Charles Stewart Richey
© 2006 Wind Publishing
About the author:
Charles Stewart Richey is a former chef and self-educated expert
on how to cure acid reflux disease by natural means. He has
written an extensive report entitled, REFLUX GONE FOREVER,
Natural Acid Reflux Remedies. For more information on how to
heal acid reflux the natural way, go to: http://www.refluxgoneforever.com