Medslant Acid Reflux Newsletter

Thinking Up a Healthy Heart

Putting on a happy face is more than a song lyric, and following that old cheer - 2 - 4 - 6 - 8 - who do we appreciate - may be giving us a healthier heart. Appreciating your heart is actually good medicine.

New research shows a definite link between heart health and emotions. Psychologists once believed that emotions were mental expressions generated only by the brain; we now know that emotions have as much to do with the heart and body as with the brain.

HeartMath, a non-profit research and educational organization founded by Don Childre in 1991 teaches how to synchronize the heart and brain, a state researchers claim will keep our heart rhythms working properly.

The heart and brain are in a constant two-way dialogue with our emotions. changing the signals the brain sends to the heart and the heart's response. But, we now know that the heart sends more information to the brain than the brain sends to the heart.

Studies confirm that heart disease risk is significantly increased for people who often experience anger, frustration, and irritation. But, when we experience compassion, care, appreciation, and love, the heart produces a different rhythm, a smooth, harmonious pattern. This tells the brain that the heart feels good.

Appreciation is one of the easiest positive emotions to generate and sustain. By focusing on a positive feeling and appreciating someone or something, we can reduce stress and improve cardiovascular health. Diet and exercise remain important but studies show that positive emotional health is equally important. There are even studies that show that depression may be a risk factor in developing heart disease, not just a factor in its severity.

So, be happy and appreciate much. For those of you who like me, appreciate chocolate, here's an easy, quick way to a chocolate fix. It's not a lot of heavy chocolate so it might even find its way into an acid reflux diet.

Beat together cake mix, pudding, eggs, oil, and water. Beat in grated chocolate. Pour into a greased and floured ( I use powdered sugar instead of flour) pan - a 9 x 13, two 9" rounds, or your choice, and bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Sprinkle top with chocolate chips ( I think the more, the better) and bake another 10 minutes or until done. Cake will pull away from sides of pan. Cool and sift powdered sugar on top. Enjoy!

If you wish to be creative for Valentine's Day, use a square pan and a round pan of equal sizes. Place the square cake on a platter so it faces you as a diamond, cut the round in half and put each flat side against the two top sides of the diamond. You now have a chocolate chip heart.

Please keep the phone calls and emails coming to 1.800.346.1850 or customerservice@medslant.com. I love hearing from you.



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