By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Medicine
The term “disco inferno” may bring back fond memories, but an
inferno in your gut certainly won’t have you dancing! I’m not
talking about the run-of-the-mill heartburn that happens when you
eat too much or too fast. I’m talking about the intense burn that
occurs more than twice a week, no matter what you eat.
GERD is a growing problem. In fact, more than 35 percent of
Americans are thought to suffer from this burning issue. Although
GERD can affect people of all ages – including children – statistics
show that the risk increases as you age and tends to rise
dramatically after age 40. And, when it strikes, most people with
GERD either reach for an antacid or take proton pump inhibitors like
Prilosec and Nexium. In fact, Americans spend $93 million for
over-the-counter and prescription medications every year to relieve
their GERD. But there are safer, simpler ways to extinguish the
burn.
Digestion Dilemma
Your stomach is a very hearty organ. After all, the acid in your
stomach can melt a nail! But your body is designed to handle this
super-corrosive compound with a stomach lining that rejuvenates
itself hourly. For some of us though, the well-designed system backs
up like traffic in rush hour.
Here’s what happens: The muscular ring called the lower esophageal
sphincter is weakened. As a result, the flap that separates the
stomach from the esophagus doesn’t close properly. Stomach acid
backwashes into the esophagus – an area of the body that isn’t
designed to handle highly acidic gastric juices. Technically, this
is called “acid reflux,” but if you’ve encountered this burning
feeling, you probably called it misery.
Cause and Effect
Science hasn’t figured out what causes GERD. But, given that it is a
fairly recent problem in our culture, there are some possible
contributing factors we all need to be aware of. One possible factor
is how much we eat. Our super-value meals have super-sized our
waistlines. Your stomach is actually designed to hold about the same
amount of food as you can hold in your two hands. But, routine
overeating puts a strain on the esophageal sphincter.
Compounding our problem of portion size is what our food has become
– we no longer eat fruits and vegetables from our backyard or local
farm. According to Johns Hopkins University, our food travels an
average of 1,200 miles to get to our grocery stores. Produce is
frequently harvested before it’s fully ripe and has been grown in
soil that is often depleted of the minerals we all so desperately
need.
One of the key culprits in the American diet is caffeine. Not only
does caffeine produce an over abundance of acid, it is also a mild
diuretic and flushes out calcium and magnesium. If you have more
than three cups of caffeinated beverages a day, you are probably
deficient in magnesium. Magnesium deficiency can actually initiate
stomach spasms that can cause or worsen symptoms of heartburn.
Tame the Flame
The key to extinguishing the fire is to find out what aggravates
your GERD. What sets your throat on fire may have no effect on
someone else. Some foods are thought to relax the lower part of the
esophagus, thus allowing acidic stomach contents to flow back into
the esophagus; they include chocolate, peppermint, coffee, and
alcohol. Other foods sometimes mentioned as troublesome include
garlic, onions, tomato-based foods, spicy foods, and fatty foods.
Keep a journal of everything you eat to help identify your trigger
foods and then avoid them.
Here are some other simple ways to ease your suffering:
- Avoid big meals. Abdominal distension and bloating
aggravate symptoms.
- Don’t eat within three hours of bedtime.
- If you smoke, quit. Smoking increases acid secretion and dries
out the saliva, which acts as a natural antacid.
- Use blocks to raise the head of your bed six inches. Propping
your head with pillows won’t last all night.
- Sleep on your left side. Research suggests that left-side
sleepers suffer less night-time heartburn.
- Exercise regularly to prevent reflux.
- Avoid fatty, fried, and salty foods.
- Eat high-fiber foods, like beans, lentils, whole grains,
fruits, and vegetables. Research finds less reflux in people
eating a high-fiber diet.
- Instead of popping an antacid, try licorice.
Deglycyrrhizinated licorice root [DGL] protects the digestive
tract from stomach acid by stimulating the production of
substances that coat the stomach and esophagus.
The pain of GERD and the damage it can cause shouldn’t be
ignored. Antacids may be okay for occasional heartburn, but they’re
dangerous for everyday use. Acid blockers, which were once only
available by prescription, have been linked to pneumonia, stomach
ulcers, esophageal cancer, and osteoporosis. So again, use them
sparingly, if at all.
Acid Trip
It’s counterintuitive, but sometimes heartburn and GERD aren’t the
result of too much stomach acid. Instead they can be an indicator of
low levels of betaine hydrochloric acid (Betaine HCl). In a healthy
digestive system, the proper concentration of this stomach acid
kills the unhealthy bacteria and fungi that are normally ingested
with food. If the HCl concentration is too low, a chronic condition
called hypochlorhydria develops. Surprisingly, hypochlorhydria
affects up to half of the general U.S. population, especially the
elderly, since stomach acid production naturally declines with age.
With low stomach acid, food can’t be broken down and digested
easily; therefore, “bad” bacteria are allowed to survive. These bag
bugs now have a good environment in which to multiply, since there
is plenty of undigested food in the stomach for them to eat. The
delicate balance between the good bacteria and bad bacteria
throughout the digestive tract is lost.
Along with the burn, a low output of HCl can lead to chronic
nutrient deficiencies, as the body’s ability to absorb vitamins,
amino acids, and minerals becomes severely compromised. Bad
bacteria, fungal overgrowths, and prolonged nutrient deficiency set
the stage for many chronic conditions that go well beyond GERD.
One Last Thing …
The damage from GERD isn’t just limited to your throat and
esophagus. Stomach acid can also damage your teeth and gums. If you
suffer from GERD, avoid tooth whiteners. Most tooth-whitening
products will cause you great pain or irritation if your mouth has
been compromised by GERD. Try brushing with baking soda for a whiter
smile.
Research Brief …
Despite the commercials claiming that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
isn’t dangerous, studies show that this manmade sweetener raises the
risk of fatty liver disease and obesity. And when it’s paired with
trans fats, it also triggers inflammation, impairs insulin
sensitivity, and boosts triglyceride levels.
But now there’s another reason to avoid HFCS. Almost half of tested
samples of commercial HFCS contained mercury, which was also found
in nearly a third of 55 popular, brand-name food and beverage
products where HFCS is the first- or second-highest labeled
ingredient, according to two new U.S. studies.
In the first study, published in the current issue of Environmental
Health, researchers found detectable levels of mercury in nine out
of 20 samples of commercial HFCS. In the second study, the Institute
for Agriculture and Trade Policy, a non-profit watchdog group, found
that nearly one in three of 55 brand-name foods contained mercury.
The chemical was found most commonly in HFCS-containing dairy
products like yogurt, salad dressings, and condiments like ketchup.
If you frequently buy these products, check the ingredient label. If
you find HFCS, put it back. Opt, instead, for products made with
real sugar. While sugar doesn’t win any nutritional points, it
doesn’t contain toxic metals that can accumulate in the body.
References:
Dufault R, LeBlanc B, Schnoll R, et al. “Mercury from chlor-alkali
plants: measured concentrations in food product sugar.”
Environmental Health. 2009;8:2.
Fintelmann V. “Modern phytotherapy and its uses in gastrointestinal
conditions.” Planta Medica. 1991;57:S48-52.
Pereira Rde S. “Regression of gastroesophageal reflux disease
symptoms using dietary supplementation with melatonin, vitamins and
aminoacids: comparison with omeprazole.” Journal of Pineal Research.
2006;41:195-200.
|
