Statistics show 30% of American adults suffer from weekly indigestion, also called acid reflux.
Conventional medicine typically takes the approach of suppressing symptoms of acid reflux, For more than a decade, acid suppressing medications have ranked in the top 20 most-prescribed medications in the United States.
Symptoms of Acid Reflux:
There are several common symptoms that typically affect the stomach and chest areas. These symptoms include:
Heartburn
Regurgitation
Burping / belching
Bloating
Difficulty swallowing
There are also several less common signs and symptoms that may indicate Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). This is a subcategory of acid reflux that affects the areas higher up in your throat. Symptoms of LPR include:
Difficulty swallowing
Noticeable watery mouth
Frequent hiccups
Chronic cough or throat clearing
Hoarse voice
Wheezing
Chest pain
Bad breath
Teeth damage from stomach acid
What Causes Acid Reflux?
Diet and lifestyle are both important areas to evaluate when addressing acid reflux. While individuals can experience different food and lifestyle triggers, these are some of the most common and well-documented ones:
Large portion sizes
Late night eating
Fried foods
Spicy foods
Acidic foods – citrus and tomato-based foods
Carbonated beverages
Caffeine
Alcohol
Chocolate
Smoking
“If you experience any combination of acid reflux signs and symptoms on a weekly basis, now is the time to get help.”
Identifying specific personal triggers and avoiding these foods and activities can be an important step in resolving the underlying issue(s).
In addition to specific foods, some conditions increase the incidence of acid reflux. These are some of the most common ones:
Being overweight
Pregnancy
Hypothyroidism
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
Low stomach acid (achlorhydria)
Hiatal hernia
Medications – especially tricyclic antidepressants, calcium channel blockers and opoids
Nutrient deficiencies – especially zinc and magnesium
Gluten intolerance and celiac disease
Delayed gastric emptying
If you’ve identified and are avoiding trigger foods and activities and your symptoms haven’t improved significantly, some of these conditions may be worth investigating.
Can Nutritional Support Help?
Yes! Simply suppressing stomach acid via medication may make those uncomfortable symptoms go away, but it doesn't address the underlying cause of your condition. It also sets the stage for additional body system dysfunction. It’s been well documented that these medications increase your risk of:
Osteoporosis
Iron deficiency anemia
Pernicious anemia (Vitamin B12 deficiency and permanent neurological damage)
Food allergies and sensitivities
Clostridium difficile (C. Diff) infection
Pneumonia
An alternative to acid suppressing medication that is sometimes appropriate is to support your body’s ability to properly digest your food and be able to absorb the nutrients food provides for your body. Digestion is a complex process that involves nine organs in your body. It starts in the mouth and ends in the anus and includes your esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, gall bladder, liver, and pancreas as well. Proper digestion – and elimination – take dietary and lifestyle support for each of these organs.
Sometimes an elimination diet can help uncover acid reflux producing foods and delayed reaction food sensitivities (also referred to as IgG antibodies). As it is noninvasive and short-term, it can be a good place to start, especially if identifying trigger foods proves difficult. Typically, gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, corn, citrus, nightshades, yeast and nuts are eliminated for 3-4 weeks. Then one food at a time is reintroduced and any change in symptoms is noted. Nutritional support can be key in navigating an elimination diet successfully.
In addition, resolving acid reflux and its uncomfortable symptoms often takes targeted supplementation to improve the function of any organs that may not be functional optimally. This often gets digestion flowing as nature intended and symptoms resolve.
If you’ve been experiencing acid reflux symptoms for more than a month, it’s time to act.
To get started, book a free 30-minute nutritional consultation with me and we’ll put together a game plan to resolve your acid reflux and those uncomfortable symptoms
