Acid Reflux

Top Ten Most Effective Remedies for Acid Reflux

1. Eat two biggest meals at breakfast and lunch when stomach acid is highest, go for a light walk before breakfast to prep digestive system.

2. Eat a light meal for dinner to ensure full stomach clearance by bed time.

3. Before each protein containing meal or especially at dinner time dilute a tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar into half a cup of room temperature or warm water. Improving digestion and clearance before bed to prevent burping and release into the esophagus while you sleep.

4. If you eat a bed time snack an hour or two before bed, it should be a composed of carbohydrates only, no fat or protein.

5. Raise the head of your bed by a couple inches by placing a rolled blanket in between the mattress and the box spring.

6. Do the same at the foot of the bed to improve lymphatic circulation as you sleep.

7. Essential minerals like zinc, iodine, magnesium, selenium and more are crucial for stomach acid production.

8. Raw and poorly cooked vegetables will inhibit the digestion of proteins due to the fact that most vegetables contain enzyme inhibitors. If cooking them properly does not solve you can skip them altogether.

9. As you consider #8 observe the diverse and abundant diet on the home page, following it will vastly improve digestion over time.

10. Iodine Solution taken in addition to a multi-mineral will aid in neutralizing gas producing bacteria in the stomach + small intestine that create LES opening that causes acid reflux. Iodine also provides many other benefits such as lowering stress via increased conversion of T4 to T3 and improvements in thyroid function.

Why does Acid Reflux happen? The science behind Acid Reflux.

When acid levels drop in the stomach, bacteria thrive on undigested food while producing hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide gas. As bacterial populations overgrow the increase in gas builds and that blows open the lower esophageal sphincter resulting in what is know as acid reflux. Any method utilized to increase stomach acid production solves acid reflux. Main reason to lower acidity in the stomach is to heal an ulcer. We do have better ways to sooth and heal ulcers however.  Low stomach acid causes the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to relax allowing reflux, when acid is strong the LES seals tightly blocking the passage of acid.

Unfortunately many practitioners still resort to prescribing antacids and PPI's when they are not appropriate. Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are drugs that reduce the production of stomach acid by blocking the enzyme in the wall of the stomach that produces acid. 

Common PPIs include:

Omeprazole (Prilosec), Lansoprazole (Prevacid), Esomeprazole (Nexium), Pantoprazole (Protonix), Rabeprazole (AcipHex), Dexlansoprazole (Dexilant)

Unless someone has a peptic ulcer it is absolutely contrary to rational thinking to prescribe a PPI. This is the complete opposite of what our body actually needs. A PPI may only slow and or temporarily sooth the effects of reflux but will cause other issues short and long term.

Regulating Stress and Sleep Play a Role in Resolving Acid Reflux