Did you know that the majority of heartburn cases are not due to excess stomach acid? So why is the most common OTC medication given to kill your stomach acid? This is the exact opposite of what needs to be done to truly heal the problem for most people.
Most people with heartburn are actually deficient in stomach acid which is what starts the digestive process. Low stomach acid can actually lead to heartburn. Other factors that contribute to heartburn are not making enough pancreatic enzymes to break the food down, too much food or poor food choices leading to the need for more digestive support, or an overgrowth of H. pylori. H. pylori can easily be tested for and treated.
What are your options?
Choice #1: Ignore it, it’s not too big a deal!
Some people do just ignore it. What’s a little burning, right? That spicy food, chocolate, wine, or coffee was so good and worth it, right? I highly advise against this because…
Unresolved, long-time heartburn can cause:
- Poor nutrient absorption
- Poor waste elimination
- Poor digestion resulting in inflammation, infections, constipation, diarrhea, and a cascade of ill health
- Ulcers
- Esophageal cancer
Choice #2: Mask the symptoms
What do I mean by “mask the symptoms”? Taking acid blockers, proton pump inhibitors, or antacids is masking the symptom and could be causing even more problems.
Some common side-effects of taking either acid blockers or antacids are:
- Nutrient deficiency
- Elevated calcium levels
- No stomach acid to start the digestive process
- Killing off of your good gut bacteria
- Increased risk of cardiovascular event
- Rebound reflux when trying to stop the meds
- many more
Choice #3: Treat it, heal it, get it gone!
The benefits of healing your heartburn:
- Good digestion
- Better nutrient absorption
- Better food breakdown
- No pain after you eat
- No esophageal cancer
- No need for medications
I routinely give my patients natural remedies to enhance stomach acid and enzyme production. And guess what happens? Their heartburn resolves. Cool, right?
Tips for how to start helping yourself now!
- Avoid trigger / acidic foods. (examples – coffee, wine, tomatoes, spicy foods, chocolate)
- Add apple cider vinegar before meals. (1 tsp. In 8 ounces of water 15-30 min before meals)
- Practice stress reduction – breathing, meditation, gratitude, etc.
Which of the above 3 categories do you want to be in? I think the choice is obvious. #3, please! And do try the tips for getting started now, those may be the only thing needed to stop that heartburn. If not, I can help get you there. Schedule a visit with me today! Digestive health is one of my specialties.
