Millions of people have heartburn or acid reflux, which is why antacid drugs have been among the best sellers for more than a decade, generating tens of billions of dollars each year for pharmaceutical companies.
But what if heartburn had nothing to do with having too much acid in your stomach?
Instead, what if it had to do with a simple equation?
Too much “bad stuff” in your body, combined with not enough “good stuff”?
Well, it turns out that this is exactly the case and once you know how and why heartburn and acid reflux develop, you can start doing something about it.
Here are ten reasons why you might have these symptoms, along with some tips on how to alleviate them:
1. H. pylori infection: This bad bug burrows into the lining of your stomach, causing redness, swelling, and pain that feels like your chest is on fire. I had H. pylori between 2004 and 2007, but only found out about it when I had a stool test in the summer of 2007. My heartburn went away quickly when I treated the H. pylori with herbs. Tip: Ask your doctor to test your breath or stool for H. pylori, and throw it away if necessary.
2. Cow’s milk has been shown to create stomach and intestinal inflammation in some people. Tip: Switch to goat’s milk.
3. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. According to some experts, 80% of the population may be genetically prone to gluten intolerance, which causes inflammation in the gut that can feel like heartburn. Tip: Follow a gluten-free diet.
4. Low Stomach Acid: Oddly enough, tests done on about 2,000 patients by Dr. Jonathan Wright, MD. showed that heartburn occurred more often in people who had LOW levels of stomach acid, not high levels. Tip: Try hydrochloric acid supplements with food under the supervision of a trained professional.
5. Candida Overgrowth – Candida is a type of yeast that overgrows when good bacteria and stomach acid levels get too low. It can overgrow in the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestine and can cause heartburn. Tip: Do a thorough stool test to check for Candida overgrowth.
6. Hiatal Hernia: A hiatal hernia can cause heartburn and heartburn symptoms. Your doctor can verify this. Tip: A good chiropractor or physical therapist can perform manipulation to resolve the hernia (I have seen this in patients who report complete resolution of their heartburn afterwards).
7. Alcohol use: Alcohol can burn the lining of the stomach, causing pain and a burning sensation. Tip: Minimize alcohol consumption and only drink alcohol with food.
8. Parasite Infestations – There are dozens of parasites and bacteria that can overgrow in the intestine and cause heartburn. One parasite, a small worm called Strongyloides, can burrow into the lining of your intestine like H. pylori bacteria, causing significant burning and discomfort. Tip: Perform a thorough stool test for parasites.
9. Dehydration: If you don’t drink enough water, your stomach lining ends up looking like a dry desert. The protective mucus that is produced in the goblet cells to protect the stomach lining breaks down, opening the stomach tissue to acid erosion. Tip: drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day and sip little by little.
10. Eat Spicy Foods: As simple as it sounds, cutting back on spicy foods can really help reduce heartburn, and that’s my last piece of advice to you.
Go ahead and try these tips, implementing the simplest ones first: drink more water and avoid gluten and cow’s milk.
If this doesn’t work, move on to the other tips: get tested for H. pylori, parasites, and Candida and find out what’s in your gut that you shouldn’t!
I hope this article has helped.