My Heartburn Story
You know that feeling when you learn you’ve been doing something wrong? I call it an “oh bummer” moment. I’ve been having that feeling a lot in the past year, ever since I threw myself into holistic and real food healing. One example is my heartburn treatment.
A few years ago, before I turned into a holistic-healing-obsessed hippie, I developed chronic heartburn and was given Prilosec, a prescription heartburn medication. Although the medication stopped the digestive pain, After a year on the medication, I decided to listen to my body’s message of apprehension and I quit Prilosec.
As I transitioned slowly into real food, my heartburn gradually improved. Finally, when I started the GAPS diet, it nearly disappeared within two weeks. Recently, I’ve discovered the key interaction between heartburn, stomach acid and overall health. Learning this certainly brought an “oh… bummer” moment. Fortunately, it means I can share this eye-opening information with you!
The Heartburn Myth
Myth:
Heartburn occurs when stomach acid is to high and should therefore be treated with antacids (Tums, sodium bicarbonate, milk of magnesia) or drugs which inhibit stomach acid secretion (Prilosec, Zantac, Pepcid).
Truth:
Heartburn usually accompanies low stomach acid, which leads to poor absorption of key nutrients. A nourishing diet and proper supplements offers an effective, long-term solution, while heartburn medications can further increase nutrient malabsorption.
What causes heartburn?
Heartburn, indigestion and GERD result when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)–the valve which closes of the stomach from the esophagus–malfunctions. Instead of tightly closing after food has entered the stomach, it loosens and acidic stomach fluid escapes into the lower part of the esophagus causing a burning sensation. Even low stomach acid levels will cause this burning if the LES malfunctions.
According to Dr. Jonathan Wright, a leader in holistic medicine and author of Why Stomach Acid is Good For You, 90% of those with heartburn have low stomach acid.
What can cause LES malfunction?
Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, food allergies, low stomach acid, acidic fruits, carbonated beverages, sugar, overeating, certain drugs… Obviously, a lot of factors play into LES malfunction. On the bright side, dietary changes and proper supplementation will go a long way in fixing the LES and ameliorating heartburn.
Source: Why Stomach Acid Is Good for You: Natural Relief from Heartburn, Indigestion, Reflux and GERD
Heartburn medications treat the symptom, not the cause
Now that we know heartburn/indigestion results from LES malfunction and not high stomach acid, heartburn medications don’t seem like a logical solution to the problem.
Heartburn medications work by raising the pH (lowering the acidity) of the stomach contents. This stops the sensation of heartburn, because stomach contents reaches the esophagus but doesn’t burn. However, the food is still undigested due to lack of acidity, and the LES is not closing properly. See the problem?
Of course, don’t discontinue or change the dose of a current prescription without consulting your healthcare provider. I did wean myself of my heartburn medication, but I need to tell you to do what I say, not what I do.
Why is enough stomach acid important?
Low stomach acid cannot properly breakdown proteins into amino acids. Lack of amino acids in the bloodstream means less available neurotransmitters which can mean mood disorders like depression. Further, food allergies can result when the undigested proteins escape into the bloodstream.
Low stomach acid fosters imbalanced gut flora. Pathogenic and food borne bacteria, usually killed by the low stomach pH, can make their way into the intestines. Further, lack of acidity in the stomach makes it more hospitable to bacterial growth (and the stomach should be relatively sterile).
Low stomach acid leads to nutrient malabsorption. Specifically, when proteins aren’t fully broken down, B12 absorption is disrupted. Folate and non-heme iron absorption are also affected by low stomach acid.
How to naturally address heartburn
Naturally increase your stomach acid with the dietary and supplemental steps I discuss in my post, How To Heal Low Stomach Acid Naturally.
Eat slowly, while sitting down and breathing deeply. The body must be in the parasympathetic nervous system state to produce gastric juices. Stress turns off digestion, and thereby turns off stomach acid secretion.
For many people, 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar taken in 1/2 cup of water will immediately stop heartburn. The acidity of the vinegar triggers the lower esophageal sphincter to close.
This site was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found
something which helped me. Thanks a lot!
Horoscope de la semaine gemeaux horoscope verseaux 2012
Do you want to improve your acid reflux, aka heart burn, try Slippy Elm Bark powder. Edger Casey who has long since passed on recommended it and I did not research. After years taking prescription medications like Prilosec, Zantac, Pepcid I began to have serious debilitating back problems. I ordered on-line from an organic company and started in small amount (1/8 teaspoon), and not everyday. The result was no indigestion, reflux and controlled heart burn. Doing your research is a must before start this all natural solution but it work. There are NO SIDE effects, but start slow. Good luck!!!
A REWRITE TO CORRECT typos and errors! Do you want to improve your acid reflux, aka heart burn, you may want to try Slippery Elm Bark powder. Edger Casey, http://www.edgarcayce.org/are/holistic_health/data/disease_overview.html (look under Indigestion and Gastritis), he has long since passed away but his teachings and recommendations are being kept alive. Do your research! After years of taking prescription medications like Prilosec, Zantac, Pepcid… I began to have serious debilitating back problems. Over time, these medications eat away at the spine. I ordered on-line (http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/bulkherb/s.php), from an organic company, Slippy Elm Bark powder, and started in small amounts (1/8 teaspoon), and not every day. Powder is better than pill. The result was, no indigestion or reflux and controlled heart burn. Oh, and no more back problems. Doing your research is a must before starting this all natural solution, but it works. There are NO SIDE effects, but start slow. I am currently a little less than 1/4 teaspoon after 1 1/2 years. When I recommended this to a nurse in the Emergency Waiting Room, she took it down and said, when it works you save time and money. Good luck!!!
How long before your reflux went away on Gaps? I’m on day three and I am still getting mucus in my throat. My stomach has an ulcer as well. My throat has been damaged too… Also, I’m skinny anyway and this just soup thing in the intro diet is killing me… When will the reflux go away so I can start the rest of the diet??
Interesting read! I’ve had digestive issues for the last few years. was diagnosed wuth GERD, put on prilosec. Didn’t seem to help, had swallow manometry study. found very low baseline LES and insufficent swallows. My question is can prilosec cause the low LES? I was taking 60 or 80 mg at the time of the studay. Maybe not that morning but weeks leading up to it.
Hi Lauren,
Just wondering when you stopped your PPI medication, did you slowly ease of them or just quit cold turkey and switch to natural remedies?
In the last decades I had heartburn often. It was more than an annoyance, but not strong enough to talk to the doctor about it. In very bad cases I reached for over the counter pharma products. What finally helped me and 100% resolved my heartburns, was going onto a high carb vegan diet. I have not had any heartburn since two years (since I turned high carb vegan). If I had not found the starch solution, I would have probably opted for your “Instant, All Natural Heartburn Remedy”. I understand that a vegan, high carb diet might sound too extreme for most people, and therefore natural medicine is probably the next best choice.
I have to take aspirin to prevent strokes and to protect my stomach I also have to take omeprazole which has given me problems so that has been substituted with ranitidine. My question is are there natural products available that do the same job as these drugs I have to take. What are they and are they safe,reliable,expensive etc.
Many thanks
Rosetta
Try bone broth. Been having bad heartburn from antibiotics mixed with Ibuprofin. I’m now almost all better after 2 pots. Starting my third and introducing other foods slowly to see what my triggers are. I didn’t add garlic or onions as I’ve read they can trigger heartburn.