Understanding Digestion First is KEY Digestion is the complex process of turning the food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestion process also involves creating waste to be eliminated.
The digestive tract (or gut) is a long twisting tube that starts at the mouth and ends at the anus. It is made up of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food and other cells that produce enzymes and hormones to aid in the breakdown of food. Along the way are three other organs that are needed for digestion: the liver, gallbladder, and the pancreas
The mouth is the beginning of the digestive system, and, in fact, digestion starts here before you even take the first bite of a meal. The smell of food triggers the salivary glands in your mouth to secrete saliva, causing your mouth to water. When you actually taste the food, saliva increases. Once you start chewing and breaking the food down into pieces small enough to be digested, other mechanisms come into play. More saliva is produced to begin the process of breaking down food into a form your body can absorb and use. In addition, “juices” are produced that will help to further break down food. Chew your food more — it helps with your digestion
The esophagus is a muscular tube extending from the pharynx and behind the trachea to the stomach. Food is pushed through the esophagus and into the stomach by means of a series of contractions called peristalsis. Just before the opening to the stomach is an important ring-shaped muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This sphincter opens to let food pass in to the stomach and closes to keep it there.
The stomach is a sac-like organ with strong muscular walls. In addition to holding food, it serves as the mixer and grinder of food. The stomach secretes hydrochloric acid and powerful digestive enzymes that continue the process of breaking the food down and changing it to a consistency of liquid or paste called chime
The small intestine. Made up of three segments — the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum — the small intestine also breaks down food using enzymes released by the pancreas and bile from the liver.
The pancreas is an elongated, tapered organ located across the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach the enzymes secreted by the pancreas help break down carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and acids in the duodenum. The pancreas is made up of two types of glands: exocrine The exocrine gland secretes digestive enzymes. These enzymes are secreted into a network of ducts that join the main pancreatic duct, which runs the length of the pancreas. endocrine The endocrine gland, which consists of the islets of Langerhans, secretes hormones like insulin, into the bloodstream. The tissue also secretes a bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid in the duodenum. The hormones secreted by the endocrine gland in the pancreas are insulin and glucagon (which regulate the level of glucose in the blood), and somatostatin (which prevents the release of the other two hormones).
The gallbladder is a pear-shaped, hollow structure located under the liver and on the right side of the abdomen. We often remove it because we don’t understand it. Bile is a product created in the liver. The bile formed in the liver is made up of cholesterol products and degraded red blood cells. The bile is transported to the gall bladder, where it is stored until the individual eats a fatty meal. The cholesterol in the bile is used to help digest fatty foods.
It surrounds the fatty food, making it more easily broken down by a pancreatic enzyme called lipase. So its primary function is to store and concentrate bile, a yellow-brown digestive liquid produced by the liver. The gallbladder serves as a reservoir for bile that is not immediately used for digestion. When food enters the small intestine, a hormone called cholecystokinin is released, signaling the gallbladder to contract and secrete bile into the small intestine through the common bile duct. The bile helps the digestive process by emulsifying fats and neutralizing acids in partially-digested food. An excess of cholesterol, bilirubin or bile salts can cause gallstones to form Gallstones are small, hard deposits inside the gallbladder that are formed when the stored bile crystallizes.
The liver is a reddish-brown organ with four lobes of unequal size and shape. A human liver normally weighs 3.2–3.7 lb and is a soft, pinkish-brown, triangular organ. It is both the largest internal organ (the skin being the largest organ overall) and the largest gland in the human body. It is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity, resting just below the diaphragm. Currently, there is no artificial organ or device capable of emulating all the functions of the liver. Some functions can be emulated by liver dialysis, an experimental treatment for liver failure. The liver is thought to be responsible for up to 500 separate functions, usually in combination with other systems and organs. A large part of amino acid or protein metabolism and breakdown in the body. The liver performs several roles in carbohydrate metabolism and the creation of glucose from certain amino acids. The liver also performs several roles in lipid or fat metabolism: Cholesterol synthesis and Lipogenesis the production of triglycerides fats.
The liver stores a multitude of substances, including glucose, vitamin A (1–2 years’ supply), vitamin D (1–4 months’ supply, gets you thru winter), vitamin B12 (1-3 years’ supply,), iron, and copper. The liver is responsible for immunological effects – the liver contains many immune active cells, acting as a ‘sieve’ for antigens, (foreign bodies) carried to it via the blood. One of the liver’s primary functions is filtering the blood. Almost 2 quarts of blood pass through the liver every minute for detoxification. The liver produces albumin, the major component of blood. The liver is a major site for a hormone that regulates the production of platelets by the bone marrow The liver creates a hormone that is responsible for raising the blood pressure when activated by another enzyme that is released when the kidney senses low blood pressure
The small intestine is the ‘work horse’ of digestion, as this is where most nutrients are absorbed. Peristalsis is also at work in this organ, moving food through and mixing it up with the digestive secretions from the pancreas and liver, including bile. The duodenum is largely responsible for the continuing breakdown process, with the jejunum and ileum being mainly responsible for absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream. This part of your digestive system has its own set of digestive juices including Alkaline goop from the pancreas that powers special enzymes (called amylases) to digest carbs Bile from the liver and gallbladder that acts as an emulsifier (a compound that enables fats to mix with water) Pancreatic and intestinal enzymes that complete the separation of proteins into amino acids More contractions shove the chyme along the intestines while specialized cells in the intestinal walls grab onto sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, which are then sent off into your body for energy or as building blocks for new tissue. Then, after your small intestine has squeezed every last little bit of useful material (other than water) out of the food, the indigestible remainder (think dietary fiber) moves toward its inevitable end in your large intestine. The appendix is a small tube attached to the ascending colon. It’s part of the immune system
The colon (large intestine) is a five- to seven -foot -long muscular tube that connects the small intestine to the rectum It is made up of the ascending (right) colon, the transverse (across) colon, the descending (left) colon and the sigmoid colon, which connects to the rectum. The large intestine is a highly specialized organ that is responsible for processing waste so that defecation (excretion of waste) is easy and convenient. Stool, or waste left over from the digestive process, passes through the colon by means of peristalsis, first in a liquid state and ultimately in solid form. As stool passes through the colon, any remaining water is absorbed. Stool is stored in the sigmoid (S-shaped) colon until a “mass movement” empties it into the rectum, usually once or twice a day. Less is constipation. It normally takes about 36 hours for stool to get through the colon. The stool itself is mostly food debris and bacteria. These bacteria perform several useful functions, such as synthesizing various vitamins, processing waste products and food particles, and protecting against harmful bacteria.
Many microbes (bacteria like Bacteroides, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella) in the large intestine help in the digestion process.
The bacteria live in a symbiotic (mutually beneficial) relationship with the colon. They ferment the soluble fiber in food, forming valuable short-chain fatty acids that nourish intestinal cells, help regulate production of cholesterol, and are thought to help prevent a variety of diseases (including cancer).
Beneficial bacteria also help to keep harmful bacteria in check. In addition, intestinal bacteria synthesize vitamin K, important in blood clot formation.
Think of this area as a giant sponge and press whose only jobs are to absorb water from the mass you deliver to it and then squeeze the dry leftovers into compact bundles of waste. About 2 pints of liquid matter enter the colon each day; stool volume is about a third of a pint.
The difference between these two amounts is what the colon has absorbed in the course of digestion. If the digested matter lacks enough water, the colon can also add water to it to soften the stool. Maintaining this balance is one of the colon’s most important functions.
After resident colonies of friendly bacteria digest any amino acids remaining in the waste and excrete smelly nitrogen — in a process scientists call passing gas, then muscular contractions in the rectum push the feces out of your body, and digestion is finally done. When the descending colon becomes full of stool, it empties its contents into the rectum to begin the process of elimination
SHIT HAPPENS
Decreased function: like IBS with deficiencies as bacterial dysbiosis from antibiotics, pesticides and other environmental toxins, medications, and general lack of nutrition from GMO and processed foods.
Structural issues: Ulcers, Hiatal hernia, Diverticulitis, Esophagitis, Pancreatitis, Gallstones
Inflammation from: Infections like H. Pylori, C Difficile, Salmonella, Giardia and Parasites
Allergy to Foods and Environmental toxins
Autoimmune like Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis Cancers.
What causes esophagitis? GERD
GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease is the most common cause caused when food isn’t digesting properly and the stomach acids back up and cause irritation even ulcerations, and asthma symptoms.
Hiatal Hernia: If your lower esophageal sphincter (LES) doesn’t work properly. Acid reflux occurs when the LES relaxes inappropriately, allowing acid from your stomach to flow (reflux) backward into your esophagus. But it’s important to understand that acid reflux is not a disease caused by excessive acid production in your stomach; rather it’s a symptom more commonly related to: Hiatal hernia and possibly Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection (H. pylori bacteria is thought to affect more than half of the world’s population, and has been identified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization
While these two conditions are unrelated, many who have a hiatal hernia also have H. pylori, which cause a chronic low-level inflammation of your stomach lining that can result in an ulcer and associated symptoms. If you have a hiatal hernia, physical therapy on the area may work and many chiropractors are skilled in this adjustment. The hypothesis that H. pylori infection is responsible, or at least a major factor, for producing the symptoms of acid reflux stems from the work done by Dr. Barry Marshall, an Australian physician, during the early 1980s.
Medicines that irritate the esophagus, including: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAID’s) like aspirin, Motrin, or Naprosyn. Medicines for osteoporosis, several antibiotics like tetracycline, and others like quinine. . Vitamin and mineral like Vitamin C, Iron, and Potassium supplements.
Infections: People who have a weakened immune system like with diabetes or kidney problems Radiation Therapy Certain diseases that make it hard to swallow, Food allergies, especially to seafood, milk, nuts, soy, or eggs.
Thyroid diseases, Goiters and enlargement and autoimmune disorders like Hashimoto’s, Scleroderma or Grave’s Disease.
Heartburn typically involves a “hot or burning feeling rising up from the center of the abdomen area and into the chest under the breastbone or sternum. It may be accompanied by a sour taste in the mouth, or hypersalivation, or even finding food or fluid in your mouth,” particularly at night.
Pregnancy, some medications, and consuming alcohol or certain foods can cause heartburn.
Kids under age 12 and some adults may have GERD without heartburn, instead experiencing asthma-like symptoms, trouble swallowing, or a dry cough.
It is most often caused by something(s) you are eating or something that’s eating you Or BOTH! The most common treatment options include drugs that reduce acid levels, such as: the proton pump inhibitors like Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, and Protonix or the H2 blockers like Axid, Pepcid, Tagamet, and Zantac. But taking medication is not without risk. They are for life as far as your doctor is concerned and if one doesn’t work then they will say take more.
About 60 to 70 percent of people taking these drugs have mild heartburn and shouldn’t be on them. Part of the problem with PPIs is that when you suppress the amount of acid in your stomach, you decrease your body’s ability to kill the helicobacter bacteria. So, if your heartburn is caused by an H. pylori infection, it actually makes your condition worse and perpetuates the problem. Besides that, reducing acid in your stomach diminishes your primary defense mechanism for food-borne infections, which will increase your risk of food poisoning. PPI drugs can also cause potentially serious side effects, including pneumonia, bone loss, hip fractures, and infection with Clostridium difficile (a harmful intestinal bacteria).
It’s also worth noting that you’ll also develop both tolerance and dependence on PPI drugs, so you should not stop taking proton pump inhibitors cold turkey. You need to wean yourself off them gradually or else you might experience a severe rebound of your symptoms. In some cases, the problem may end up being worse than before you started taking the medication.
Ideally, you’ll want to get a lower dose than you’re on now, and then gradually decrease your dose. Once you get down to the lowest dose of the proton pump inhibitor, you can start substituting with an over-the-counter H2 blocker like Tagamet, Cimetidine, Zantac, or Raniditine. Then gradually wean off the H2 blocker over the next several weeks.
While you wean yourself off these drugs (if you’re already on one), you’ll want to start implementing a lifestyle modification program that can eliminate this condition once and for all. Antibiotics can typically eradicate H. pylori, but there are many other effective strategies that can also work. Ideally, you’d want to try these first, as antibiotics will also kill off the beneficial bacteria in your gut, which can cause other health complications. Besides, H. pylori is growing increasingly resistant to antibiotics, making the availability of non-drug alternatives even more important.
Peptic Ulcers If you have unexplained stomach pain, consider this before reaching for a painkiller:
The worst thing to do if ulcers are suspected is to take aspirin or other NSAID [nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug] pain reducers Doctors will test for Helicobacter pylori. Most doctors believe that by disrupting a protective layer of mucus, the bacterium causes ulcers, Other causes include smoking, which can elevate stomach acidity, and excessive NSAID use. Alcohol use may also be a factor, but it’s unclear whether that alone can cause ulcers. The old theory blaming factors like stress isn’t totally wrong: Stress can aggravate symptoms of peptic ulcers and delay healing Ulcers can cause internal bleeding and may eat a hole in the small intestine or stomach wall, which can lead to serious infection. This is when drugs work best. Long-term H. pylori infection has been linked to an increased risk of gastric cancer.
Hypochlorhydria There is a great deal of research that says the problem starts with insufficient digestion and lack of stomach acid that leads to these problems. Low stomach acid, is a commonly overlooked problem that is linked to other diseases like stomach cancer, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. It’s a serious problem that needs to be investigated. If you’re having symptoms such as acid reflux, heartburn, burping, gas, bloating, or nausea, after eating then it’s very likely that you have a stomach acid issue.
People diagnosed with gastrointestinal issues, especially inflammatory bowel diseases, Celiac Disease or IBS are at a higher risk of having stomach acid problems. Proper levels of stomach acid are needed to adequately absorb many nutrients including minerals (iron, copper, zinc and calcium), vitamin B12, folic acid and proteins.
Stomach acid is also a crucial part of the immune system. The acid barrier of the stomach during normal states of health easily and quickly kills bacteria and other bugs that enter the body. It also prevents bacteria from the intestines from migrating up and colonizing the stomach. Appropriate stomach acid levels are crucial for our immune system and for adequate nutrient status both of which support total health
Common Patterns of Hypochlorhydria
1.) You don’t feel good when you eat red meat:
You feel bad, sluggish or nauseous when you eat a large portion of meat. And the reason is because you may not have the ability to digest it. You may need more stomach acid to properly breakdown the protein structures.
2.) You experience frequent acid reflux after eating: This is an especially paradoxical pattern to experience. On one hand you have stomach acid reaching unprotected areas of the esophagus, causing burning pain. Then if you take an anti-acid the pain usually goes away. Therefore, if A=B and B=C it is easy to make the jump to A=C. In this case, it’s easy to assume that high stomach acid levels cause heartburn or GERD. There is another explanation……
3.) You burp, fart, or get bloated after eating. Would Mother Nature create a situation in which almost 1 out of 3 people created too much acid to be healthy? A leading theory of GERD goes like this. Insufficient stomach acid leads to a host of conditions that encourage the increase in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) when IAP increases it pushes against the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). When the LES opens because of the pressure and even a microscopic amount of acid touches the inside of your esophagus it can produce large amounts of pain and burning. This is because the esophagus is not protected like the stomach from high acid levels.
Several burps shortly after finishing or burps later that taste and smell bad? Experience gas 1-2 hours after eating? Do you get bloated after eating that lasts for a few hours? A heavy feeling in your stomach, like your food just sits there fermenting
Lactose and Casein Intolerance Between 30 million and 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant, most everyone is casein intolerant especially if the milk is been repeatedly heated. For lactose people lack an enzyme needed to digest the main sugar in milk. Ranging in severity from person to person, symptoms include cramping, bloating, gas, nausea, and diarrhea. These usually occur 30 minutes to two hours after one drinks or eats a dairy product. Casein is basically furniture glue and is indigestible and used to “bind” food like glue would.
Enteritis or Stomach flu Inflammation of the small intestine. Infections (from viruses, bacteria, or parasites) are the common cause. Likely having passed thru stomach with low acid.
Cancer: Rarely, cancer may affect the small intestine. There are multiple types of small intestine cancer
Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease: An “allergy” to gluten (a protein in most breads) causes the small intestine not to absorb nutrients properly. Abdominal pain and weight loss are usual symptoms. However, there may not bad gut problems in acquired celiac and simple intolerance is common to most everyone with genetic alterations in wheat.
Intestinal Obstruction: A section of either the small or large bowel can become blocked or twisted or just stop working. Belly distension, pain, constipation, and vomiting are symptoms.
Gallstones (cholelithiasis). This is the name of the condition when small stones, or sometimes larger ones, develop inside the gallbladder. Gallstones may cause pain known as biliary colic, but about 90 percent of people with gallstones will have no symptoms. Most symptomatic gallstones have been present for a number of years. If you have gallstones for more than 10 years, they are less likely to cause symptoms. Biliary colic: This is the term often used for the severe episodes of pain that can be caused by gallstone blockage of the cystic duct. The gallbladder contracts vigorously against the blockage, causing spasmodic (or sometimes constant) severe pain. They can be very infrequent and last a couple hours often.
Inflamed Gallbladder: CHOLECYSTITIS Inflammation of the gallbladder can be caused by gallstones, excessive alcohol use, infections, or even tumors that cause bile buildup. But the most common cause is gallstones. The body can react to the gallstone irritation by causing the gallbladder walls to become swollen and painful. The episodes of inflammation can last for several hours, or even a few days. Fever is not unusual. About 20 percent of the time, the sluggish, inflamed gallbladder is invaded by intestinal bacteria, and becomes infected. Occasionally, the gallbladder actually ruptures, which is a surgical emergency. Suspected episodes of cholecystitis always require medical attention, particularly if fever is present.
Chronic Gallbladder Disease. Here, the gallbladder may become rigid and scarred from gallstones and repeated episodes of inflammation. Symptoms are more constant, but tend to be vague, including abdominal fullness, indigestion, and increased gas. Chronic diarrhea is a common symptom, usually occurring after meals, and up to 10 times per day. Burping or belching, Vomiting, Nausea, severe cramps and abdominal pain, bloating and restlessness are all symptoms. It is often autoimmune in nature caused by food allergies, and combined gut issues that haven’t been resolved. Often medicated to make them tolerable. It’s important to realize that your gut bacteria are very vulnerable to lifestyle- and environmental factors, such as:
Sugar / fructose Refined grains Processed foods Antibiotics (including antibiotics given to livestock for food production) Chlorinated and fluoridated water Antibacterial soaps etc Agricultural chemicals and pesticides Pollution
To have a healthy gut, these are some things to stay away from when able: Saturated fats, hydrogenated fats/oils Non-organic meats, poultry, eggs Non-organic pasteurized dairy Refined sugar, refined and processed foods Alcohol, drugs, and coffee Good Quality Food, Air, Water, Sleep, Exercise and Gratitude for how spectacular your gut and body is!
Special foods rich in properties that help protect the gut from damage and improve gut function include: High sulfur containing foods like garlic, legumes, onions, and eggs Good sources of water-soluble fibers such as pears, oat bran, apples, and beans Cabbage family vegetables especially broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and cabbage Artichokes, beets, carrots, dandelion Many herbs and spices like turmeric, cinnamon, and licorice.
The soil is depleted and its unlikely you will get in 8-10 servings of leafy green, highly colored, organic fruits and veggies today and everyday so everyone can benefit from a good, independently tested, organic supplements.
Multivitamin and multi-mineral with 100% of RDA at a minimum. RDA means just above starvation level.
High quality Omega 3 from fish/and or Krill oil. Vitamin D3 minimum 2-3000 IU’s daily
B Complex preferably natural source not synthetic
A Functional Practitioner can do a COMPLETE DIGESTIVE STOOL ANALYSIS or CDSA which tests the general functionality of your entire gut. It checks to see if you are digesting fats, carbohydrates, and proteins fully thereby checking the gallbladder, pancreas and liver, then looks at indicators for small bowel absorption as well as colon health. The test looks at the microbiology of the gut and looks at the percentage of normal bacteria present that says “healthy”. It tells how much lactobacillus (acidophilllus), bifobacteria (the most predominant bacteria) and E Coli. It checks for yeast and “bad” or pathologic bacteria which grow when pesticides and antibiotics have wiped out the good bacteria and allowed more resistant damaging gut bacteria to take over. Knowing what shape your gut is in will determine the overall health of the entire body especially the brain!
Probiotics are bacteria that help maintain the natural balance of organisms (microflora) in the intestines. The normal human digestive tract contains about 400 types of probiotic bacteria that reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and promote a healthy digestive system. The website GreenMed.com has assembled an amazing list of more than 200 studies, which together explore more than 170 diseases which can be helped or treated with probiotics. Eating sugar actually nourishes the bad or pathogenic bacteria yeast and fungi in your gut, which may actually harm you more than its impact on insulin resistance. One of the major results of eating a healthy diet is that you cause your beneficial gut bacteria to flourish, and they secondarily perform the real “magic” of restoring your health Your body contains about 100 trillion bacteria — more than 10 times the number of cells you have in your entire body. The ideal ratio between the bacteria in your gut is 85 percent “good” and 15 percent “bad. Anti-bacterial Anti-allergenic Anti-viral Immunomodulatory Anti-infective Antioxidant Antiproliferative Apoptopic (cellular self-destruction) Anti-depressive Antifungal Cardioprotective Gastroprotective Radio- and chemo protective Upregulates glutathione and certain glycoproteins that help regulate immune responses, including interleukin-4, interleukin-10, and interleukin-12 Downregulates interleukin-6 (a cytokine involved in chronic inflammation and age-related diseases) Inhibits tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha inhibitor,
Probiotic Help Celiac disease, leaky gut and irritable bowel syndrome Mood, psychological health, and behavior Epstein-Barr virus Chronic fatigue syndrome Insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes Common cold, influenza, and pneumonia High cholesterol and hypertension Acne Eczema and atopic dermatitis Liver diseases, such as cirrhosis and cancer Herpes Food- and wheat allergies
The following symptoms are all signs that unhealthy bacteria have taken over too much real estate in your gut: Gas and bloating Constipation or diarrhea Fatigue Nausea Headaches Sugar cravings, and cravings for refined carb foods Depression Lowered immunity.
Most people, including many physicians, do not realize that 80 percent of your immune system is located in your digestive system, making a healthy gut a major focal point if you want to maintain optimal health
AVOID ANTIBIOTICS Commercial Dairy can have up to 81 antibiotics in a glass of milk. The common conventional veggie and fruit can have up to 6-9 pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides in it. Cattle and livestock that are grain fed are fed large amounts of antibiotics because they are unhealthy and have frequent infections secondary to their living condition and diet. The amount of antibiotic resistant bacteria is rampant. Drug companies are not researching new antibiotics because they can’t keep up with the increasing super bugs. If we keep eating food that laden with pesticides and antibiotics, then we destroy our guts and leave us and our children vulnerable to incurable infections.
History provides us a few clues on how different cultures promoted their intestinal health before modern times. Years ago, people used fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut – as food preservatives and as support for intestinal and overall health.
MAGNESIUM helps Is the fourth most abundant mineral in your body…Exists in over 300 different bodily enzymes…Is found primarily in your bones (50% of total body magnesium)…Plays a role in your body’s detoxification processes…*Aids your energy metabolism and protein synthesis…*Helps guide a large number of physiological functions…*Is required by glutathione (the “master antioxidant”) for synthesis…*
This should give you a pretty good picture why I believe magnesium is so important. And the number of Americans potentially not getting enough of this mineral is estimated as high as 80%. That’s a pretty staggering number.
Magnesium Citrate and Oxide are laxative forms to support regular bowel movements and taken at bed help sleep and restless legs and many other issues.
The liver’s detoxification process involves the synthesis and secretion of bile. Each day the liver manufactures approximately 1 quart of bile, which serves as a carrier in which many toxic substances are dumped into the intestines. In the intestines, the bile and its toxic load are absorbed by fiber and excreted. However, a diet low in fiber results in inadequate binding and reabsorption of the toxins.
CHEW YOUR FOOD! Good dental care keeps teeth intact so healthy gums, good bacteria and well chewed food.
Lots of water during the day. ½ your body weight in oz is a good start.
Stop dairy and gluten/wheat for 2 weeks. Corn, eggs, and nuts are common food allergies
Add Hydrochloric Acid (HCL) during the middle of high protein and cooked food meals.
Try Digestive Enzymes before cooked meals.
Glutathione is the master garbageman in the liver, the most powerful antioxidant available. However, it is best gotten from organic fresh fruits and veggies but when extra is desired (all of us!) there are two sources
Milk Thistle or Silymarin 70-210 mg three times daily and/or
NAC or n-acetyl Cysteine 200-600mg twice to three times daily Glutathione supplements are not well absorbed
As mentioned earlier, heartburn is typically a sign of having too little stomach acid. To encourage your body to make sufficient amounts of hydrochloric acid (stomach acid), you’ll also want to make sure you’re consuming enough of the raw material on a regular basis.
High-quality sea salt (unprocessed salt), such as Himalayan salt, will not only provide you with the chloride your body needs to make hydrochloric acid, it also contains over 80 trace minerals your body needs to perform optimally, biochemically. Sauerkraut or cabbage juice is also a strong—if not the strongest—stimulant for your body to produce stomach acid. Having a few teaspoons of cabbage juice before eating, or better yet, fermented cabbage juice from sauerkraut, will do wonders to improve your digestion.
Other Safe and Effective Strategies to Eliminate Heartburn and Acid Reflux
Besides addressing your day-to-day diet and optimizing your gut flora, several other strategies can also help you get your heartburn under control, sans medications. The following suggestions are drawn from a variety of sources, including Everydayroots.com, which lists 15 different natural remedies for heartburn; as well as research from the University of Maryland School of Medicine,7 the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and others.
Raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. As mentioned earlier, acid reflux typically results from having too little acid in your stomach. You can easily improve the acid content of your stomach by taking one tablespoon of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a large glass of water.
Betaine Another option is to take a betaine hydrochloric supplement, which is available in health food stores without prescription. You’ll want to take as many as you need to get the slightest burning sensation and then decrease by one capsule. This will help your body to better digest your food, and will also help kill the H. pylori bacteria.
Baking soda One-half to one full teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in an eight-ounce glass of water may ease the burn of acid reflux as it helps neutralize stomach acid. I would not recommend this is a regular solution, but it can sure help in an emergency when you are in excruciating pain. Alka Zelzer GOLD is bicarb on the run
Aloe juice The juice of the aloe plant naturally helps reduce inflammation, which may ease symptoms of acid reflux. Drink about 1/2 cup of Aloe Vera juice before meals. If you want to avoid its laxative effect, look for a brand that has removed the laxative component.
Ginger root or chamomile tea Ginger has been found to have a gastroprotective effect by blocking acid and suppressing helicobacter pylori. According to a 2007 study, it’s also far superior to lansoprazole for preventing the formation of ulcers, exhibiting six- to eight-fold greater potency over the drug! This is perhaps not all that surprising, because ginger root has been traditionally used against gastric disturbances since ancient times.
Add two or three slices of fresh ginger root to two cups of hot water. Let steep for about half an hour. Drink about 20 minutes or so before your meal. Before bed, try a cup of chamomile tea, which can help soothe stomach inflammation and help you sleep.
Vitamin D Vitamin D is important for addressing any infectious component. Once your vitamin D levels are optimized, you’re also going to optimize your production of about 200 antimicrobial peptides that will help your body eradicate any infection that shouldn’t be there. You can increase your vitamin D levels through appropriate amounts of sun exposure, or using a safe tanning bed. If neither of those are available, you can take an oral vitamin D3 supplement; just remember to also increase your vitamin K2 intake.
Astaxanthin This exceptionally potent antioxidant was found to reduce symptoms of acid reflux in patients when compared to a placebo, particularly in those with pronounced helicobacter pylori infection.11 Best results were obtained at a daily dose of 40 mg.
Slippery elm Slippery elm coats and soothes the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines, and contains antioxidants that can help address inflammatory bowel conditions. It also stimulates nerve endings in your gastrointestinal tract. This helps increase mucus secretion, which protects your gastrointestinal tract against ulcers and excess acidity. The University of Maryland Medical Center makes the following adult dosing recommendations: Tea: Pour 2 cups boiling water over 4 g (roughly 2 tablespoons) of powdered bark, then steep for 3 – 5 minutes. Drink 3 times per day. Tincture: 5 mL 3 times per day. Capsules: 400 – 500 mg 3 – 4 times daily for 4 – 8 weeks. Take with a full glass of water. Lozenges: follow dosing instructions on label.
Chinese herbs for the treatment of “Gu” symptoms caused by chronic inflammatory diseases So-called “Gu” symptoms include digestive issues associated with inflammation and pathogenic infestation. For more information about classical herbs used in Chinese Medicine for the treatment of such symptoms, please see the article, “Treating Chronic Inflammatory Diseases with Chinese Herbs: ‘Gu Syndrome’ in Modern Clinical Practice,” published by the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine13
Glutamine Research14 published in 2009 found that gastrointestinal damage caused by H. pylori can be addressed with the amino acid glutamine, found in many foods, including beef, chicken, fish, eggs, dairy products, and some fruits and vegetables. L-glutamine, the biologically active isomer of glutamine, is also widely available as a supplement.
Folate or folic acid (vitamin B9) and other B vitamins. As reported by clinical nutritionist Byron Richards,15 research suggests B vitamins can reduce your risk for acid reflux. Higher folic acid intake was found to reduce acid reflux by approximately 40 percent. Low vitamin B2 and B6 levels were also linked to an increased risk for acid reflux. The best way to raise your folate levels is by eating folate-rich whole foods, such as liver, asparagus, spinach, okra, and beans.
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