A Little Acid Actually Fights Harmful Bacteria.
On a daily basis, television bombards us with commercials about antacids and other pills that reduce acid. But those popular purple pills are overused today, research finds.
Proton pump inhibitors (or PPIs) are most commonly taken for ulcers, heartburn, and acid reflux. Trouble is we all need some stomach acid to fight bacteria.
People taking PPIs are more likely to develop pneumonia. And that’s not all. Long-term use of these acid-suppressing pills increases the risk for diarrhea caused by the “superbug” Clostridum difficile.
Because sufficient stomach acid is needed to digest food and absorb nutrients properly, taking heartburn drugs—over time—also leads to deficiencies in important vitamins and minerals. Research even links these acid reflux pills with hip fracture in osteoporosis.
Dr. Ann Louise’s Take:
I find it alarming that PPIs are so routinely recommended for heartburn, acid reflux, and ulcers. Close to 70 percent of ulcers, for example, are linked to the “superbug” Heliobacter pylori, against which these pills—and antacids, for that matter, are powerless.
To add injury to insult, a recent article in Gastroenterology points out that acid suppressing drugs can have rebound effects, causing the very heartburn and stomach pain they’re meant to treat. “Acid secretion is normal in most patients with reflux disease and acid inhibitory therapy makes it abnormally low,” researchers say.
Natural Pain Relief
The first step in preventing acid reflux is to watch what you eat and drink. Alcohol, coffee, peppermint, raw onions, sugary refined foods, and too many fatty foods can weaken the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which prevents stomach acid from splashing up into your esophagus.
The LES is supposed to be a one-way valve. But the wrong diet, eating too much or too fast can cause it to malfunction—resulting in painful acid reflux. Overweight and obesity also cause acid reflux.
Hiatal Hernia?
As many as 90 percent of people with acid reflux have a hiatal hernia, where the upper part of the stomach pushes into the opening of the diaphragm and gets stuck. Talk about pain!
Once you treat your hiatal hernia, however, acid reflux goes away. Well-trained naturopaths and chiropractors who are skilled in soft-tissue manipulation can pull your stomach back down where it belongs and put an end to heartburn. Or try simple do-it-yourself techniques to relieve pain:
• Rebounding—Drink two glasses of water; then bounce 15 times on your heels to help pull the stomach back into place.
• Yoga Poses—Both the “donkey” and “modified cobra” can be used to stretch and strengthen both the stomach and diaphragm.
• Rescue Remedy—Helps calm the solar plexus, the area of the body’s most sensitive nerve center that can become too tight, resulting in a displaced stomach.
Prevent Osteoporosis
If you have been using PPIs for any length of time, you need to protect your bones. Take Vitamin D with at least 5,000 IUs, plus added calcium, to make up for poor absorption when you were reducing stomach acid with those infamous purple pills. Osteo-Key contains microcrystalline hydroxyapatite, the most bioavailable form of calcium, along with key bone building nutrients.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19797970
https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(09)00780-X/fulltext
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19262544
7 Responses
May I add, digestive enzymes and probiotics can help prevent the problem. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
I tend to get exercise induced acid reflux. There are quite a few OTC remedies but I’m not sure which one is the best one. I suppose I could go down the list and try each one, but I’d much rather receive some professional advice and possibly a more naturalistic approach to resolving my issue. Thank you!
You didn’t tell us how to get off them safely and effectively if you’ve been on them for years. That’s what I want to know.
I agree with Betty; try digestive enzymes and probiotics. These would be helpful in trying to get off of PPIs and antacids in general. I like Infl-Zyme and HCL *2, which can be cut in halves or quarters for starters. My book, The Fast Track Detox Diet, provides an HCL challenge.
In any case, Tami, you will need to cut down gradually and try any of the above on for size 🙂
About a year ago I read the fast track detox diet book. Since then I have become as much as possible organic, also I used to have acid reflux, had it for years on and off and was using all sorts of otc and prescription meds.. I now take two HCL with pepsin each day, plus lots of other supplements, and have not had one episode of AR or indegestion since commencing the healthy organic eating. Hows that for a quick fix that actually works!
PS I have also lost 21lbs and 4inches on my waist
Wow, Sue. Your post was such a delight to read. I love to hear about such results.
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