Showing posts with label gerd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gerd. Show all posts
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Why You Should Stop Taking Acid Suppressants You Could Be Deficient In Vitamin B12 ! Try These Natural Cures For Gerd
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| $6 Billion of Nexium was sold in the U.S. last year. Long-Term usage may cause vitamin B12 deficiency and other serious health issues. Follow Foods For Long Life on Facebook and Pinterest. |
GERD
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD, is near and dear to my heart. Through the years Ive had my own issues with reflux and heartburn. Luckily I was able to finally control it with diet and some natural remedies that I will discuss later. But before that, my gastroenterologist had me take acid suppressant medications.
Acid suppressant medications are sometimes necessary but they are overprescribed and overused. Over 150 million prescriptions were written in 2012 plus many of these acid-suppressants are now sold over-the-counter and easier than ever to get. Unfortunately many of the people who take them continue to do so for an extended period of time.
Types of Acid Suppressant Medications:
Proton-Pump Inhibitors
Proton-pump inhibitors, or PPIs, are among the highest selling drugs in the U.S. with nearly $10 billion dollars in sales. Nexium alone sold $6 billion in 2013. Remember the commercial, "ask your doctor about the purple pill"? I guess they did.
PPIs reduce the amount of stomach acid made by the glands in the lining of your stomach. The most common ones are:
* Prilosec
* Nexium
* Prevacid
* AcipHex
* Protonix
* Kapidex
Histamine 2 Receptor Antagonists
Histamin 2 receptor antagonists, or H2RAs, block the action of histamine on parietal cells in the stomach, reducing the production of stomach acid by these cells. H2RAs include products such as:
* Axid
* Pepcid
* Tagamet
* Zantac
They Work But.......
Medications that reduce stomach acid are very effective and are useful in giving the body time to heal esophageal tissue that has been damaged by reflux or to treat ulcers. The problem is people dont want to get off them. But long-term use can have serious consequences. Heres why.
Stomach Acid is Good
There is a reason you have acid in your stomach. Besides its role in digestion, it has some other very important functions:
Stomach acid kills bacteria and when acid is reduced, it does not. This could lead to quite a few problems. For example, when you lay down at night, stomach acid could travel up the esophagus and into your lungs. That stomach acid could harbor bacteria and, when it gets into your lungs, could cause aspiration pneumonia.
There has also been a connection between Clostridium difficile (a life-threatening bacteria), and PPIs. If a person consumes food contaminated with C. difficile, a low-acid stomach may allow it to take hold versus a stomach with a pH of 4 or less.
Stomach acid promotes the absorption of calcium. When stomach acid is reduced for a prolonged period of time, reduced calcium absorption could lead to osteoporosis and bone fractures. Research indicates a link between long-term use of PPIs and increased hip fractures.
Stomach acid uncouples vitamin B12 from food. Without stomach acid, the body cannot absorb vitamin B12 which could lead to B12 deficiency.
Recent Study Links Acid Suppressants to Vitamin B12 Deficiency
A recent study by Dr. Douglas A. Corley, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, uncovered a serious problem for people taking PPI’s and H2RA’s for two years or longer. “People who are taking these medications are more likely than the average person to be vitamin B12 deficient."
Patients taking PPI’s for more than 2 years were 65 percent more likely to be deficient in B12. (Twelve percent of the patients with B12 deficiency used PPI’s two years or more vs. 7.2 percent of the non users). The risk of deficiency was smaller among the patients taking H2RAs, however, those taking H2RAs for more than 2 years were 25 percent more likely to be deficient (4.2% vs. 3.2%.)
Although most people associate vitamin B12 deficiency with seniors, this study showed the strongest association in adults younger than age 30!
The study also found a correlation between higher dosages and increased risk of B12 deficiency. Those taking an average of 1.5 PPI pills per day had almost double the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency compared to those averaging 0.75 pills per day.
Vitamin B12 is Critical!!
The average adult should get 2.4 micrograms per day.
Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, has some very critical functions:
* its needed for the formation of normal red blood cells
* helps make nerves and is essential for the health of the entire nervous system
* important for the synthesis of DNA
* known as the "energy vitamin", as it increases your energy by supporting the metabolism of protein, fats, and carbohydrates
Early Deficiency Symptoms Include:
* weakness of the arms and legs
* fatigue
* difficulty walking or speaking
* numbness and "pins and needles" sensation in hands, feet or legs
* decreased sensory perceptions
* light-headedness
* rapid heartbeat
* shortness of breadth
* easy bruising and bleeding gums
* mood changes and mental slowness
Long-Term, Untreated Deficiency can lead to:
* IRREVERSIBLE nerve damage
* anemia
* memory loss
* deep depression
* paranoia and delusions
* loss of taste and smell
What to Do
If you have been on acid suppressant drugs for an extended period of time and exhibit any of these symptoms, get a blood test to confirm deficiency. If deficient, you can correct it with shots or daily high-dosage B12 pills. If you do this in time, you can reverse your symptoms. If you do not do this in time, you may not be able to reverse nerve damage so DONT PUT THIS OFF!
Most importantly, work with a naturopath to determine the cause of your GERD. As an update to my post on Diet and Natural Remedies for GERD, Heartburn, and Indigestion, heres what eventually worked for me.
First my naturopath tested my stomach acid level. Its a simple test you can do at home by taking an increasing amount of Betaine Hydrocloride pills (Betaine HCL) until you feel stomach pain. If you can tolerate a lot of these pills, you have low stomach acid and your stomach problems are from not having enough acid to properly digest food, which is often the case. If you cannot tolerate many of these pills, you are producing too much acid. That was my problem - I make too much acid. Do not do this test without the knowledge of your doctor.
If your problem is too little stomach acid, your naturopath may recommend you take Betaine HCL with your high-protein meals.
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| Betaine HCL aids digestion when you lack stomach acid |
Since my GERD was not from low stomach acid, I had to go another route.
When I had severe GERD, I temporarily eliminated or greatly reduced my trigger foods. I say temporarily because today I can enjoy most of these things in moderation although I certainly try to avoid eating all of them in the same day.
My trigger foods are chocolate, spicy food, too much tomato sauce, too much caffeinated tea (green tea and Yerbe Mate), citrus fruits, peppermint, and alcohol. Trigger foods that I can never eat again include coffee and chamomile tea.
Heres are some of the natural products I take to control GERD:
* Heartburn Free by Enzymatic Therapy. For a severe GERD attack, this is my go-to treatment. I take one pill every other day until Ive finished 10 pills total over 20 days, while avoiding my trigger foods. This usually does the trick. Its key ingredient is orange peel extract, which sounds like it would actually give you heartburn but, in fact, it works really well for up to 6 months.
* DGL by Enzymatic Therapy. I occasionally take these before I eat something naughty or when I get symptoms. This is an extract of deglycrrhizinated licorice and is widely used in Europe.
* GI-Encap by Thorne Research. I occasionally take these before I eat or when I get symptoms. This soothing botanical formula contains aloe vera, DGL, slippery elm bark, and marshmallow root.
* Essential Enzymes by Source Naturals, taken before meals, helps me digest food. I only take these with heavier, cooked meals and dont need them at all when eating raw salads or fruits. In addition to enzymes, I take a daily probiotic. Besides digestion, probiotics help create and support healthy microbiota which helps countless issues. See my post on The Microbes Within: How they Shape our Lives and Influence our Health.
Natural Cures take Patience and some Sacrifice
If you are taking acid suppressants, especially if you have been on them for a long time, I encourage you to seek a natural alternative. I especially encourage my vegan followers out there who are already having to make special efforts to get enough vitamin B12 (since it is not found in the plant kingdom.)
The hardest thing about giving up these drugs is that pills like Nexium or Zantac work quickly and so darn well. Who wants to give up chocolate and alcohol, even for a few weeks or a month? But these pharmaceutical cures come at a great price - bone loss, potential irreversible nerve damage, infections, anemia, and all the things I mentioned above. So the effort is well worth it. It worked for me and I truly hope it can work for you.
If youve enjoyed this article and are looking for ways to improve your health, download my eBook, Health Begins in the Kitchen, available on Amazon and iTunes.
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Diet and Natural Remedies for GERD Heartburn and Indigestion
For decades Ive had a personal struggle with heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD. Although my diet has always been pretty healthy, certain "trigger foods" like orange juice, tomatoes and coffee cause painful reflux. Doctors prescribed the "usual" drugs like Zantac and Prilosec to reduce my stomach acid. That didnt make much sense to me since the stomach needs acid to digest proteins. Undigested proteins can cause allergic reactions and disease. I was also worried about the long list of side effects of these drugs.
I went to my naturopathic doctor to find a natural remedy for reflux, heartburn and indigestion. I also did a lot of personal research. Between the two, I have been able to greatly reduce these painful episodes without taking "acid reducing" medication. Since I know there are thousands of people who suffer with this, Id like to share what has worked for me. This is only MY experience and I am not recommending or prescribing this treatment for you. But perhaps you can learn something from my personal and successful journey, work with your holistic health care practitioner and get similar results. To make sure that you do not have a more serious condition like an ulcer, hiatal hernia, or any form of stomach or esophageal cancer, you may want to have an endoscopy. This procedure allows the doctor to directly view the upper GI tract.
Some Common Reasons for Digestive Problems
• Reflux can happen when your "lower esophageal sphincter", also known as LES, is weakened. This causes the acidic contents of the stomach to flow back into the esophagus. This is known as "reflux".
• Indigestion can be caused by low stomach acid or hydrochloric acid (HCl). Our level of stomach acid decreases with age. HCl breaks down proteins into amino acids. It also kills bacteria and yeast found in food that can cause disease. In addition, HCl stimulates the pancreas and small intestines to produce digestive enzymes and bile needed for the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Taking ant-acids reduces stomach acid further which can severely worsen the problem and prevent all of the above vital activities!
• Digestive problems can be caused by a low level of digestive enzymes. Our level of digestive enzymes decrease with age.
Foods and Beverages to Avoid
• Coffee, tea and cola drinks with and without caffeine (Most herbal teas dont bother me except for ones with relaxing qualities. For me a hot cup of Sleepy Time tea before bed is a guarantee for heartburn. Perhaps it relaxes the LES.)
• Alcohol
• Fatty foods, especially meat products (I am not personally bothered by vegetable fats like avocados or raw nuts but you might have a different reaction.)
• Tomatoes and tomato sauce
• Spicy foods
• Citrus fruits (I personally can tolerate lemon, lime and the occasional grapefruit but even the smallest amount of orange juice causes immediate heartburn. You may react differently).
• Peppermint and spearmint
• Chocolate
Other Considerations
• Dont lay down right after eating or eat a late dinner
• Avoid wearing tight clothing
• Eat small meals (Excess food in the stomach puts pressure on the LES.)
• Sleep with your head elevated by raising the head of your bed or placing a wedge under the mattress
• Avoid stress
• Avoid tobacco products
• Avoid medications that irritate the lining of the stomach like anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin
Natural Remedies [discuss these with your doctor before trying]
• My naturopath recommended I take a product called "Heartburn Free" by Enzymatic Therapy. Its basically 1000 milligrams of orange peel extract containing d-limonene. It claims to provide 6 months of relief (I got about 3). I took one soft gel every other day for 20 days (a total of 10 pills). It worked very well for me but you must make sure you dont have an ulcer before taking it.
• Another product that really helps me is DGL, also from Enzymatic Therapy. DGL stands for deglycyrrhizinated licorice. I chew 2 tablets twenty minutes before each meal and it really soothes my digestive tract.
• As I posted on May 31, 2009, I take digestive enzymes at the beginning of each meal. My favorite is "Source Naturals Essential Enzymes" which is a vegetarian, broad spectrum blend.
• I find it very helpful to take a few teaspoons of unfiltered, unpasteurized, organic apple cider vinegar twice a day, especially when I eat a meal high in protein and fat. Raw apple cider vinegar (Braggs is a good brand and is readily available in your local health food store) is known to aid in digestion by stimulating your stomach acid. Sometimes I mix it with a little local honey or stir it into applesauce.
• People who are really low in stomach acid sometimes take Betaine Hydrochloric Acid supplements. I used to take these but I find that the apple cider vinegar works well enough for the amount of protein I eat. Big meat eaters, however, may require supplemental HCL for proper digestion. These should NOT be taken if there is ANY chance that you have an ulcer.
Summary
I know it sounds drastic to give up some of your favorite foods and to make difficult life adjustments. You will have to be diligent at first to repair and reverse painful digestive problems. But once you get your heartburn and reflux in control, you may be able to add back some of your favorite things. Youll eventually know what foods and beverages cause the biggest problems for you and those you can occasionally tolerate. For me, I know I can never drink coffee or orange juice. But when Ive got things in control, I can enjoy a plate of pasta with tomato sauce and a nice glass of wine. Its all about moderation!
If you take away anything from this article, learn to do your own homework, consider some natural and far more healthy approaches and do not blindly support a multi-billion dollar industry that is trying to convince you that stomach acid is a bad thing. For most of us, its not the problem, its the cure!
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