Your stomach was made to be an acid chamber, so it could digest protein. It was designed to keep its pH 3.0 or less.
When your stomach's pH moves above 3.0, it automatically produces more acid to bring the pH down below 3.0.
Your stomach is happy and working like it should when its pH is 3.0 or less because it can do the job it was intended to:
* break protein into its individual amino acids
* prepare vitamins and minerals to be absorbed in the intestines
* destroy incoming bacteria and pathogens
* reduce chances of coming down with stomach cancer
* keep stomach content acidic so when it goes into the duodenum, it triggers pancreas digestive juices.
* reduces the chances of having allergies, skin disease, asthma, depression, lupus, grave's disease, osteoporosis, accelerated aging, and other conditions.
What is heartburn or acid reflux?
Acid reflux or heartburn is a condition where your stomach acid has gone to areas where it does not belong. Specifically it has moved into your esophagus, which is the long tube that comes from your throat to your stomach. There, this acid will burn and destroy tissue lining.
If you have heartburn or acid reflux, you will feel a burning or painful sensation coming up your chest. Stomach acid has push back up into your esophagus through a valve that is between your esophagus and upper stomach.
Acid reflux is the movement of your stomach acidic contents moving into your esophagus. Heartburn is the result of the stomach content in your esophagus - the pain or burning sensation you feel in your chest.
What is the cause of heartburn or acid reflux?
Heartburn is caused by the esophagus valve opening and allowing acid to "reflux" or move up into your esophagus where it burns your sensitive tissue. Heartburn is not caused by excess stomach acid, as is promoted by the medical community. The major cause is a faulty esophagus valve, called the lower esophageal sphincter, LES, which allows acid back into an area where it does not belong.
What is the recommend medical treatment?
Doctors prescribe what the pharmaceutical company's create and push. A few of these drugs are:
* Prosilec
* AcipHex
* Nexium
* Protonix
* Antacids
What do these drugs do?
They either neutralize or block the formation of stomach acid causing its pH to go above 3.0. As the acid pH moves up to 4 and higher, it is becoming more alkaline. Under these conditions it will not burn your sensitive esophageal tissue and the result is you do not feel the burning sensation. This leads you to believe that you are cured, but you have to continue to use the drug to be cured.
What are the side effects of this medical treatment?
The side effects of using these drugs are that it keeps your stomach at a pH higher than 3.0 and your stomach is not allowed to stabilize its pH to 3.0 or less.
You now have a stomach that exists with its chemical make up "out of spec." Do you accept or produce products that are "out of spec" and expect these products to work as they were intended? I think not.
What are the natural remedies to use for heartburn or acid reflux?
The natural remedy and lifestyle for eliminating heartburn or acid reflux is to:
* stop doing and eating the things that promote acid reflux
* start doing the things that help eliminate acid reflux
* start taking natural remedies that will help to strengthen or normalize your lower esophageal sphincter, LES.
In another article, I will discuss the above three items and give you some ideas on what you can do to relieve or cure your heartburn and stop acid reflux.
One of the secrets in controlling and eliminating heartburn and acid reflux is to take HCl acid pills. Heartburn often occurs not because of excess acid in the stomach but because of not enough acid in the stomach. This will be explained in the next issue. But taking HCl pills should be done under the direction of your doctor.
Your stomach is your first line of good health. Keeping your stomach working right will assure you that you will get the right nutrition into your blood to prevent the many diseases that occur when you are under nourished.
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Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
What alcohol is the least bad to drink with acid reflux
By: Billy Ray | 06-06-2008
What alcohol is the least bad to drink for someone who suffers from Acid Reflux/GERD? I know abstaining from alcohol is often recommended but I'm asking for something to drink in social situations where an alcoholic drink is nice. I know red wine is terrible for me.
My husband has acid reflux really bad and none of ...
By: joan | 20-05-2008
my husband has acid reflux really bad and none of the meds that he has taken helps not even percription he has had this problem for about 15 years please help.
Hey i'm a 17 year old Girl ..
By: His babie | 15-05-2008
hey i'm a 17 year old Girl and i have been havin of the symptoms. all i really want to know is how to get rid of it with our buyin the book. Please i really need the help. Thank you Charity
How do you deal with bile reflux? I think that is ...
By: tinyrufus | 11-01-2008
How do you deal with bile reflux? I think that is why I am not responding 100% to the Prevacid. I had my gallbladder out and I know my diet was not good.
Esophagitis
By: bpandey | 30-08-2007
well i have recently being diagnosed with esophagitis grade 3 which is pretty severe.i have been prescribed pariet 20mg twice a day. i am taking it and it has been helpful. i have made small changes in my diet as well.dont have heartburn any more but still have acid reflux. can someone please advise how to get rid of acid reflux. i am 25 years old and am trying to get pregnant. can someone please advise if it is safe to fall pregnant while i have this condition and if it is safe to continue taking pariet during pregnancy? thanks
I was diagnosed with Mild Chrnonic Inflammation ...
By: jamie.flitter | 15-08-2007
I was diagnosed with Mild Chrnonic Inflammation about 8 months ago (I guess its also called esophogitis). They put me on some sample meds for the heart burn and had me taking Gaviscon to help coat my throat after meals. After a few months it went away, though i'm not sure any of the meds helped. About 3 weeks ago it started up again. It started out as heart burn, only a couple days of it though, and worked its way into my throat. It feels sometimes like acid is coming back up my esophagus and can sometimes be hard to swallow, it can feel tight and sore. I am still trying to take Gaviscon after meals but I am not taking any meds. I work out regularly and eat pretty healthy, i'm only 22. I need help. I am not sure what to do; get a new prescription and hope that helps, or try something else to get rid of it. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
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