How to Resolve Acid Reflux & Heartburn Naturally

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HEALTH

 

How to Resolve Acid Reflux and Heartburn Naturally

 

 

By Terry Dorian, Ph.D.

 

 

 

The number of people who suffer from heartburn is estimated at 100 million.

 

http://www.cbn.com/living/health/dorian/heartburn.asp

 

 

CBN.com -- The number of people who suffer from heartburn is estimated at 100

million. By offering symptomatic relief to sufferers, the antacid business has

become a three billion-dollar industry. Antacid medications are sold without

offering consumers vital information concerning the causes and complications of

heartburn and digestive problems. Over 25 million Americans take antacids twice

a week. Even more take prescription drugs on a daily basis to find relief for

heartburn and indigestion.

 

The dangers of antacids:

 

 

Using antacids may cause damage to the lining of the esophagus (e.g.,

precancerous ulcers).

 

Biochemists report that one of the long-term side effects of blocking acid

production is a compromised immune system; hydrochloric acid is an essential

component in the complete digestion of food and protects the body from

pathogenic bacteria.

 

Calcium-based antacids (e.g., Tums) may damage the kidneys if taken over a

long period of time.

 

Magnesium based products (e.g., Mylanta and Maalox) and aluminum-based

products (e.g., Rolaids) should not be taken by anyone experiencing kidney

problems.

 

Antacids do not heal the tissue that has been inflamed or injured by stomach

acid.

 

 

 

 

Before treating acid reflux and indigestion with drugs, consumers ought to ask

their health professionals four questions:

 

What could be causing me to suffer from heartburn and indigestion?

Will the treatment that you are recommending heal my body or will it

simply provide symptomatic relief?

Will I experience side effects from the product(s) that you recommend

and will I be in any danger as a result of consuming the product(s)?

Can you recommend any natural healing therapies that would resolve my

problems safely and effectively?

 

 

 

If your health professional is not able to recommend safe and efficacious ways

to treat acid reflux and chronic indigestion, you may want to begin searching

for one who can. One way to find a medical doctor who is competent in

recommending natural therapies is by contacting the American College for

Advancement in Medicine www.acam.org. ACAM will provide a list of licensed

medical doctors in your location who have been trained in prescribing natural

therapies. Another source of help is the American Association of Naturopathic

Physicians (AANP) at 1-206-298-0125. Naturopathic physicians undergo rigorous

training in natural therapies.

 

What are the causes of acid reflux? The chief cause of digestive problems is a

diet high in fat and low in fiber, filled with chemicals, additives, simple

sugars and refined carbohydrates. A diet of processed, devitalized foods does

not contain sufficient enzymes necessary for digestion. Furthermore, minimal

processing and heating destroys the enzymes that are vital for complete

digestion. Antacids actually shut down digestion. In order to build health and

avoid digestive problems, we need to optimize digestion and heal the

inflammation caused by acid reflux.

 

Coffee, alcohol, tobacco, carbonated beverages, and chocolate further aggravate

digestive problems. Many sufferers are even bothered by tomatoes, citrus,

natural spices, and even spearmint and peppermint. Some drugs used to treat

other diseases have a relaxing action that affects the esophagus muscle and

increase the problems associated with acid reflux (e.g., tricyclic

antidepressants and nitroglycerin medications).

 

Safe and effective relief from indigestion and acid reflux is available. A

dietary supplement containing digestive enzymes is important for anyone who

wants to optimize the digestion and assimilation of cooked and processed food.

Effective digestive formulas contain ingredients such as amylase, invertase,

glucoamylase, protease, malt diastase, cellulase, peptidase, lipase, lactase and

acid-stable protease. Researchers have also discovered that dietary and

supplementary ingestion of Lactobacillus species (friendly bacteria) such as L.

acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, and L. bifidus support the body nutritionally and

play a therapeutic role as well. These Lactobacillus species produce enzymes

that aid in the digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.

 

 

 

For more information on this and other topics, get Dr. Dorian’s latest book,

Total Health and Restoration. She presents effective strategies for overcoming

obesity, fatigue, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, irritable

bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, osteoporosis, PMS and the

challenges of aging and hormonal imbalance – to name only a few, as well as the

dietary and lifestyle habits that reduce the risk of cancer by seventy-five

percent.

 

Terry Dorian, Ph.D., wife, mother, author, radio/television personality, and

popular conference speaker, is considered one of the most discerning health

researchers on the scene today. To find more articles on this and other topics

visit her online at www.healthbeginsinhim.org, or write

drdorian.

 

 

 

 

 

The complete " Whole Body " Health line consists of the " AIM GARDEN TRIO "

Ask About Health Professional Support Series: AIM Barleygreen

 

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