2 Causes of Heartburn & Acid Most Doctors Ignore
For anyone who has suffered from heartburn or acid reflux, here's important news:
New research shows that the problems may be caused by two hidden triggers that the "solutions" most doctors recommend fail to address.
You see, most heartburn remedies only treat your symptoms. They do nothing to address the underlying cause of acid reflux.
It's kind of like getting a shot of Novocaine for a tooth cavity. It can blunt the pain for a while, but if the cavity isn't treated, the pain comes right back as soon as the Novocain wears off.
It's the same with acid reflux. If you don't fix what's causing the problems, your symptoms will keep coming back.
And while you would never consider getting a daily shot of Novocaine to ease your dental discomfort, Americans will fill over 170 million prescriptions for acid blockers this year[1]—taking them day after day.
But what you may not know is that the most popular of these acid-blocking medications, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), carry an FDA warning that they should not be used for more than 14 consecutive days or more than 42 total days over the course of a year.[2]
Yet doctors and patients frequently ignore this warning, risking severe consequences to ease the discomfort.
I'm Richard Daniels. Roughly 20 years ago, I began my quest to resolve my own issues with Reflux & Heartburn. My passion for natural fixes to heal the gut has led me to educate people on alternative solutions that are both safe and effective.
Please keep reading because today I'm going to show you how to quickly and safely relieve your heartburn and reflux issues by combatting the true causes that, unfortunately, too many doctors overlook.
The Big Problems of Acid-Blocking PPIs
The primary purpose of most heartburn remedies is to block stomach acid in the digestive tract, often by inhibiting proton pump cells from producing this acid. And they usually do this quite effectively.
But stomach acid is essential for the proper absorption of vital nutrients to maintain overall health. Low levels of stomach acid and the use of PPIs have been linked to:
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Immune system impairment
due to an altered gut environment[3] -
Low absorption of essential nutrients such as vitamin B12, calcium, iron and magnesium[4,5,6]
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Increased risk of serious cardiovascular
issues[7] -
Increased risk of serious kidney and renal issues[8]
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Negative effects on cognitive function and brain health[9,10]
Hidden Heartburn Trigger #1: Your Acid Level Might Not Be Too High, It's Could Be Too LOW!
For years we've been told that high levels of stomach acid are what causes heartburn. It makes sense, since acid refluxing from the upper stomach into the esophagus is what causes our symptoms, right?
Well, there's just one problem with this commonly held theory: It's not true!
And, as I just mentioned, blocking stomach acid can trigger all sorts of damaging health issues.
-
fact
Stomach acid is absolutely VITAL for our digestion and our health. Stomach acid helps us break down and absorb the foods we eat. Without adequate acid levels, foods aren't digested properly, which creates the gas and bloating that can cause acid to reflux up into the esophagus.
-
fact
The presence of stomach acid is what SIGNALS our Lower Esophageal Sphincter to close during digestion. This sphincter acts as a "valve". When we eat, it opens to let food enter the stomach. But when we're digesting, it's supposed to remain shut. If we aren't producing enough acid, the valve never gets the signal and remains OPEN.
-
fact
As we get older, acid levels fall, BUT heartburn increases. When we're younger, we produce almost 200 milligrams of stomach acid every hour. But as we get older, we produce less and less. In his book, Why Stomach Acid Is Good for You, Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., reveals what he's found in 24 years of treating patients with acid reflux and other symptoms...
When we carefully test people over age 40 who're having heartburn, indigestion and gas, over 90 percent of the time we find inadequate acid production by the stomach.
-
fact
Low stomach acid creates the perfect environment for bugs and bacteria. Your digestive system and your esophagus are home to many forms of bacteria. But your stomach is sterile. Reason: Bugs and bacteria ingested from foods are quickly seized upon and destroyed by stomach acid. But when acid levels fall, bugs and bacteria can invade the stomach, causing digestive problems and other health issues.
-
fact
If high acid levels were the cause, then acid reflux would be a young person's affliction. We produce more acid in our 20s than in our 40s. If high acid were the cause, it would be confined to people in their teens and 20s. But it's not. Today, more than 20 million Americans over the age of 40 spend more than $14 billion every year on acid-blocking medications.[11]
I'll never understand why traditional medicine's popular "solutions" ignore every single one of these facts. And in a minute, I'll show you how to safely and effectively get healthy, balanced acid levels. But right now, let me tell you about the second hidden cause behind reflux and heartburn...
Hidden Heartburn Trigger #2: Inflammatory Fires in Your Digestive Tract
As a health conscious person, you are probably familiar with inflammation. At its best, inflammation is simply your body's healthy and natural response to injury or infection. But the problem with inflammation arises when it stays elevated for prolonged periods of time. When that happens, it can wreak havoc on your health—especially in your digestive system.
Throughout your stomach and esophagus—and indeed your entire digestive tract—lives a protective layer of mucus. This mucus acts like a shield between your stomach lining and stomach acid. But in many people with acid reflux, this protective mucus has been drastically compromised.
As this protective mucus lining becomes eroded through prolonged inflammation, gas, tiny food particles and acid are pushed farther up in the stomach into the diaphragm and ultimately reflux up into the esophagus. Once there, you get burning acid in your throat, heartburn, indigestion and misery.
The fact is, PPIs simply don't address the low stomach acid levels and inflammation that are so often at the root of acid reflux. But here's the good news you've been waiting for...
Combatting Heartburn and Acid Reflux with
3 Proven Natural Solutions
You don't have to rely on the frequently recommended "solutions" to get relief from the discomfort that makes you miserable and keeps you up at night.
Research has shown that three natural ingredients have remarkable effectiveness in relieving heartburn and acid reflux, while helping soothe inflammation in the mucosal lining of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. The results are fast, the benefits long lasting, and most important, you'll experience no side effects whatsoever!
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Acid Relief Solution #1
DGL: The Licorice Soother
You might be familiar with licorice as a sweet flavoring agent, but licorice also has a long history of use as a soother of digestive discomfort associated with heartburn and acid reflux. And there's a special preparation of licorice called deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL for short, that is extremely effective at this.
Multiple scientific studies have shown that DGL has the ability to restore the integrity of the esophageal, stomach and intestinal lining by increasing the secretion of protective mucus that lines the gastrointestinal tract. This lining is a key component of the stomach's defense against the erosive properties of acid.
One double-blind study compared the benefits of DGL to the conventional approach and found that it was equally effective at reducing the uncomfortable symptoms when evaluated at both 6 and 12 weeks of use.[12]
More importantly, other clinical trials have demonstrated the benefits of DGL for supporting the integrity of the stomach lining.[13]
In addition, research on a specific form of DGL, called GutProtector, has shown it can also help with functional dyspepsia, or discomfort in the upper belly or abdomen occurring during or right after eating.[14]
The bottom line: DGL can help boost the mucosal lining of the stomach, thereby reducing damage, preventing inflammation and curbing symptoms. That's why I recommend DGL to anyone with reflux, heartburn or other symptoms of indigestion.
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Acid Relief Solution #2
Soothing Aloe Vera
Aloe vera was dubbed the "plant of immortality" by the ancient Egyptians. This soothing gel contains powerful anti-inflammatory compounds that have been used for decades to relieve the stinging from sunburn and other burns. And when it comes to reflux and heartburn, aloe vera offers many terrific benefits.
-
It helps combat the inflammatory fires in your stomach that can lead to pain, bloating, burning and reflux.
-
It helps stimulate better digestion, and the better you're able to digest the foods you eat, the less gas, bloating, reflux and heartburn you get.
In one study, researchers found that aloe improved intestinal motility, thereby speeding up bowel emptying. At the end of the study, participants reported less bloating after meals and reduced flatulence.[15]
In another double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers tested aloe for its inflammatory response in the intestines. The result: Clinical researchers found that patients who took aloe for 4 weeks had measurable improvements in inflammatory factors with no side effects.[16]
Please note: The aloe plant can have some unwanted laxative effects, so it is extremely important to find an aloe product that has the latex portion removed to avoid this issue.
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Acid Relief Solution #3
The Healing Power of Slippery Elm
Slippery elm is an herb famous for its soothing properties. As the name implies, extracts of the bark of the slippery elm tree are often "slippery" producing copious amounts of compounds called polysaccharides.
These compounds are very similar in nature to the makeup of the mucus in your stomach and can augment your body's own mucus production, helping to protect the lining of the esophagus, stomach and intestines.[17]
The polysaccharides found in slippery elm can help promote a healthy inflammatory response in the stomach and intestines, making it a valuable ally for promoting healthy overall digestion in addition to helping with acid problems.[18]
