Acid Reflux Healing
Are you choking down over-the-counter medicine for acid reflux just to get through the day? There could be a better way. It starts with managing your gut health.
Life with acid reflux can feel limiting. People with this condition experience the pain and discomfort of stomach acid flowing backward into the esophagus. It leads to burning, pain, and a sour taste without warning. Many of my clients become fearful, anxious, and filled with dread when going about their lives because reflux hangs over them like a cloud.
Most acid reflux remedies only dull the discomfort. They don't address reflux's underlying causes. They may also not be tailored for the different versions of acid reflux a person can experience. They can also have side effects.
Something that most people struggling with acid reflux are never told is that there are different types of reflux.
Here's a look:
Classic Acid Reflux: Burning sensation in the chest (heartburn), regurgitation of liquids or foods, chest pain and soreness, nausea, and difficulty swallowing.
Silent Reflux: Soreness in the throat, hoarseness, persistent cough, or feeling like there is a lump in the throat (this may accompany a post-nasal drip).
Bile Acid Reflux: Persistent sour taste in the mouth, pain in the upper abdomen, and nausea that can be accompanied by classic acid reflux symptoms. A person may try to soothe these uncomfortable abdominal sensations with more food.
Low Stomach Acid
If you suffer from reflux, the obvious diagnosis is that your digestive system is producing too much acid. However, reflux can be an indicator of low stomach acid. Known as hypochlorhydria, low stomach acid leads to incomplete digestion that stresses esophageal muscles. This is why a one-size-fits-all approach to treating reflux doesn't work!
Why You Can’t Get Relief
If you've been treated with acid reflux medication without success, it may be time to take a different approach. Unfortunately, many traditional medications come with downsides that can sabotage gut health.
Antacids: The antacids that most people pop when reflux acts up contain aluminium, which is foreign to the body.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): These can reduce reflux symptoms in the short term, but cause worsening symptoms when you try to remove the PPIs as this triggers your body to produce more acid than before. This leaves many people worse off following treatment than they were before seeing a doctor, and believing they need to remain on PPIs.
H2 receptor blockers: These medications can cause a long list of nasty side effects that include fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, headaches, and liver injuries. Trading reflux for constant exhaustion and digestive pain doesn't feel like a win.
As a qualified nutritionist, I'm here to tell you that there's more to the story of acid reflux. To start, I'll help you identify which form of reflux you're suffering from. Rather than forcing you to be dependent on medications that can have long-term dangers or unpleasant side effects, I'll work with you on a plan that integrates nutritional healing and lifestyle changes to help reverse reflux symptoms.
Reflux can bring anxiety and panic to your life. Let's investigate a solution that provides you with relief. Book a consultation with me today.