If you've been reading my newsletters and articles for a while, you've undoubtedly heard me rant against the widespread use of antacids and acid-suppressing drugs (Proton Pump Inhibitors), which I think is one of the dumbest ideas conventional medicine has ever sold to the American public.
This class of drugs such as Prevacid, Nexium and others, are among the most widely prescribed in the country. We pop them like candy.
Magic purple pill indeed.
Regular use of acid-suppressing drugs is associated with increased risk of hip fractures, probably because of impaired calcium absorption. A recent Canadian study finds that long-term use of acid reflux drugs (Proton Pump Inhibitors) may boost the risk of osteoporosis related bone fractures.
The fact is that common antacids and acid-lowering drugs do not treat the cause of acid-reflux.
Why? Because heartburn is almost never caused by an excess of stomach acid! Rather, it's the stomach acid ending up in the wrong place (reflexing back up into the esophagus instead of remaining in the stomach).
The body makes stomach acid for a
reason. We
need stomach acid for digestion of protein and absorption of minerals like calcium and iron (one of many reasons why prescribing TUMS as a source of calcium is patently idiotic!)
Stomach acid is also essential for preventing the growth of bacteria and yeast in your stomach. So it's no wonder that curbing acid with drugs can lead to problems. Taking acid-suppressors may increase the risk of acquiring a food-borne intestinal infection or lead to the overgrowth of bacteria in the stomach and small intestine. Overgrowth of bacteria in the stomach probably explains some other risks generally associated with regular use of acid suppressors including
vitamin B12 deficiency, stomach cancer and pneumonia.
If these drugs can boost risk of hip fractures and food borne illness, what natural therapies can we take for acid-reflux?
In areas of digestion and gut health, one of my go-to guys is Leo Galland, MD. Dr. Galland is a giant in the field of integrative medicine and has been putting out cutting edge information for as long as I can remember. He's respected by absolutely everyone in my field.
Dr. Galland's office recently sent me information on an effective natural approach that can help reverse the causes of acid reflux and improve symptoms without the use of risky PPI's. And when Dr. Galland talks, I listen. So should you.
Dr. Galland's put together a new electronic booklet called "The Heartburn and Indigestion Solution". In it you can learn simple and effective steps to heal heartburn. The booklet covers:
- The signs and symptoms of Acid Reflux (GERD): Its not just about acid, but about the proper movement of food and fluid through the gastrointestinal tract.
- Why you need stomach acid: proper digestion, and to help fight food-borne infection.
- The surprising risks of taking acid-lowering drugs: higher risk of bone loss and food poisoning, for example.
In The Heartburn and Indigestion Solution, you can learn the program Dr. Galland has developed for addressing acid-reflux and indigestion naturally. I highly recommend it.
You can get Dr. Gallands e-book on the natural secrets for fixing acid reflux and heartburn here:
http://fatresistancediet.com/alternative-medicine/gerd/
This class of drugs such as Prevacid, Nexium and others, are among the most widely prescribed in the country. We pop them like candy.
Magic purple pill indeed.
Regular use of acid-suppressing drugs is associated with increased risk of hip fractures, probably because of impaired calcium absorption. A recent Canadian study finds that long-term use of acid reflux drugs (Proton Pump Inhibitors) may boost the risk of osteoporosis related bone fractures.
The fact is that common antacids and acid-lowering drugs do not treat the cause of acid-reflux.
Why? Because heartburn is almost never caused by an excess of stomach acid! Rather, it's the stomach acid ending up in the wrong place (reflexing back up into the esophagus instead of remaining in the stomach).
The body makes stomach acid for a reason. We need stomach acid for digestion of protein and absorption of minerals like calcium and iron (one of many reasons why prescribing TUMS as a source of calcium is patently idiotic!)
Stomach acid is also essential for preventing the growth of bacteria and yeast in your stomach. So it's no wonder that curbing acid with drugs can lead to problems. Taking acid-suppressors may increase the risk of acquiring a food-borne intestinal infection or lead to the overgrowth of bacteria in the stomach and small intestine. Overgrowth of bacteria in the stomach probably explains some other risks generally associated with regular use of acid suppressors including vitamin B12 deficiency, stomach cancer and pneumonia.
If these drugs can boost risk of hip fractures and food borne illness, what natural therapies can we take for acid-reflux?
In areas of digestion and gut health, one of my go-to guys is Leo Galland, MD. Dr. Galland is a giant in the field of integrative medicine and has been putting out cutting edge information for as long as I can remember. He's respected by absolutely everyone in my field.
Dr. Galland's office recently sent me information on an effective natural approach that can help reverse the causes of acid reflux and improve symptoms without the use of risky PPI's. And when Dr. Galland talks, I listen. So should you.
Dr. Galland's put together a new electronic booklet called "The Heartburn and Indigestion Solution". In it you can learn simple and effective steps to heal heartburn. The booklet covers:
In The Heartburn and Indigestion Solution, you can learn the program Dr. Galland has developed for addressing acid-reflux and indigestion naturally. I highly recommend it.
You can get Dr. Gallands e-book on the natural secrets for fixing acid reflux and heartburn here:
http://fatresistancediet.com/alternative-medicine/gerd/