Acid Reflux
Acid Reflux
Acid Reflux
By Dr. Mercola
Obesity is associated with a significant number of health problems, including insulin resistance,
cancer, and others, and now researchers may have uncovered a reason why. While most of your
tissues and organs age at the same rate, certain factors may cause aging to accelerate.
For this reason, you may be older than your chronological age indicates, or certain organs may
be more aged than others a measure known as epigenetic age. One such factor linked to an
acceleration of epigenetic aging is obesity, particularly in your liver.
the sugar found in everything from high fructose corn syrup and fruit juice to agave syrup and
honey is harmful when consumed in excess.
This is precisely what most Americans do. However, you may be surprised to learn that fructose
is, in many ways, very similar to alcohol in the damage that it can do to your body and your
liver.
Unlike glucose, which can be used by virtually every cell in your body, fructose can only be
metabolized by your liver, because your liver is the only organ that has the transporter for it.3
Since nearly all fructose gets shuttled to your liver, and, if you eat a typical Western-style diet,
you consume high amounts of it, fructose ends up taxing and damaging your liver in the same
way alcohol and other toxins do. In fact, fructose is virtually identical to alcohol with regard to
the metabolic havoc it wreaks.
According to Dr. Lustig, Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at the
University of California, fructose is a "chronic, dose-dependent liver toxin." And just like
alcohol, fructose is metabolized directly into fat not cellular energy, like glucose.
His findings were published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics,4 where Dr.
Lustig explained the three similarities between fructose and its fermentation byproduct, ethanol
(alcohol):
1. Your liver's metabolism of fructose is similar to alcohol, as they both serve as substrates for
converting dietary carbohydrate into fat, which promotes insulin resistance, dyslipidemia
(abnormal fat levels in the bloodstream), and fatty liver
2. Fructose undergoes the Maillard reaction with proteins, leading to the formation of superoxide
free radicals that can result in liver inflammation similar to acetaldehyde, an intermediary
metabolite of ethanol
3. By "stimulating the 'hedonic pathway' of the brain both directly and indirectly," Dr. Lustig noted,
"fructose creates habituation, and possibly dependence; also paralleling ethanol"
His hypothesis is that, rather than being driven by eating too many calories and lack of exercise,
obesity is primarily driven by eating too much refined sugar, particularly fructose.
Dr. Johnsons research clearly shows that refined sugar (in particular fructose) is exceptionally
effective at causing leptin resistance in animals, and its very effective at blocking the burning of
fat.
When you give fructose to animals, they lose their ability to control their appetite, they eat
more, and they exercise less. Fructose looks like its playing a direct role in weight gain, he
says.
His research also reveals that fructose has effects independent of this mechanism to induce this
metabolic syndrome. Whereas fructose increases weight through the standard mechanism of
stimulating more food intake and blocking the burning of fat, even when you control caloric
intake, fructose can affect body composition.
This is because when you eat fructose, you actually generate more fat in your liver for the same
amount of energy intake, compared to other types of sugar... For example, if you calorically
restrict an animal but give it a high-fructose diet or a high-sugar diet, it will still produce fatty
liver and will still become insulin resistant. According to Dr. Johnson, fructose has two effects:
1. It stimulates weight gain through its effects on your appetite and by blocking the burning of fat
2. It also changes your body composition to increase body fat even when you are on a caloric
restriction
body normally cannot absorb fructose well. But the more fructose you eat, the more the
transporters that allow for fructose uptake in your gut are turned on. Hence, the more fructose
your body will absorb. Lean children, for instance, tend to only absorb about half of the fructose
they consume, whereas obese children who have fatty liver disease absorb close to 100 percent.
This may further explain the featured finding that obesity is linked to accelerated aging in your
liver.
Sea vegetables: Various types of seaweed and brown algae also support
detoxification and may also help prevent your body from absorbing heavy
metals and other environmental toxins. Be sure the sea vegetables come
from a non-polluted water source.
Sprouts: Sprouts contain high levels of enzymes that serve as catalysts for
important body functions. Recent research suggests that broccoli sprouts
may help your body detox environmental pollutants such as
Garlic, onions, shallots, and leeks: These foods are rich in sulfur, including
the sulfur-based compound allicin, which is critical for liver detoxification.
Mushrooms: Maitake, shiitake, and reishi mushrooms are known for their
potent immunosupportive agents and also contain L-ergothioneine, a
powerful antioxidant to help neutralize free radicals.
Coconut oil: This healthy saturated fat is so easy for your body to digest
that no pancreatic fat-digesting enzymes are needed. This puts less stress
on your liver and helps it function optimally.
Flax seeds, hemp seeds, and chia seeds: These contain plant-based
omega-3 fats to fight inflammation along with healthy fiber.
Herbs: Many herbs support liver detoxification and function. This includes
ginger, cumin, coriander, cardamom, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, fennel,
and turmeric (curcumin).
Wild-caught sardines, anchovies, and salmon: These provide antiinflammatory omega-3 fats. You can also find these in krill oil.
Whey protein powder: Whey protein provides the amino acids necessary
for glutathione production, which is essential for liver protection and
function. Choose organic whey protein from grass-fed cows.
you really can't stand your coffee black, you could try adding non-dairy alternatives like
unsweetened almond or coconut milk. Also, make sure its organic to avoid more pesticide
exposures to your liver.
Gas and bloating is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach.The inflammatory lesion may be either
acute or chronic.Most of the people are suffering from this problem.When your tummy is stretched you
feel uncomfortable.There are so many ways to banish bloating.
Symptoms:
Loss of appetite
Scanty urination
In more chronic cases,the patient complaints of heart burn and feeling of fullness in the abdomen.
Causes:
2. Potato:
Potato juice is beneficial in this treatment,half cup of the juice 2 or 3 times daily half an hour before
meals will give great result.
4. Ginger:
To prevent gas and bloating due to gas forming, chew ginger piece after meal otherwise add fresh ginger
to your food to control the gas forming in stomach.
6. Turmeric leaves:
Drink chopped turmeric leaves with 1 cup of milk daily for a better and noticeable result.
8. Marigold:
The herb marigold is also considered beneficial in the treatment of gas and bloating tummy.An infusion of
the herb in doses of a tablespoon taken twice daily.
10. Garlic:
It provides great relief from gas form,heating quality and pungent odour of garlic will gives more relief
from gas trouble and bloating tummy.you can take grinded garlic and boil them in water and add small
amount of pepper and cumin seeds.Strain it allow to become room temperature.Drink this daily 2 to 3
times for a better result.
The habits that causes you to swallow excess of air such as chewing a gum,drinking juices through
straw,talking while eating etc
Balance diet
Do exercise regularly.
Chew your food properly it helps you in digest properly.Eating food quickly leads to cause bloating in
stomach.
Undigested food can pass in to large intestine and killed by bacteria,which releases gas in that
process.
What you dont know can kill you. Silent reflux is acid reflux that does not produce
heartburn or indigestion. You dont know you have it, and yet it can still cause cancer.
Often overlooked and misdiagnosed, silent reflux affects over 50 million Americans. The
backflow of stomach acid and digestive enzymes (pepsin) can wreak havoc on your
esophagus(the food passage that goes from your throat to your stomach), as well as your
ears, nose, throat, vocal cords, sinuses, mouth, and lungs. Pepsin, in the presence of
acid, digests protein and damages tissue. Outside the protected stomach, pepsin, bathed
in acid, digests you! And when pepsin attacks your sensitive airway and esophageal
tissues, you can suffer all kinds of problems.
The most common silent reflux symptoms are hoarseness, chronic cough, throatclearing, post-nasal drip, sinusitis, sore or burning throat, difficulty swallowing,
shortness of breath, snoring, sleep apnea, bad breath, tooth decay, asthma, and COPD.
Unfortunately, your doctor is probably unaware that these symptoms may be caused by
silent reflux and that it could be controlled with the proper diagnosis and treatment.
Did you know that asthma is one of the most common misdiagnoses, because silent
reflux mimics asthma? Heres a big tipoff: When you have trouble breathing, do you
have more difficulty getting air IN or OUT? People with reflux have trouble getting air
IN during inspiration (not out during expiration). People with asthma have difficulty
getting air OUT of the lungs. In truth, many people with asthma may not actually have
it, and, consequently, asthma medication doesnt really help much if at all. The fact is
that once the correct diagnosis is made, effective anti-reflux treatment can permanently
cure this asthma-like breathing problem.
How Do I Know If I Have Silent Reflux?
One of the characteristics of silent reflux is that most people who have it have several
different symptoms all at the same time, but often heartburn isnt one of them.
To find out if you may have silent reflux, take this simple quiz. Just circle the number for
each symptom and add up the numbers.
The quiz is actually known as the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), and it is a great first
test to see if you have reflux. If your RSI is 15 or more (and you have a zero or one for
heartburn), you may have silent reflux; you should see a specialist trained in detecting
reflux by examination of both the throat and esophagus. Doctors who only scope the
esophagus are missing the boat. Get your printable version of the Reflux Symptom
Index.
Why Is Reflux Sometimes Silent?
What makes silent reflux different than heartburn is that the silent reflux sufferer may
be unaware of having it, and his or her doctor may not suspect the diagnosis. A lot of
reflux is needed to damage the esophagus, but very little reflux can severely damage the
more sensitive throat, sinuses and lungs. Many people with silent reflux have never even
once experienced classic heartburn.
How the term silent reflux came to be is instructive. In 1987, Walter Bo, a medical
school colleague, was my patient. As a result of nighttime reflux, he had terrible
morning hoarseness. This was because he had a habit of eating dinner very late and then
falling asleep on the sofa. Hence, he would reflux into his throat all night.
I tried explaining the problem, but Walter repeatedly denied having reflux. As it turned
out, Walter affirmed that he thought that heartburn and reflux were the same. When I
was able to explain that one could have reflux without heartburn as in this example,
when it occurred during sleep Walter rolled his eyes and said, I see. I have the silent
kind of reflux. I declared, Yes, Walter, thats it! You have silent reflux!
Why Doesnt My Doctor Know About This?
Unfortunately, people with silent reflux symptoms, even if they ask their doctor, are
usually incorrectly told they do not have reflux. The medical specialties are broken down
by parts of the body, and doctors are experts in, and only test for, those parts of the body
in which they specialize. The problem is that reflux does not care where your doctor
trained and how it might affect the different medical specialties the esophagus treated
by gastroenterologists, the throat and sinuses treated by ear, nose and throat specialists
(otolaryngologists), and the trachea and lungs treated by lung specialists
(pulmonologists).
The Solution: Integrated Aerodigestive Medicine
Only a trained reflux specialist who knows what to look for in all affected areas and who
has the right diagnostic tests is equipped to make an accurate diagnosis. Otherwise, a
doctor may guess wrong and treat you for an illness that you dont have. Some of the
symptoms of silent reflux can sometimes be caused by other diseases, which doctors try
to treat unsuccessfully, leaving you miserable, frustrated, and having wasted money on
useless tests and drugs.
Instead of focusing on the patients diet and lifestyle the root cause of almost all reflux
disease doctors often employ pills, usually the wrong pills, that rarely correct the
problem. In truth, reflux medications are grossly misused and over-used today.
A new medical field is emerging, one devoted to the comprehensive diagnosis and
treatment of reflux symptoms and all reflux-related breathing and digestive tract
diseases. The name for this new field is Integrated Aerodigestive Medicine (IAM). This
approach represents the leading edge of change in American healthcare. For the first
time in the nation, Integrated Aerodigestive Medicine is available in New York City at
The Koufman Reflux Center of New York. This groundbreaking approach is based upon
my 30 years of scientific research and clinical experience.
You dont have to be on medication for life; you can change your life, and you can be
cured.
Silent Reflux Is an Epidemic
I am often asked if reflux is more common today or if we are just more aware of it? The
answer is both. But make no mistake about it, reflux is now an epidemic. Esophageal
and silent (airway) reflux have skyrocketed since the 1970s. The actual prevalence of
reflux in America has increased from 10% in 1976 to a staggering 40% today.
What You Eat Could Be Eating You
The reflux epidemic appears to be related to too much acid in the food supply! How did
this happen? Following an outbreak of food poisoning in 1973, the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) set Good Manufacturing Guidelines for all food and beverages in
bottles and cans. And what did they mandate? Acid, acid, acid. By law, everything in a
bottle or a can must be acidic. This kills bacteria and prolongs the shelf life of products,
but it also causes reflux disease.
Pepsin, the main digestive enzyme that digests protein, needs acid to work. Every time
you reflux, pepsin is washed onto your sensitive tissues. Once a pepsin molecule is
bound to, say, your throat or esophagus, any dietary source of acid can reactivate it:
soda, salsa, strawberries. Thats why I say what you eat may be eating you.
Reflux medication is not the answer for most people. People who have reflux should see
their doctors, because medication can just cover up the underlying problem. Just the
same, if you have reflux, there is a lot that you can do by changing what you eat and
when you eat it.
Reflux Can Be Cured Through Healthy Eating
Healthy eating. Whats that when it comes to reflux? First, no late-night eating. If you go
to bed with a full stomach, you are likely to reflux all night. Besides, reflux is the most
common cause of disturbed sleep and it is even associated with snoring and sleep apnea.
Second, restrict all highly acidic foods and beverages. If you have reflux, the only thing
you should drink out of a bottle is water, and alkaline water is best. Alkaline water kills
off pepsin; look for alkaline waters with a pH above 8.0. After over-eating, soft drinks
(all of them) are the next greatest cause of reflux. Finally, your diet should be low-fat as
well as low-acid. It works! Do a strict, two-week induction ("detox") low-acid diet, and
then follow it up with a moderate low-acid, low-fat, pH-balanced diet for 3-6 months.
Table 1 shows the recommended reflux diet in a nutshell, and Table 2 shows the bestfor-reflux food list.
Table 1: Basic Elements of Dr. Koufman's Reflux Diet
Use and order all dressings, cheeses, and sauces on the side
Minimize fatty meats; some beef and pork, and portion control!
Finally, if you are going to be on a low-acid diet, you must know if there is acid added to
something. You have to read the ingredients on labels. What should you look for?
Phosphoric acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, and vitamin C added or enhanced all mean
that whats in the bottle may be as acidic as stomach acid. And if you have significant
reflux symptoms, avoid it! Learn more about silent reflux prevention.
Try these recipes from Dr. Koufmans cookbook, Dropping Acid, The Reflux Diet
Cookbook & Cure:
The acid solution that splashes up into the esophagus causes inflammation, irritation and scarring, which can narrow
the circumference of the esophagus. Symptoms include hoarseness, food getting stuck, burning, irritation, nausea,
coughing, wheezing, asthma symptoms and eroded tooth enamel. It also increases your odds of esophageal cancer.
Getting to the root of the problem is the most important step. People who are overweight or older tend to be affected
more since abdominal fat interferes with esophagus function, and the esophageal sphincter, which prevents
backsplash, weakens with age. And many of the best things in life can relax the sphincter, including chocolate,
alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, and greasy, spicy and fatty foods.
But its not a hopeless situation. Here are some of the best natural home remedies to try for the occasional bout of
acid reflux:
1. Lose weight. Studies show losing 10 percent of your body fat can improve acid reflux symptoms.
2. Embark on an anti-reflux diet (eliminating all those yummy vices above). Dont get too excited; it only makes a
difference for about 30 percent of people, says Raymond. Plus, the problem with the diet is that we find most people
would rather die than be on that diet for the rest of their life.
3. Try eating raw almonds, an alkaline-producing food that can balance your pH because they are a good source of
calcium, says Dr. Millie Lytle, a naturopathic doctor in New York.
10. Take the herbal supplement slippery elm in capsule, powder or lozenge form, as it soothes the irritated tissues of
the digestive tract.
11. Chamomile, mint or fenugreek tea may help reduce acid reflux symptoms.
12. Chew a stick of gum after meals to increase saliva production, which research shows can reduce acid levels in
the esophagus.
13. Sleep on your left side. Studies found sleeping on your stomach or right side can cause additional pressure that
increases GERD symptoms. Left-side sleepers report relief.
Here are six more tips from Dr. Jamie Koufman, professor of clinical otolaryngology at New York Eye and Ear
Infirmary of the New York Medical College and author of Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook and Cure: Quit
smoking, don't wear clothing that is too tight, don't exercise directly after a meal, don't lie down right after eating or
eat within three hours of bedtime, and elevate the head of your bed if you're a nighttime refluxer.
The quiz is actually known as the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), and it is a great first
test to see if you have reflux. If your RSI is 15 or more (and you have a zero or one for
heartburn), you may have silent reflux; you should see a specialist trained in detecting
reflux by examination of both the throat and esophagus. Doctors who only scope the
esophagus are missing the boat. Get your printable version of the Reflux Symptom
Index.
Why Is Reflux Sometimes Silent?
What makes silent reflux different than heartburn is that the silent reflux sufferer may
be unaware of having it, and his or her doctor may not suspect the diagnosis. A lot of
reflux is needed to damage the esophagus, but very little reflux can severely damage the
more sensitive throat, sinuses and lungs. Many people with silent reflux have never even
once experienced classic heartburn.
How the term silent reflux came to be is instructive. In 1987, Walter Bo, a medical
school colleague, was my patient. As a result of nighttime reflux, he had terrible
morning hoarseness. This was because he had a habit of eating dinner very late and then
falling asleep on the sofa. Hence, he would reflux into his throat all night.
I tried explaining the problem, but Walter repeatedly denied having reflux. As it turned
out, Walter affirmed that he thought that heartburn and reflux were the same. When I
was able to explain that one could have reflux without heartburn as in this example,
when it occurred during sleep Walter rolled his eyes and said, I see. I have the silent
kind of reflux. I declared, Yes, Walter, thats it! You have silent reflux!
Why Doesnt My Doctor Know About This?
Unfortunately, people with silent reflux symptoms, even if they ask their doctor, are
usually incorrectly told they do not have reflux. The medical specialties are broken down
by parts of the body, and doctors are experts in, and only test for, those parts of the body
in which they specialize. The problem is that reflux does not care where your doctor
trained and how it might affect the different medical specialties the esophagus treated
by gastroenterologists, the throat and sinuses treated by ear, nose and throat specialists
(otolaryngologists), and the trachea and lungs treated by lung specialists
(pulmonologists).