Heartburn and acid reflux are such common complaints these days that my local drugstore has a whole section with a sign above it that reads, “Digestive Health.”
When I saw that sign a few months ago I was excited. “Wow,” I thought, “how cool that even major drugstore chains are finally figuring out that most health issues stem from poor digestion.” I walked over to the section indicated by the sign, expecting to find products like probiotics, prebiotics, digestive enzymes and maybe even something related to fermentation. What I found was a wall of Tums, Gaviscon, Maalox and Rolaids.
Just so you know, that is not digestive health.
That is not even a BandAid.
Heartburn is a burning feeling you get in your chest or just below your ribcage. It’s the result of acid from the stomach flowing backwards from the stomach, into the esophagus.
Most people assume that heartburn is caused by too much stomach acid. That’s why it makes sense to take an “antacid” to try to “put out the fire.”
But it’s actually the exact opposite.
Heartburn is almost always the result of too little stomach acid. Yup, you heard me, too little stomach acid.
Don’t get me wrong, the burning feeling is caused by acid backing up from the stomach, but the reason it happens is related to an underactive stomach, not overactive.
And because of this, suppressing stomach acid with antacids only treats the immediate symptoms, not the underlying problem. And, in fact, over the long term, can actually make the problem much worse.
So what can you do to get rid of it?
1. Well first, you can support your digestive system and try to help it produce more acid. You can do this by eating smaller meals, relaxing when you eat, eating simple meals without too many different ingredients, and following the rules of proper food combining (avoid eating proteins and starches together and eat fruit all alone).
2. There are also a few supplements you can take (not antacids) that might help. A digestive enzyme containing hydrochloric acid immediately before you eat can give your stomach a little help in breaking down food. And a good quality probiotic taken every day about half an hour before a meal can, over time, help your body rebalance its intestinal flora and result in better digestion.
3. Modify your diet. Eating large amounts of processed foods and sugars is a surefire way to exacerbate acid reflux because it upsets the bacterial balance in your stomach and intestine.
If you want to learn more about the real reasons behind heartburn, check out this six part series from Chris Kresser.
This article from Dr. Mercola is another good one to check out.
