First of all, let's talk terminology - what's heartburn vs acid reflux vs GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease) vs silent heartburn?
Acid reflux - this is when acid and partially digested food travels from your stomach up your esophagus towards your throat. Normally the stomach contents travel down into the small intestine, not up into the esophagus.
Heartburn - this is the feeling (burning) that you can get under your sternum/chestbone or into your throat. This is the result of having acid reflux.
Silent Heartburn - you can have acid reflux without causing symptoms, this is called silent heartburn.
GERD - this is a more serious version of heartburn. It is more serious because the heartburn sensations are happening more frequently than once in a while and the frequency & chronicity of acidity can damage the esophagus. Some symptoms other than the typical burning may include chest pain, nausea, asthma, cough, or sore throat.
The traditional way of treating heartburn or GERD is to take Tums or a Proton Pump Inhibitor. The issue I have is that tums neutralizes stomach acid which makes it harder for your body to break down food and absorb nutrients. PPIs decrease the production of stomach acid, also reducing the ability for your body to break down food. We also know that long term use of PPIs decrease calcium, magnesium, and B12 absorption - leaving you at a higher risk of osteopenia and bone fracture. They also change your gut microbiome, leaving you more susceptible to clostridium difficile (a digestive infection).
I think it's important that people fix GERD/heartburn/reflux, because ignoring it can result in chronic problems with your esophagus - but Naturopathically I do things differently. Often there are food triggers to avoid that can help reduce reflux. I also look to optimize the whole digestive system because if things are moving through efficiently, they're less likely to be sitting around the stomach and coming back up! I've had lots of patients over the years who told me that a swig of milk or buttermilk alleviates symptoms. The best foods for GERD tend to be non-citrus fruits, veggies (excluding tomatoes), lean meats & whole grains. Wow - a generally healthy diet wins again!
If you've got any questions or want to tackle your digestive issues, please reach out!
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