Acid reflux is commonly referred to as heartburn, and studies show that 44% of Americans experience this uncomfortable condition on a monthly basis—with many people experiencing it even more frequently. If the condition becomes chronic, it can lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid, which is needed for the proper digestion of food, escapes the stomach and moves back up the esophagus. You may feel the discomfort anywhere from your throat to your stomach.
What Causes It?
Diet and lifestyle are the two major contributors to heartburn. A variety of foods can trigger reflux, such as:
- Spicy foods
- Fried foods
- Tomato-based foods
- Citrus foods
- Processed foods
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
Of course, if you have food sensitivities, eating those foods can cause the problem. This is common with dairy and gluten.
When it comes to lifestyle, smoking, eating when you’re already full, eating right before bed, and being overweight are contributing factors. In addition, stress can often be the culprit—when you’re chronically stressed, it affects nerves in the stomach, causing the gut to “shut down” so it can’t process food properly. Clearly, food is supposed to go down, not up, when you eat. That’s why there are two main valves, or sphincters, that control food going in and out of your stomach — the one at the top (or the lower esophageal sphincter) and one at the bottom (the pyloric valve). When you’re stressed, the valve on the top relaxes and the valve on the bottom tightens up. This may result in food traveling back up your esophagus. Practice active relaxation and you can mitigate this problem.
I believe that a common infection of a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori can cause not just reflux but ulcers as well. I am able to identify this through stool testing. In my experience with clients, treating the bacteria can eliminate reflux even if you don’t have an ulcer.
Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
Chronic stress can lead to a deficiency in certain vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium and zinc, which are needed for proper digestion. Magnesium deficiency is another cause of reflux because magnesium helps the sphincter at the bottom of the stomach relax, allowing the food to go down.
Adding insult to injury, over-the-counter and prescription acid blockers that many people rely on for relief can also lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, as well as bacterial infections, when taken for extended periods of time.
Addressing the Cause of the Problem
Gabrielle Grandell offers comprehensive testing to identify the underlying cause of your heartburn. Based on your specific situation, I will make diet, lifestyle, and supplementation recommendations to help restore your normal gut health function—so you can experience heartburn relief that lasts!
Contact my office today to book your initial consultation. I look forward to meeting you!