SO MANY people now are popping TUMS or acid blockers like they were an "after-dinner mint." I want you to understand there are so many side effects to these. When you have acid reflex, what is happening is poor digestion, in part because the food you are eating no longer contains the enzymes needed to digest it. Foods that sit on the shelf don't need or want the enzymes that help ripen the food. To put it into perspective, corn from the garden may have a shelf life of 4 to 6 days, BUT the corn-filled tortilla chips in your pantry last forever. Most people don't need acid blockers after eating healthy veggies, it is usually after indulging in chips, cereal, and foods that are devoid of enzymes; they are very hard to digest.
Does this describe you, or someone you know...You are at a family BBQ and you fill your plate with a brat with a large fluffy bun, side of baked beans, a handful of chips, a lemonade to wash it all down, and angel-food cake with sugar-free Cool-Whip for dessert. You may think this sounds like a 'normal' meal, but to your stomach, all of this food is filled with foreign preservatives and chemicals. Add to this all of the conversation from family which leads to inadequate chewing and low levels of digestive enzymes will cause this gooey mix of "food" to lay in the stomach to ferment, which causes the stomach to expand and increase gas. As the gas rises, it gets trapped in the esophagus causing swelling and chest pain. This pressure overloads the stomach and pulls the gastro esophageal valve to the point where it opens. This abused valve allows stomach acid up into the esophagus. The esophagus doesn't contain acid secreting cells like the stomach so this causes burning in the esophagus, which can mimic signs of a heart attack.
The stomach has cells that secrete acid; it is required to breakdown proteins into its usable pieces of amino acids. When acid production is inhibited, food isn't digested. Instead, food remains in the stomach, fermenting by bacteria. The undigested brat bun (carbohydrates) ferments, undigested chips (fats) become rancid and the undigested brat (proteins) putrefy. This causes bloating, gas, and indigestion and over time malnutrition.
When we go down the path of eating foods devoid of live nutrients, it results in acid reflux and any acid in the stomach hurts. Prescription antacids decrease the pain but not without consequences. Antacids actually become addictive, resulting in a massive increase in stomach acid when you stop them. Your body constantly tries to make stomach acid (when you take anti-acid meds because you NEED IT), so it pumps out extra levels of a hormone called Gastrin that stimulates stomach acid. Therefore, when you stop antacids, the stomach makes huge amounts of acid. Which the pharmaceutical companies love because you are now addicted and don't know what else to do.
If you still think the problem is too much acid, think about this...The older people get the more likely they are to use antacids. This is interesting as stomach acid production decreases dramatically as people get older and we produce less digestive enzymes (which is why we lose the ability to taste foods).
SIDE EFFECTS OF ACID BLOCKERS:
1. FOOD POISONING: One of the main jobs of stomach acid is to kill harmful pathogens that may be present in the food before they can make you sick. If you consistently take acid blockers, you are susceptible to food poisoning.
2. OSTEOPOROSIS: Without stomach acid, your body is not able to digest food properly and you become nutritionally deficient. You can't strip the calcium from your food and this will weaken your bones.
3. METABOLISM: They block the absorption of thyroid hormone.
4. REFLUX: Ironically, blocking stomach acid may also contribute to acid reflux!
5. IRON DEFICIENCY: You can't absorb iron (which is essential for carrying oxygen to the mitochondria of our cells). An iron deficiency = restless legs, low energy, decreased ability to oxidize fat when you work out! BAD BAD BAD
6. B-12 DEFICIENCY: This can cause anemia, fatigue, constipation, brain fog, and nerve issues. One of my clients couldn't feel his feet because of over use of acid blockers.
7. OTHER DEFICIENCIES: Being unable to absorb amino acids and healthy fats will increase depression, dementia, anemia, neurological issues, stomach cancer, arthritis... shall I go on?
STEPS TO HEAL:
1. Drink small amounts of room temperature water while eating. Drinking large amounts of cold beverages dilutes your digestive enzymes.
2. Skip the coffee, carbonated beverages, alcohol and aspirin until your intestines are healed.
3. Add in Aloe Vera supplements; it naturally repairs the damage that was done to the esophagus safely. Aloe Vera's major ingredient buffers pH+ and it naturally speeds the healing process.
4. DECREASE Foods that cause the problems: food chemicals, vegetable oils, sugar, and starch. It could also be a food allergy/sensitivity; in this case eliminate gluten or the food causing the issue.
5. Eat foods that heal the intestines: coconut oil, bone broth, and any "healthified" recipe that has no sugar.
6. Add in supplements to heal the intestines so you can enjoy food again! Check out the book: Secrets to a Healthy Metabolism to read more on supplements.
CLICK ON THE WORD TO FIND WHERE TO PURCHASE.
-Licorice Root
-L-glutamine
-Probiotics (Bifido and Acidophilius)
-Digestive Enzymes
-Aloe Vera
*Please contact me for a consult on when, for how long and how much to take of each.
Here is a great way to get your day started right and begin the healing process! BUT SKIP the Aunt Jamima syrup, it it nothing but GMO corn and food dye. Try the "Healthified" Tropical Syrup instead.
"Healthified" PANCAKES:
4 eggs
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 pinch nutmeg
1 pinch cinnamon
1 tsp stevia glycerite (or 1/4 cup Just Like Sugar)
1/4 cup vanilla almond milk
Mix these ingredients and let them sit for five minutes. Oil or grease up your pan and heat over medium heat. Pour batter onto hot pan and brown before flipping it. Cook until golden brown on both sides. Makes 2 servings
NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)
Traditional Pancakes = 371 calories, 50 carbs, 2 g fiber, 8 g protein
"Healthified" Pancakes = 208 calories, 4.9 carbs, 4.6 g fiber (0.3 effective carbs) 11.1 g protein
TROPICAL SYRUP:
1 can coconut milk (full fat)
1/4 cup vanilla whey or egg white protein (to thicken)
1 tsp stevia glycerite (or 1/4 cup Just Like Sugar)
1 tsp vanilla or maple extract
Slowly sprinkle in the protein powder to the coconut milk (if you dollop the tsp in, it will thicken into a clump). Add in the sweetener and extract. Let thicken for 5 minutes. Enjoy.
NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per 1/4 cup serving)
Aunt Jamima = 220 calories, 52 carbs, 0 fiber
"Healthified" Syrup = 140 calories, 3.4 carbs, 1.3 g fiber (2.1 effective carbs)
