Healthy by Nature radio show this week: Attorney Patrick Malone, is author of The Life You Save: Nine Steps to Finding the Best Medical Care-and Avoiding the Worst. This is a new live show and he should be interesting. Also, we talk to Steven Simonyi-Gindele about a different approach to Multiple Sclerosis. Be a part of the show by calling 1-800-281-8255. Click here to find podcasts, show archives and ways to listen nationwide .

What can you stomach?

(Last week, Part 1 of the Gut Series – Overview and the mouth part of the system )

Of all the intestinal maladies, the highest profile one is acid reflux. If TV commercials are to be believed, stomach acid is evil , the cause of much pain and suffering from heartburn that can only be relieved by acid-blocking drugs and the drugs are safe for long term use. The part of that view we know is wrong is every bit of it.

Heartburn pain certainly doesn’t come from the heart or even the stomach. It is because stomach contents come in contact with the delicate unprotected tissues of the esophagus. (That’s the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach and is supposed to be closed off by a ring of muscle called a sphincter.) The issues are pretty much the same whether you call the condition heartburn, GERD, Barrett’s Esophagus or LAPR.

The pain often exists even when stomach acid is too low to do its digestive jobs.

Just because it is possible to almost totally block the production of stomach acid, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to do so. It is especially a problem when the acid-blocking drugs are used for more than the few weeks for which they were approved by the FDA.
   

Stopping acid production doesn’t solve the underlying problem that allowed acid to get where it doesn’t belong. (Those underlying imbalances may be causing other problems and will continue to do so even if the pain is temporarily relieved.)
   

The drugs are habit forming and, in fact, can cause heartburn in folks that didn’t have it before they started on the drug.
   

Far from being optional , stomach acid is crucial . It:
serves as our first line of defense against invading bacteria and other organisms
performs an important step in the breakdown of protein in food
is needed for the absorption of life-protecting minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc aids the production of vitamin B 12 and contributes to folic acid absorption
establishes the correct pH to trigger the stages of digestion that follow
helps create conditions suitable to the proper balance of beneficial intestinal bacteria
long term blocking of stomach acid results in a myriad of problems such as increased risk of hip fracture, dementia and pneumonia.

So, if excess acid isn’t the culprit, what is the problem and what should a body do? (You had to figure a plug for my book would be coming at some point.) In my book on digestion listed below, I give a number of causes and corresponding natural solutions. Here are some samples:

Hiatal hernia . This is a structural problem that can often be remedied by a chiropractor or even a massage therapist.
Spinal mis-aglignment . Something may be interfering with the supply of nerve energy to the stomach or the esophageal sphincter. Again, see a chiropractor.
Insufficient stomach acid . Because food isn’t digested efficiently, it tends to remain in the stomach too long thereby increasing the chance of contents splashing into the esophagus. You can use a spoon or two of cider vinegar before a meal as a rough test. If the vinegar helps, you may need more acid.
Sugar and starch . Although the mechanisms are just now being revealed in research, what does a person have to lose by reducing these non-nutritive fattener-uppers? It often works.
Inflammation . An inflamed esophageal sphincter doesn’t work correctly to close after the food passes by. Trans fats, sugar, chemicals, nutrient deficiencies and Candida Yeasts are causes of inflammation.
Medications . A large number of drugs cause heartburn-among them the ubiquitous statin cholesterol-lowering drugs. For most conditions there is a natural solution.
Imbalance of intestinal bacteria . More about that next week in Part 3.
FAQ – I’m working on a document to answer some of the many questions that find their way to me on the subject of acid reflux and how to wean off the drugs. I hope to have that ready by next week.

Emotions have a lot to do with stomach function. Haven’t you said that some horrible event “made me sick to my stomach”? Constant stress can contribute to indigestion, nausea, heartburn, constipation or diarrhea. So, chill . As I mentioned last week, saying grace settles your stomach and improves digestion…and it’s FREE.

Reader/Listener Question

Q: Mary asked a question that may be puzzling other listeners. She heard that Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera and Willard Water both improve nutrient absorption and wanted to know the difference and which I recommend.

My 2 Cents : Both do improve nutrient absorption. Willard water seems to do so because it essentially changes the structure of water which in turn affects nutrient uptake and transportation to cells as well as the removal of toxins. Aloe vera does so likely because it improves digestion and helps keep the digestive tract healthy. It also lowers blood levels of other toxins. But there is more. Willard Water contains minerals in an absorbable organic form from ancient deposits. We certainly need more minerals in our diets. Aloe vera is greatly valued for its content of healing polysaccharides. Of all brands tested, Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera is far and away the richest source. I take both products and recommend both because they work in different ways to support health and are very inexpensive.

Have a blessed Easter.

My first book : Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet, Prilosec & Other Acid Blockers. Subtitle: What to Use to Relieve Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and Gastric Ailments.

My latest book : Aloe Vera-Modern Science Sheds Light on an Ancient Herbal Remedy

Copyright 2011 Martie Whittekin, CCN