Heartburn

Keeping Healthy this Autumn

Date: September 2008
Author: Sam Silvester

A more sensible way of dealing with heartburn is to treat the root cause, not suppress the symptoms. For some people their oesophageal valve mayopen inappropriately causing the contents of the stomach to reflux back up. In this instance people often take antacids, but because these neutralise the acid in the stomach, digestion of proteins can be inhibited leaving food undigested in the stomach for longer.

• Reduce foods including fats, chocolate, coffee, mints, sugar, onions and certain alcoholic beverages that can aggravate heartburn.
• Other foods including citrus fruits, tomato based foods, spicy foods, fizzy drinks and alcoholic beverages can irritate an already inflamed oesophagus
• Elimination of food allergies (often dairy) and removal of irritants such as refined sugar, nicotine and alcoholic spirits (however a little wine or beer with a meal doesn't usually cause a problem)
• Overeating can cause pressure on the valve through the pressure of the contents of the stomach or the amount of gas in the stomach
• Activities such as coughing, wheezing, heavy lifting, bending, straining, pregnancy and tight fitting clothes can increase intra-abdominal pressure forcing the stomach contents back into the oesophagus
• Reflux is more likely when we lie down than when upright as gravity draws it down. When we are reclining, stomach contents tend to remain in the upper portion of the stomach. Elevating the bed using 4 - 8 inch blocks and limiting foods, especially those mentioned above in the hours prior to bedtime will help.
• Take a variety of natural supplements (including those to rebalance stomach acid such as HC1 and digestive enzymes)

About stomach acid

Although not an enzyme, one of the most critical factors in digestion is stomach acid. Not only is stomach acid the prerequisite to all protein digestion, it is also necessary for mineral absorption and is the body's first line of defence against infections, effectively sterilising your food. So a lack of stomach acid leaves you unable to digest properly and prone to infection. This can lead to indigestion, particularly noticeable with high protein meals and the likelihood of developing food allergies because indigested large protein molecules are more likely to stimulate allergic reactions in the small intestine.

One of the most common reasons for a lack of stomach acid is antacids. Another reasons is zinc deficiency because the production of hydrochloric acid is dependant on a sufficient intake of zinc. Hydrochloric acid production often declines in old age, as does zinc status. Stress is also a suppressor of stomach acid production, so eating on the move or when you're stressed out is definitely a bad idea.

The symptoms of low stomach acid include:

• The sensation that food is slow to pass from the stomach
• Burping after eating
• Bad breath
• Indigestion after protein rich foods
• Upper abdominal pain
• Flatulence
• Bloating
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Feeling full shortly after eating

What to do about low stomach acid

The nutritional solution for too little stomach acid is to take a supplement containing betaine hydrochloride plus at least 15mg of zinc in an easily absorbable form, such as zinc citrate.

Simple test to help ascertain levels of hydrochloric acid in the stomach

Do this test first thing in the morning and before you eat. Your stomach must be empty of food. Take a glass of water and stir in 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda. Drink the entire contents. Wait 10 - 15 minutes.

If you have no effects then you are low in stomach acid and may find it difficult to digest food completely, especially complicated foods like proteins and complex carbohydrates.

If you have wind, gas and burping then your stomach acid levels are fine. The bicarbonate of soda is reacting with the hydrochloric acid and is being turned into carbon dioxide.