Are Antacids Making Your Heartburn Worse?
Antacids are a multi-billion dollar industry. The trouble is, many people who take them could be making their heartburn worse. The reason is that most people don't actually have hyperacidity. If you suffer from acid reflux, it's more likely that your stomach produces too little acid than too much.
Stomach acid production declines with age.1 One 25 year clinical study found 90% of people over 40 who were diagnosed with GERD actually had low stomach acid.2 Did you hear that?! Most people who have acid reflux have too little stomach acid! Taking antacids destroys the little stomach acid that remains. This can give you relief in the moment, but ultimately weakens your digestion even more.
Consider the following scenario: Your sound slumber is disrupted by a scorching sizzle in your chest a few hours after a late-night slice of pizza. The food is churning and churning in your gut. Popping an antacid brings immediate relief. When you were younger, late night pizza was a fun social activity. But now you wonder, why does the food churn? What happened since then?
The reason is usually too little acid. Weak stomach acid can cause indigestion and food stagnation. The longer the food sits, the more likely you are to suffer from acid reflux. Before you agree to take antacids long term, as your doctor to check your acid levels. One simple home test is to mix 1/4 tsp of baking soda in 4-6 ounces of cold water. Drink it first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything else. If you don't burp within 3 minutes, it's likely that your stomach acid is low. This test is not considered 100% accurate, but it can be used to help give you a sense of whether you need more testing.
Remedies
If you have too little stomach acid, taking antacids is simply a way to avoid the problem. Instead, listen to your body and make adjustments to your diet and lifestyle. Keep stomach pressure low by avoiding overeating. And don't lay down for at least 2 hours after eating. If you find your chest frequently smoldering, trade your pizza in for soup. Favor easy to digest foods and avoid heavier, difficult to digest foods.
When the piercing fire swelters, suck on a wedge of lemon. Lemon, like antacids, reduces acid production in the stomach. However, unlike antacids, lemon actually helps your digestion because the sour taste stimulates secretions of digestive juices.
If your reflux is due to low acid, mint tea will help stimulate your stomach to produce more acid. Otherwise, mint tea will aggravate your reflux and then you know you have hyperacidity. A doctor can perform more sophisticated stomach acid tests to get clearer results.
Other helpful spices include fennel and cumin. These have a cooling effect on the body and support good digestion. You may want to take Avipattikar Churna, Trikatu or Hingvastaka Churna with meals to give your stomach the extra spark it needs to do its job well. Avoid cold drinks - especially when you eat. These dilute your digestive juices and challenge the heat needed to transform your food into nutrients. Hydrate - you need water to create digestive juices.
Don't be fooled by your burning heart! Support rather than suppress your body by getting to the root of your stomach's flaming woes.
[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3771980 [2] Why Stomach Acid Is Good for You: Natural Relief from Heartburn, Indigestion, Reflux and GERDPaperback - August 20, 2001 by Jonathan Wright. Published by M. Evans & Company
