Acid Reflux

Acid Reflux is when the stomach acid goes the wrong way and comes back up into the throat. If this happens frequently and gets worse there is another name for it; gastroesophageal reflux disease or short GERD. The burning sensation can also be felt in the heart – called heartburn.

What is widely unknown is that this mostly stems from a bacteria or toxins in the liver or the small intestinal tract. The acid that comes up during the reflux is not stomach acid but an acid that’s caused by the bacteria, which is pretty much alike but sure harmful. It can cause that food or sour liquid comes back up into the mouth, or things like trouble with swallowing, chest or heart pain or coughing.

Why does this happen?

Because the hydrochloric acid isn’t strong enough anymore. If there is a lack of hydrochloric acid, there’s not enough acid to destroy the bad bacteria. So in this case it is key to raise the good acid in order to prevent or get rid of the bad acids.

However this was just one of the reasons why acid reflux can occur there are a few more.

Other Reasons for Acid Reflux

Another reason can be an overburdened liver which isn’t able to produce strong enough bile anymore. Thus it forces the stomach to produce more acids in order to digest foods. In this case lowering the intake of fats is essential to lower the burden for the liver. Eating a diet that is high in fat and/or protein means a lot of work for the liver to produce bile in order to digest these foods, may they be plant-based (oils, nuts, seeds,…) or animal product (meat & dairy). And animal products are usually pretty high in fats, which is something that most people aren’t aware of. Even lean meat like non-fried chicken breast without skin is still high in fat. Just simmer the chicken breast in water and watch what happens….after a while fat bubbles show up on top of the water. And what do you think where this fat ends up?

Last but not least there is stress, aggression and fear! If we find ourselves in stressful situations or in situations where we swallow our aggression so we don’t lose sympathies or to avoid resentment, this can lead to acid reflux too. In this case we produce a lot of acids in the stomach or body which brings the acid-alkaline base out of balance. If someone is dealing with this kind of acid reflux it is time to speak up and to express the aggression even if it means that you have to deal with interpersonal conflicts or lose sympathies. This is about your health which is not to be sacrificed for others.

Whether the acid reflux is caused by bacteria, toxins, an overburdened liver or swallowed aggression you might want to stay away from the following foods:

- Meat – is high in fat and protein and can contain harmful bacteria
- Dairy – is high in fat and feeds viruses and bacteria
- Gluten – feeds viruses and bacteria and clogs up the intestinal tract
- Eggs – eggs are feeding bacteria and are high in fat/protein
- Chocolate – is usually high in fat and can contain some of the above mentioned foods

The chart below shows you which kind of foods are beneficial for acid reflux and help to lesson or remove the symptoms.

* Olive Leaf addition: As it is very effective in killing viruses & bacteria, etc. the areas that were occupied by the pathogens are now exposed. Here olive leaf is helpful in rebuilding the gut lining within days of taking it. And additionally it helps with the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Thus damaged cells and organs of the body can be rebuilt (can take up to 3 month).

Olive Leaf tea cleanses the intestines from toxins (pesticides, herbicides, etc.) and food additives. And it promotes and regulates digestion. It soothes the intestinal tract and helps in case of inflammation and irritation in the intestinal tract (IBS, SIBO) but also in the stomach. It is a powerful antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic.

Helpful Lifestyle Changes

Eat smaller portions every 2-3 hours instead of one big meal every 5 hours
Stop eating before you’re completely stuffed (don’t overeat) and eat slowly (to realize when you’re satiated)
Stop eating 2-3 hours before going to bed and don’t eat late at night. Eating something after 7:00-8:30 pm (depending on your bedtime), foods can’t get digested anymore because the body is already in rest mode.
Stop eating the wrong foods – as mentioned above, high fat/protein foods, gluten, dairy and eggs can make things worse
Don’t drink carbonated beverages and limos
Wear loose clothing
Go for a walk after you meals – this helps to support the digestion of foods
Sleep on your left side – that way your stomach is below your esophagus and even if you have a full stomach and get reflux, gravity makes sure to quickly return the contents to your stomach

Disclaimer: The information and statements on this page are made for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your treating doctor. The experiences, views and nutritional advice that are expressed by Naturally Rawsome are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. Please see your physician if you have a health issue or a severe medical condition. The links to other websites which are provided on this website are provided for references only. Naturally Rawsome is not responsible for the content or products of linked websites or contained links on those sites.