Bile acid in the stomach plays a key role in the digestion of food in the small intestine. Two chief bile acids produced in the body include chenodeoxycholic acid and cholic acid. These acids assist in the creation of micelles, which aids in breaking down dietary fat, and is integral for the digestion of fat in the small intestine. Bile acid is a fluid secreted by the hepatocytes that flows into the canaliculi. From the canaliculi, it reaches the bile ducts, and is then transferred to the gall bladder where it is concentrated with time and the addition of other bodily fluids.

Bile acids are derived from the cholesterol inside of the hepatocytem, and are made up of hydrophilic or polar faces and lipid or hydrophobic faces. Cholesterol gets converted into chenodeoxycholic and cholic acids, which are two forms of bile acid. These are combined with amino acids and released into the canaliculi. This combined nature of bile acids enables them to perform two of the most important functions in the digestive system. The first one is the breaking down of fat globules into tiny microscopic droplets. This helps in fat digestion because the breaking down process creates more surface area for fats, which makes it accessible to the lipases for the purpose of digestion because the lipases cannot enter the droplets.

Bile acid in the stomach carries lipids, and is capable of transforming them into micelles, which are a combination of cholesterol, monoglycerides and fatty acids that can remain afloat in water. Fat soluble vitamins are transported and absorbed by bile acids as well.

Excess cholesterol in the body is also converted into bile acids and gets removed through bile each day. The concentration of bile acids is regulated in our bodies since these are potentially poisonous, and they are also present in the liver. These activate a hormone receptor of nuclear nature known as FXR. This activation resists the amalgamation of bile acid inside the liver when the level of bile acid is very high. Hence, these are also known as a ?signaling molecule?.

Bile acids are produced in large amounts inside the body. However, only a small amount is expelled from the body daily. Almost 95% of bile acids released are taken in by the blood inside the Ileum. Bile salt molecules are used and reused inside the body for at least 20 cycles. This occurs when bile acids are extracted carefully from sinusoidal blood by the hepatocytes. Some amount of it escapes from liver to systemic circulation. These acids again reach the canaliculi via the hepatocytes, reusing them for the process of digestion. Any kind of alteration in this process is an indication of hepatic diseases.

Just like acid reflux, bile reflux can also be caused inside the body which makes one?s digestive system weak. Overall, conducting a bile acid level test can help in the diagnosis of hepatic microvascular dysplasia, portosystemic shunt and cholestasis. Overactive bile acid in the stomach can cause extreme bodily conditions, and must be treated immediately.

An unfortunate condition often signified by the stresses of modern day is acid reflux and the disease GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease). This is caused by a failure of the esophagus’ sphincter, which is responsible for keeping acid down in the stomach and not up in the throat. Symptoms include frequent painful heartburn, stomach pain, nausea, regurgitation of acid, chest pain and tightness, bad breath, and frequent swallowing.

Another GERD-related disease has arisen in recent medical news and it goes by the name of acid reflux and exertion. It has been called EAGER (exertion associated estro-esophageal reflux), by Dr. Steven Peikin, a Professor of Medicine at Robert Woods Johnson Hospital. EAGER is excessive acid related to physical activities, most often the types associated with exertion, such as running or jogging, or any activity that will have you bouncing up and down.

In a recent study (sponsored by Pepcid), it was noted that 75% of baby boomers, men and women alike, experience heartburn at least occasionally, with 31% reporting instances of heartburn at least weekly. The same study indicates that occasional sufferers of heartburn will experience it 15% of the time when they exercise, with weekly sufferers likely to experience heartburn 45% of the time when they are exercising. An estimated 16 million Americans have their exercise interrupted by heartburn that may be caused by acid reflux and exertion, with non-sufferers getting to exercise 106 times a year, and sufferers only 85 times per year, on average.

It is an unfortunate, ironic symptom, the fact that many people who seek exercise as a means to improve their health are often prevented from effective exercise because of a health problem. It is often the jostling of the body that causes the stomach contents, including corrosive stomach acid, to move vigorously within the confines of the stomach. It may jostle stomach acid even more energetically up against the esophageal sphincter, causing it even further stress, especially in a GERD sufferer. A ?normal? person will probably not be affected by this jostling, but it can wreak havoc in the stomachs of GERD or acid reflux sufferers, adding acid reflux to their list of ailments.

The usual remedies may help with GERD symptoms, and therefore may help with EAGER symptoms (acid reflux and exertion): Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol; try chamomile or peppermint tea after meals; limit meals to smaller portions several times a day instead of a couple of big meals; avoid fatty and salty foods; try Aloe Vera gel or Milk of Magnesia as stomach balms. Specifically for EAGER sufferers, try less strenuous exercises (that would have you bouncing up and down less) such as swimming or bike-riding.

These homeopathic remedies may be tried first, in lieu of a prescription, if your doctor okays it. Be aware that OTC acid reflux, GERD and heartburn medications are only recommended for a limited amount of time (usually two weeks). After that time, it is recommended that you take a break before starting the regimen again. Even Rolaids or Tums are not recommended for extended use. If you do try an OTC remedy or have a prescription, make sure it has an acid reducer in addition to a stomach soothing agent.

If you suffer from acid reflux, acid indigestion, acidosis, digestive upset, dyspepsia, flatulence or heartburn you should know not to eat foods high in animal fat, wheat gluten or refined sugar or salt, to name a few.

On the other hand do you know what foods you can eat that will help prevent or cure your acid reflux, heartburn dilemma?

This whole acid causing food thing can be a little confusing, but I?m going to clear that up for you real fast today. I get a lot of people asking me about this, but it?s really quite simple to understand. You see many foods that are ?acidic? actually create an ?alkaline? condition inside your body and alkaline is good, that?s what you want.

This includes heirloom tomatoes, organic lemons and oranges . . . basically all citrus fruits. Once you know this, the rest is straight forward.

Now that we have that cleared up let?s take a closer look at what having an ?acid condition? or an ?alkaline condition? really means and why it?s important to know.

A Comparison: Acid Vs. Alkaline

First, an acid or alkaline state are opposite poles on a scale measured according to the ?pH,? which is short for ?potential of hydrogen.? Pure, living mineral water, which is made of hydrogen and oxygen, should have a natural pH of 7.0 representing the neutral, or half way mark on the pH scale.

A neutral 7.0 pH is neither in an acid or alkaline state. When the pH reading drops below 7.0 it?s considered to have an acidic pH and when the pH reading rises above 7.0 it is said to have an alkaline pH. So as you can see the entire pH scale is only from 1.0 pH being the most acidic to 14.0 pH reading being the most alkaline.

Your optimum health depends on you having a slightly alkaline reading, a 7.4 pH is good. This will naturally fluctuate from 6.5 to a 7.5 pH depending upon the time of day, your metabolic cycle and what you just eat.

The pH reading of your blood, urine and saliva determines your health.

Your urine will naturally become temporarily acidic in the morning because that?s when you carry the most acid waste.

If your blood pH becomes too acidic the hemoglobin is destroyed making it impossible for your red blood cells to carry oxygen to your cells. This is called acidosis and ignored will cause illness, cancer and even sudden death.

Perhaps now you can see why eating the wrong foods could cause an illness like acid reflux disease.

Bottom line is you need to know which foods will cure acid reflux and most of them are alkaline foods that create a slightly alkaline pH, the one exception being citrus fruits as I mentioned above.

German researchers discovered eating acid forming foods flushes the magnesium out of your kidneys, leading to magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is vital for heart health, for proper gastric acid balance and helps maintain optimum pH levels. So naturally, food rich with magnesium and other minerals will qualify as alkaline producing foods. Actually most raw green plants are rich in alkaline minerals.

Here?s a list of 9 very alkaline foods:

• Organic bananas or plantains
• Organic dark chocolate (70%+)
• Organic figs
• Natural mineral water
• Fresh squeezed orange juice
• Organic potatoes
• Organic spinach, kale or collards
• Seeded watermelon
• Organic dandelion greens

I hope you?ve found this information useful. On a final note, keep in mind that anything with refined sugar in it will tend to give your urine a more acidic pH. I would suggest supplementing with agave nectar, raw palm sugar or raw honey, at least these provide a lower glycemic load and provide useful minerals, vitamins and cofactors, whereas refined sugar and artificial sweeteners actually deplete these.

Live well,

Todd M. Faass?

Health Ecologist

According the studies done by the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), more than 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month, and about 15 million deal with it every day.

For all you statistic buffs out there, that breaks down to about 1 out of 18 people in the U.S. suffer from dreaded heartburn, also known as acid reflux disease.

The exact cause of acid reflux is still arguable, but most doctors will agree on one of two major causes.

1) Too much stomach acid

2) Too little stomach acid

It may surprise you but more people are suffering from a stomach acid deficiency than from an over production of stomach acid.

Regardless of the cause, acid reflux is one of the most unpleasant human sensations and taste experiences you?ll ever have.

Imagine a caustic acid so powerful it will ?etch glass,? erupting like chemical lava up into the most sensitive and delicate parts of your body . . . your throat, mouth and nose.

There?s a good reason acid reflux disease is commonly called heartburn . . . your stomach acid is a caustic acid that can seriously burn and scar you.

Your stomach has a triple layer of cells and inside the inner most layer are the ?parietal cells? which create the hydrochloric acid. This digestive acid is vital for the proper digestion of food. Your stomach acid doesn?t just dissolve your food . . . it chemically breaks it down all the way to the molecular level.

In fact one drop of your stomach acid will burn through wood.

Imagine this gastric acid being forced through your esophagus over and over again.

Industrial uses of hydrochloric acid include drain cleaners, leather processing and ?pickling? steel to remove rust.

This is why acid reflux disease and chronic heartburn can lead to worse conditions like Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and even cancer. In the case of GERD, the throat becomes so chemically eroded by gastric acid that it actually mutates into a tough lining just like the stomach lining. Ignored this type of cellular mutation can change into throat cancer.

Now in case you?re still curious, let me explain how a lack of stomach acid can trigger a gastroesophageal reflux from acid indigestion.

Your digestive acids are made from fluids in your gall bladder, pancreas and bile ducts which require minerals, nutrients and enzymes for the cells inside your upper stomach to create the final gastric acid product.

After years of eating processed foods and foods high in animal fats, these minerals, nutrients and enzymes become depleted.

Now picture all the food you eat piling up inside your gut, causing that bloating, gassy feeling from being full all the time.

You see a lack of digestive stomach acid will slow down digestion causing flatulence, nausea and a gaseous stomach. All this food creates pressure and stress forcing your body to make sporadic bursts of gastric acid . . . causing the heartburn sensation.

Keep in mind these ?parietal cells? that make this caustic digestive juice are located near the top of your stomach, which means its right next to your esophagus.

So it?s easy to imagine them a little stressed out, and even in a biological state of emergency, to the point where they briefly secrete generous amounts of gastric acid, which then just sits on top of that gigantic heap of undigested food stuff.

That?s why antacids don?t cure heartburn, they only inflame it.

Whether you make too much digestive acid or not enough the worst thing you can do is eat and then lay down. This makes it even easier for the acid to reflux up into your throat and mouth, even discoloring your teeth and most definitely ruin your once baby-sweet breath for the rest of the day.

Live well,

Todd M. Faass?

Health Ecologist