Heartburn and stomach viruses have more in common than you may first think.

Most people are discovering that it’s easy to be immune to viruses; it doesn’t matter if you are exposed to them. In fact the whole flu virus vaccine is a scam. Most people that get the shot are now carrying the live or attenuated virus . . . along with mercury and other poisons.

There is no scientific proof the viral shot even helps-at best it might protect you for a week and a half.

But there’s something else you need to know about viruses and heartburn . . . neither one can harm you if your internal “environment” is healthy.

Let me explain. If your saliva, tissue and blood “environment” is balanced at about pH 7.4 even cancers cells are dormant. Viruses, like cancer cells, require a low oxygen, high acid and low pH to thrive.

Stomach viruses can’t even reproduce unless they take over your cells, which they cannot when your pH is “salty” or alkaline.

When I say “salty” I don’t mean table salt, I mean, mineral rich, sea salty. Your healthy blood, tissue and saliva are nearly identical to sea water as far as composition and pH.

Your heartburn also depends on a healthy pH. Only your stomach environment should have a low pH, which means high acid levels.

However your “gut,” or digestive system, needs to be more “salty” and less acid. Only your stomach lining is tough enough for stomach acid. The rest of your digestive tract is gradually less acidic and more alkaline because it has to support delicate flora and microorganisms that help break your food down even further, after your stomach acid and powerful enzymes get first shot.

The two are connected because if your gut is out of balance, that means the good bacteria and micro-organisms are being overrun by bad bacteria and evil microorganisms.

Once the bad guys take over, your digestive system, or gut, fails to pull enough minerals, nutrients and cofactors from your food as it goes through your long plumbing system.

This means that your immune system is compromised and to make things worse, now you may be suffering from heartburn caused from your stomachs inability to properly digest your food.

Yes, that’s right, more often than not; heartburn is actually caused from lack of stomach acid. You see, to make stomach acid, your gall bladder and other organs need plenty of minerals, vitamins and enzymes.

So stomach acid is eventually connected to viral infections.

The last thing you want is Candida albicans growing in your gut. Candida is the bad micro-organism, not to mention E. coli and viruses. Candida is yeast that turns into a fungus that puts holes in your gut and allows undigested food molecules to get in your blood.

While your immune system is burdened with fighting this problem, it uses up what nutrient stores you had left.

Once your system bogs down because of low oxygen, low pH and low nutrition, acid wastes build up inside your cells.

Viruses like acidic cells; they can compromise them and eventually take them over to help reproduce more viruses.

So learn how to stay alkaline and eat more “raw,” nutrient rich, food sources to promote your minerals and all that good stuff-your body will take care of the rest.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass?

Health Ecologist

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is generally characterized by the onset of heartburn more than twice a week. Its symptoms can be very bothersome and painful, including heartburn, nausea and regurgitation.

Heartburn occurs when acid makes its way back into the esophagus, irritating the nerves found there. GERD sufferers most commonly feel this irritation as pain. The pain of heartburn is generally described as burning in the center of the chest that can start high and move up to the throat.

Regurgitation is when the feeling of acid coming back into the mouth occurs. It can be characterized by a bitter our sour taste accompanied by a wet burp.

Dyspepsia happens to many people with GERD. It is just a general way of defining an upset stomach. It includes burping, nausea, excessive hiccups and an overall feeling of discomfort in the stomach.

Symptoms occur as a result of many day to day things.

? Eating too much results in pressure buildup in the stomach, causing reflux.

? Eating right before bed can also cause heartburn.

? Smoking can aggravate GERD symptoms.

? Certain over the counter medications can also exacerbate GERD. NSAID pain relievers ? such as ibuprofen and aspirin ? as well as vitamins ? like potassium, calcium and iron ? can cause acid build up.

? Some people with certain health problems are more likely to experience symptoms of GERD. Those with Type 1 Diabetes may have a digestive condition that slows the flow of food through the stomach causing pressure to build and acid to move into the esophagus. Pregnant women may also experience a high volume of heartburn. Additionally, there is a link between Hiatal Hernia and symptoms of GERD. A Hiatal Hernia happens when part of the stomach is displaced ? either into the esophagus or up next to it. This condition can cause acid flow and production to be disrupted causing heartburn.

? People who are overweight may experience heartburn simply as a result of the added weight on their chest and abdomen. The weight puts pressure on the stomach, causing reflux.

? Certain foods can also aggravate GERD and bring the symptoms on. Foods like citrus, caffeine, alcohol, garlic and onion are common ones, however GERD sufferers all have their own unique food triggers for heart burn.

If you experience chest pain associated with arm numbness and shortness of breath, please see a doctor immediately. It can be a sign of a heart attack, and not simply heartburn.

For more information on the symptoms of GERD, please reference our Reflux Remedy Report.

Here you are again, up late at night miserable with heartburn . . . what?s with that? I mean, you?ve tried everything ?they? told you to do, right? Of course you did . . . you and 50 million other heartburn sufferers across America.

It?s sad but true . . . the Swedes even proved it in clinical tests years ago . . . antacids are a sham, a rip-off and a big fat lie.

In fact they only make your heartburn worse.

So let?s discuss something that makes sense, like actually addressing the root cause of heartburn and indigestion. You may be suffering from acid indigestion and heartburn because you?re making ?too much? gastric acid, but probably not.

More people have acid reflux because the food they eat isn?t being digested from lack of gastric power. This allows the stomach acid your body makes splash up from the top of the food filling your gut.

So my first tip is don?t lay down after eating, this just makes it easier for the little acid on top of your undigested food to work its way toward your throat.

My second tip, officially, is don?t take antacids, for the reason I mentioned above. You don?t have the stomach acid you used to have when you were younger, especially if you?re a man.

The more cooked foods and meat you eat, the more nutrients, enzymes and everything else your pancreas and digestive system have to make to dissolve them. So their simply used up now- time to replenish!

So as the years go by, if you don?t learn how to ?replenish? you suffer from specific nutrient and mineral deficiencies.

The secret is to eat foods that contain their own enzymes, minerals and cofactors, cooked food and meat has very little to offer.

Tip number three is to eat more whole raw fruits and vegetables and if you are eating meat chew it well and then eat your vegetables ?after.? If you?ve ever been to Europe you?ll notice they always eat their salads after the main course.

Americans for some reason unknown to me, eat the salads first. This places your carbohydrate ahead of your protein. If your protein source is meat, you?ll need as much stomach acid as possible to digest that animal protein and fat.

In fact you shouldn?t even eat fruit with a meal at all, especially if you?re eating meat.

So eat your fruit in between your meals.

Same goes with drinking water- you need to drink a lot of good water, but if you do it while you?re eating, you?ll dilute what stomach acid you do have- so eat small portions, chew well. Eat protein first, carbs second and fruit in between . . . all while drinking a good source of mineral water in between all that munching.

Oh, and sit up straight!

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass?

Health Ecologist

There are many people who suffer from heartburn – a painful, burning sensation that radiates from the upper chest and can make it all the way to the throat. While there are several medicinal options to treat the problem there are also a number of simple and natural ways to eliminate heartburn.

1. A glass of water helps dilute the contents of the stomach and push them through. This eliminates the opportunity for pressure to build and extra acid to be produced.
2. Ginger has long since been a treatment for stomach problems. Heartburn is no exception. It can be found in pills, candied or tea. All three forms help to prevent and alleviate heartburn.
3. Slippery Elm, once a popular remedy for sore throats, is now being shown to help heartburn sufferers. Though it’s not been proven to be scientifically beneficial, and has not been tested in pregnant women, it may help coat the esophagus.
4. Chewing gum promotes saliva production, which acts as water to dilute and flush out the stomach contents.
5. An amino acid called glutamine can also help. It disposes of damaged cells in the esophagus and promotes healing.
6. The oils found in a handful of almonds may relieve reflux in some sufferers.
7. Aloe Vera juice – not to be confused with aloe vera gel found in some household plants – can help prevent heartburn when consumed before meals. It’s important to distinguish between juice and gel, as the gel acts as a laxative when consumed. Be sure to use caution and find aloe vera juice that is labeled for consumption.
8. An enzyme that aids in digestion and helps prevent pressure and acid build up can be found in papaya.
9. Apples have been said to help soothe heartburn and some people even found relief after just a few slices.
10. Drinking a glass of milk may help, but don’t drink too much. Milk will help absorb acids, but it also has fats that can cause acid buildup.
11. Try to avoid heartburn triggers. Common ones include garlic, onion, caffeine, alcohol, and citrus. Watch what you eat to find your specific triggers.
12. Don’t eat right before bed. Gravity keeps stomach acids down and lying down allows them to creep into the esophagus.
13. Eat less more often. Eating fewer, larger meals has been shown to put pressure on the stomach and result in excess acid production.
14. Don’t smoke. Smoking has been proven to cause heartburn.
15. Take steps to reduce stress. Something as simple as deep breathing or counting to 10 can help prevent the onset of heartburn.
16. Sleeping with a few pillows under your head helps keep your esophagus elevated and stomach acids where they belong.
17. Losing a few pounds may help relieve the pressure on the chest and stomach extra weight can add.

For more information on natural and holistic treatment ideas for heartburn, please see our Reflux Remedy Report.