gastric acid

June 16, 2011

Ulcer Diet

Ulcer DietUlcers are a highly painful condition. They can cause eating to become a chore as foods you previously enjoyed suddenly seem to have turned on you, creating misery and discomfort. You don’t have to live with the pain and discomfort of ulcers. Simple nutrition principles can help remove the burning pain of ulcers and leave you free to enjoy your life.

Tips for Eating

Some important steps to take to calm ulcers begin before you even pick up a fork. Before you begin eating it is important to try to relax. Meals that are eaten slowly and calmly will help. Rushing through a meal will increase ulcer pain. Take care to chew your food thoroughly and enjoy it.

Eat small and frequent meals evenly spaced throughout the day. Avoid overloading your stomach with a large meal; a smaller meal is more easily digested. Aim for about three small meals and three snacks. Try to avoid eating in the three-hour period before you go to bed as going to bed with a full stomach will increase acid secretions overnight, which will result in ulcer pain that can wake you up in the night.

Eat at the table and sit up straight. Do not lie down immediately following a meal as this can cause stomach acid to leak into your esophagus, creating the painful, burning sensation commonly called “heartburn.”

Foods to Avoid

Some foods should be avoided, as they are more likely to irritate an ulcer. This doesn’t mean that they should never be consumed, but consuming them infrequently will increase your comfort and help heal the ulcer. This list includes:

  • foods and beverages that contain caffeine, like coffee and chocolate
  • tomato products, including spaghetti sauces
  • citrus foods like oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit
  • high-fat foods, especially those that have been fried
  • spicy foods

Foods to Include

Certain foods are very helpful for a person who is suffering from ulcers and should be included frequently.

  • Foods that are high in protein should be included in every meal and snack. This includes lean meats, low-fat dairy and eggs. Other great protein options are nut butters and tofu.
  • Fiber is also very beneficial, as it keeps the digestive system working efficiently. Foods that are high in fiber such as fruits, vegetables and whole grain breads and pastas should be on your plate regularly.
  • Fresh, frozen or canned fruit is good, as are fresh, frozen or canned vegetables.
  • Fish is a good choice if you have an ulcer, regardless of whether it is fresh, frozen or packed like tuna or salmon.
  • Soups, whether broth based or cream based are excellent, as long as they are mildly spiced.
  • Good snacks to eat while on an ulcer diet include sherbet, frozen juice bars, flavored gelatin, graham crackers, angel food cake, pretzels and hard candies.
  • Seasonings and flavorings are fine also, such as salt and pepper, most herbs, ketchup and mustard as tolerated.

For more information on the ulcer diet, feel free to download the Reflux Remedy Report at refluxremedy.com today!

Filed under Ulcers by

Permalink Print Comment

March 21, 2011

Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

A more common term for Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The only difference is Laryngopharyngeal reflux describes the damage GERD does specifically to the ‘voice box’ or larynx.

When gastric acids slide up past the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) it enters the throat and can reach as high up as the mouth and sinuses, in fact even the lungs are susceptible to exposure.

Normally this gastric acid burns the mucus lining of the throat away over a period of time, because it refluxes, or regurgitates up and then drips down, usually not spending a lot of time there.

On the other hand, with Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) the gastric acid gets hung up on the vocal cords and doesn’t drip away as fast, the same goes for the sinus area.

The stomach acid is strong enough to eat glass, so if you get acid reflux up into your larynx repeatedly, you’re going to end up with Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).

You can imagine what the symptoms would be easy enough. Hoarse voice, choking feeling and heartburn complain are sure signs that old stomach acid is erupting up into your voice box and dissolving your flesh.

As with GERD, Laryngopharyngeal reflux starts with a simple case of heartburn, but for one reason or another it becomes chronic.

If your heartburn keeps coming back you need to remedy the problem at the root level. Many people make their simple heartburn and acid indigestion issues into something worse than it should be by only treating the symptoms.

As with any dis-ease or health issue, if you fall for using gimmicks to just cover symptoms, the root cause will still fester.

If your Laryngopharyngeal reflux is caused from you over eating and then immediately lying down, taking antacids isn’t going to stop it from happening again and again.

Besides antacids are really bad for you, especially if you eat them all the time . . . they’re chocked full of heavy metals and other unwanted ingredients.

So if you suffer from Laryngopharyngeal reflux, change your diet and lifestyle habits and don’t expect some magical pill to make it all right.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass

Health Advocate

Filed under Reflux Disorder by

Permalink Print Comment

March 11, 2011

Stomach Acids

While most organs of the body are neutral or alkaline, a highly acidic stomach is needed in order to digest food. People are biologically equipped with gastric acid that breaks down food once it enters the stomach. When food is chewed and swallowed, the food travels through the esophagus and into the stomach. The essential nutrients are still too course and complex to be absorbed into the blood stream and effectively utilized by the body. The digestive juices of the stomach aid the body in extracting the necessary vitamin and mineral elements, while leaving behind the waste.

Composition

The stomach is a vital organ that is comprised of a mixture of acidic liquid components. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is the main component of gastric acid, along with substantial portions of potassium chloride (KCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl). This corrosive compound has a pH of 1 to 2, and can be dangerous in any other part of the body. The blend of acids provides the perfect balance for breaking down all kinds of carbohydrates and protein. To protect itself from its own acid, the stomach is lined with a bicarbonate base at the mucosa layer. This base neutralizes the acid that contacts the stomach directly.

Production

The stomach wall is lined with several layers, one of which features parietal cells that secrete gastric acid into the lumen of the stomach. Secretion occurs in three phases: the cephalic, gastric and intestinal. Stomach acid production is controlled through hormones and the visceral nervous system. Stomach acid formation occurs naturally based on the amount of food deposited in the stomach. Larger quantities of food will cause the stomach to produce greater amounts of gastric acid.

Food Break Down

Gastric acids activate enzymes like pepsinogen, subsequently modifying into pepsin, which deconstructs proteins into peptides. Peptides, polymers of amino acids, allow the body to use the amino acids beneficially. Stomach acid also serves as a defense system against harmful germs and bacteria found in foods and beverages. The high acidity kills most dangerous microorganisms and bacteria, eliminating the strain on the immune system. Once completely broken down, the particles are transferred to the large and small intestine where nutrients are extracted and waste is passed through to the rectum.

Acid Reflux

When the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), located above the stomach, abnormally fails to tighten properly, or is constantly opened, the risk of stomach acid ascending through the esophagus is increased. If the acid travels to the esophagus this may cause intense heartburn and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), a disease that affects millions of people. The acidity of the gastric acid creates a burning sensation that can be irritating and very painful. Regurgitation, a symptom of GERD, causes people to be orally exposed to gastric acid and experience a sour and sometimes bitter taste in their mouth.

For more information on how stomach acid affects heartburn and acid reflux, visit refluxremedy.com.

Filed under Stomach Acid by

Permalink Print 3 Comments

March 7, 2011

Heartburn and Symptoms

Heartburn, by far, is one of the main symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and acid reflux. Heartburn symptoms are not to be expected of all people who suffer from acid reflux or GERD. Experiencing heartburn does not necessarily mean that these digestive conditions are present. The following symptoms of heartburn are the most common and suggest that GERD or acid reflux has already developed.

Burning Sensation (Throat): When gastric acid backup into the esophagus, this can create a painful, burning sensation in the throat, especially at the highest part of the neck. This feeling becomes more painful while eating or drinking.

Burning Sensation (Chest): The chest is usually the site where an intense burning sensation is felt. At the sternum and esophagus, you may feel acidic liquids burn and irritate these areas.

Chest Pain: This occurs often while experiencing heartburn. This symptom is typically triggered by physical maneuvers that include lying down, bending over or eating a heavy meal. Chest pain can be mild to severe, depending on the type of meal eaten, your weight and other factors.

Chronic Coughing: Some cases of heartburn encompass a chronic cough. This persistent cough is as a result of the acid that has refluxed into the esophagus. A chronic cough can be disruptive to everyday behaviors and lifestyle, sometimes limiting your function at work or socially.

Sore Throat/Hoarseness: A sore throat is another symptom of heartburn. The acid that reaches the throat from the stomach burns and forces the throat to become inflamed. This irritation discourages people from speaking or even eating certain foods, as it can be painful. If you are required to speak a lot in your profession or at home with your family, this can become very inconvenient.

Difficulty Swallowing: Dysphagia, a common condition, typically occurs in conjunction with heartburn. This condition includes difficulty in swallowing solid foods and causes you to feel like food has become lodged in your throat or esophagus. In severe circumstances, this may feel as though you are choking.

Bitter Taste: Stomach acid refluxes through the esophagus and into the throat. This creates a foul smelling odor within the mouth. The acid usually tastes bitter or sour, and can be unpleasant. The bitter and sour taste may prevent you from desiring certain foods. These foods can possibly taste terrible to you because of acid reflux.

The symptoms and occurrence of heartburn are sometimes mistaken as a signal of digestive disorders. There are circumstances in which chest pain reflects a cardiovascular problem, and could lead to a heart attack if not taken seriously, or assumed to be related to acid reflux. Although all these symptoms can alert you to the fact that you are experiencing heartburn, they do not all have to occur in order to for heartburn to be the cause.

If you are searching for a remedy for the many symptoms of heartburn, visit refluxremedy.com today and find out how you can naturally control and free yourself of this debilitating condition.

Filed under Heartburn Symptoms by

Permalink Print Comment

Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

©2016 Barton Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Email: support@bartonpublishing.com
Toll Free: 1.888.356.1146 Outside US: +1.617.603.0085
Phone Support is available between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM EST
PO Box 50, Brandon, SD 57005 USA