There are many causes of esophageal reflux and the symptoms vary greatly from one patient to the next. Individuals’ medical histories are a huge factor in how esophageal reflux affects each patient. The symptoms vary depending on the specific state of the condition but the most common symptom associated with it is heartburn that is often severe. Simple household remedies are occasionally sufficient in treating the symptoms but several medications are also available at most drug stores or your local grocery store.? Some of the home remedies are very simple such as drinking or eating something special before eating food that could potentially trigger an attack.? Specifically, things like apples are known to be acid neutralizers.? Also, simply drinkig a glass of water may be just enough to flush the extra acid that’s causing irritation out.

There are also daily changes that can be made to alleviate reflux.? Tracking what foods trigger reflux and then avoiding them is one of the main ways to reduce occurrences.? Also, eating smaller meals more frequently can help, as it doesn’t allow unnecessary pressure to build from assaulting the stomach with large amounts of food.

Over the counter medications are generally affordable, easy to use and the effectiveness has increased over the recent years which makes them better solutions than home remedies for most people. However, over the counter medications are not intended for continued use, and are not a permanent solution for frequent heart burn.

Esophageal reflux can be serious and you may not be able to treat it on your own. In this case you should consult a licensed physician to assist you in your treatment by prescribing a more powerful medication. Prescription medications can be a good solution for some people as they target specific causes of heart burn and prevent the production of acids or even neutralize them.? However, this is a very expensive route and can lead to a lifelong commitment.

Prevention is the best method for treating esophageal reflux because it is much better to prevent the pain and discomfort rather than to wait for it to hit you and then have to wait for relief. The most difficult part of treatment is simply finding the right solution for you because everyone’s body is unique and reacts differently to treatments.

Esophageal reflux can change over time so it is important to be proactive by monitoring your attacks and the effectiveness of different treatments to ensure that you are on top of the situation and not suffering more than you necessarily should be. If you suffer from esophageal reflux, keep in mind that there are several different ways to treat this condition so if you feel that your current treatment is not sufficient, keep an open mind to trying others until you find something that works for you.

For more information on Esophageal reflux and ways to treat it, visit www.refluxremedy.com and read The Reflux Remedy Report.

They call it heartburn for a good reason . . .one of the most corrosive acid substances in the world, called your stomach acid, is breaching the stomachs natural perimeter and causing a searing, burning effect in the throat, voice box, mouth, lungs and sinus areas.

The fact is you have a special valve that is designed to keep your stomach acid down below, where it belongs. Problem is, due to extraordinary circumstances this so-called valve becomes compromised, or by-passed for one reason or another.

This valve is technically referred to as the Lower Esophageal? Sphincter or better known as your LES. This valve, or sphincter is located just above your diaphragm, right next to the top of your heart.

Hence the term heartburn refers to the sensation of caustic gastric fluids breaking through this vital biological seal.

Once the stomach acid gets passed your LES, it’s up to you how far it goes.

Your simple acid reflux, heartburn or acid indigestion could do harm to even more sensitive areas as I mentioned above from not knowing what to do to control acid reflux and what the cause is from

The worst thing you can do is lay down after eating, or especially after having a heartburn “event.”

Picture this hydrochloric stomach acid burping up pass your LES and then dripping back down to rest on the “wrong ” side of the seal, right next to your heart.

Now imagine that same heartburn sensation moving slowly further and further upward along your throat because you decided to lie down.

In fact, this is the worst thing you can do after a heart burn attack, it’s likely that by lying down on a full stomach, more gastric acid will by-pass your LES valve and create even more damage and heartburn pain.

This bad habit is largely responsible for causing further corrosive damage to your LES and your throat. The gastric acid from heartburn is so nasty that it will ultimately mutate the cells lining your throat and make them more like your stomach acid.

Giving you a permanent heartburn sensation called GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

Isn’t it amazing how the built in Intelligent design of your mind automatically knows what’s best to do to keep your body alive.

All you have to do is pay attention and learn better ways to work with your body/mind, rather than against it.

Heartburn feels like your heart is burning because one of the largest and most sensitive nerves in your anatomy , called the vagus nerve, runs through your throat and to all your organs. So it’s easy to picture how once stomach acid erupts up into your throat and inflames your upper chest, respiratory and the wrong side of your LES valve, that your heart is going to feel as if its burning alive.

Like mother said,? “Sit up straight when you eat” and maybe try going for a walk after eating.

For best results avoid eating too much at one time, chew your food extremely well and don’t eat iceberg lettuce before a greasy meal. In fact, I chose to eat my mixed green salads the European way, which is “after” the greasy meal.

Soon you’ll forget where your heartburn used to hurt.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass?

Health Ecologist

Heartburn is a common complaint in today’s fast-paced, fast food world.? The feeling of burning in your upper stomach, perhaps in your throat…the tightness in your chest or even trouble swallowing…all can be symptoms of heartburn. When the acid pumps in your stomach are overactive, it starts to erode the esophagus, which is responsible for keeping acid down in the stomach. Esophagitis can occur, where there are tiny fissures (or tears) in the lining of the esophagus, and other more serious ailments can be caused if this condition is left untreated for a long period of time. Treatments for heartburn vary widely, from homeopathic remedies to prescription medication and even surgery, so first of all, see your doctor if your heartburn persists for more than a few weeks.

If your doctor okays, it you can try lifestyle changes first, including switching your diet away from fatty meals and acid-producers, such as alcohol and coffee. Maintaining a healthy weight is another way to combat heartburn naturally, so limiting fatty foods might have two benefits in your lifestyle. Other tricks include eating smaller, more frequent meals, and even elevating your head a couple of inches when you sleep can help keep acid down in your stomach where it belongs. Other specific food culprits that you might want to avoid include chocolate, tomato and tomato-based products, citrus fruits, fried foods, and pepper. Also, try staying hydrated. Eight glasses of water a day is not only good for your whole body, but it can help your body naturally dilute strong stomach acid and give your esophagus a break.

Other treatments for heartburn include over-the-counter medications, including Pepcid and Zantac. These work by decreasing the amount of stomach acid produced and are effective remedies against gastroesophageal reflux disease (or GERD), where acid from the stomach actually makes it past the esophagus into the throat. Other OTC remedies include antacids, which neutralize stomach acid. Brands include Tagamet and TUMS.? However, these medications are not meant as a permanent solution and should not be taken for more than two weeks, unless otherwise advised by your physician.

Prescription treatments for heartburn can include proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which stop the release of acid in the stomach; this class is frequently prescribed as well for GERD sufferers. Another class of prescription medication is a promotilty agent, which helps patients who have slowed emptying of their stomach.? These medicineshelp hasten digestion, and are often effective against sufferers of GERD.? Prescription medications can often be pricey, and sometimes taking a pill every day for the rest of your life is not the most appealing option.

In that case, there are a number of natural methods for combating this problem on your own. Homeopathic treatments for heartburn include lifestyle changes, as mentioned above, and supplements like calcium carbonate to quell acid, and deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), which can be found in a natural foods or supplements store. This latter product has inflammatory properties, and lines the stomach, intestines and esophagus, forming a barrier between tissue and acid. Fresh ginger can help some sufferers, which you grind up and add to foods or drinks like herbal tea. Chamomile tea is another good one to try, along with licorice root.

For further treatment ideas, the Reflux Remedy Report contains a host of natural ideas.? Visit their Web site at www.refluxremedy.com.

Hippocrates, the ancient Greek who is considered today to be the Father of Western medicine said, “Let your food be medicine and your medicine be food.”

So today I thought I could share some helpful cookbook remedies for gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and more.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is almost exclusively thought of as a problem caused from an over production of gastric, or digestive acids in the stomach. Whether it’s from too much or not enough gastric acid, either way this nasty stuff eventually erupts into the throat, or esophagus, eroding away normal throat, sinus and mouth tissues.

This chemical erosion actually mutates the throat cells to become more like the stomach cells, transforming your throat into a literal extension of your stomach lining, which can lead to throat cancer and sometimes death.

Left uncured the gastroesophageal acid reflux disease (GERD) often ends up as throat cancer.

Despite the fact that advertisers for drug companies would have you believe it’s just a common nuisance and that only “treating the symptoms” of heartburn, indigestion and GERD is enough. The truth is heartburn, acid indigestion or gastroesophageal acid reflux diseases (GERD) are all very serious problems that can be helped through proper nutrition.

There are two cookbook approaches to naturally healing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). One is based on knowing you are making too much stomach acid, which is actually very rare. The other approach is to address the root cause of a stomach acid deficiency, which is extremely common.

Unfortunately, if you are treating “the symptoms” of your gastroesophageal acid reflux disease (GERD), it will only get worse anyway.

That’s why natural alternative and integrative medicine which use food as medicine is so very successful compared to allopathic or orthodox (Westernized) medicine these days. ?Natural cures come from eliminating the true cause of the dis-ease, which any good GERD cookbook will tell you is from under-nutrition and poor eating habits.

The idea of eating properly is to prevent any mineral, enzyme or nutrient deficiencies.

As I already mentioned, if you are suffering from heartburn, you are in danger of developing esophageal cancer, if you allow the cause to go unaddressed.

According to a new study a single mineral may make a significant difference in whether your heartburn will become GERD and your GERD, then cancer.

A GERD cookbook will give you the dietary wisdom you need to replenish this and other critical factors to help your body prevent, treat and eventually cure itself of all gastro intestinal diseases, such as GERD and throat cancer.

A good GERD cookbook will encourage you to eat plenty of raw or steamed vegetables to help provide a high level of nutrients, minerals and enzymes needed to fight the root cause of GERD.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) studied biopsies from 130 people with GERD related cancer using an X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy that detects toxins as well as nutritional factors.

The missing ingredient to preventing heartburn, GERD and throat cancer turned out to be zinc.

Zinc is an essential mineral you need to have a sense of smell, a strong immune system, build proteins, activate digestive enzymes, and create DNA. Zinc also helps the cells in your body communicate by functioning as a neurotransmitter.

A deficiency in zinc can lead to stunted growth, diarrhea, impotence, hair loss, eye and skin lesions, impaired appetite, depressed immunity and GERD related cancer.

So to help you find a GERD cookbook with the best recipes to prevent heartburn, acid indigestion and GERD related cancer . . . I’ve included a list of the top 10 foods highest in zinc.

Oysters: a 100 gram serving can provide 110 to 1200% of the RDA of zinc.

Wheat germ: 100 grams of properly processed wheat germ can offer 112% of the RDA of zinc.

Veal liver: 100 grams can provide more than 80% of the RDA of zinc.

Tahini (Sesame butter): Contains 10 mg of zinc per 100 gram serving, that’s about 70% of the RDA.

Grass fed beef: A lower fat source of beef contains about 70% per 100 gram serving.

Pumpkin seeds: Again this super food contains about 70% of your RDA for zinc per 100 grams.

Dried water melon seeds: A Middle Eastern delight, eaten raw can provide 70% of the RDA per 100 grams.

Cacao beans: Nature’s source of dark chocolate provides 64% of the RDA for zinc per 100 grams.

Lamb: Provides up to 58% of the RDA per 100 grams.

Peanuts: per 100 grams peanuts provide about 22% of the RDA for zinc

So when you’re looking through all the GERD related cookbooks out there, keep these healing ingredients in mind.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass?

Health Ecologist