Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease – or GERD – and Hiatal Hernia are two gastrointestinal disorders with very similar symptoms, and very different causes, which can occur separately or concurrently.

GERD is a result of frequent heart burn and acid reflux irritating the esophagus.? This can be caused by external factors, such as diet, medications, and health issues.? It can also be caused by an abnormal muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter – the muscle that allows food to pass into the stomach.? An abnormal sphincter is relaxed and allows passage of acid into the esophagus.

A Hiatal Hernia occurs when a portion of the stomach is displaced and either forced through the diaphragm – referred to as a Sliding Hiatal Hernia, or next to the esophagus – commonly known as a Para-Esophageal Hiatal Hernia.

Symptoms behind the Sliding Hiatal Hernia and GERD are strikingly similar.? They include heartburn and acid reflux, nausea and regurgitation.

Though there appears to be a link between the two conditions, it’s difficult to say one causes the other.? Not everyone who has a Hiatal Hernia has GERD and vice versa.

However, there are things that can be pointed to.? When a Hiatal Hernia occurs, it’s usually a result of the lower esophageal sphincter becoming very relaxed or loose (the same contributing factor to GERD), allowing the diaphragm to become displaced and the stomach to protrude.? Two things happen when this occurs:

1.?? The relationship between the sphincter and the diaphragm is altered, allowing acid to move in the opposite direction.

2.?? The junction between the esophagus and the stomach is pulled up, causing the muscles to become even more relaxed and cause reflux.

Treatments of a Sliding Hiatal Hernia and GERD are also very similar, as a Sliding Hiatial Hernia often isn’t serious and simply causes acid reflux.? Options include over the counter antacids or prescription drugs, diet changes, stress management, and if the problem is severe enough surgery for both issues is an option.

Medications and diet changes can help both conditions reduce the occurrence of acid reflux. ?Antacids and prescription drugs help neutralize stomach acid, thus reducing discomfort and damage.? Diet changes can help prevent production of too much stomach acid.

Stress management can also help reduce stomach acids for both conditions.? Excess stomach acids are produced during stressful situations.? People with Hiatal Hernia or GERD under high stress may benefit from simple de-stressing techniques such as deep breaths and counting to ten.

Surgery for a hernia involves pulling the stomach back to its normal position and making the junction between the esophagus and the stomach smaller, preventing recurrence and repairing the cause of the hernia.? Surgery for GERD can be done laparoscopically – a minimally invasive procedure, and involves attaching the stomach around the esophagus, and tightening that junction – preventing acid from entering the esophagus.

The two conditions clearly share several similarities, but science has yet to find a definitive cause and effect relationship between the two.? However, those with one, the other, or both conditions are facing nearly identical roads of treatment and healing.

Acid reflux, sometimes called heartburn, happens when stomach acid is allowed to flow up into the lower esophagus.? This can cause discomfort and pain for the sufferer.? Although there is no one sure and fast cure for heartburn, there are many ways to alleviate its symptoms.

Medicine

• Over the counter medications like Tums or Mylanta may help by neutralizing stomach acid. However, they can also have some nasty side effects, like constipation or diarrhea when over used.

• Prescription medicines can help attack heartburn in many ways.? Some, called foaming agents, help prevent heartburn by coating the stomach.? Others, known as H2 blockers (like Pepcid and Zantac) and proton pump inhibitors (like Prilosec and Nexium), prevent production of acid in the first place.? Prokinetics (like Reglan) can help strengthen the muscle that prevents acid from moving into the esophagus (called the lower esophageal sphincter), as well as help push food through the system faster ? preventing pressure buildup and reducing acid reflux.

Natural Remedies

• Apple cider vinegar has been found to be very helpful in relieving and preventing heartburn.? As little as 2 to 3 tablespoons can help relieve acid reflux, and when added to a cup of water, can help prevent future attacks.

• Ginger is also a widely used remedy.? It can be found in many forms ? pill, candied and tea ? and, like apple cider vinegar, can help alleviate heartburn, or prevent it when taken before a meal.

• Among the helpful bacteria in yogurt, unflavored yogurt is said to contain the kind that helps tighten stomach walls.? This in effect, prevents acid from backing up into the esophagus.

• Drinking chamomile or fennel tea may also help.? However, it should be sipped at a warm temperature, not gulped while hot.

• If nothing else works, drink a glass of water.? It will help flush the system and dilute the acid in the stomach.

Daily changes

• Smoking has been shown to aggravate acid reflux.? Quitting may help soothe symptoms.

• Wear loose fitting clothes.? Wearing tight clothes puts pressure on the abdomen causing acid to back up.

• Sleep with a few pillows under your head, and take naps in a more vertical position, like in a chair.

• Eat smaller meals more often.? Also, avoid eating right before going to bed.

• Extra weight can put pressure on the stomach, so overweight people may try losing a few pounds.

• Monitor consumption of over the counter pain medications and supplements.? Some NSAIDS ? like aspirin and ibuprofen ? as well as vitamins ? iron, calcium and potassium for example ? have been shown to exacerbate heartburn and acid reflux.

Surgery

Generally, surgery is not necessary and used as a last resort.? However, if dietary changes and medications are not helpful, a procedure called fundoplication may be necessary.? It involves wrapping part of the stomach around the lower esophagus, tightening the muscles there and preventing acid backups.? The procedure can be done laparoscopically as well as through an open incision in the abdomen.

For more information on finding relief for acid reflux, please read our Reflux Remedy Report.

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

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease ? or GERD ? happens when acid in your stomach chronically backs up into your esophagus. This acid doesn?t belong there and irritates the lining, causing heart burn. If this happens to you more than twice a week, doctors label it as GERD.

It all starts with the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). It?s a muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, which should open and close to manage the flow of stomach contents. A normal LES prevents food and acid from backing up into the esophagus. An LES that isn?t functioning properly leads to GERD.

So, what causes the LES to act up repeatedly and essentially cause GERD? Medications, foods, certain health conditions, and various habits are among the many things doctors are pointing at.

Medications

Certain medicines, such as NSAIDS ? like aspirin and ibuprofen? have been linked to GERD. Research has shown them to commonly cause this problem, or increase the severity of symptoms in GERD sufferers. Other medications known to aggravate GERD include iron supplements, antibiotics, potassium and sedatives. If you?re having trouble with any of these medications, talk to your doctor for a possible solution.

Foods

There isn?t any one food that causes heartburn in all GERD sufferers. Everyone has their own specific triggers. Generally fried food, anything containing caffeine, alcohol, garlic, mint and onion are a few common ones. Keeping a food journal that documents what you ate and your reaction can help pinpoint your specific triggers.

Health Conditions

Hormones are thought to regulate the LES, so GERD and the associated heartburn often occurs during pregnancy, when hormones are out of whack.

Additionally, approximately 20 percent of people with Type 1 Diabetes have something called gastroparesis. The condition causes a delay in emptying stomach contents, which in turn can cause pressure build up, resulting in reflux.

When it comes to Asthma and GERD, there is some argument as to which came first for those that suffer from both. Some argue the constant coughing and constriction of the chest that occurs during an asthma attack puts pressure on the chest, resulting in reflux and essentially leading to GERD. Others say GERD sufferers may inhale acid from the esophagus causing irritation of the lungs. Doctors often point to GERD as a cause of asthma in adult asthma sufferers or if asthma gets worse at night or when lying down. Nevertheless, there appears to be a link between the two.

Obesity can also cause reflux. The additional weight causes pressure on the abdomen, resulting in acid build up.

Hiatal Hernia, a condition that occurs when the stomach is pushed above the diaphragm, has also been linked to GERD. The problem has been shown to worsen symptoms, although has not yet been proven to be a direct cause of GERD.

Habits

Even simple things like smoking and wearing tight fitting clothing are sometimes attributed to GERD. Smoking slows the function of the LES, causing acid to back up into the esophagus. Tight fitting clothing places constrictions on the chest and abdomen with the same results. Even snacking before bed can lead to GERD, as eating less than 2 hours before lying down can result in reflux.

For more information on GERD and natural remedies, please check out our book Reflux Remedy Report.