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

Acid Reflux Disease happens when the sufferer has heartburn more than twice a week, or chronically.? There are a number of ways to approach finding relief for this painful problem.? Most people will immediately go for medication, be it over the counter antacids or prescription medications.? However, there are a surprising amount of natural remedies that can prevent ever needing to reach for a bottle of pills.

• Changing your eating habits can be the first step, and easiest way, to alleviate heart burn. Eating smaller more frequent meals can prevent overloading the stomach all at once and causing a buildup of pressure and acid. Also, eating 2 to 3 hours before bed can help prevent that night time heartburn from creeping up.
• Smokers should quit smoking, as it has been shown to worsen acid reflux.
• People who are overweight can try losing a few pounds. The extra weight puts added pressure on the chest and abdomen, causing reflux.
• Tight clothing should also be avoided. Similarly to extra weight, it puts pressure on the abdomen.
• Drinking a glass of chamomile or fennel tea can help soothe an irritated esophagus when sipped slowly at a warm temperature.
• A few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar can help during heartburn, and when diluted in a cup of water before meals can help prevent future reflux.
• Aloe Vera juice can help when consumed before meals. However, the gel from an aloe plant will not. It’s a powerful laxative and shouldn’t be consumed to relieve heart burn. Only drink Aloe Vera juice.
• Ginger has been found to help with many stomach problems, including acid reflux. It can be taken in pill form, drank in tea, or consumed in candied form. When taken before meals it acts as a preventative, and can help soothe when taken during heartburn.
• Almonds contain natural oils found to help alleviate heartburn. A handful is all it takes to calm an upset stomach.
• Papaya contains an enzyme that has a digestive enzyme to help break down foods and prevent pressure build up. When taken before meals it can help prevent the onset of acid reflux.
• For long term prevention and healing damage done to the esophagus by chronic heart burn, the amino acid glutamine can help. It promotes healing and eliminates damaged cells in the esophagus.
• Unflavored yogurt has helpful bacteria that promote healing in the esophagus and tightening of the muscles, preventing future onsets.
• Some people have even found eating an apple helps rid them of heartburn.
• Drinking a glass of milk – some recommend skim, some recommend whole – may help relieve acid reflux.
• Something as simple as drinking a glass of water can help. By diluting the stomach acids and flushing the system faster it can be an excellent way to soothe heart burn.

The Reflux Remedy Report contains even more ideas for getting rid of acid reflux disease.? Check it out!

Acid Reflux Disease is a painful disorder where the sufferer encounters heartburn at least twice a week. Treatments for this problem are wide ranging, from over the counter medications to natural solutions, to changes in the sufferer?s daily routine.

Medications

? There are several over the counter options that help neutralize stomach acid, like Tums or Mylanta.

? Prescription options can help target the specific cause of reflux.

o Proton pump inhibitors ? like Nexium and Prilosec ? and H2 blockers ? such as Zantac and Pepcid ? halt the production of stomach acids.

o Prokinetics ? like Reglan ? help push food through the system and strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter (the muscle that moves food into the stomach and helps prevent it from backing up into the esophagus).

o Foaming agents help coat the stomach and prevent the onset of reflux.

Natural Remedies

? Warm chamomile or fennel tea, when sipped, can help soothe a stomach irritated by heart burn.

? Apple cider vinegar has also been helpful during heartburn and with prevention of heartburn. Take 2 to 3 tablespoons to help relieve reflux, and dilute the same amount in a cup of water for prevention.

? Ginger can help alleviate all kinds of stomach discomforts, including heart burn. It can be mixed with hot water in tea form, consumed in candied form, or taken in pill form. All help relieve and prevent heartburn.

? Drinking a quarter of a cup of aloe vera juice may also prove to be helpful. Be careful though, as aloe from a house plant contains a powerful laxative and isn?t recommended for consumption. Only drink aloe vera juice that is meant for drinking.

? Yogurt that?s unflavored has helpful bacteria that aide in tightening stomach walls, preventing acid from being allowed up into the esophagus.

? Milk has been shown to help soothe heartburn. Drinking a glass may help relieve symptoms.

? Drinking a glass of water may also help. It dilutes the stomach contents and flushes them through the system, preventing pressure and acid to build.

Daily Changes

? Quit smoking! Among other detrimental health problems caused by smoking, heartburn has been shown to be caused by it.

? Less is more! Eat smaller meals more often. Eating a few large meals a day has been shown to overload the stomach, creating pressure and acid buildup which results in reflux.

? Don?t be a Scrooge! Avoid eating right before bed. Gravity helps keep acid where it belongs and lying down right after eating allows it into the esophagus where it can cause irritation.

? Watch what you eat! Track the foods you eat to help pinpoint which specific foods are triggers for heartburn.

? Beware! Monitor your intake of certain over the counter pain medicines ? like aspirin and ibuprofen ? as well as vitamins ? like calcium and potassium ? as they?ve been shown to spur acid reflux.

Surgery

While rare, sometimes reflux is so bad surgery is necessary. The procedure involves wrapping a portion of the upper stomach around the lower esophagus. This solution aids in tightening the muscles located in the lower esophagus and prevents acids from migrating out of the stomach. This is often a last resort of treatment.

For additional treatment ideas, please see our Reflux Remedy Report.