You have muscles that protect you from one of the most dangerous caustic acids in the world?your stomach acid.

Gastric acid, or stomach acid, is so dangerous it can actually burn glass, so imagine what gastric acid is doing to millions of people who suffer from gastric reflux.

Another word for gastric reflux is Laryngopharyngeal reflux.

People, who suffer from acid indigestion, heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) in fact, usually suffer from a mineral deficiency which leads to a gastric acid shortage. The ironic thing is that people who suffer from a gastric acid deficiency are hard to tell from people who suffer from an over production of gastric acid. The root causes are different; however the damaging effects remain pretty much the same.

Before gastric reflux can fully develop, a build-up of gastric acid eventually weakens the muscles that protect the throat and vocal cords from the gastric acid reflux.

The gastric reflux happens because as a result of a gastric acid deficiency the food in the stomach becomes stagnant and piles up to the roof of your rib cage where the muscles of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) are trying to protect you.

Because of the lack of stomach acid, food remains undigested and goes through a toxic form of fermentation. As these toxins build-up the starving body desperately strives to produce random spurts of corrosive gastric juices. These gastric juices are released at the top of your stomach lining and sit there bubbling and churning away at a massive amount of fatty foods and all the rest of it.

Unfortunately the gastric reflux builds-up in the LES muscles, weakens them and is forced upward. Gradually the same thing happens to your larynx, or voice box, this is the stage defined as gastric reflux.

Basically the flow of gastric acid and powerful digestive enzymes becomes reversed as gastric acids are allowed to reflux upward . . . chemically basting the once sensitive lining, tissue and muscles of your throat, voice box and mouth area.

This degenerative process is also called GERD, or gastro-esophageal reflux disease. It is from the build-up of gastric acid in your larynx which causes Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPR).

When LPR is persistent enough it can cause a non-cancerous growth on the back of your vocal cords, called a granuloma.

Symptoms of LPR can include:

• A choking sensation
• Sore throat
• Voice changes
• A sensation of something caught in the throat
• Frequent coughing and throat clearing
• A sour or bitter taste in the mouth

Those symptoms of acid reflux, acid indigestion and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), such as heartburn, burping and chest pressure are not always experienced as symptoms of gastric reflux, or LPR.

To avoid build-up of gastric reflux on your vocal muscles don?t start treating just the symptoms, learn how to address the root cause.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass?

Health Ecologist

Acid reflux is a kind of medical condition which is caused when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not close after taking the food. Whatever food we eat passes into our stomach through the LES and if it does not close, then acid produced inside our body can reach to our esophagus causing acid reflux disease. This causes heartburn or chest pain. Hence, it is extremely important to know which types of foods are best to prevent or reduce acid reflux.

Preparing a diet regimen for treating acid reflux can be intimidating. ?The problem may increase if you have any kind of food allergy. Normally acid reflux increases post meal, hence it is important to have food that discourages reflux. It is important to know that patients suffering from this disease should have food in small amounts. It is even better, if they can spread their meals throughout the day instead of having a square meal a day. The last meal of the day must be taken well in advance before going to bed. If you take small amounts of food throughout the day, then you can ensure less bulging of the stomach. And a small meal is more or less easily digestible. This results in low acid levels thus leading to reflux free life.

An acid reflux reducing diet consists of all the essential food groups- fruits, vegetables, grains, meats and dairy products. However, some of the items under these groups are not prescribed. You must note and remember them. People suffering from acid reflux disease, are asked to avoid drinks containing caffeine, alcohol, chocolate and peppermint. One should also avoid high fat containing food.

Normally patients are asked to have grains that have low fat content. Rice, multigrain, corn, oats, graham crackers, unseasoned pretzels and bran can be eaten. White bread and rice cakes are also good for patients suffering from acid reflux. Cabbage, celery, fennel, peas, green beans, broccoli, carrots and cabbage can be included in the diet. Fruits like bananas, apples, peaches, berries, melons are good choice. Any kind of citrus fruits must be avoided since they aggravate the problem. Low fat dairy products are good for sufferers.

Feta cheese, cheese prepared from soy and vegetables can be eaten, while ice cream, whole milk and chocolates must be avoided. If you wish to have meat, then have the lean variety. You can have skinless breast of chicken, no fat fish, egg whites, London Broil steaks and ground beef. We normally use a wide variety of seasonings, toppings, condiments while having food. However, you must remember that these should also contain low percentage of fat.

Avoiding chocolate based desserts is mandatory. Jelly beans, pudding, baked chips, cookies, fat free snacks, sweets, sorbet and yogurt containing low fat are prescribed. You should also eat high fibrous food since it clears the stomach nicely and is quite filling at the same time. Food items like strawberries, scallions, ham, scrambled egg, Mozzarella and Cottage cheese, muffin and root beer can be had in moderation.

A modified diet for severe Gerd is necessary when acids produced by the stomach begin entering the esophagus. The food that we eat travels through our mouth down the esophagus, and to the stomach. The stomach and esophagus are joined at the LES or lower esophageal sphincter. The LES opens up to enable food to enter the stomach. The sphincter normally closes to prevent stomach juices and food to move back to the esophagus.

The stomach produces certain digestive enzymes and juices that aid in digestion. The digestive track also possesses special mechanisms to protect it from damages caused by these enzymes and juices. However, the esophagus itself does not possess such defensive mechanisms and hence it is essential for the LES to close and prevent the juices from reaching the esophagus. Normally, some amounts of the stomach bile go back to the esophagus. However, if excess amounts of acid accumulate inside the esophagus it causes Gerd. People suffering from Gerd experience abnormal behavior of LES. Either it does not close properly or it opens up wrong moment. Severe Gerd can result in ulcers, the narrowing and damaging of the esophagus, and even bleeding.

It is vital to have a proper diet for severe Gerd. The diet should be combination of foods that are easily digestible and low in food which will help in weight reduction if you are obese. Avoid foods that worsen the condition including tomato, alcohol, caffeinated drinks, peppermint, chocolate and deep fried foods. These kinds of foods normally weaken the LES or fuel your stomach to produce more acid than necessary. Avoid mustard, garlic, spices, citrus fruits, vinegar and aerated beverages at any cost.

One of the best ways to end the severe effects of Gerd is to eat in moderation while switching to highly nutritious and low fat foods. It is effective to eat in small proportions, consume less than 300 mg of cholesterol, restrict sodium intake to 2400 mg per day and count calories when you eat. Do not eat more than the daily caloric intake limit recommended for your body. Not every food will trigger Gerd symptoms in your body. Mark the kind of food that specifically fuels Gerd in your body and avoid them.

It is also important to eat timely and eat in small proportions instead of having large meals, and always leave a generous amount of time between meals and sleep. Acid travels easily into the esophagus when you are lying down, so try walking after you eat. For overweight people it is important to exercise every day to reduce weight.

Include poultry, whole grains, pears, bananas, fish, lean meat and low fat food in your diet for severe Gerd, as well as skimmed milk and plenty of water. It is most important to eat the right combination food at the right time. Do not put pressure on your stomach by stuffing it with excess food, and avoid combining foods that require both the alkaline enzymes and stomach juices to work simultaneously. This leads to weak digestion and increased Gerd symptoms.

12,000 Americans die each year from esophageal cancer, and its primary warning symptom is acid reflux. Acid reflux is a ?warning symptoms? of possible Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

Keep in mind that acid reflux is a symptom and not a disease. Unfortunately because most people put of treating the root cause properly it winds up doing harm to the esophagus.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) happens when the esophagus gets irritated and inflamed from acid reflux splashing up from the stomach.

The stomach produces hydrochloric acid after a meal to aid in the digestion of food. The stomach is naturally protected from this caustic digestive acid. The outer lining of cells in your stomach creates massive amounts of mucus.

However the cells lining the esophagus (throat) do not make this protective mucus coating, leaving it vulnerable to up surges of acid rebound.

Acid reflux, or rebound, is more commonly referred to as heartburn simply because the base of your esophagus is located behind your heart.

If you?ve ever experienced a bad case of acid indigestion, you?ve felt this burning sensation behind your heart at the bottom of your esophagus.

When the ?warning symptoms? are ignored, the stomach acid rebounds higher and higher up the esophagus chemically scalding the delicate cells along your throat, inside your mouth and even up into your sinus tissues.

You may wonder how it can surge up the esophagus and the truth is it shouldn?t ever do that because there is a ?safety valve that?s supposed to prevent acid reflux from erupting all the up the throat.

This seal or safety valve in the base of your esophagus is called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). It?s designed to open when you swallow food or drink, allowing food stuff to enter your gut. After the food leaves the esophagus it?s supposed to close, sealing off and guarding your throat, mouth and sinus tissue, as well as keeping your food down where it belongs.

The problem is after proper treatment of your acid reflux is delayed for a long time, the corrosive stomach acid that has been pushed up against it and eventually weakens the muscle response of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

Once the acid has had an opportunity to weaken the esophagus?s safety valve (LES), digestive juices and acids then begin leaking into the vulnerable esophageal tube area.

Eventually this develops into Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), which erodes and mutates the cells of your throat often leading to throat cancer and sometimes death.

Approximately 30% of adults in the US experience this Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) on a monthly basis and about 10% of adults in the US go through this weekly. Shockingly, these days even children and infants develop Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), thanks to lack of common sense when it comes to dietary habits in America.

Fatty fried foods, alcohol, cigarettes, certain pharmaceuticals, lack of exercise and poor posture even play a role.

I found plenty of natural alternatives millions of people are discovering that help reverse Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), simply because acid reflux is primarily a nutritional deficiency, not a drug shortage.

OTC drugs have been found to actually make acid reflux worse, so my advice is if something you took didn?t work, keep trying new things, like eating an apple for instance, that works well for millions of people-in-the-know.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass?

Health Ecologist