Heartburn & The Dangers of Acid Blockers (PPIs)
Protein Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) such as Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec are commonly used and prescribed to reduce stomach acid levels to alleviate heartburn, reflux or GERD. They do this by blocking enzymes in the stomach from producing acid. These medications are often overused and overprescribed without addressing the underlying reasons for developing stomach discomfort in the first place, and come with numerous side effects.
Potential dangers of chronic PPI use include:
Development of C. difficile, a dangerous bacteria
Inflammatory bowel disease
Stomach cancer
SIBO (bacterial overgrowth)
Leaky gut syndrome
Autoimmunity
Asthma
Arthritis & joint problems
Nutritional deficiencies including B12
Heartburn: Too Much or Too Little Acid?
The real kicker with recommending this class of medication for heartburn is that more often than not, the heartburn or reflux isn’t due to high stomach acid levels, but actually due to underproduction of acid, It’s true that too much acid in the stomach is problematic, but oftentimes this isn’t the majority.
What Happens When We Have Low HCl?
Hydrochloric acid is produced by the parietal cells in the stomach when we eat. In fact, we start producing these gastric juices when we see, smell or even think about food! Having enough stomach acid is absolutely crucial for our overall health, not only our digestive health.
HCl is important for proper protein digestion, avoiding food sensitivities and it’s one of our first lines of defence against pathogens like viruses, bacteria and parasites. Low HCl is associated with poor immune health, poor digestive health, food sensitivities, allergies, skin conditions, acne, leaky gut, yeast overgrowth and mood issues.
What’s The Real Cause?
The real reason most people develop symptoms of reflux are due to an under functioning digestive system, including low HCl (not high), bacterial infection such as H. Pylori or food poisoning, excess toxins and gasses in the stomach. When the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus doesn’t close properly, we can experience heartburn due to acids splashing up from the stomach into the esophagus. It’s not necessarily that we have too much acid, it’s just going into the wrong areas causing irritation.
There are many reasons someone might develop low stomach acid, such as:
Overeating
Poor diet high in sugars
Antibiotic use
Acid blocking meds
Carbohydrate malabsorption
Bacterial overgrowth
Dysbiosis
Stress
Pregnancy
Hiatal hernia
Medications
Magnesium deficiency
B12 deficiency
Foods That Can Help
Adding in gut-healing foods like bone broth, collagen peptides, turmeric, ginger, pumpkin and fermented foods, including taking apple cider vinegar before meals can be very beneficial. You’ll also want to reduce inflammatory foods like sugars, refined carbs, alcohol, fried foods, gluten, dairy and any personalized food sensitivities. People also tend to experience relief when they eliminate citrus fruits, spice, chocolate and carbonated beverages.
Gut Healing Supplements
Gut healing supplements like zinc carnosine, licorice, slippery elm, curcumin, mastic gum, magnesium and others can help soothe the stomach and address inflammation. Peppermint should be avoided during times of acute reflux, but can aid digestion also. Additionally, digestive enzymes such as pepsin with betaine HCl can be very beneficial in reducing symptoms and improving digestive health.
Addressing Infection & Overgrowth
Infections, such as H. Pylori, a common bacterial infection that contributes to reflux and GERD, can often be cleared through natural remedies. Be sure to seek the help of a practitioner when dealing with digestive conditions before making changes to your health regime.
If you’ve struggled with reflux or other digestive issues, I would love to work with you to get to the root of the problem! To read more about how I can help and clients I work with visit Work With Me.
Asher Kleiber
Registered Holistic Nutritionist
