Studies have shown that
proton pump inhibiting drugs can increase the incidence of osteoporosis, hip fractures, Clostridium difficile (C.diff), vitamin B12 deficiency, and may even cause cardiovascular disease.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anemia, nerve damage, fatigue, mood changes, depression, psychiatric problems, and even dementia.
Why do these problems occur when people take stomach acid suppressing drugs?
You need your stomach acid. It is responsible for digesting food and is essential for absorbing calcium, magnesium, vitamin B12, and many other nutrients. When you neutralize your stomach acid with drugs, antacids, and even carbonated drinks like cola, ginger ale, and seltzer water you are preventing your ability to absorb crucial minerals and nutrients !!!
Besides hindering your ability to absorb critical nutrients, suppressing or neutralizing your stomach acid can result in an overgrowth of dangerous bacteria like Clostridium difficile (commonly known as C.diff)
Most people, including the majority of medical professionals incorrectly believe that acid reflux is caused by having too much stomach acid. This is simply not true. Acid reflux is caused by stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus due to a loose valve called the lower esophageal sphincter. This valve is supposed to prevent food and acid from flowing backwards.
What causes this valve to be loose and allows for stomach acid to burn your esophagus?
Food intolerances, smoking, caffeine, alcohol, soda, spicy food, citrus foods, being overweight, eating large meals, eating before bedtime, having a hiatal hernia, a magnesium deficiency, and the stress response can all cause acid reflux.
How to correct acid reflux without dangerous drugs?
1) Avoid foods that trigger acid reflux-Keep a food diary. Write down everything that you put in your mouth, and the time you eat it. Try to link the foods that you eat to the heart burn. Once you identify the foods that trigger acid reflux, eliminate those foods.
2) Eat less food- overeating can cause the lower esophageal sphincter (the valve above your stomach) to open causing a backflow of stomach acid. Eat smaller meals.
2) Eat less food- overeating can cause the lower esophageal sphincter (the valve above your stomach) to open causing a backflow of stomach acid. Eat smaller meals.
3) Never lay down after eating- Wait at least 3 hours after eating before you lay down or sleep.
4) Lose weight- If you are overweight you should lose some weight. Excess fat around the belly can cause pressure against your stomach, preventing it from emptying and causing acid to rise up. Even a few pounds can make a difference.
5) Avoid eating when stressed- When the stress response is activated one of the systems that gets shut down is the digestive system. The pyloric sphincter (valve on the bottom of your stomach) closes preventing food from flowing down into the small intestine. Practice deep breathing and other relaxation techniques before eating.
6) Probiotics- Probiotics help assist the digestive process. Incorporate fermented foods like kimchee, sauerkraut, miso soup, pickles, tempeh, and kombucha into your diet. Take 30 billion units of bacteria on an empty stomach. It is best to divide the dosage. Take about 15 billion first thing in the morning and another 15 billion units before bed time.
7) Digestive enzymes-instead of suppressing or buffering your stomach acid use digestive enzymes.
Digestive enzymes are specialized proteins that the body makes to help break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Lipases breaks down fats, amylases breaks down carbohydrates, and proteases breaks down proteins. Some people can not make certain enzymes or are low in them. You can take these as a supplement to assist you in the digestive process. I have seen excellent results with this supplement.
Digestive enzymes are specialized proteins that the body makes to help break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Lipases breaks down fats, amylases breaks down carbohydrates, and proteases breaks down proteins. Some people can not make certain enzymes or are low in them. You can take these as a supplement to assist you in the digestive process. I have seen excellent results with this supplement.
8) Betain HCL-Betain HCL will strengthen your stomach acid and help digest your food.
9) Salt- salt your food with a good quality full spectrum salt such as Himalayan or celtic sea salt. Your body uses the chloride from Sodium Chloride to produce Hydrochloric acid (stomach acid).
If you do not have high blood pressure do not worry about salting your food. There has never been a study proving or linking high salt intake to high blood pressure!! Salt is absolutely essential for proper digestion.
10) Magnesium- try magnesium glycinate 200-400mg 2x/day. This will help relax the valve below your stomach allowing food to go down.
Caution !!
Never suddenly stop taking a proton pump inhibitor. Doing this might cause a strong rebound effect that may make your acid reflux worst than before you started taking your medication. You have to wean off of it slowly, gradually reducing your dosage. Do your own research on the subject. I would advise contacting a pharmacist or a physician for advise.
Disclaimer
This blog is for educational purposes only. Nothing written here is meant to cure, treat, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been approved by the FDA
Vangelis Roussos
References
Long-term Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy and Risk of Hip Fracture
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=204783
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=204783
Proton Pump Inhibitor and Histamine 2 Receptor Antagonist Use and Vitamin B12 Deficiency
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1788456
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1788456
Use of proton pump inhibitors and risk of osteoporosis-related fractures
http://www.cmaj.ca/content/179/4/319.short
http://www.cmaj.ca/content/179/4/319.short
Use of Gastric Acid–Suppressive Agents and the Risk of Community-Acquired Clostridium difficile–Associated Disease
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=202048
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=202048
An Unexpected Effect of Proton Pump Inhibitors
Using Stomach acid suppressing medications can result in serious http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmconsequences to your health.ed/23825361
Using Stomach acid suppressing medications can result in serious http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmconsequences to your health.ed/23825361
Vitamin B12 deficiency
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/vitamin-b12-deficiency-symptoms-causes
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/vitamin-b12-deficiency-symptoms-causes
Body-Mass Index and Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Women
