The Alliance for Natural Health USA reports that recent studies have revealed a frightening spectrum of side effects caused by acid blockers, conventional medicine’s answer to stomach pain and acid reflux. Regular use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) dramatically increases the risk for dementia, chronic kidney disease, and heart attack, and appears to promote cardiovascular events, and infectious diseases. These drugs are widely prescribed and bring billions of dollars of income to pharmaceutical companies.
So what alternatives are there? Lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet can help to reduce stomach pain and acid reflux. Here are some helpful pointers from CNM (College of Naturopathic Medicine) where we teach naturopathic nutrition, and other natural therapies:
Focus on eating steamed/cooked vegetables. Drink vegetable broth as it is rich in minerals to balance the acidity. Try brown rice instead of pasta and wheat products. Chew well and eat in a relaxed environment. Replace fizzy drinks or soda with water. Keep a diet diary and record what triggers symptoms. Be particularly mindful of meat or alcohol. Reduce ’empty carbs’ – foods like sweets that take energy to digest but offer very little nutritional value. Avoid coffee.
Take ½ teaspoon of Baking Soda (without Aluminum) in a glass of water every morning for a couple of weeks as needed. This is not a long term solution but offers interim support.
Raw Potato juice is very good too – cube 2 medium size organic potatoes and put them through the juicer (much more palatable when combined with beetroot, apple and pear juice).
Apple Cider Vinegar – take a teaspoon in 100ml of water, sip with meals.
Click here to read the article by The Alliance for Natural Health USA…
