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INDIGESTION
(GERD, Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease)
Indigestion or GERD may be described as "heartburn," and is
characterized by a feeling of gaseousness, acidity or burning on the
chest or uncomfortable fullness after eating. It occurs when the
esophageal sphincter relaxes and allows stomach contents to flow into
the esophagus. Although excess stomach acid is sometimes a cause of
indigestion, deficient stomach acid is a far more common cause,
especially in people over age 60.
Food
allergies,
hiatal hernia, gastric
irritation, and ulcer can also cause stomach symptoms. It is important
to see a physician if pain persists, is severe, or fails to respond to
self-help measures.
DIET AND LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS
- Chew food thoroughly. This allows the digestive enzymes in
saliva to thoroughly mix with food.
- Don’t eat when in a hurry or under great stress. This impedes
digestion because blood is shunted away from the stomach by
adrenaline. Have a light broth or vegetable juice under such
circumstances.
- Don’t drink cold water with meals. For optimum digestion, have a
modest amount of room temperature water (4-6 ounces) with meals.
- Maintain a normal weight. Overweight is the cause of much GERD
because a fat belly puts pressure on the esophageal sphincter.
- Avoid coffee, tea, alcohol and carbonated beverages.
- Don’t smoke! The nicotine in tobacco relaxes the esophageal
sphincter.
- Avoid the frequent use of antacids. Since most indigestion is
caused by deficient digestive function, neutralization of
stomach acid further compounds the problem.
PRIMARY SUPPORT
-
Maxi Multi:
3 caps, 3 times per day with meals. Many different nutrient
deficiencies can lead to deficient stomach acid production.
Untreated GERD can lead to esophageal cancer, but supplements high
in antioxidants (A,C,E,selenium) have a protective effect.
-
Similase: 1-2 caps, 3 times
per day with meals. Use
Gastric Complex
instead, same dose, if you have a history or current diagnosis of
stomach ulcer or if Similase causes discomfort.
Digestive under-functioning, which allows undigested food to
remain too long in the stomach, is a primary cause of GERD.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
-
DGL (licorice) chew 2 tabs, 20
minutes before meals. Licorice increases the protective mucous layer
in the stomach.
-
SupremaDophilus: 1
capsule at bedtime to nourish friendly gut bacteria.
- Support any organ systems that scored "high" on the self-health
appraisal questionnaire (see pages 6-8 in your
Holistic Health Handbook).
Liver function is frequently deficient in chronic indigestion
DR. MYATT’S COMMENTS
Avoiding fried food and simple carbohydrates (sugars and starches) and
improving digestion through the use of digestive enzymes helps a very
high percentage of people with indigestion. This is opposite of the
"going medical line" which encourages repetitive use of antacids and
acid-neutralizers.
Be sure to perform a
Low Gastric Acid
Self-Test. Over half the population over age 60 is deficient in
hydrochloric acid production. Chronic indigestion indicates that
something is wrong —- diet, digestion, etc. You should not continue to
take over-the-counter stomach medicines without seeing a doctor for
correct diagnosis. Self-help measures are effective in all but a few
cases. |
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Copyright ©
1994 - 2008 Dr. Myatt's Wellness Club, All Rights Reserved
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Disclaimer: |
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These statements have not been
evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any
disease. No information on this website is intended as personal medical
advice and should not take the place of a doctor's care. |
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All material on this
alternative medicines website is intended for educational and informational
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of any information contained herein. Please read
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*
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