Why Acid Reflux is NOT Caused by Too Much Acid
Today I want to share with you a story that I share in the Introduction of my new ebook, The 30 Day Heartburn Solution.
Several years ago I gave a talk at a local library on acid reflux. This is a condition where stomach acid refluxes into the esophagus and burns the lining resulting in heartburn. If this happens chronically it can damage the esophageal lining. This is known as GERD (Gastro-esophageal reflux disease).
In my talk I explained in detail why heartburn and GERD are not caused by too much stomach acid, but in fact, NOT ENOUGH.
I also explained the connection between the chronic use of antacids (Tums, Rolaids, Alka Seltzer) and acid-blocking medications (Prilosec, Zantac, Pepcid) with nutritional deficiencies, bone loss and further digestive problems.
I figured most of the audience was taking an antacid or an acid blocker so I was shocked when there were no questions at the end. In fact, people even applauded! I guess that’s because with a little education it’s not that hard to understand why acid reflux is not caused by too much acid.
However, not everyone was as convinced as I’d thought.
A few days later I got an email from “Sarah,” one of the attendees. A long time heartburn sufferer, she was intrigued by my talk. She went to her doctor who was prescribing her Nexium, and not surprisingly, the doctor convinced her I was dead wrong and that all the research and science supports the over production of acid as the root cause of heartburn.
Boy did she let me have it in an email. In a somewhat demeaning tone she told me that I’m not a doctor, that I should do further research and that the theory of low acid is flat out wrong.
Two YEARS later I received an email with the subject line that read, “I owe you an apology.”
It was from Sarah.
She wrote:
“I attended a lecture you gave at the Forbes Library a few years or so ago on the subject of acid reflux and heartburn. I was intrigued, but when I checked with my gastroenterologist, he assured me that the science supported his approach, and so I wrote you suggesting you limit yourself to the science.
Meantime, I got worse and worse, and found myself enduring heartburn even though I was taking 40mg of Nexium daily. I reconsidered, if not the science, at least the logic of your assertions. If my stomach had virtually no acid as a result of taking Nexium, how could I be suffering from hyperacidity (too much acid)? So I decided to try some science on myself, to test the hypothesis that hypoacidity (low acid) was the problem. While actually suffering heartburn, and contemplating taking a second Nexium of the day, I took acid instead. Well, it worked, and I continued my experimentation.
I have to say, I was skeptical of the ‘caused by not enough acid’ theory, but now I am convinced. I feel like an addict cured.”
Part I of my new ebook explains clearly why acid reflux is not caused by too much acid and why acid-blocking medications stop the symptoms of heartburn but not the underlying cause.
You can download Part I for FREE here:
www.the30dayheartburnsolution.com
So what about deMeester scores for acidity using 24hr pH or Bravo 48hr monitoring?
Sorry. Whilst some people are indeed hypoacidic, there are so many that actually are hyperacidic.
Anyone who wants to know where they stand should get themselves checked out by a gastroenterologist.
I classify this kind of advert and advertiser along with snake oil salesmen.
Thanks for your kind comment and accusation.
I always encourage people to get the standard GI tests to rule out other things.
It appears the tests you mention assess the acidity in the esophagus, not the stomach. If there’s acid reflux, of course those tests will show up positive for too much acid. And of course, the standard medical treatment will then be prescribing acid blockers. But the esophagus doesn’t produce acid. The HCl pumps in the stomach produce it. Acid reflux in the esophagus is acid winding up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
But what do I know? I’m just a “snake oil salesman” showing people how a simple traditional foods diet can take away decades of heartburn.
If eating real foods and healing yourself naturally without involving big pharm is your idea of “snake oil” than I think snake oil is where I would rather go.
Why would one even use that term “snake oil”? Just curious because it makes me crazy when well informed and educated people are outed like this in a public format instead of a direct email to the individual. It seems like you have something important to say so just say it. I like interesting intelligent debates.
On the rare occasion that I get heartburn now, I take a teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar (with a water chaser) and am quickly relieved of any discomfort.
Why not try it, you’ve got nothing (but your heartburn) to lose.