| Gerd (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) is an ugly | | | | loaded with hard to digest fats and sugars and have |
| sounding word which has become the popular | | | | very little food value. Carbonated beverages relax the |
| standard for describing acid reflux disease. A simple | | | | LES causing heartburn, as well. Eating fruits like |
| definition for Gerd would be the reflux or splashing up | | | | bananas and apples would be a far more healthy |
| of digestive fluids from the stomach into the | | | | choice. |
| esophagus. | | | | Drinking alcohol and smoking may also relax the LES |
| The term Gerd has only been used for about twenty | | | | and even chocolate makes it lazy. One should limit |
| years. The symptoms are heartburn, chest pain, | | | | daily alcohol consumption to one or two glasses of red |
| regurgitation of gastric juices and difficulty swallowing. | | | | wine. Besides the evident danger of smoking tobacco, |
| Other problems can be a lack of sleep, nausea, | | | | it also causes the body to be acidic in nature. An acidic |
| labored breathing and abdominal pain. | | | | body is not a good place for proper digestion. Coffee |
| Gerd can become a very serious life threatening | | | | stimulates the hypersecretion of gastric acids. Having a |
| matter. When left unchecked this condition can | | | | cup of Kukicha Twig Tea, which is very alkaline, would |
| develop into Barrett's Esophagus, which is a precursor | | | | be a better option. |
| to esophageal cancer. | | | | Even a modest amount of stress can contribute to |
| The human body was designed to keep gastric acid in | | | | indigestion. Eating should be conducted in a quiet, restful |
| the stomach where it belongs. Its function is to sterilize | | | | and peaceful place. Eating a meal in front the TV can |
| and digest what we eat and drink. Stomach acid is | | | | exacerbate poor digestion. It's hard to feel relaxed |
| mainly composed of hydrochloric acid which is a very | | | | while watching the evening news - imagine what it |
| powerful corrosive agent. | | | | does to your stomach. Another form of stress is |
| The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a muscular | | | | physical stress. Being over weight and wearing tight |
| valve at the bottom of the esophagus which allows | | | | clothing can put pressure on the abdominal area |
| ingested material to move down into the stomach. It is | | | | forcing the contents of the stomach upward. |
| designed to close and keep this material from coming | | | | Many pharmaceutical drugs have an acidic affect on |
| back up. Most people who experience Gerd do so | | | | the body and therefore contribute to digestive ailments. |
| because the LES becomes relaxed and malfunctions, | | | | I have found that for almost any pharmaceutical drug |
| allowing acid to reflux. Where the stomach has an acid | | | | there is a natural treatment that can be used instead. |
| proof lining the esophagus does not and is easily | | | | Most drugs are synthesized versions of some naturally |
| damaged by stomach acid. | | | | occurring substance, anyway. |
| Why the world is being plagued by this phenomenon is | | | | Besides all the things we should avoid in order to be |
| quite a mystery, but it is estimated that over 300 million | | | | Gerd free, there are many natural and healthy ways |
| people worldwide suffer from the symptoms of this | | | | to overcome acid indigestion. Eating alkaline foods, |
| disorder. The medical community relies mainly on | | | | drinking enough water and even chewing gum can be |
| pharmaceutical drugs to treat these symptoms. | | | | beneficial. Chewing gum before and after eating |
| Unfortunately, most doctors have no knowledge of | | | | produces saliva. Saliva is very alkaline and aids in |
| nutrition or alternative natural therapy. In most cases, | | | | digestion. |
| their job is to treat the symptoms of acid reflux, not to | | | | Herbs like marshmallow, slippery elm and licorice root |
| cure the disease. | | | | have a positive affect in reducing acidity. They also |
| Common sense would dictate that Gerd has | | | | decrease inflammation and sooth areas damaged by |
| everything to do with what we eat and drink. It is, | | | | contact with acid. Ginger has the ability to actually |
| however, more complicated than that. It has a lot to do | | | | absorb acid and is beneficial in aiding all types of |
| with how we eat and drink, as well. Most of us know | | | | digestive problems. There are spices like cumin and |
| that there are certain foods that we find difficult, as | | | | turmeric which have the ability to fight off digestive |
| individuals, to digest. Everyone is different. We can all | | | | difficulties. |
| react differently to the same food or beverage. Some | | | | The incidence of gerd is greater in people over the |
| people cannot easily digest tomato sauce while others | | | | age of forty, but it can affect anyone, even infants. |
| have no problem with it. Avoiding so called "trigger" | | | | Gerd affects people of every age, socioeconomic |
| foods is an important first step in overcoming Gerd. | | | | class and race. Rather than relying on dangerous and |
| Eating on the run usually means eating unhealthy food | | | | expensive drugs to curb the symptoms of this |
| too quickly. Not chewing properly is a major contributor | | | | condition, we should strive to cure it naturally. By using |
| to acid indigestion. We live in a culture where most | | | | natural remedies and a little common sense anyone |
| people eat lunch in a rushed environment at the office | | | | can become Gerd free. |
| or in a fast food facility. Most of these meals are | | | | |