More Heartburn Remedies

Health Benefits of Pineapple and Bromelain

In addition to being downright delicious, pineapple is one of the greatest foods you can add to your acid reflux diet plan.

Below, you are going to discover some of hidden health benefits of pineapple and find out why it is one of the best heartburn remedies for some heartburn sufferers.

Pineapple – A Tropical Fruit With a Powerful Enzyme

Pineapple has high concentrations of a specific enzyme (enzymes are catalysts that make reactions easier to happen) known as bromelain. Bromelain in particular belongs to a class of enzymes known as proteases. Hang with me for a second, because it will all be clear below.

Proteases such as bromelain have the specific ability to make protein easier to digest. This has two benefits for people suffering from heartburn (and any other digestive problem).

The first health benefit of pineapple (and bromelain) is that improvements in digestion are correlated with improvements in acid reflux. Bromelain and pineapple will allow you to digest your food better, which in turn means you will be a little (or a lot, depending on the person) to get acid reflux.

The Second Surprising Benefit of Pineapple

The second benefit of pineapple is specific to people who use any sort of acid-reducer or buffer, such as a proton-pump inhibitor, H2 blocker, or simple antacid. These drugs are often designed to bring the pH of the stomach up to a 4 or higher.

While bring the pH of the stomach up reduces heartburn symptoms, it also has an unintended side effect. Pepsin, a human enzyme responsible for expediting protein digestion and breakdown, is dependent upon low pH levels to be active. So while acid reflux improves as we raise the pH of the stomach, our abilities to digest food decrease.

The deactivation of is the primary mechanism why acid reflux medications have stomach ache, sour stomach, and constipation.

So where does pineapple fit into all of this? Bromelain is a protease which helps break down protein. While not a complete replacement for pepsin, it may help improve protein digestion, which is likely impaired via the use of acid-reducers.

Other Health Benefits of Pineapple

While unrelated to heartburn, another reported benefit of pineapple and bromelain is that bromelain acts as an anti-inflammatory. A recent study has reported that there is a physiological basis for this, and bromelain may indeed reduce inflammation (1).

This of course is not a preponderance of evidence, so take it with a grain of salt. Different things effect different people differently, so you will have to see just how it works for yourself.

Be sure to stick to fresh or frozen pineapple; avoid canned, jarred, dried, or cooked fruit as bromelain may be destroyed in the heating process, and the added sugar in these preparation methods makes them unhealthy and removes any potential health benefit (sugar leads to poor digestion and promotes inflammation).

Health Benefits of Pineapple and Its Effect on Heartburn Conclusion

There is decent evidence that pineapple and bromelain may improve digestion, reduce inflammation, and help reduce acid reflux. Many different people swear that adding fresh pineapple or bromelain supplements (which are available online for a very low price) to their protein-rich meals significantly reduces acid reflux and improves their digestion.

Of course, if you are allergic to pineapple, you do not want to add this to your diet or take a bromelain supplement with your biggest meal of the day.

While most people will be safe eating adding quantities of fresh pineapple (avoid the canned stuff – the added sugar makes it worthless), check with your doctor before starting a bromelain supplement as some people may be sensitive to high levels of this enzyme, particularly those with other chronic conditions such as heart disease or those that take other medications.

References

1. Fitzhugh DJ, Shan S, Dewhirst MW, Hale LP. Bromelain treatment decreases neutrophil migration to sites of inflammation. Clin Immunol. 2008 Jul;128(1):66-74

Stop Fish Oil-Related Heartburn and Burps Effortlessly

Being the health-conscious individual that I am, fish oil is one of my favorite supplements. It has a lot of great benefits, including improving cardiac and vascular health, and improving insulin sensitivity. The fatty acids in fish oil are incorporate into the body’s cell membranes as well, which can actually improve digestion and whole-body function over time.

However, if you are like me and many others out there, the worst thing about taking a fish oil supplement is that you end up either burping it up regularly or even worse, getting heartburn.

Fortunately, I have come up with three simple things that you can do when taking fish oil and one thing that you want to make sure NOT to do when using fish oil!

Fish Oil Mistake #1 – Using Deodorized Fish Oil

Before we get started on what you can do to stop fishy burps and fish oil-related heartburn, I first need to mention one thing: do not use “deodorized” fish oil!

The first thing most people do when they get heartburn from their fish oil and burp up a fish taste in their mouths is to run out and buy a deodorized fish oil. This is a huge mistake.

The problem is fish oil is “deodorized” by being treated with high levels of heat. This actually takes the odor away by destroying the natural EPA and DHA in the fish oil (1). If you did not know, EPA and DHA are the fatty acids responsible for all the benefits of fish oil.

Just remember that any fish oil treated higher than 180 degrees Celsius will end up with serious damage to its EPA and DHA (1). Any fish oil that has not been deodorized to that degree will still have at least some “fishy” taste or smell to it. As a result, you simply cannot deodorize your way out of fish oil burps or heartburn.

Fortunately, below I have included 3 ways you can reduce and even eliminate fish oil burps!

Method #1 – Refrigerate Your Fish Oil

When refrigerated, fish oil starts to solidify, much like any other oil. I must admit I do not know exactly how this works, but when you take refrigerated fish oil, it seems to drastically reduce and even eliminate any burps or heartburn associated with it.

I have recommended this to dozens of individuals now and every single person has said this home heartburn remedy works out like a charm. Try it out!

Method #2 – Take Your Fish Oil Immediately Before Eating

This method is especially effective if you take you refrigerate your fish oil. What you will find is that if you take a few refrigerated tablets with your food, immediately before eating, you are practically guaranteed not to get heartburn or fishy-burps.

Fish-oil related heartburn is always at its worse when you take the oil warm and on an empty stomach. Be sure to have it before you eat your food rather than after; as if you eat it after the oil does not mix as readily with the stomach’s contents, leading to more fishy burps and heartburn.

Method #3 – Use Concentrated Fish Oil

A standard fish oil is actually only 20-30% DHA/EPA. In other words, 1 pill which is typically 1,000 mg in size only contains 200mg-300mg of EPA/DHA (the fatty acids in fish oil that we want). You can buy concentrated versions of fish oil which have 2-3x amount of EPA and DHA per pill.

This way, if you take 2-3 fish oil tablets a day, you can simply switch over to a concentrated fish oil tablet and drop to 1. You usually have to buy these online, but being able to drop down from 3 tablets a day to a single tablet really does reduce instances of heartburn and fish-burps.

Fish Oil, Heartburn, and Burping Wrap-Up

Fish oil is a highly effective supplement that does not need to cause heartburn or burping. Be sure to avoid highly-deodorized fish oils, the valuable fatty-acids in fish oil can be destroyed in the deodorization process.

Instead, opt for a concentrated blend of fish oil. Put it in the refrigerator and only take it with food, particularly right at the beginning of your meal. By following these simple methods, you can stop fish oil heartburn effortlessly!

References

1. Fournier, V., et al. Degradation products formed from long-chain PUFA during deodorization of fish oil. Lipid Technology. 2007; 19(1): 9-11.

A Simple Fix for Heartburn Every Morning

One of the more rare ways acid reflux can manifest itself is via heartburn in the morning. While most people suffer from heartburn in the evening or at night, some people get heartburn every morning. This could be the cause of nighttime heartburn that does not wake the afflicted individual up, but also some people just have an upset stomach in the morning.

For those people who tend to have an upset stomach and heartburn upon waking and for the early morning hours, I have a simple fix for you: have a protein shake for breakfast.

Protein for Morning Heartburn

Having a protein shake in the morning (with nothing else) first thing after waking is a great way to help reduce acid reflux. In particular, protein actually helps increase the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (the thing that seals off the stomach from the esophagus). Note: no reference to support this, but there is evidence out there – I had read through the entire study which had demonstrated that LES pressure increased on average by 8 mm Hg after eating protein in the test subjects, but it seems I deleted the .pdf file and cannot find it!

The routine is simple: take 20-50g of protein in a shake, right after waking. The amount used depends on body weight; if you weigh 100 pounds (45 kg), use 20 grams; if you weigh 200 pounds or more (90 kg or more), use 50 grams; everyone else can be somewhere in the middle.

Give yourself 20 minutes or so to let your stomach settle down before drinking any coffee or any more water. Do not drink any extra water with your morning protein until your acid reflux has calmed down. The reason for this is that extra water dilutes stomach acid and enzymes and makes it much harder to digest the protein. Use as little as water as necessary, and only drink water or coffee in the morning after your reflux has subsided.

Choosing the Right Protein Powder for Heartburn in the Morning

Protein’s effect on the digestive system can be very positive, but you want to be sure to choose the right type. A lot of people think that protein powders can lead to an upset stomach, but that is simply because they chose the wrong powder type.

The best powder you can get is pure whey protein, filtered or processed as finely as possible. At a bare minimum, you will want a protein which has “whey isolate” written on the ingredients label. When you look at the nutrition facts, you want to find one that has no carbs, and if possible no fat as well. I prefer VPX’s Zero Carb SRO brand for this purpose (I have no affiliation with this company – it is just a great product for morning use if you wake up with reflux).

The reason you want this type of protein is because it is very easily tolerated and it mixes extremely well with even small amounts of water. You can easily mix 20g of this high-quality protein with just 4-5 ounces of water. Cheap protein might require 2-3x as much water to mix, and as such will not be nearly as beneficial as water.

Cheaper milk proteins (whey is a component of milk protein) will also contain lactose, dairy fat, and casein, all of which are things you want to completely avoid if you have acid reflux. You have to order higher quality proteins like this online unless you want to pay an arm and a leg, because they tend to be very expensive in supplement stores and are simply not available at big retailers.

As far as soy proteins go, most soy proteins are extremely cheap and I do not recommend them for anyone. If you are a vegan, be sure to avoid “soy protein concentrate” like the plague. Soy protein concentrate is extremely cheap, but is laden in chemicals that you do not want, particularly plant isoflavones (an estrogen-mimicking plant chemical) and even hexane (a neurotoxin used in processing of soy). Soy isolate tends to have most of these byproducts removed. Ideally if you insist on using soy, you want to only use organic soy isolate; anything else has too many impurities and potentially toxic chemical byproducts.

Heartburn in the Morning Cure – The Protein Shake

Having a protein shake for breakfast is a great way to eliminate heartburn in the morning. Just remember that the best quality proteins make the best heartburn home remedies; stick to whey isolate (or better) or organic soy isolate for best results. A a general rule of thumb, the lower the carbohydrate and fat totals a protein has, the higher quality it is.

What Helps Heartburn? Five Simple Things You Can Do Right Now

Heartburn, also known as Acid Reflux, strikes millions of people around the world on a daily basis. If you are wondering what helps heartburn, read on to discover 5 simple things you can do from home to help your heartburn right away!

What Helps Heartburn – 5 Simple Home Remedies

Below, you will find 5 easy yet effective ways to help get rid of your heartburn. All of these things are easy to implement, involve no medications, and yet are very helpful for many acid reflux sufferers.

Here is our list of 5 things to do right away if you are suffering from heartburn:

Chew Gum

Chewing on a piece of gum is listed at the top of our list of heartburn remedies, and this is not a coincidence. Chewing gum is one of the best stimulators of saliva production, and saliva is a heartburn-fighting super power.

Saliva improves digestion, soothes and even buffers the esophagus against stomach acid, neutralizes acid, and protects our teeth. In short, saliva is the body’s best defense against heartburn, addressing acid reflux on several fronts. Anything that stimulates continued saliva production is an excellent way to help relieve and reduce heartburn.

Try chewing on a piece of gum next time you come down with heartburn or after eating your meals throughout the day. Avoid using mint gums, though; peppermint and spearmint trigger heartburn in a large number of people.

Lose Weight

Heartburn and obesity have both been rising rapidly throughout the world over the past several decades and this is not a coincidence; obesity is a strong risk factor for the development of heartburn.

Being overweight leads to a few things that are thought to influence heartburn:

• Increased body levels and inflammation. Being overweight leads to an increase in circulating cytokines, biological compounds which can increase inflammation.

• Distorted stomach position and pressure on the stomach. The faat stored around the viscera (organs of the abdomen) literally takes up space that should be occupied by the stomach and other organs. This displacement and pressure on the stomach can interfere with its ability to store food and liquids without back-flow into the esophagus.

• The pressure on organs from visceral fat may also interfere with digestion, further increasing the frequency and intensity of heartburn.

In short, being overweight or obese is disastrous for heartburn sufferers, and losing weight is perhaps the number one thing that helps heartburn.

Get Inclined

Heartburn peaks for many at night, simply because if your Lower Esophageal Sphincter is not tightly sealed (LES for short, dysfunction of this valve is what causes heartburn), lying down will simply allow the stomach’s contents to “leak” into the esophagus.

When you are standing up, this does not happen easily, as even if the LES’ pressure is not up to par, gravity still keeps food and drink in the stomach. When you are lying down, gravity can no longer keep things where they belong.

Consider elevating the head of your bed by placing wedges under the bed post. Elevating it just 4″-6″ (10-15 cm) can significantly reduce heartburn at night.

Also, consider getting a bed wedge pillow if you travel a lot. This large wedge-shaped pillow can easily be taken on the go and simulates an elevated bed without the hassle of actually elevating the bed.

Get a Natural Toothpaste

Chemicals and mint flavorings in toothpaste can actually trigger heartburn. If you get acid reflux at night, try going for a natural, non-mint toothpaste. This simple change reduces a surprising number of people’s heartburn symptoms.

Make a List

You should recognize that many foods that trigger heartburn are completely individual and can even be learned, making these heartburn trigger foods impossible to identify across the board.

For long-term help with heartburn, you need to start tracking what you eat and making a list. Track each meal you have and whether or not it led to heartburn for a few weeks. You will be able to see certain foods always cause heartburn for you in particular, and you can then avoid those in the future.

What Helps Heartburn Conclusion

You now have five things that help heartburn that you can work on. By losing weight, changing toothpastes, raising your bed, making a list of trigger foods, and using chewing gum as a heartburn remedy, you can significantly reduce heartburn symptoms.

Be sure to check in with your doctor, however, if you are still getting heartburn two times a week or more.

Fennel Seed as a Heartburn Remedy – Does It Work?

As part of our ever-growing database on heartburn remedies, in this article we will be reviewing the research on fennel and its possible effects on acid reflux.

If you are unfamiliar with it, seeds of this herb are a popular supplement and have been increasingly recommended as a popular home heartburn remedy.

Below, you will find out exactly what fennel seed is, how it works, and if it is an effective heartburn remedy.

Fennel Seed – What Is It?

Fennel is a flowering herb that has been introduced to many parts of the world and is a common supplement. In most supplements, an extract of oil is taken from its seeds.

This oil has been the subject of some studies, particularly examining its effects on the digestive tract.

Fennel Seed As a Heartburn Remedy – What the Research Says

Unfortunately, I have been unable to find any direct research on the usage of fennel or fennel oils for the reduction of heartburn. There are a lot of claims out there boasting about the heartburn-fighting effects of fennel but there is no research to support this conclusion.

However, this does not necessarily rule out fennel as a heartburn remedy. While we do not have any direct evidence, we can examine the indirect evidence.

Fennel Seed’s Effects on Digestion

While no research links heartburn relief to fennel seed supplementation, there are a few studies out there on the effects of fennel seed on the digestive tract. In particular, fennel has commonly been used to treat infant colic and adult constipation.

Before you think that these two problems have nothing to do with acid reflux, GERD, and heartburn, you should know that irregularities in digestive tract motility (movement of food along the digestive tract) are strongly associated with acid reflux.

In other words, slow or impaired motility not only leads to constipation but may also lead to acid reflux (1). Anything that improves constipation may improve reflux as well.

Infant Colic

If you are unfamiliar with infant colic, it simply refers to frequent, lengthy bouts of unexplained crying in infants. While the exact cause of colic is unknown, many physicians believe it is related to poor digestion or digestive pains.

Fennel seed is commonly recommended as a natural treatment for this condition. One study examined the efficacy of fennel seed oil for this purpose; researchers reported that 65% of treated infants has complete elimination of colic, which is an incredible success rate (2).

While this result does not tell us exactly what fennel seed does, the study does tell us that if colic is indeed the result of a digestive tract irregularity, then fennel seed oil is beneficial.

Also, it is likely that there are multiple causes of colic. Naturally, pinpointing the exact cause of crying is difficult in babies cannot tell us what is wrong and that most babies usually outgrow colic within a few months. It is possible that the some of the remaining 35% of babies who did not improve had colic for some other reason than digestive problems.

Adult Constipation

I was able to find two studies on adult constipation and fennel oil. Both of these effects studied the effects of herbal concoctions (both containing fennel) on adult constipation. While one study was performed in adults and one on the elderly, both reported significant improvements in constipation on groups that supplemented with the studied herbs (3, 4).

The only downside to these studies is that multiple herbs were used that included fennel seeds. As a result, any positive effect on constipation may have been due to other herbs. As a result, these studies are a wash.

Effect of Fennel Seed Oil on Smooth Muscle

Perhaps the most interesting study of the lot was one that examined the effects of different herb oils on the contraction of the smooth muscle of the ileum (part of the small intestine) and trachea.

This particular discovery found that the consumption of fennel seed oil, unlike most of the oils studied) led to increased phasic contractions of the ileal muscle (5).

To simplify the results, the researchers report that fennel oil appears to make the small intestine contract more frequently, which would propel food along the intestinal tract at a faster rate.

Since better digestive motility is associated with lower instances of acid reflux and constipation, this could not only explain why fennel seed is effective at relieving constipation and colic but also why it has anecdotally been reported to relieve heartburn.

However, this study was conducted in gerbils, not humans. We cannot know for sure what the exact effect of fennel in humans is until more research is performed, but given its positive effects on constipation and colic, it may indeed improve gastric motility and reduce colic.

Fennel Seed as a Heartburn Remedy – The Bottom Line

After looking through the research, I think that this supplement may indeed benefit those with GERD and acid reflux, particularly if other digestive problems such as constipation are present.

Unlike many other supplement and medications, researchers in all 3 studies mentioned in this article reported no side effects as a result of fennel supplementation among participants (3, 4, 5). While it is within the realm of possibility that there may be undiscovered side effects or a rare allergic reaction, current research reports that it is generally recognized as safe.

The bottom line with fennel seed as a heartburn remedy is that the research looks promising, but the evidence is only indirect.

However, given that fennel seed supplements are not exactly an incredibly profitable industry, it is unlikely that any amount of research will be performed on fennel seed and acid reflux anytime soon.

Be sure to mention fennel seed supplementation to your doctor before you try it out, particularly if you take any other prescription medication (particularly birth control or other hormonal medications), have a history of seizures, or have plant allergies.

The only way to know for sure if this will work for you is to try it out. If you shop online, you can get a few month’s supply for under 10$, so it is not a huge investment by any means.

References

1. Kamiya T, Adachi H, Joh T. Relationship between gastric motility and the pathophysiology of GERD. Nippon Rinsho. 2007 May;65(5):836-9.

2. Alexandrovich I, Rakovitskaya O, Kolmo E, Sidorova T, Shushunov S. The effect of fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare) seed oil emulsion in infantile colic: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Altern Ther Health Med. 2003 Jul-Aug;9(4):58-61.

3. Picon, P.D., et al. Randomized clinical trial of a phytotherapic compound containing Pimpinella anisum, Foeniculum vulgare, Sambucus nigra, and Cassia augustifolia for chronic constipation. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2010 Apr 30;10:17.

4. Bub S, Brinckmann J, Cicconetti G, Valentine B. Efficacy of an herbal dietary supplement (Smooth Move) in the management of constipation in nursing home residents: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2006 Nov;7(9):556-61.

5. Reiter M, & Brandt W. Relaxant effects on tracheal and ileal smooth muscles of the guinea pig. Arzneimittelforschung. 1985;35(1A):408-14.

Antacids Side Effects – The Truth About Antacids and Heartburn

In our ongoing series into the effectiveness and possible dangerous side effects of heartburn remedies, today we will turn our attention to one of the oldest acid reflux remedies of all: antacids.

Antacids – What Are They and How Do They Work?

At least in the United States, by far the most popular antacid is a compound known as calcium carbonate. This is the main ingredient in the majority of over-the-counter (such as TUMS).

Calcium carbonate works by directly reacting with stomach acid. Every molecule of calcium carbonate reacts with 2 molecules of hydrochloric acid (stomach acid) and forms a calcium salt (similar to table salt), water, and carbon dioxide:

CaCO₃ + 2 HCL → CaCl₂ + CO₂ + H₂O

As a result, from a chemical perspective, antacids like calcium carbonate relieve heartburn by neutralizing stomach acid and they do this very well. “Extra strength” varieties simply offer extra calcium carbonate to neutralize more stomach acid.

Another common antacid is baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, operates via similar reactions. Baking soda for heartburn relief has become less popular over the years after some serious side effects began to emerge.

The Truth About Antacids and Heartburn

On paper, the idea that antacids can reduce heartburn and make us feel better looks great. However, this does not always work out so well in practice. There is a simple question that many people do not stop to ask:

What other effects does consuming calcium carbonate have on my body? What antacids side effects exist?

There are two areas we need to look at: the side effects of neutralizing stomach acid and the side effects of consuming the excess calcium molecules left behind by the reaction of calcium carbonate and stomach acid.

Problems with Neutralizing Stomach Acid

One thing we cannot forget when working with digestive issues like heartburn is that the stomach is acidic for a reason: it helps us digest our food. An acidic pH serves two primary functions:

An acidic pH denatures proteins, forcing them to unfold so that digestive enzymes can break them up into smaller pieces.

An acidic pH activates pepsin, a crucial digestive enzyme which then starts breaking up denatured proteins. Pepsin stops working when pH rises, as it does temporarily with the use of an antacid.

When we digest foods, our body just does not mush up food into a liquid but rather breaks it down into very microscopic pieces. Our body prefers to absorb single amino acids rather than whole proteins; amino acids are so small that we cannot possibly hope to see them with our eyes or even under a standard light microscope!

Without stomach acid and pepsin, we cannot digest proteins properly. For this reason, people who use antacids often report constipation, indigestion, and related digestive problems.

However, these are relatively mild and may not happen in everyone.

Side Effects of Antacids – Problems with Excess Calcium Consumption

While digestive side effects are more likely, the chronic use of calcium carbonate can lead to two much more serious health problems.

The first problem is that of kidney stones; frequent usage of calcium carbonate can indeed to kidney stone formation (1). This is particularly true if you have a family history of kidney stones. Kidney stones are extremely painful but generally are not life-threatening.

The real danger with calcium carbonate is that it can lead to hypercalcemia (i.e. high blood levels of calcium), which may cascade into kidney damage and ultimately metabolic alkalosis (blood pH higher than normal values), which is a life-threatening condition (2).

Are Antacids Dangerous?

The more serious side effects of antacids are extremely rare and are more typical of antacid abuse. We do not recommend using antacids on a daily basis (or several times per day) as this may lead to undesirable side effects. Like many over the counter medications, they are fine occasionally but excessive usage may be dangerous.

It is recommended that you speak to your doctor about your acid reflux if you experience heartburn two times a week or more rather than trying to rely on antacid usage.

References

1. Allie S., & Rodgers A. Effects of calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide and sodium citrate bicarbonate health supplements on the urinary risk factors for kidney stone formation. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2003 Jan;41(1):39-45.

2. Jeong JH, & Bae EH. Hypercalcemia associated with acute kidney injury and metabolic alkalosis. Electrolyte Blood Press. 2010 Dec;8(2):92-4.

Baking Soda For Heartburn – Sodium Bicarbonate as a Reflux Remedy?

Baking soda is one of the most popular home heartburn remedies, but is it effective? More importantly, is it safe? We address both of these concerns in this below. You will definitely want to read the side effects section before you think about using this popular acid reflux remedy.

Baking Soda and Heartburn – Path of Action

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate or NAHCO₃, is an effective counter-agent to stomach acid, chemically known as HCl. The chemical interaction is as follows:

HCl + NaHCO₃ → NaCl + H₂CO₃ → Na+ + Cl- + H₂CO₃

Most of the H₂CO₃ then dissociates into H₂O + CO₂

In simple terms:

Stomach acid and baking soda react to form table salt and carbonic acid, carbonic acid mostly dissolves in water to form water and carbon dioxide. The remaining carbonic acid is very weak compared to HCl (stomach acid).

In short, stomach acid is indeed neutralized by baking soda. This means that it can reduce heartburn symptoms, since stomach acid leaving the stomach is what causes acid reflux in the first place.

Side Effects of Baking Soda

While baking soda can indeed stop heartburn, the major problem with this remedy is that an in-depth look at the research shows that it may have some serious side effects, especially when used regularly.

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, has not only a strong influence over the acidity of the stomach but the pH of the entire body. When ingested, sodium bicarbonate essentially exerts an alkaline effect on the entire body.

This can be a good and a bad thing. This alkaline effect is seem to have strong positive influences on those who may be at risk for some types of renal (kidney) failure. Many recent protocols have been established using sodium bicarbonate to treat certain types of to slow both chronic and acute kidney disease (1, 2).

How does this work? Sodium bicarbonate is thought to help bring potassium into the kidney for excretion and kidney failure can lead to high blood levels of potassium. Carefully regulated sodium bicarbonate intake (i.e. by doctors reading bloodwork) may be used to help control blood potassium levels.

However, this is a specialized treatment for a specific portion of the population. For the rest of us, chronic sodium carbonate usage may lead to hypertension (high blood pressure) and edema (excess fluid retention) (3). It may also significantly increase the risk of kidney stones (4).

In short, baking soda may interfere with a healthy individual’s ability to maintain appropriate electrolyte balance in the blood, which can culminate in impaired regulation of blood pressure and the retaining of body fluids. This could then lead to many undesirable side effects, such as heart problems.

What about Calcium Carbonate

Due to these realizations, calcium carbonate has become the main ingredient in most over the counter antacids. It seems to have less overall side effect risk than the use of sodium bicarbonate.

However, calcium carbonate also may be dangerous when used regularly. Regular usage of calcium carbonate can contribute to kidney stone formation (4). Also, persistent use of calcium carbonate may lead to hypercalcemia (or high blood levels of calcium) which in turn can cause kidney injury and metabolic alkalosis, a potentially life threatening-condition (5).

Baking Soda as a Heartburn Remedy

While baking soda does indeed relieve heartburn, if you are using baking soda regularly for this purpose you may be playing with the proverbial fire.

It is not very likely however that the occasional and careful use (i.e. doctor-recommended dosages) of either sodium bicarbonate or calcium bicarbonate will lead to problems in otherwise healthy individuals. For example, if you use a baking soda toothpaste, the small amount you may accidentally ingest it not likely to lead to kidney failure.

However, if you are taking antacids or baking soda on a daily basis, this may eventually lead to serious health problems.

For this reason, we recommend an alternative remedy like chewing gum; chewing a stick of non-mint gum can help produce saliva, improve digestion, and stop heartburn without all the life-threatening side effects.

If you experience heartburn twice a week or more, talk to your doctor about possible treatment options. Consider lifestyle changes as well, such as weight loss and dietary restrictions.

References

1. Motohiro, M., et al. A New Protocol Using Sodium Bicarbonate for the Prevention of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography. Am J Cardiol. 2011 Mar 18. [Epub ahead of print].

2. Lim S. Approach to hyperkalemia. Acta Med Indones. 2007 Apr-Jun;39(2):99-103.

3. Hypertension corrected by discontinuing chronic sodium bicarbonate ingestion. Subsequent transient hypoaldosteronism. Am J Med. 1975 Feb;58(2):272-9.

4. Allie S., & Rodgers A. Effects of calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide and sodium citrate bicarbonate health supplements on the urinary risk factors for kidney stone formation. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2003 Jan;41(1):39-45.

5. Jeong JH, & Bae EH. Hypercalcemia associated with acute kidney injury and metabolic alkalosis. Electrolyte Blood Press. 2010 Dec;8(2):92-4.

Milk and Heartburn – Is Milk A Good Acid Reflux Remedy?

In this article, we will be investigating the idea that milk can help relieve acid reflux. Milk is popularly recommended as one of the best heartburn remedies, but is this the truth or just an old wives’ tale?

The Chemistry of Milk and Heartburn

First, we need to look at any path of action that milk may be able to use in order to reduce heartburn. The first step is to look at exactly what is in milk itself.

Milk is actually a weak acid, with a standard pH of 6.7 (anything between 0-7 on the pH scale is considered an acid). However, since it is a weak acid, it acts as a buffer solution. A buffer solution is a solution that resists changes to its pH.

To clarify for those not versed in chemistry; hydrogen ions (H+) are what makes a solution acidic; the more H+, the more acidic a solution is. Buffer solutions (i.e. milk) are able to absorb H+ ions without any change in their pH, by storing them in a different chemical form.

As a result, when you mix milk and stomach acid, the resulting solution is less acidic than stomach acid. This occurs because milk absorbs some of the H+ ions that make stomach acid acidic.

In this way, milk acts much like antacids. Calcium carbonate, a popular antacid, acts as a buffer as well, absorbing H+ ions to resist changes in pH.

The Problem With Milk as a Heartburn Remedy

One major problem with milk is that some people are allergic to milk. There is some evidence, for example, that lactose intolerance (also known as lactose malabsorption) can lead to heartburn when drinking milk (1). While milk protein allergies are not as common as lactose intolerance, it is well-documented that milk may lead to reflux in this particular group (2).

Just because milk can act as a buffer solution does not mean we necessarily recommend it. Milk acts much in the same way as calcium carbonate does (calcium carbonate is the primary ingredient of nearly all over the counter antacids). While “natural”, milk is not necessarily superior to calcium carbonate given milk’s ingredients (lactose and casein are particularly troublesome for some people).

The real issue here is that we know antacids are not always effective at relieving heartburn, and milk acts just like an antacid. Antacids often leave people with a “sour stomach” feeling or only work temporarily.

Taking too many antacids (or drinking too much of any buffer solution such as milk) might temporarily change the pH of the stomach, causing pepsin to become deactivated (pepsin is an extremely important digestive enzyme that only works under acidic conditions). Anything which interrupts digestion may only make heartburn worse.

Milk as a Heartburn Remedy – The Bottom Line

The end result is that some people might get temporary relief from heartburn after drinking a glass of milk, but this is likely to be short-lived and no more effective than taking a simple antacid.

Overall, we feel that this drinking milk to stop heartburn is much less effective than other natural remedies such as chewing gum; the saliva produced by chewing gum can help blunt symptoms as well as improve digestion, whereas milk only blunts symptoms.

References

1. Minenna MF, Palieri A, Panella C, Ierardi E. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and lactose malabsorption: Casual comorbidity or neglected association? Dig Liver Dis. 2006 Jun; 38(6):437-8.

2. Caffarelli, C., et al. Cow’s milk protein allergy in children: a practical guide. Ital J Pediatr. 2010 Jan 15; 36:5.

Heartburn Tips – Top 7 Natural Tips for Beating Acid Reflux

In this article, we will be revealing our top 7 tips for both getting relieving heartburn naturally and preventing reflux from occurring in the future.

Heartburn Tip #1 – Lose Weight

By far the simplest way you can stop heartburn is by losing some weight. Recent studies have linked the amount of abdominal fat to acid reflux (1). The more stomach fat you have, the more likely you are to experience heartburn.

Abdominal fat is also associated with many other diseases like heart disease, arteriosclerosis, cancer, and diabetes, so by losing abdominal fat you will not only stop your heartburn but also live a longer, healthier life.

Heartburn Tip #2 – Chew Non-Mint Gum

If you have read our heartburn remedies homepage, you know chewing gum is one of our favorite heartburn remedies. To take this remedy one step further, make note of the times of day you normally experience heartburn. Start chewing a piece of gum about 15 minutes before that time comes and you may often avoid heartburn altogether.

Mint can actually stimulate the production of stomach acid and lead to reflux, so stick to non-mint varieties. Mild, sugar-free fruit flavors seem to work best.

Heartburn Tip #3 – Keep a Food Log

We all know that “trigger foods” are often one of the top reasons people get heartburn. While we have put together a list of acid reflux foods to avoid, it can be very helpful to make a journal of what you eat and whether you get heartburn or not. This way you can identify your own individual trigger foods and avoid them in the future.

Heartburn Tip #4 – Elevate Your Bed

Elevating the head of your bed and putting your bed on a slight incline is a great way to reduce heartburn. As mentioned in our article on wedge pillows, we think elevating your bed is superior to using a special pillow.

However, reflux pillows are great to take with you when you travel.

Heartburn Tip #5 – Ditch the Alcohol

Alcohol, especially when consumed regularly, absolutely destroys the digestive tract. A glass or two of wine a week may not cause any problems, but even a glass or two daily may lead to heartburn.

Don’t believe us? If you have any friends that are regular drinkers, ask them what they do about heartburn. Even “social drinkers” end up getting GERD.

Heartburn Tip #6 – Switch from Coffee to Green Tea

Like it or not, many people who drink coffee end up getting reflux. In order to get your caffeine fix, try drinking green tea instead. Very few people report reflux after drinking green tea. Green tea also has the added benefit of containing many antioxidants and cancer-fighting properties.

Heartburn Tip #7 – No More Tobacco

While smoking and chewing tobacco are not gaining any traction in the United States, they are becoming more popular than ever in many countries, especially in China.

Nicotine causes inflammation, stimulates the production of stomach acid, and may cause the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (the LES) to relax. A poorly functioning LES is the primary cause of reflux, and inflammation and extra stomach acid only make the situation worse.

Heartburn Tips Conclusion

By applying these 7 tips, you can naturally and effectively relieve your heartburn symptoms and prevent reflux from occurring in the first place. Try them out – you will not be disappointed!

References

1. Nam, SY., et al. Abdominal visceral adipose tissue volume is associated with increased risk of erosive esophagitis in men and women. Gastroenterology. 2010 Dec;139(6):1902-1911.

Acid Reflux Pillows – Can A Bed Wedge Pillow Stop Heartburn?

Bed wedge pillows are one of the most popular heartburn remedies, but do they really work? In this article, you will find the truth about bed wedge pillows, whether they work, and what the possible side effects can be.

Acid Reflux Pillows – How They Work

The idea behind bed wedge pillows is quite simple. Acid reflux occurs when liquid flows backwards from the stomach and into the esophagus. When we are standing upright, the esophagus is above the stomach, and as such gravity helps keep the stomach’s contents in the stomach.

When we lay down, that changes; the stomach are at about the same elevation, and as such it is much easier for fluid to flow out of the stomach and into the esophagus, leading to reflux. This is why many people suffer reflux exclusively at night.

A wedge pillow is literally a wedged-shape pillow that is designed to put your torso on an incline in order to allow gravity to help keep stomach fluid in the stomach. By putting the torso on an incline, reflux’s ability to travel up the esophagus is very limited, much like a ball is not very likely to roll uphill; even if it is kicked, it will roll back down the hill fairly quickly.

Bed Wedge Pillows – Are They Comfortable and Effective?

The comfort and effectiveness of your wedge pillow depends of course on which brand you buy. The most comfortable pillows are made with memory foam, though your mileage may vary. Different people have different opinions on what is comfortable, of course.

A fair warning: men with broad shoulders or well-developed backs may find sleeping on your side with a bed wedge pillow to be quite uncomfortable. Broad shoulders alone make it uncomfortable to sleep on your side, and the pillow does exemplify that. It is more comfortable to use one to sleep on your back.

Are they effective? Simply put, yes, they are effective. Any true wedge-shaped pillow will be effective at reducing reflux in most individuals. Make sure the pillow is wedge-shaped and actually puts your torso on an incline; if a pillow claims to be made for heartburn but only elevates your neck, it is not going to work!

Potential Negative Effects of Acid Reflux Pillows

As someone has a background in kinesiology (the study of human movement), one thing that worries me about these wedge-shaped pillows is the possible long-term side effects on the spine, hip flexors, and posture.

Here is the problem: wedge pillows are not a hard (they are pillows after all), so when you lay on them your spine remains slightly curved. The spine flexes laterally if you lay on your side, flexes slightly forward if you lay on your back, and extends if you lay on your stomach.

Spending long periods of time in flexion is one of the main risk factors for developing a herniated disc, and spending long periods of time in extension may lead to facet joint pain (1).

Even if the spine was evenly propped up and supported, the hips would remain flexed throughout the night. We sit all day (hips flexed) and rarely go into full hip extension; taking this away at night could lead to improper function of the hip musculature, which could degenerate into dysfunction and pain down the road.

The bottom line is that for many people, sleep is the only time they spend an extended period of time in a neutral position with good posture. A bed wedge pillow may this away over time.

Of course, no studies have ever been conducted linking bed wedge pillows with acid reflux, but really, who would conduct such a study? Since this sort of degeneration and pain would build up over the course of years, it would take an extremely long study to truly investigate, and the funds for which no unbiased third-party would put up.

Bed Wedge Pillows for Acid Reflux – The Simple Solution

Fortunately, there is a simple (and free) work-around: put your bed on an incline. You can take textbooks, stacks of magazines, or preferably a few wooden blocks, and place them under the two bedposts at the head of your bed. This would put the actual bed itself on an incline. Just make sure the bed is raised evenly on both sides.

An incline of 4″-6″ is plenty and can go a long way to reducing heartburn. This incline is also so slight that you and your partner will not be able to tell the difference. Many people will actually find this incline more comfortable than a completely flat bed and eliminates the need for a thick pillow (thick pillows that prop up the neck can lead to neck pain).

Acid Reflux Pillows – When To Use One

With all that said, bed wedge pillows do have a function. Most people who suffer from serious reflux can actually make use of these pillows, so they are convenient to have in a few particular instances:

Travel. You are not going to take your boards with you and elevate the hotel bed; a bed wedge pillow can be great to take on the road with you

Lounging around the house. A bed wedge pillow can be great to lay on the couch with as you watch TV to prevent heartburn.

If your partner objects to raising the bed or your bed cannot be raised. Perhaps your bed-frame is not able to be raised. If you cannot raise your bed, a reflux pillow may be better than no incline at all.

Bed Wedge Pillows and Acid Reflux Conclusion

For reasons outlined in this article, I do not recommend using an acid reflux pillow on a daily basis simply because these wedge pillows may lead to back pain and tight hips over time. Why trade one problem (reflux) for another (back pain) when you can reduce reflux without side effects just by raising your bed?

While wedge pillows are inferior to putting your bed on an incline, bed wedge pillows are great for occasional use, travel and for use around the house.

References

1. McGill, Stuart. Low back disorders: evidence-based prevention and rehabilitation. 2007. Human Kinetics, Champaign, Illinois.