How To Fix Acid Reflux or GERD

Acid reflux is shockingly common...

If you suffer from acid reflux - where the contents of your stomach come back up into the oesophagus - you are far, far from alone.

Although the majority of people will suffer a bit of indigestion from time to time - hello, late-night spicy Indian curry! - you may be surprised to discover that up to a whopping 30% of Brits regularly experience this discomfort and sometimes even searing burning sensation called heartburn.

In fact, some of my clients and several members of my group Keto Beginners UK are in the same boat, and tell me they take - or have taken - medication for acid reflux or GERD. (It's the reason I'm writing this article - so I can stop sounding like a broken record!)

Like many others, you've likely tried over-the-counter antacids to help put out the fire. There's a variety of brands, one of the most widely-advertised being Gaviscon, but there are several others that work in the same way.

When acid reflux is severe...

If you suffer from acid reflux severely and regularly - commonly known as GERD (or Gastroesophageal reflux disease - there'll be a quiz later) - your GP may have prescribed a type of medication called a PPI or proton pump inhibitor. Again, there are several brands available in the UK, and a common one is Omeprazole.

Can medication solve it..?

Medication may seem like it's sort-of working in the moment, but here's what you need to understand...

You will ALWAYS have a reflux problem while you take such medication. Here’s why…

The human stomach should have a pH (acidity level) of around 1.5 - similar to that of a vulture!

Humans NEED an extremely acidic stomach in order to digest our food properly (especially when eating meat), to assist in the absorption of minerals and other nutrients, and to kill harmful microorganisms…

Take that in for a moment because it's crucial information: Strong stomach acid is necessary to digest food, absorb nutrients (including magnesium - everyone talks about magnesium for sleep so pay attention if you're also not sleeping...) and to kill cooties.

Why does reflux happen?

Reflux happens when the valve at the top of the stomach doesn’t close properly…

And that valve won’t close properly when the stomach is not acidic enough…

Stomach not acid enough -> valve won't shut -> bile comes spilling out -> ouch.

Antacids, such as Gaviscon, neutralise stomach acid - they make the stomach less acidic...

Now, we talked a moment ago about PPI (proton pump inhibitor) pills. Proton pumps are enzymes in the lining of your stomach that help it make acid to digest food. Proton pump inhibitors, such as Omeprazole, prevent proton pumps from working properly to make the acid required to digest your food…

So, in a nutshell, if you’re getting reflux, it’s because your valve won't close because your stomach is not acidic enough, and that is made worse by antacids (like Gaviscon) and proton pump inhibitors (like Omeprazole).

Hence, much as you may feel some relief when taking these medications, the reality is that making the stomach less acidic is a huge mistake as that actively works against the solution.

How do we solve acid reflux?

The mechanism that's preventing the valve from closing and therefore allowing acid to rise up from your stomach and cause you heartburn and acid reflux needs to be fixed…

To fix it, you need to make your stomach MORE ACIDIC (not less)!

So the acid-reducing medicine has to go!

How do we fix acid reflux without medicine?

We need to improve digestion, and here's how:

1. Don’t eat a large meal late at night. Get your dinner down you at least 3 hours before you go to bed. This’ll give it time to digest.
   

2. Take 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water about 30 minutes before eating, especially your largest meal which is usually your dinner. This’ll help you digest your food.
   

3. Do at least 10 minutes of gentle-moderate exercise right after eating - such as a leisurely walk or some squats. Again, this’ll help your food to digest properly.

Surely, though, if solving reflux were that easy, your family doctor would know this and would have told you - right? Well, clearly not, or you wouldn't be here looking to solve this for yourself - and I do applaud you for that. And when you try it - and it works - do come over to the Facebook group and tell us about it. Your success will help to encourage others and that would you good deed for the day.

What else can be fixed with food?

Oh, you name it! A world of ailments can be alleviate if not completely eradicated with the right dietary interventions. If you're intrigued about learning how to get on that path to healing, I strongly encourage you to get yourself a copy of my Keto Beginners UK 28-Day Keto Guide & Journal. It offers daily bite-sized lessons in adopting a healthy ketogenic way of eating, from the ground up, along with space for you to reflect on your own eating habits and how you could make a change that could dramatically alter the entire trajectory of your life...