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Please discuss everything with your doctor first.

Heartburn - Cautions and Solutions

Heartburn (and/or GERD) is miserable and a huge block of the population suffers from it including those who try to live a healthy lifestyle. It can be distracting and even incapacitating for many, many guys.

Most of us never stop to think what might be behind the issue and immediately reach for a pill to help.  This can be a dangerous appoach as lowered stomach acid levels are associated with an increased risk of dementia. [5]  This may be because stomach acid, interestingly enough, wards off infections, especially in the lungs.  And science has recently discovered how hard infections are on the heart and, therefore, likely the brain.  (See the PPI item below for even more reasons.)

 Instead of immediately popping a pill, I recommend examining the mountain of material that researchers have uncovered, mostly in the last decade, as to what can cause and resolve these issues.  Of course,  work with your doctor if you have GERD and/or heartburn as they can be a sign of ulcers, hiatal hernias, gall bladder issues and other nasty health problems.

Again, though, discuss these items with your doctor, including some of the natural solutions I mention below:

1.  Nexium, Prilosec and PPI's:  Nexium is the very latest PPI (Proton Pump Inhibitor) and it is very expensive, especially when compared to Prilosec which is over-the-counter.  Considerable caution should be exercised in taking PPI's long term:  they have been linked to fractures, pneumonia, Clostridium difficile and stomach nodules.  Discuss with your doctor.

2.  Antacids.  Many people pop these like candy, but extreme caution is in order here as well.  Many antacids have aluminum in them.  Manufacturers claim that the aluminum in their antacid products is largely non-bioavailable.  However, I urge extreme caution here as aluminum is a definite neuron destroyer and has been linked with Alzheimer-like symptoms at even low consumption levels.

3. NSAIDs (Advil, Aleve, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, etc.). All of these are notoriously hard on the GI tract. Long term users of NSAIDs almost invariably have GI problems of one sort of another that can lead to stomach upset, heartburn and even ulcers.

4.  Dark Chocolate and Cacao.  I can't say enough good things about these two nutritional giants. (See my links on Dark Chocolate and the Kuna.) Unfortunately, in sensitive people (like me), they relax the valve between the stomach and throat and allow stomach acids to enter the espophagus. I actually suffer with this issue and solve it by eating only one square of dark chocolate.  This does not distress me, because the latest research shows that it only takes a small amount of dark chocolate - about one square - to dramatically reduce inflammation levels.

5.  H. Pylori.  Almost all of us are infected with this gut bacteria but for some of us it goes out of control and leads potentially to heartburn, ulcers and stomach cancer.  Broccoli sprouts help keep these critters at bay [1] as does cranberry juice. [2]

Do you know the foods and drinks that increase erection-boosting Nitric Oxide? Check out the Peak Erectile Strength Diet where I show you how to dramatically and naturally improve your erectile strength.

6.  Stress.  Webmd reports what we all know instinctively:  job stress aggravates and may cause GERD in some cases. [3] And, of course, undoubtedly any stress can produce the same result.  See my link on Stress Management for practical solutions.

7.  Lifestyle "Sins".  Gorging,  being overweight and smoking are all risk factors for heartburn and GERD. 

8.  Foods.  Many people are sensitive to certain foods.  Many guys find that fatty or greasy foods trigger this problem, yet another reason to consider a Low Fat Diet.  Diary bothers still others as can acidic foods such as tomatoes.

9.  Ginger.  Ginger has several studies showing its anti-nausea powers. [4] 

10.  Vinegar. This is counterintutive but powerful solution for many, as it provides an immediate, albeit suprising, relief from heartburn.

11.  Chamomile and Peppermint.  I could not find the studies for these two natural "antacids", but they have a long-standing reputation for providing heartburn relief.  A little goes a long ways in the case of these two pwerhouses. 

 

REFERENCES:

1)  The Amer J of Gastroenterology, 1 Sept 2003, 98:S57, "Oral broccoli sprouts eradicate Helicobacter pylori infection"

2) J of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 23(2):S175-S180, Special Issue: Proceedings of the 12th Taishotoyama International Symposium on Gastroenterology, April 27-April 28, 2007, Shimoda, Japan, published Online: 1 Dec 2008, "Growth inhibitory action of cranberry on Helicobacter pylori"

3) http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/news/20091027/job-stress-brings-gastrointestinal-problems

4) Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2004, 103(4):639-45, "A randomized controlled trial of ginger to treat nausea and vomiting in pregnancy."

5) J of the Amer Geriatrics Society, Aug 2007, 55:1253, "The Association Between Cognition and Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonists in African Americans"

 

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