Digital illustration of the stomach

If you suffer from acid reflux (and it’s likely that you are one of the millions of Americans who do), you may be making a big mistake in trying to treat it! If you take drugs like Prilosec or Prevacid to ease your acid reflux, you may actually be harming your digestive health. Keep reading to find out the real reason for your acid reflux, as well as safe and effective ways to address it.

Acid Reflux disease usually presents with persistent heartburn. This is often thought to be caused by too much stomach acid; however, this is not the case. Acid reflux is a condition that is related to hiatal hernia, a condition which causes food and acid to come out of your stomach (where it belongs) and into your esophagus. This is due to a relaxed lower esophageal sphincter that allows the stomach contents to flow up into the esophagus. It is a serious medical condition as it has been linked to cancer of the esophagus.

If you have frequent heartburn after eating a heavy meal, bending or lifting and when lying on your back, you may have acid reflux disease, often called GERD. Other symptoms of this condition include tightness in the throat, wheezing or asthma symptoms, a feeling as though food is stuck in your throat, and dental problems including bad breath.

Doctors often recommend that you take drugs like Prilosec or Prevacid in order to control acid reflux disease. These work in the short-term, but tend to build up a tolerance that can cause you to be very dependent upon the drugs and need an increasing amount in order to maintain the same effect. These drugs also have adverse side effects that can harm the digestive system. However, it should be noted that there can be severe medical consequences to stopping taking a proton pump suddenly, so consult your doctor or healthcare provider to come up with a plan to wean yourself off the drugs gradually.

You can treat your acid reflux disease in a natural way that is effective and safe. Five easy things you can do naturally to treat acid reflux disease include the following:

1. Eliminate Food Triggers
Foods such as caffeine, alcohol and nicotine can increase the symptoms of acid reflux disease. Eliminating these from your diet can help treat your condition. If you have food allergies, they can also trigger the condition. Make note of any foods that cause you distress and avoid any foods that trigger an attack.

2. Increase Natural Stomach Acids
By taking a hydrochloric acid supplement or eating foods that are high in this acid (such as high quality sea salt) you are effectively helping to fight acid reflux disease. You need those acids to help you better digest your food. You can get a hydrochloric acid supplement at the health food store without needing a prescription.

3. Eliminate Processed Foods And Sugars
Modify your diet to eliminate processed foods and sugars as these will upset your stomach as well as your digestive tract. Instead of processed foods, eat real foods, especially vegetables and other locally grown foods. You should also take a probiotic supplement to ensure proper digestion.

4. Get More Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential in many health areas, and your digestion is no different. Vitamin D works to restore your digestive health by wiping out any infectious component that might be causing your distress. Optimal levels of Vitamin D can come from sun exposure or from taking a supplement.

5. Get Moving
Exercise is a cure-all for the body because it improves the immune system. A healthy immune system is able to fight off any infections that might be the root cause of your acid reflux.

By implementing the above suggestions into your daily life, you will be able to safely and effectively address your acid reflux – without the use of dangerous drugs!

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