acidic reflux

Thank you Gardengirl, your post is very useful.  Looks like  I have a lot to research and know about digestion. I found your remark on sleep apnea very interesting.

Most cases of acid reflux are not really caused by an excess of stomach acid.  It’s actually the opposite.  Too little stomach acid lets the food sit there undigested for too long to the point where fermentation starts to happen creating that bubbling up sensation.  So the last thing you want to do is add any kind of acid blocking drug or alkaline tablets such as Tums to the mix.   Not sure if this is something that you may have been doing since you seem to have a history with this condition.

In any case, the best way to get your food to digest without fermentation is to add some apple cider vinegar to the tummy.

I had bad reflux, in fact I had been taking prilosec and then nexium for a total of 20 years.  I started this way of eating in part to try to get off of the nexium. I tried to start tapering off of the medicine too soon and I had a lot of trouble for a couple of months. We started eating this way on Jan. 2, 2017 and I have been off of the medicine completely for about two months now. I eat my main meal about 2:00 and then only have a small snack in the evening if I am hungry or if I start feeling that my stomach is acidic (almonds, cheese or sunflower seeds). This has worked for me.

I have to add that the apple cider vinegar made things worse for me to the point of vomiting about 30 min after taking it each time I tried it, so I know that my problem was too much acid. Obviously  everyone is different so just be careful as you try things and monitor your bodies reaction. I am now able to eat pickles with no issues.  Also, peanut butter is a sure trigger for reflux for me, I have to stay away from it any time of day. I hope this helps a little. Blessings!

Just a couple of thoughts/bullet-points to maybe consider:

• Ox bile. Bile is needed/produced to help you break down/digest the fats you eat. If you are deficient you will have some problems with digesting; which can lead to gallstones (or gallbladder troubles). This is a good one to do some research on to see if it’s right for you; or chat with your doctor about it. Self-diagnosing on this one can be tricky; hence the suggestion to talk with a doc about it. There is also: Bitters; these will help stimulate digestion. Bitters: greens/botanical, not bitters: cocktails! 🙂
• Getting off of dairy. This can be challenging when you are trying to be keto; but it can be done! Or at least cutting way back can also do wonders. Start with an item and cut it; keep going and over time you could be free from the dairy. There are a lot more alternatives now than there were just 6 or 7 years ago.
• Getting checked for sleep apnea. Everybody seems to think they aren’t prone to it, affected by it, have it, ‘I don’t snore’, I sleep fine, not me, bla bla bla… It’s not just about the loud snoring. It’s about the breathing (or lack of) while you are sleeping. There are quite a few people in my life that have improved their overall health after getting checked for (and treated) sleep apnea. Acid reflux is going on while you are sleeping; causing a disturbed sleep with a lack of oxygen (to your body). This causes a vicious cycle: chronic fatigue, acid reflux, cardiovascular, weakened immune system… the list goes on. This could be another thing to chat with a doctor about, do some research on, ask friends or family (I think everyone one knows, or knows of, at least one person with sleep apnea. It’s not uncommon anymore or the ‘problem’ no one discusses because it’s embarrassing). A cheap way to see if this applies to you – record yourself sleeping for a couple of nights. People who thought they ‘don’t snore’ discovered that, yes… they do snore! Or have developed a snore/apnea. Take that information and head for the next step that is right for you.
• Last but not least: A good liver cleanse. The liver is the main filter of the body; clearing out some of those built up toxins would probably be amazing! There are cleanses and detoxing-to-the-extreme all over the internet. Once again: research will be your friend on this. I, personally, have done all kinds of this stuff over the years. If you want to start ‘soft’ and work yourself into something bigger or more aggressive I would suggest something as simple as: dandelion root tea or an extract that you put in water/tea, etc. Milk thistle, same as dandelion root. These two are pretty non-invasive or aggressive but you are introducing yourself/your liver to their mighty powers. Everyday, gradually, helping out your liver while you find, and research, an actual cleanse protocol you would like to do. If you have allergies and sensitivities to certain herbals/plants (separate or together); only you would know that. Start with one and journal how you are doing. Journaling what you are consuming is a great way to keep track of your overall health.