GERD, or gastroesophogeal reflux disease currently affects about 20 percent of adults. It’s a more severe form of acid reflux, which 25-40% of Americans suffer from.
Many people blame GERD on acid reflux, but doing so fails to address the problem at its root. If you suffer from symptoms of acid reflux or GERD, it’s because you have low stomach acid production and bacterial overgrowth in your gut. The root cause of these two factors can be summed up in one word: inflammation.
Therefore, to successfully prevent and treat GERD and its symptoms, you need to address inflammation—the real cause behind it. Most doctors will simply prescribe prescriptions to mask the symptoms of GERD, but this fails to eliminate the problem long-term. In this post, I’m going to outline three simple and natural ways to cure GERD for good:
- Change your diet.
- Take a good probiotic.
- See a chiropractor.
Eliminate GERD by treating your gut.
If inflammation is at the root of GERD and acid reflux, then it would make sense that ridding your diet of foods that cause inflammation would help you treat and even prevent GERD from reoccurring. Foods that contribute to inflammation include:
- Sugars and refined carbs
- Pasteurized dairy products
- Non-organic, GMO, and processed meats
- Trans-fats
- Corn and soybean oils
On the contrary, foods that help fight inflammation include:
- Bone broth
- Leafy greens
- Blueberries
- Wild-caught fish (esp. salmon)
- Beets
To stop inflammation, simply avoid foods from the first list and eat more of the foods on the second! Your gut will begin to heal itself over time, and you’ll experience less acid reflux symptoms.
Also, I highly suggest eating smaller meals. Many people suffer from acid reflux, because they eat inflammatory foods in very large quantities. Rather than scarfing down 3 huge meals each day, try eating smaller, snack-sized portions every few hours. If you are experiencing other eating disorders, you may want to visit a doctor immediately and try to look at various treatment options for eating disorders.
Probiotics for Acid Reflux & GERD?
A good probiotic will aid in balancing your gut bacteria, a factor which can also help prevent and treat GERD and its symptoms. Make sure it has a high number of bacterial strains to maximize its effectiveness. Taking a probiotic every day is essential for your health, even more so if you’ve been taking antibiotics or prescription drugs that can negatively impact your gut health by killing off your body’s good bacteria.
Chiropractic Care for Acid Reflux & GERD?
Seeing a Charlotte chiropractor for acid reflux, GERD and other digestive problems can greatly decrease your symptoms and improve your overall health. Your nervous system tells the rest of your body’s organs and systems how to function, and your spine is the central hub of your nervous system. When it’s out of alignment, your body suffers, because the nerve signals that go out from your spine’s nerve endings become compressed and weak. Therefore, it’s imperative that you keep your spine in proper alignment to ensure that your body functions at max. capacity. For more details on how chiropractic may be useful for GERD, see our article, “Chiropractic Care for Digestive Problems.”
Do you or someone you love live in Charlotte and suffer from acid reflux symptoms or GERD? Click here to schedule a FREE 15-minute phone consultation with Charlotte chiropractor, Dr. Holly! We’ll help you determine if a care treatment plan at Queen City Health Center might benefit you.