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This is a deeply personal blog for me to write because if my late father’s doctor had caught his “silent” acid reflux in the beginning, he most likely would have been cheering Brayden (his grandson) on with me at his soccer game last Saturday.
You can read more about my father’s story here, but in summary from one of New York City’s top oncologists, “The root cause of your father’s cancer is TOO MUCH ACID in his body.”
The “Just take PPIs” solution is designed to FAIL you.
Acid reflux is more than just an inconvenient digestive issue; it is an alarm that you must change up your life. And I don’t mean just taking another medication and supporting the 17 Billion dollar acid reflux medication (PPIs, antacids, H2 Blockers) industry.
These medications are actually designed to get you hooked on them for life (that’s why it’s such a lucrative business), and they do NOT address the root cause.
Here’s why: every time you take a PPI, it reduces the acid levels in your stomach by 95% or more, further damaging your body and the underlying cause of acid reflux.
Most people think acid reflux is the result of TOO MUCH acid. From a glance, that makes sense. However, acid reflux is actually from TOO LITTLE acid.
In general, aging bodies tend to get weaker and produce less acid. Research shows that after age 20, we lose 10% of our stomach acid, and the rate further declines if you are not strategic with how you care for your body (read: taking supplements, sleeping well, working out, etc.).
Additionally, if your body is self-combusting from chronic stress and wheat, dairy, sugar, seed oils, and sweeteners (like most Americans), this percentage is most likely significantly higher.
Therefore, it is essential to eat alkaline foods and take specific supplements that help your body produce MORE (of the good) stomach acid because all miserable symptoms are just your body’s way of yelling helllppp!
The hidden causes of acid reflux that most doctors overlook.
Ok, now you are starting to get away from the “pill for every ill” mentality that the pharmaceutical companies have imposed on the American “health” care system (really a “sick care” system)— let’s get down to the ROOT CAUSES of acid reflux. Because I am here to help you genuinely solve it once and for all and live a LONG and HAPPY life!
1. Too Little Stomach Acid, Not Too Much
It may come as a surprise, but low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) is often mistaken for high stomach acid. When the stomach doesn’t produce enough acid, food sits longer, ferments, and creates a gas that pushes stomach contents up into the esophagus.
Taking acid-reducing medications only exacerbates the problem by further decreasing stomach acid levels, making digestion even weaker. They also damage your gut, the main source of your immune and happiness systems.
Signs of low stomach acid:
-
Bloating shortly after meals
- Undigested food in stools
- Frequent burping or gas
- Feeling full quickly
- Nutrient deficiencies, especially B12, iron, and magnesium
Solutions: Support stomach acid production by drinking lemon water or apple cider vinegar mixed with a large glass of water 30 before meals and taking Acid-Kicking Minerals to ensure your body has enough minerals to function properly.
Note: Drinking apple cider vinegar 30 minutes before a meal will be a tremendous help to smoothing most GI/stomach problems. However, people with only acid reflux should not do this hack as it could make the reflux worse.
2. An Unbalanced Gut Microbiome
Your digestive system relies on a delicate balance of good bacteria to break down food and keep inflammation in check. However, an overgrowth of harmful bacteria, known as dysbiosis, can produce excess gas and pressure in the stomach, leading to reflux.
Common gut disruptors include:
- Antibiotics (If you need to take them, please follow my post-antibiotics protocol.)
- Processed foods
- Chronic stress
- Artificial sweeteners
Solutions: Restore balance Gut Punch, your daily defense against a toxic and inflamed gut. Also, get off your acid and sugar, as both feed bad bacteria.
3. Food Sensitivities and Inflammatory Triggers
Many people experience acid reflux because of undiagnosed food sensitivities and sneaky triggers such as dairy, gluten, soy, and seed oils (learn why they are worse than cigarettes here). These foods destroy your gut lining, leading to poor digestion, leaky gut, and acid reflux symptoms.
Solutions:
- STOP cooking with seed oils.
- Use salts and sugars that are better for you. Learn how here.
- Try an elimination diet, removing common allergens for 3-4 weeks to see what works.
- Reintroduce foods one at a time to pinpoint the problem.
4. Eating Too Close to Bedtime
Lying down after eating allows stomach contents to flow backward into the esophagus. Eating late at night, especially heavy meals, increases this risk. This is why many people experience the worst reflux symptoms in bed.
Solutions: Finish eating at least 3 hours before lying down, and elevate your upper body slightly when sleeping to prevent acid from creeping up.
5. Chronic Stress and Its Impact on Digestion
Stress shuts down digestion by triggering the body’s fight-or-flight response. When digestion is compromised, food sits undigested in the stomach, creating gas and pressure that leads to reflux.
Solutions:
- Support your body with the supplements it needs to naturally calm your anxiety and stress with this bundle.
- Prioritize daily meditation/prayer, breathwork, and yoga.
- Get outside! Sunshine, trees, and fresh air are nature’s best medicines.
6. Overuse of Antacids and PPIs
Many people turn to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and antacids for relief, but these medications only mask symptoms while making the root problem worse. By reducing stomach acid, these drugs impair digestion, leading to nutrient deficiencies and long-term gut imbalances.
Solutions:
- Drink alkaline water to neutralize acidity naturally.
- Use natural digestive aids like ginger and licorice root.
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals to support digestion.
- Take Gut Punch daily to seal your gut wall (leaky gut), eliminate harmful pathogens, and restore and strengthen your digestive health.
7. Dehydration and Poor Mineral Balance
Stomach acid production relies on adequate hydration and essential minerals like sodium, chloride, and potassium. When dehydrated or deficient in these minerals, digestion weakens, increasing reflux symptoms.
Solutions:
- Drinking plenty of filtered water
- Drink Acid-Kicking Minerals and incorporate my 5 To Thrive foods into your daily life.
My final thoughts…
It’s time to go deeper as if your life depends on it—because it literally does.
Addressing the root causes—like low stomach acid, gut imbalances, food sensitivities, and stress—can help you truly heal rather than just “manage symptoms.”
Today, commit to making simple, healthy changes to finally get off your acid and reclaim your digestive health! I believe in YOU.
