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We have a new 23-year-old addition to our work family. His name is Reid and he works in our finance department. Reid is a strapping and healthy looking young man. You would never think that he wasn’t in perfect health; but illness wears many hats and can slowly tear down your health. I have the pleasure of working with Reid every day, but have not yet sold him on our healthy life style. Reid enjoys and embraces our baking and food preparation for lunch, but that’s about as far as he’s embraced our way of a healthier lifestyle.
Cleaning my office lead to a lesson in gut health
Well, Mama Yapp was cleaning the office and actually looking for dirty cups and glasses to wash. I love a clean office! While I was wiping off Reid’s desk I noticed this wonderful young man had a package of Rolaids sitting on his desk and it was almost empty! EEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKK! This poor guy was suffering in my office and I had no idea! I know handling our finances may be challenging at times-especially, as a new growing business-but knew that there was more to his acid reflux than stress. There’s been a problem brewing for years-maybe even since childhood.
We need to focus less on medications and more on balancing gut bacteria
Poor and/or inefficient digestion leads to low stomach acid and is the main cause of many ailments. If you think I’m exaggerating, here is a list of complications associated with low stomach acid:
- Damage to gut lining
- Inflammation of gut lining
- Malabsorption of nutrients
- Compromised immune system
- Accumulation of toxins and liver damage
- Brain damage that may lead to lack of self-control
- Impaired coordination
- Aggression
- Memory loss
- Muscle weakness and/or damage
- Pancreatic degeneration
- Food allergies
- Slow digestion
Does excess acid cause acid reflux?
It’s funny how people assume acid reflux is normal and not the serious issue it truly is. As Weston Price Organization points out, just because a lot of people take anti-acids, that doesn’t make it healthy. In fact, a healthy gut is actually very acidic and it’s people with low levels of stomach acid that often have compromised immune systems. Why? Because low acid levels promote the growth of sugar and other bad bacteria in your gut. This interferes with your body’s ability to digest efficiently. So even if you eat whole organic foods, thinking you’re being healthy, you may not be addressing the real problem. Low stomach acid turns any fruit you eat into sugar and feeds the bad bacteria in your gut. Unfortunately, this makes your body crave carbohydrates and more sugar causing even more damage. It’s a vicious cycle that causes much harm to your body. Acid reflux is really a sign of poor digestion and may lead to malnutrition! The Weston Price Organization states eating fermented foods improves digestion, supplies live enzymes and adds good bacteria to support digestive health and reduces acid reflux.
It’s been estimated that almost 50% of the US population is affected by acid reflux.
That’s an awful lot of over-the-counter and prescription medicine being sold. No wonder Big Pharma prefers medication rather than natural healing prospects. Dr. Mercola suggests that replenishing your good gut bacteria with fermented foods is one of the first steps to take in healing acid reflux. Many people believe that eating yogurt will help, but he cautions against eating store bought processed yogurt as it is high in sugar and low in live probiotic cultures. Any dairy causes inflammation, so yogurt is just not effective. Dr. Mercola states that there may be very few instances where medication is needed on a short-term basis. Unfortunately, many people stay on medication for years. Consuming acid reflux medication over a long period of time increases your chance of:
- Pneumonia
- Bone loss
- Hip fractures
- Infection with Clostridium difficile (a harmful intestinal bacteria)
- Bleeding ulcers
- Infection with the ulcer-causing bacteria Helicobacter pylori
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (a rare condition that causes your stomach to produce excess acid)
- Severe acid reflux (an endoscopy is needed confirmed that your esophagus is damaged)
Acid Reflux is more than heartburn and doesn’t stop at the stomach.
Did you know that there is a connection between acid reflux and the colon? In a recent study comparing people diagnosed with acid reflux and those diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), 34% of the acid reflux patients also had IBS. Interestingly, 64% of those first diagnosed with IBS also had acid reflux. There is a definite overlap between the two diseases. Researchers are still trying to figure out which causes which, but to me it’s like what came first-the chicken or the egg? Does it really matter? The fact is that both acid reflux and IBS are painful diseases that can be healed with the help of fermented probiotic foods! We need to balance our gut bacteria and replenish live enzymes and amino acids to help our digestion and our health.
Once again it all starts in your GUT and the balance of good vs. bad bacteria!
Yes, I know, I went there again. But it’s true! Heal your gut; heal your body. Heal your gut; heal your brain. Heal your gut; heal your life! Seriously, heal your gut and you heal your blood, skin, heart and the list goes on and on! It’s exhausting repeating this so many times and I know I may sound like a broken record, but I will keep saying it until my last breath! Sadly, I know many people who suffer from acid reflux. For example, my nephew Tim has been dealing with this most of his adult life and now has to sleep sitting up in a recliner bed. When you don’t catch it early enough, much damage may occur.
Cleaning the office of clutter led to the process of helping Reid’s!
So after Reid learned about gut health and acid reflux he decided to drink the proverbial glass of Kool-aid (or should I say fermented foods) and come over to the green side. He left the office that day determined to begin the journey to heal his acid reflux, gut and health. Because Reid has had acid reflux for so long, I know that he’s not getting enough amino acids he needs. Fermented foods will not only replenish his good gut bacteria, but give him the amino acids his body needs to digest and perform at its best. We’ll be sure to update you on his progress!
It may seem like this article is just about Reid
But it’s about much more. It’s about you, your parents, your children and your friends too. It’s about everyone you care about! Be your own warrior and learn about the real causes of acid reflux and the importance of replenishing live enzymes, amino acids and good gut bacteria. How are you going to get your life and the lives of your loved ones on the road to health? From the inside out, it all centers on your gut bacteria! Is your gut waving a red flag?
Let the healing begin…
Tamara Yapp
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Source by Tamara Yapp