Have you seen those antacid commercials where people’s favorite foods attack them? Chicken wings and corn dogs smacking people in the face…
I get a laugh out of those, too. Even though, despite what the commercials want you to think, heartburn isn’t usually about stomach acid.
Heartburn is usually a muscle problem. It involves the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). It’s a flap that relaxes or opens when food goes down into the stomach. When it’s not being used, it’s supposed to stay shut.
But, in the case of heartburn, your LES doesn’t seal completely. This allows stomach acids up into your esophagus. Over time this damages the esophageal lining, leading to inflammation, ulcers, and even cancer of the esophagus.1
The typical treatments for heartburn are over-the-counter antacids such as Tums® and Maalox®. Some doctors prescribe H2 blockers like Zantac® and Tagamet®. These medications block the action of histamine, which normally stimulates stomach acid secretion.
You get temporary relief from your symptoms… but they treat the symptom, not the cause.
And here’s the thing: Blocking the production of stomach acid is not healthy. Low stomach acid levels lead to a chronic condition known as hypochlorhdyria. This happens when your body doesn’t have enough stomach acid to digest your food and extract the nutrients.
It’s like starving.
This nutritional deficiency opens the door for bacterial and fungal overgrowth and sets the stage for many chronic conditions like adrenal fatigue, high cortisol levels, autoimmune deficiencies, and gastric cancer.2
You don’t need antacids or drugs to fix heartburn.
Start with simple prevention: Try to avoid eating large meals, or too much alcohol, nicotine, or caffeine, which are all contributors to LES malfunction.
If you do get heartburn, try ginger root. Research shows ginger can strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Add one-half teaspoon of freshly grated ginger root to a cup of hot water. Let the ginger steep for 10 minutes. Strain the ginger and drink.
I also recommend peppermint. Place a wad of peppermint leaves between your molars and chew it for a minute before swallowing. The calming effect on your stomach is almost immediate.
The most effective remedy for heartburn is d-limonene. It’s an extract from citrus fruit peels. In one recent trial, 90% of the people taking d-limonene reported complete relief of their heartburn symptoms in just two weeks. And the effect lasted for six months after they stopped taking it.3
You can find d-limonene online and at your local health food store. They usually come in a softgel or liquid capsule, so your stomach can break them down quickly. Good ones are standardized to contain 95% d-limonene, but you can find as high as 98.5% extract.
1. Eckardt VF, Kanzler G, Bernhard G. Life expectancy and cancer risk in patients with Barrett’s esophagus: a prospective controlled investigation. Am J Med. 2001 Jul;111(1):33-7.
2. Sokic-Milutinovic A, Todorovic V, Milosavljevic T. [Pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori infection–bacterium and host relationship] Srp Arh Celok Lek 2004 Sep-Oct;132(9-10):340-4.
3. Willette RC, Barrow L, Doster R, Wilkins J, Wilkins JS, Heggers JP. Purified d-limonene: an effective agent for the relief of occasional symptoms of heartburn. Proprietary study. WRC Laboratories, Inc. Galveston, TX.