Indigestion – The Dirty Word IN Digestion – What You Can Do to STOP It

You know that commercial… the one for that disgusting pink liquid for all things stomach upsetting… well the good news is that there is no need to dump that down there to fix the problems, in fact I am going to tell you the root cause and what to do so they don’t happen at all.

THE MOST common digestive symptoms people have today are from the upper GI and imbalance. Digestion is north to south. That means if there is something wrong at the beginning of the path – there will be imbalance all the way through. So let’s see what symptoms those might be and how we can address their cause(s).

Symptoms indicating you have some type of upper GI imbalance are gas quickly after eating, or during the meal, belching quickly after or during a meal, diarrhea shortly after a meal, undigested food in the stool, bloating within an hour of eating, or even just feeling better if you don’t eat…

What is included in indigestion then?

* Reflux

* GERD

* Low or too much stomach acid

* Hernia

Low Stomach Acid

The most common thing I see is LOW stomach acid – despite all the antacids and proton pump inhibitors on the market today. Low stomach acid, as well as low stomach mucus (what protects your tissue from the extreme acid) can cause reflux like symptoms, stomach pain and more. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it also leads to improper food breakdown, leaving large chunks of food to cause irritation in the small intestine. 

Without any medication blocking this effect, it is possible to get better acid and digestion. Using apple cider vinegar diluted before a meal, is a natural method to try to increase acid. However, this approach shouldn’t be done without proper support and supervision. 

What You Can Do

Consider adding some warm lemon water to your routine in the morning. This is a safe way to stimulate not only digestion and acid, but to also help detox the liver and gallbladder. Take 8 oz of warm water, a fresh squeeze of lemon and enjoy! Be sure that you aren’t doing this WITH a meal, but right after waking and try to avoid water 30 minutes before, after, and during the meal. Too much water before and during the meal can actually lower the acidity level as well.

Damaged or impaired stomach/intestinal mucus

Having a healthy layer of stomach mucus, as well as mucus in the intestines is critical to proper digestion as well as immunity. The layer protects the lining from acid damage from the stomach, and also helps in immunity and fighting against disease. 

Unfortunately, most people have taken a lot of NSAIDs and acetaminophen (as well as other drugs). This causes the mucus to break down. Considering WHY you are taking those is important. You are eliminating symptoms by any medicine use – so what is the REAL CAUSE of those symptoms. That is what needs addressing so you can eliminate the use of these types of meds. Always speak with your doctor before changing any type of medications or OTC use.

What You Can Do

Be sure you are eating plenty of vegetables also. This assists that balance as well. Avoiding aggravating foods, and medications is another. The use of probiotics has also been found to be helpful. Probiotic rich foods are also important for your diet.

There are supplements that can help repair and rebuild balance in the mucus and linings. However, you would need direct help from a practitioner in order to add these to your routine. 

Acid Reflux, GERD

These are conditions where the valve that keeps everything flowing north to south, opens back up during digestion and acid from the stomach moves north into the esophagus causing pain and burning. GERD is actual damage from this acid in the esophagus and reflux is considered the motion of it. It is important that you have a GI specialist determine if the feeling often associated with reflux and GERD is actually from a back flow of acid and a problem with the valve. 

If you continue to have burning pain in the stomach, it could also be from low acid or mucus issues, not from an actual problem with the valve or back flow of acid. This distinction is very important so you can look at the root cause of the problem and address how to fix it.

So what are the underlying root causes of these types of dysfunction?

* Excessive processed carbohydrate consumption

* Poor food combinations

* Excessive sugar or alcohol consumption

* Dysbiosis, candida, other infectious organisms

* Zinc deficiency

* B vitamin deficiency

* Other mineral deficiencies

* Pituitary dysfunction, and other nervous system issues

* STRESS

What can we do to try to get balance back again?

* SLOW DOWN YOUR MEALS, CHEW THOROUGHLY.

* Reduce or eliminate sugar, starchy carbs, processed foods, alcohol and coffee

* Limit the liquids at meal time avoiding that window.

* Eat at least 3-4 hours before bedtime. 

* Be careful and ask about any OTC anti-acids, blockers, and similar prescription meds. Be sure to speak with a prescriber to learn more about reducing these or using these.

Is it that simple?

You may be thinking that this sounds too simplistic. HOWEVER, it isn’t it really is where the cause is at for these. It does get a bit more complicated with specific nutrients to support balance and more – but that is where you should work with a practitioner for assistance. 

You can start right now by looking at these few things and by changing them you WILL see some change. This is especially true when it comes to reducing or eliminating sugar, starchy carbs, processed foods, alcohol and coffee. These particular items are the DOWNFALL of digestion. 

* Choose whole foods – ditch processed packages and boxes

* Choose a lot of vegetables

* Maintain good water intake

* Choose good healthy fat and protein sources

Need help on the HOW and what foods to replace those foods with? Grab your FREE consult to talk about how this might work for you! It is possible to get your digestion back to SILENT!