GERD Friendly

Every journey starts with a small step

And this one will too. I will continue to post the GERD friendly recipes, but I’ll also try to add in some useful lifestyle changes which can greatly contribute to this (almost) endless fight with this enemy. Some of those will be from my personal experience, and some of those will be posted based on the thought research.

Patience is the key.

Since I’m starting to take care of this blog all by myself while working the full-time job, I’ll do my best to post as regularly as I can and with as much passion as I did before. It might take some time sometimes between the posts, but as I said - patience is the key. We’ll get this wheel rolling, step by step. In the meantime, while I’m working on the new blog design and slowly typing down the new blog post. Let’s remember some of the most visited and most shared posts we published before!

My acid reflux Coach

Remember this guy? I’m happy to inform you he’s still active and has started his own blog alongside with the facebook page. Make sure to check him out --- My Acid Reflux Coach One of his most visited posts on this blog was - Vagus nerve + GERD connection. Oh, that one made a mess in my body thanks to the GERD… But we’ll talk about it in the next blog post!

Winner recipe: Cold Tuna Salad

Ah, this contest we had always put a smile on my face. Members of the Acid Reflux Facebook group really enjoyed this one, as well as trying out this winner recipe. Make sure to check it out and feel free to leave a comment if you liked it! Click here to open it up!

Broiled Salmon with Spinach saute

My favorite. Love it. I won’t say any more about it, I’ll leave it to you to decide if you like it or not. Simple and easy to prepare, yet so tasty… Yummy… Click here to open it up! Alright, enough of typing down this intro. Now that we had a little throwback and a trip down the memory lane, It’s time for me to get to work and fix this place up! Let’s stop living in the past and start celebrating the new things to come. See you guys soon! Yours, Shaky.

Make sure to like ---> My Acid Reflux Coach for more awesome posts like this!

Could eating a kiwi a day keep the acid reflux away?🥝🥝🥝

Kiwis help prevent constipation, eliminate toxins, create alkaline balance, and much more! 🥝🥝

Read on to see some more reasons why Kiwis may help with your GERD and overall health! 🥝

Did you know that KIWIs may help:
1. Treat Asthma
2. Digest Protein
3. Boost the Immune System
4. Reduce Oxidative Stress
5. Manage Blood Pressure
6. Reduce Blood Clotting
7. Protect Against Vision Loss
Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/7-best-things-about-kiwi#reduces-blood-clotting

"Kiwi has shown promise as a treatment of bowel and digestive disorders. A number of studies have shown kiwi helps reduce complications related to irritable bowel syndrome as well as inflammatory bowel disease. The findings of the studies suggest that adding kiwi to patients’ diets introduced antioxidants and fiber, which were able to produce anti-inflammatory results, as well as overall improvements in bowel function." -https://draxe.com/kiwi-nutrition/

Furthermore, Kiwis may help:
1. Improve Sleep
2. Prevent Cancer
3. Fight Bacteria and Fungai
Source: https://draxe.com/kiwi-nutrition/

Could eating a kiwi a day keep the acid reflux away?🥝🥝🥝

Additional Source- https://www.care2.com/greenliving/14-healthy-reasons-to-eat-kiwi.html

Written by: My Acid Reflux Coach

Click here and like our Facebook coach: My Acid Reflux Coach

Are you sure you have GERD? How were you diagnosed?

Maybe your symptoms are the result of something else besides acid reflux. 

For example, Eosinophilic Esophagitis is often mistaken for GERD as it can have similar, if not identical, symptoms to acid relfux. See this page for more info on Eosinophilic Esophagitis:https://www.empr.com/features/eosinophilic-esophagitis-can-be-mistaken-for-gerd/article/261625/

Other diseases that may be mistaken for GERD:
a.) Gastroparesis
b.) Gastritis
c.) Stomach Ulcers
d.) Heart disease
e.) Gallstones
f.) Pleuritis
g.) Celiac's Disease
h.) Achalasia
For more info: http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20528575,00.html#esophageal-cancer-1

The current best test for the diagnosis of reflux disease is esophageal pH monitoring where "a thin tube is passed through your nose or mouth to your stomach. The tube is then pulled back into your esophagus. A monitor attached to the tube measures the acid level in your esophagus. You will wear the monitor on a strap and record your symptoms and activity over the next 24 hours in a diary. You will return to the hospital the next day and the tube will be removed. The information from the monitor will be compared with your diary notes."For more information see: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003401.htm

Its common practice for doctors to hand out acid suppressant medication called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) before any diagnostic testing. A primary care physicians diagnosis of GERD commonly depends on how the patient responds to PPIs. But PPI testing in this way may be inaccurate and may have side effects (e.g. acid rebound, bacterial overgrowth, food allergies, etc)
See: https://www.refluxmd.com/gerd-often-misdiagnosed-2/

The Vagus Nerve is the longest nerve of the autonomic nervous system and is responsible for many“rest and digest” functions of the body.

Some Vagus Nerve Functions:
1. Lowering the heart rate
2. Gastrointestinal peristalsis
3. Gag Reflex
4. Vomiting
5. Stomach Acid Production
6. Satiation

An under-stimulated Vagus Nerve and Low Vagal Tone may lead to:
1. Low Stomach Acid
2. Delayed Stomach Emptying (Gastroparesis)
3. Inflammation
4. Constipation
5. High resting heart rate

For more info see: http://www.saragottfriedmd.com/viva-las-vagus-how-vagal-tone-impacts-your-health-and-10-ways-to-‎improve-it‎/

Possible ways to irritate, or inhibit the function of, the VAGUS NERVE:
1. Forward Head Posture
2. Slumping or Hunching
3. Stress
4. Anxiety
5. Fatigue
6. A Hiatal Hernia
7. GI distress

Possible ways to damage the VAGUS NERVE:
1. Diabetes
2. Alcoholism
3. Infection

Source: https://www.livestrong.com/article/144353-list-spinal-nerves/ 

Ways to stimulate the vagus nerve:
1. Holding your breath for a few seconds
2. Dipping your face in cold water
3. Coughing
4. Tensing the stomach muscles as if to bear down to have a bowel movement

Source-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagus_nerve

Possible ways to reset vagal tone:
1. Singing/chanting
2. Meditation/Mindfulness
3. Fasting
4. Laughter
5. Yoga

Source: http://www.saragottfriedmd.com/viva-las-vagus-how-vagal-tone-impacts-your-health-and-10-ways-to-‎improve-it‎/

Written by: My Acid Reflux Coach

Did you know some herbal teas may trigger GERD? 🍵

☕ Remember, herbs can have multiple different effects on your system. Although they may stimulate digestion, reduce inflammation, or be mucoprotective, some herbs may also relax the lower esophageal sphincter and make acid reflux worse.

Carminative herbs are a type of herb that may relax the lower esophageal sphincter allowing for more acid reflux. Some carminative herbs that I see commonly used to help with chronic heartburn include but may actually be making it worse for some people are:

1. Anise seed
2. Caraway
3. Fennel
4. Ginger
5. Lemon Balm
6. Licorice
7. Oregano and Parsley
8. Peppermint

Other carminative herbs you may be using in your everyday cooking include:

1. Rosemary
2. Sage
3. Garlic and Onion
4. Thyme
5. Pepper
6. Cardomon
7. Basil
8. Cumin
9. Cinnamon and Nutmeg
10. Mustard

But remember that the cause of your gastroesophageal reflux disease may not be a faulty lower esophageal sphincter (LES). For many people, the above herbs may help their GERD.

Listen to your body. 👂👂

For more information and a larger list of herbs that may affect the LES see: https://nextooze.com/carminative-herbs-relax-lower-esophageal-sphincter-worsening-acid-reflux/

The post was written by https://www.facebook.com/acidrefluxcoach/

What is the best type of sugar for your GERD?

Have you tried switching to:
a. Stevia
b. Raw Honey
c. Blackstrap Molasses
d. Dates
e. Maple Syrup

It’s hard to give up sugar. Some scientists argue that sugar can be as addicting as cocaine for rodents. So, if you can’t, or are not going to, give up sugar, then what is the healthiest sugar?

⚠️ Remember, GERD is an individual disease. A sugar/sweetener that works for some people may not work for you. Therefore, it’s important to know the factors that could influence your reaction to a substance. For sugar and sweeteners, consider the following factors:

1. Glycemic Index - How is the sweetener affecting my blood sugar levels?
2. Side Effects - Has the sweetener been linked to cancer, diabetes, or unpleasant symptoms?
3. Refinement Level - How refined/processed is the sweetener?
4. Nutrient Quality - How “empty” is my sweetener? 
5. Sugar Type - Glucose, Fructose, Lactose, Sucrose, Maltose, etc. 
6. Source - Is your sweetener organic?
7. Your Reaction - How do you feel when I use this sweetener?

Now, all of the above factors are related, but breaking down each sweetener in this way can help you make the best choice when it comes to sugar and your gastroesophageal reflux disease.



-------------------------------- Glycemic Index (GI)

Glycemic Index describes how much, and how quickly, a consumed substance effects blood sugar levels. Note: “white bread has a higher rating [GI] than table sugar, and that fruit leather is higher than a typical chocolate bar. The most significant factor driving use of the glycemic index for food choices is that several research studies reveal a connection between high-carbohydrate, high glycemic diets, and some diseases. (...) It is important to keep in mind that this is still very new science without long-term assessment and verification.” - https://www.badgut.org/information-centre/health-nutrition/glycemic-index/