Ever experienced that uncomfortable burning sensation after a meal? Yeah, most of us have at some point. But if it’s a regular thing, then acid reflux, also called GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), can seriously diminish your quality of life.

But here’s the thing, conventional medical wisdom on causes and treatment for acid reflux are pretty flawed.

Most doctors blame “too much stomach acid” yet the evidence shows GERD is more related to issues like low acid, H. pylori infections, and hiatal hernias. So relying solely on antacids or acid reducers only ends up masking the root problem.

Here we will look at what really causes GERD. Also, we’ll reveal some of the top 5 vitamins to stop acid reflux naturally. Sound good? Let’s get to it.

What Really Causes Acid Reflux In Adults?

Contrary to popular belief, acid reflux is rarely due to excess stomach acid. Most doctors will just throw antacids or acid-blocking drugs at heartburn, but that’s actually treating a symptom rather than the underlying problem.

What most doctors don’t realize is that low stomach acid levels are often at the core of acid reflux. In fact, your body needs adequate acid to thoroughly digest food and kill off infections.

So while medications may temporarily cover up pain, they don’t solve the issue and can even make it worse long-term. Let’s look at what’s really going on.

A hiatal hernia

In a hiatal hernia, part of the upper stomach protrudes through a small break or opening in the diaphragm. This is basically where your stomach pushes through an area it’s not supposed to.

Having a section of stomach shoved up into your chest, where it doesn’t belong, makes it harder for the lower esophageal sphincter valve to do its job of keeping acid down.

H. pylori bacteria infection

Did you know that a whopping 40% of people have a pylori bacteria infection, and most aren’t even aware? This condition throws off your digestive pH and impairs how well food breaks down.

Ironically enough, over-the-counter antacids can actually promote H. pylori growth by further decreasing stomach acidity. So the medical approach ends up backfiring and perpetuating the problem into an uncomfortable acid reflux loop.

poor diet and acid reflux

There’s a valve between your stomach and esophagus
called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This needs to stay closed to keep acid in the stomach. However, there are some foods and drinks that cause it to relax too much. Some of the main culprits are:

• Fatty foods
• Spicy foods
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Citrus fruits
• Tomatoes
• Mint
• Garlic and onions.
• Carbonated drinks

Not eating regularly can worsen reflux too. When meals are skipped, your body keeps making acid to digest food that isn’t there. This raises acid levels over time.

Paying attention to what and how much you eat, as well as staying upright after meals. This helps keep the valve strong and closed so acid stays in the stomach where it belongs.

Being overweight or obese

This is a big one. The valve keeping acid in your stomach – the lower esophageal sphincter is really affected by extra fat.

Essentially, the fat around your internal organs puts pressure on your stomach from the outside. Over time, this squeezing weakens the sphincter so it doesn’t close like it should.

It also reduces the space between your stomach and esophagus. Without a good buffer, it’s much easier for contents to splash back up that short distance.

medication causing acid reflux

There are medications that increase acid reflux by messing with that all-important lower esophageal sphincter muscle. Things like anti-inflammatories for pain or antibiotics are known for this. Some inhalers for asthma can trigger heartburn too.

If you find yourself dealing with reflux more often lately and your meds changed recently, it might be worth bringing it up with your health practitioner. See if there are alternative options that won’t irritate your system as much.

They may suggest tips on reducing GERD risks, such as taking your pills with food or in the evening instead of before bed. Small adjustments could make a difference in keeping that valve shut tight.

Thankfully, there are some really available vitamins that stop acid reflux naturally. These can really help balance your pH and correct deficiencies from the inside out:

5 vitamins to stop acid reflux naturally

These 5 powerhouse vitamins have anti-inflammatory properties or help stimulate digestive juices in a way that supports healthy valve function. Stick with me and I’ll run through which ones topped the list as being the most effective. Could be something worth adding to your routine if heartburn is a regular problem.

omega 3 for acid reflux

Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA from fish oils are really good at fighting inflammation. When acid from reflux irritates your esophagus (food pipe), it causes painful swelling. This makes reflux feel much worse.

Studies show that omega-3s can significantly lower chemicals in the body that cause inflammation, like prostaglandins and leukotrienes. When these are reduced, it helps soothe the burning sensation and heal any damage in your esophagus caused by acid.

Some research also shows omega-3s may help scratches and sores in your esophagus heal faster by cutting down on swelling. They seem to make it easier for your throat to repair itself after acid attacks.

Both short and long-term studies that gave people omega-3s or looked at people who eat lots of fish found it helped make heartburn less frequent and painful. The anti-swelling power of omega-3s seems to do two things – reduce pain and help your throat recover between times when acid comes up.

GERD B12 Connection

B12 is another often overlooked one. It’s so important for digestion but many of us don’t get enough because it’s only found naturally in animal foods. keywords: gerd and vitamin b12

No B12 means your stomach doesn’t produce acid properly or move food through smoothly. Both of those issues can lead to indigestion and reflux overtime.

It also promotes healthy gut flora balance via fueling good bacterial growth. Supplementing methylcobalamin B12 or eating foods rich in it like salmon supports overall digestive wellness to minimize reflux complaints.

b6 acid reflux Soother

As mentioned, the B vitamins are crucial for healthy digestion. Studies have shown people with GERD tend to be low in B6 specifically. And when given supplements, their reflux symptoms significantly improved.

Here’s why it seems to make a difference – B6 is key for breaking down proteins and carbohydrates during digestion. It also regulates acid levels in the stomach. When you’re deficient, food doesn’t break down as well and acid production can become imbalanced. Both of those factors can contribute to heartburn issues.

Magnesium Relaxes Sphincter Muscles

As mentioned, it’s essential for the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach – lower esophageal sphincter, to stay closed. Any disruption to this can have stomach acid and food regurgitating back up into your esophagus.

Unfortunately for some people, that LES muscle goes into spasms where it unexpectedly opens when it’s not supposed to. These spasms are what cause acid reflux – when stomach contents are able to splash back up.

Studies have shown that magnesium can help calm those unwanted LES muscle spasms. The way it works is that magnesium blocks calcium channels in the muscle cells. Calcium is partially what triggers muscle contractions, so magnesium helps keep things nice and relaxed.

A good quality magnesium supplement can do wonders for regular acid reflux sufferers. Taken regularly, this could help stop or reduce attacks all together.

zinc for gerd

There’s a soft lining of our throat and esophagus (food pipe) that acts as a protective barrier against acid. Zinc supports the “immunity” of this mucosal barrier in a few key ways.

• It helps over 300 enzymes do their job to keep this barrier strong.
• Zinc also aids in repairing any damage by supporting new cell growth.
• The esophagus relies on zinc daily to protect against stomach acid wear and tear.

When tissues get damaged, zinc works to lower inflammation in the injured areas. It helps regulate inflammation-causing substances released by the body. Zinc especially reduces a substance tied to irritation and scarring called PGE-2. Less PGE-2 means less acid-related inflammation and better healing of the esophagus over the long run.

Lifestyle Tweaks For Lasting Relief

Aside from the vitamins for acid reflux, there are some lifestyle changes that can certainly help:

Manage stress: Stress weakens the valve between the stomach and throat causing more acid reflux. Get stress under control and have fewer GERD attacks

Avoid triggers: Sure that kebab looks tempting, but if you know you’ll be in discomfort hours later, is it really worth it? Avoiding the things that trigger acid reflux episodes sounds obvious, but you’ll be amazed at how many people don’t do this one simple thing.

Stay hydrated: When dehydrated, the body prioritizes retaining water in the bloodstream over saliva production. Saliva helps neutralize acid in the esophagus. Less saliva means acid has more impact.

With proper dietary and supplement strategies that support stomach acid production and eliminate underlying triggers, you can significantly improve digestive health without dangerous long-term drug use. Address the root cause for freedom from painful acid reflux symptoms.

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