Acid reflux, clinically known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a common condition affecting up to 20% of the US population. Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach. Medical doctors typically treat acid reflux symptoms with prescription and over-the-counter drugs, without fully understanding the link between a balanced gut and overall health.
Learn what causes acid reflux, how the gut microbiome plays a role, and how to restore your gut health to eliminate acid reflux for good.
What Causes Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux is primarily a lifestyle-induced condition, but it is exacerbated by pharmaceutical interventions like antibiotics, NSAIDS, and heart and blood pressure medications.
Factors that contribute to acid reflux include:
- Fried and ultra processed foods
- Seed oils like canola and safflower that contribute to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Consuming overly large meals and eating late at night
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Stress and anxiety
- Food allergies such as lactose intolerance
- Pregnancy
- Hiatal hernia (rare)
- Certain prescription medications, such as calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, narcotics, and sedatives
- Over-the-counter pain medications (NSAIDs)
Symptoms of acid reflux include:
- Burning sensation behind the breastbone
- Regurgitation of stomach contents into the throat or mouth
- Regurgitation of stomach contents into the throat or mouth
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Nausea
- Frequent
- Hoarseness in the throat
- Coughing unrelated to infection
- Unexplained weight loss
The Gut-Brain Axis
Not only does gut dysbiosis affect your digestive tract, it also affects your cognitive health. The gut-brain axis is a network of neurons and chemicals that enable communication between the gut and brain. Gut bacteria are responsible for producing chemicals and neurotransmitters that send messages to the brain via the vagus nerve. They also help form the blood-brain barrier, a protective barrier that prevents harmful substances from entering the brain.
Changes in the gut microbiome can cause serious health problems that are often misunderstood by medical doctors:
- Gut dysbiosis can contribute to mood disorders like anxiety and depression.
- An imbalanced gut microbiome can cause ongoing digestive issues like constipation, diarrhea, nausea, gas and bloating.
- An unhealthy gut can lead to skin disorders like acne, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
- Gut dysbiosis can disrupt the immune system and cause systemic inflammation.
- An unhealthy gut can contribute to obesity and metabolic syndrome.
In many cases, patients with gut dysbiosis develop related disorders that are treated simultaneously with multiple drugs, creating a chemical soup that does more harm than good. Balancing the gut microbiome as a first line of defense can help patients to avoid myriad health issues that affect their quality of life.
Treatment Options for Acid Reflux and Gut Dysbiosis
There is a wide range of medications prescribed to treat acid reflux, aimed at managing symptoms and reducing their severity. However, drugs do not eliminate the underlying cause of acid reflux, and they all have adverse side effects that can lead to additional health problems. In fact, drugs used to treat acid reflux can further degrade your gut ecosystem, sending your health into a downward spiral.
Medications commonly used to treat acid reflux include;
- Over-the-counter antacids such as Mylanta, Rolaids, and Tums. Antacids have an alkaline base that neutralizes stomach acid. They also inhibit the enzyme pepsin that helps to break down food for digestion. While they can provide temporary relief of symptoms, antacids alter the gut microbiome ecosystem, causing problems like constipation, diarrhea, gas, and nutrient imbalances.
- Histamine (H-2) blockers like Tagamet and Pepcid AC that reduce the amount of acid produced in the stomach. Negative side effects include central nervous system disorders, abdominal pain, skin reactions, pancreatitis and kidney infection.
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium that block the production of stomach acid. PPIs have been linked to kidney disease, bone demineralization, nutrient deficiencies, infections and dementia.
Lifestyle Factors and Gut Health
Basic lifestyle changes can help to combat and reverse acid reflux without dangerous drug side effects that harm your health. Not only will your heartburn symptoms go away, but you will quickly notice an improvement in your overall health and energy levels.
Lifestyle changes you can make right away for a healthier gut microbiome include:
- Eating plenty of fresh organic fruits and vegetables
- Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water
- Eating fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut and kimchi
- Steering clear of fried and ultra processed foods
- Minimizing sugar consumption
- Adopting healthy sleep habits
- Taking prebiotic and probiotic supplements
How GutZen IV Therapy Can Help Reverse Acid Reflux
GutZen is a proprietary blend of nutrients combined with a mild dose of Pepcid, designed to soothe digestive discomfort while promoting bacterial balance in the gut microbiome. Its probiotic complex includes inulin, curcuma longa, vitamins B6, B9, B12, zinc, and magnesium, designed to balance the intestinal microbiome and relieve irritable bowel symptoms.
Because GutZen is a nutritional supplement and not a medication, you don’t need a medical prescription to leverage its gut-restoring properties. GutZen is delivered via IV infusion to optimize its potency and effectiveness. When combined with healthy lifestyle changes, GutZen can help you quickly reverse your gut dysbiosis and eliminate the symptoms of acid reflux for good.
Fix Your Gut Health with GutZen in NYC
Modern medicine takes a reductionist approach to disease, isolating and treating body parts without considering the organism as a whole. Scientists now know that your gut microbiota play a key role in multiple aspects of physical and mental health, and that balancing your gut bacteria is foundational to achieving overall health and wellbeing.
GutZen is just one of many therapies we provide at Invita Wellness, aimed at enhancing health, vitality and overall quality of life. If you suffer from acid reflux, chances are you have other related health issues. It’s not too late to turn things around – contact Invita Wellness today, and begin your journey toward better gut health with GutZen IV therapy.
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Resources
Axis, Gut-brain. “Gut-brain Axis.” Sign 1300.722 (2008): 640.
Yang, Fan, et al. “Analysis of psychological and gut microbiome characteristics in patients with non-erosive reflux disease.” Frontiers in Psychiatry 12 (2022): 741049.
