You may recall amino acids from elementary science as “the building blocks of life.” In fact, they make up 75% of the body and are required for every chemical reaction and every bodily function. So where do they come from? Ten amino acids come from our bodies naturally (alanine, asparagines, aspartic acid, cysteine glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, praline, serine and tyrosine).

The other ten are derived from properly digested food (arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine). Unfortunately, these acids are not like our cell phone plans – they don’t roll over. We need to constantly replenish our essential amino acids supply.

When our digestion system is out of whack, we suffer in both big and small ways. Acid reflux, heartburn and indigestion can be a small – yet terribly uncomfortable – side effects of improper digestion. While it’s widely believed that acid reflux comes from overproduction of HCL acid, recent research suggests that indigestion can be caused by the contrary – underproduction!

In the case of underproduction of acid, also known as achlorhydria, undigested protein sits in our stomach, essentially rotting. Bloating, burping and discomfort ensues – sometimes forcing acid or food back up the esophagus. Disgusting, isn’t it?

If you have bad breath, burp excessively after eating, feel heavy after eating, experience nausea, diarrhea or constipation, then these may be telltale signs that food isn’t being broken down properly into the amino acids you need to feel your best.

What are some of the causes of improper digestion, abnormal levels of stomach acid and poor absorption of amino acids? As we age, stomach acid production declines. Stress, sleep deprivation, eating too fast and over-eating also contribute to acid secretion. Essentially, we’re not getting the chemical triggers we need to keep our machine well-oiled.

Drug companies like Prilosec – the top selling prescription last year — appeal to us by promising to stop acid production, even though it’s a much-needed natural process. While these drugs provide immediate, temporary relief, they still don’t attack the underlying issue – that your body simply isn’t digesting foods properly, and, as a result, can’t derive the amino acids from the food that you’ve eaten.

Body builders, senior citizens and indigestion sufferers alike add amino acids supplements to their diets. While it’s almost instinctual to take the fast track to immediate heartburn symptoms relief, many researchers warn against it.

To address the underlying problem, which is inadequate amino acids and improper digestive functioning, reflux treatment should include a healthy diet that triggers one’s natural body processes. If achieving that is difficult, then a boost of these supplements might do the trick.

I’m sure that most of you would agree that in today’s world, where we have to rush from one situation to the other, getting a properly balanced diet is somewhat impossible, and often beyond the scope of our capabilities. This can be due to many things, like insufficient time to cook a meal, insufficient restaurants around to even pop out and eat a good meal, or you’re tied down to your desk, or a multitude of other equally good reasons. If you think about it however, I’m also sure that you would agree that this is probably the leading cause for the poor digestion suffered by many people around the world today.

Bloating, constipation, and gas are a few of the more common symptoms of poor digestion. Abdominal cramping, chronic fatigue, premature aging, joint and muscle pain, arthritis, and nausea are a few more symptoms induced by poor digestion, from a list that can go on and on, and on.

If you suffer from poor digestion, you could be having one or all of these conditions and not even realize it. And from there it will just start to snowball, as you experience more discomfort, more pain, and finally succumb to a much worse condition than poor digestion.

It has been said, that poor digestion is akin to poor nutrition, where with poor digestion you might be getting the proper nutrients into your body, but your system isn’t able to absorb it. There are many contributing factors to a poor digestive system, but it has been found that processed foods can be one of the biggest factors.

And no wonder, really with the amount of ready to eat meals, and fast foods that are out there on the market, beckoning to us eagerly when we’re at most vulnerable, (read ‘irritable, tired, and hungry’ into that last sentence.)

So how do we stop poor digestion? Ideally it should be easy to stop poor digestion, and correct it so your digestive system is working again properly right? Unfortunately, this is not always true, and for some people an extensive course of medication may be required before they can fully cure their poor digestion problems.

The best course that you can take would be to consult your doctor on how to remedy your condition. Just remember that you will need to remedy it. Poor digestion takes a lot out of your body, and makes it weak, leaving it more prone to attacks from other sources.

Missing vital nutrients due to lack of proper digestion can harm your body more than you realize. So just pick up that phone, and talk to your doctor straight away. Self-diagnosis isn’t always right, and it’s always better to have a professional opinion to back you up. Listen to your body, it’s the greatest gift you could ever have, and it might just be trying to talk to you, don’t ignore it.

Heartburn and pregnancy go hand in hand because of the hormonal and physiological changes that a pregnant woman undergoes. When a woman is pregnant, her abdomen has more pressure, forcing the acids to go upwards to the esophagus and the throat.

Another reason is because of the increase of hormones in a woman’s body, resulting to the softening of the ligaments which keep the lower esophagus muscles closed. Softened ligaments will result to a relaxed LES, causing gastric juices to come through.

If you are pregnant and you want to avoid heartburn, there are many practical tips to follow. Here are some of them:

1. Avoid smoking. Nicotine is found to weaken the LES, so stop smoking. Moreover, it is not really good for your health and your baby’s.

2. Don’t wear tight clothes and belts. Tight apparels and tight objects around the waist will only add more pressure around the abdomen, pushing the stomach contents upwards.

3. Don’t lie down after eating. Wait for at least two hours before you lie down, to ensure that the stomach acids will stay where they should be.

4. Maintain a healthy weight. Too much weight will only increase more pressure on the stomach, making the acids go to the esophagus.

5. Avoid foods that cause the LES to relax. These include fatty food, tomato-based products, citrus fruits and juices, alcoholic drinks, high fat butter and cream, greasy food and caffeine.

6. You are advised to eat low fat food and more vegetables, since these are the ones that are not heartburn triggers.

If your heartburn persists, you should visit a doctor to help treat your condition.

For more heartburn tips, visit my blog. You should read the book that taught thousands get rid of their condition naturally. It’s in my byline so check it out.

Is Chronic Heartburn A Sign Of Other Problems?

For heartburn symptoms to be deemed chronic, it would have to occur more than three times a week for a period of two or three weeks. If you are suffering from continual heartburn it is important to check if there have been any alterations in diet, excessive consumption of alcohol,increased stress or the taking of strong medications on a regular basis.

For chronic heartburn to be confirmed a substantial change must have occured, if the person’s diet or other aspects of their lifestyle have not changed, it could be a sign of other medical problems. It is important to be aware of the circumstances as persons using self-treatment to combat chronic heartburn may be masking the symptoms of these more serious problems

Typically, heartburn is caused by the contents in the stomach being pushed back into the esophagus, causing the acid in the stomach to irritate its sensitive lining. There are many causes of this such as:

- gastrointestinal reflux disease,

- a hiatal hernia

- or a blockage in the stomach.

When a person suffers from chronic heartburn it is advisable to check with a doctor to rule out any of these major problems.

Usually, when a person suffers from heartburn, it is not uncommon if dietary habits are inconsistent or they eat or drink something that is high in acidic content the digestive system works overtime producing excessive acids. In these cases and over the counter medication will usually quell the burning sensation and it will disappear once the substance has been processed. However, If it continues for several days during a week or two, chronic heartburn may be diagnosed and will be treated with prescription medications.

Extinguishing The Fire In The Belly

For those suffering from chronic heartburn, they are also at risk for developing ulcers in the esophagus as well as in the stomach. Many times, it is the result of the stomach being fooled into thinking more acid is needed to help with the digestive process that exacerbates the situation. Many believe falsely that drinking milk can calm an acid stomach when in reality milk may actually trigger the stomach’s acid pumps to produce more due to the added content in the stomach.

Anybody suffering from chronic heartburn will need to change their lifestyle to help eliminate the problem. This usually requires a change of diet(ie staying away from rich fatty foods that require a lot of digestion and sticking to more fresh fruit and vegetables that are much easier to digest). If it is determined the heartburn is being caused by prescription medication, the doctor may alter the dosage of the medication or change to another type if one is available. The patient may also be prescribed anti-acid medication until the offending medication is better accepted by the person and the side effects disappear.

Acid indigestion, as it is often called, can be an extremely uncomfortable feeling. It can also offer similar symptoms of a heart attack and should never be ignored. When a person is suffering from chronic heartburn, getting help from a doctor or other medical professional is recommended to prevent additional damage to the esophagus or to learn if it is hiding another, potentially dangerous, condition.

As with most other bodily functions, it is important to act swiftly to determine what the problem is, what causes the problem and what needs to be done to cure the problem before it gets worse, but more importantly why suffer at all when with a little thought and preventative action this discomfort can be completely avoided and other complications associated with it will never arise..

Author’s Biography: Paul Courtney contributes articles to various publications pertaining to Alternative and Herbal Medicine, for more information please visit http://www.heartburncurer.com

For all you know, the history of heartburn might go back to the time of Adam and Eve. Ever since Adam had to look for his own food after being banished from the Garden of Eden, heartburn was to stay with mankind ever after. Eve was slightly better off, surviving on raw honey and plenty of apples throughout the remaining days of her life and in doing so, saving her delicate esophagus from GERD (Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease) or acid reflux attacks. However, men and women down the ages have not been spared for the faults of their first parents and heartburn has become a common ailment for mankind ever since. Taking cues from Eve however, we have tried using honey and apple cider vinegar to find relief from GERD induced heartburn.

Over the years however, people have experimented with various remedies for heartburn and have received mixed results. The following is a brief list of the more popular ones among them.

• Having a cup-full of yogurt with your meals is believed to provide relief from heartburn. The curd acts as an enzyme and aids in the quick digestion of the consumed food. Thereby, it minimizes the chances of an acid reflux attack.

• Basil leaves offer a natural cure for heartburn. Many believe that simply chewing Basil leaves during meals help in keeping heartburn at bay.

• Apple cider vinegar is a popular choice as an antidote for GERD induced heartburn. Remember, only the “cloudy” part of the vinegar is effective in this regard. To make it even more potent, one can consider supplementing it with a concoction comprising two teaspoonfuls of original raw honey mixed in a glass of water. Apple cider vinegar and raw honey have been found to be especially effective in chronic heartburn cases.

• A teaspoonful of baking soda and a drop of lime in a glass of water can also provide immediate relief from heartburn.

• Yet another natural remedy consists of adding a teaspoonful of yellow mustard in a glass of water. You can try this remedy as well.

• Dark brown sugar (you need to take no more than one tablespoon every morning) offers a great way to fight heartburn.

• Consider having a red apple after dinner. You will be surprised at how well it works in lessening the frequency of a post-meal heartburn.

• Fresh ginger or ginger tea also provides fast relief from heartburn.

• A glass of chilled milk is another great anti-heartburn remedy.

If you are suffering from heartburn, you need to find a cure quickly. And you are not alone – there are millions like you all over the world who are suffering and who too need a cure. So never neglect heartburn because the pain and the discomfort can be really bad, and will surely lead to sleepless nights. Why suffer when you can get your heartburn cured safely, quickly and effectively?

While the remedies above will bring varying degrees of relief from heartburn, one should also make a few simple yet highly beneficial changes to one’s lifestyle, as per the holistic mode of thinking, to get complete freedom from GERD. For example, having several smaller meals in a day rather than having one or two heavy ones, is a great way to bring down the frequency of such acid attacks. Spicy or fatty foods are best avoided as they tend to aggravate the condition and actually do more harm than good in the long run. Holistic remedies treat the body as a whole and other than prescribing what to eat and promoting a healthy way of living, these remedies also address the problem at its grass root level and bring about a complete, comprehensive cure.

Not many people understand the medical significance of GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) and the symptoms that go with it. Decline in general quality of life is the result for many GERD sufferers. For inhabitants of developed countries, the problem is considerable. No less than 1 in 5 of all inhabitants in western countries are victims every week of some of the common GERD symptoms.

From different approximations made, some 70% of diagnostics using the identification of usual symptoms are in fact precise. Because GERD can make patients suffer a great deal and also give serious complications, it is essential to be able to see the symptoms, diagnose them and quickly arrange treatment. Doctors and paraprofessionals alike think that a first diagnosis of GERD, often via a questionnaire on typical gastro esophageal reflux disease manifestations, is critical to effectively and quickly treat this condition.

Symptoms of GERD may include: nose and sinus problems, chest pain (can be mistaken for heart attack-related pain), dry coughing, wheezing chronically, asthma, nausea, fallout of tooth enamel, bad breath, and dysphagia (feeling of an irregularity in the back of the throat). Acid reflux may also attack the ears (otitis media) and the voice (ranging from laryngitis, hoarseness to cancer). Heartburn and regurgitation are among the commonest symptoms of GERD. It is the contents of the stomach and its acidic juices, being thrown back up in the esophagus, that makes for the distressing burning feeling associated to damage of the esophageal lining where gastro esophageal reflux disease is happening.

The essential thing for regaining health and well being, and avoiding complications is the ability to pinpoint those symptoms and interpret them in the light of gastro esophageal reflux disease.

Symptoms of acid reflux are often an outer danger sign of internal general imbalance. Neglecting gastro esophageal reflux disease can result in major physical distress and may also cause severe health problems like cancer of the esophagus and pneumonia. Luckily, victims can identify the greater part of GERD symptoms before seeing a doctor. If a symptom (or several of them) occur regularly, the recommendation is to consult a gastrointestinal specialist for a full diagnosis.

Although a gastrointestinal endoscopist can provide a good preliminary diagnosis, conventional medicine as a cure for gastro esophageal reflux has two major drawbacks:

1. Life long dependency on drugs can result because a daily dose is required to keep the symptoms down but no action is taken on fixing the real causes.

2. Medicaments available as prescriptions and over the counters only act on the external disease symptoms, but acid reflux goes far deeper than this, being the result of a range of different inner and outer aspects.

3. Some drugs such as PPIs and antacids can contribute numerous undesirable side effects.

The holistic program that targets the factors that are both internal and external and that trigger acid reflux, also addresses the basic problem that causes this condition. It is a much more effective answer and it works for the long term. Whatever your degree of GERD is, tackling this condition by using a holistic approach will make sure that the fundamental causes of your acid reflux problem are dealt with in safety and with permanence, to bring significant improvement to your well being.

There are many foods that cause heartburn.  If you suffer from this condition, especially on a regular basis, you will need to know which foods will give you this burning feeling in your chest and throat.  Now, you should also realize that not all foods will cause problems for everyone.  Some people may react differently to different foods.  In this article, I will be sharing with you a list of many foods that can cause you acid reflux.

You should be aware of not only what types of foods you eat, but also when and how much of these foods you eat.  The best way for you to track this, is to keep a journal or diary of everything you eat and make notes.  You should also make a record of which kinds of foods caused you to experience burning pain.  Know what your favorite types of foods are and what you enjoy eating the most, and track them to see if these might be the cause of your problem.

Foods that cause heartburn:

1) Chocolate.  Eating chocolate will give you burning pain and discomfort. Chocolate will inhibit the ability of the lower esophageal sphincter to prevent any stomach acid from backing up into your esophagus or throat.

2) Peppermint.  The oil in peppermint could cause or increase burning pain and even digestive upset.  So, only use it with caution.

3) Fried and fatty foods.  Eating these spicy and hot foods can cause pain, because of the acidity levels in them.  So, if you enjoy eating Indian, Mexican and Italian food, you might have to deal with discomfort in your chest and esophagus.

4) Tomato products.  The problem with tomato products is that they are high in acidity content.  These will increase your acid levels inside your body.

5) Eating and drinking foods with caffeine or are highly carbonated can be causes for heartburn.  So, drinks such as coffee, tea, pop and other similar drinks are not really good.  Also, drinking alcohol is equally as bad. You might also want to be careful with drinking drinks made from citrus fruits and other high acidity juices.

6) You also want to guard against foods such as onions, garlic, mustard, vinegar, and a variety of other spices which could be hot and acidity.  Eating such foods could be a cause for esophageal pain.

In this article, I shared with you a list of foods that cause heartburn.  Limiting or controlling your intake of these foods will relieve you of burning pain and discomfort.

Heartburn is the most common acid reflux disease symptom plaguing more than 60 million Americans today and countless more around the world. However, although commonly associated with acid reflux, manifestations of heartburn every now and then do not always result in a GERD diagnosis. At times, it could just be caused by bad habits, which if corrected can relieve its manifestations. On the other hand, it could also be the result of a physical cause, which requires greater medical attention, especially if it’s an acid reflux disease symptom.

When is Heartburn an Acid Reflux Disease Symptom?

Since people can suffer from heartburn without having GERD, it is necessary for patients to assess the severity of heartburn and determine if it is really an acid reflux disease symptom or a manifestation of some other condition. In this respect, there are three things heartburn patients can consider to determine the severity of their condition. These are the length of time at which each heartburn episode lasts, its frequency, and the intensity of the sensations experienced with each episode.

Length of Time. Heartburn incidents can last between a few minutes in mild cases to several hours in severe cases. For most people experiencing mild heartburns, the incident is often caused by a simple case of overeating or too much consumption of spicy food; such that the condition usually disappears after taking a few antacids and giving the stomach time to digest. In these cases, heartburn is rarely considered an acid reflux disease symptom. However, if the heartburn incident persists even after taking medication, the patient can be suffering from acid reflux disease and should consult a physician immediately.

Frequency. Heartburn is a condition experienced by a majority of populations in most Western countries. For 44% of the population, experiencing heartburn episodes once a month is still considered mild and should not be cause for alarm. For those who experience it about once a week, caution in their daily eating habits is necessary since they are suffering from moderate heartburn. The problem however lies within 20% of the population who suffer from heartburn at least twice a week. Under these circumstances the heartburn episodes are already considered chronic, indicating a manifestation of acid reflux disease symptom.

Intensity. Among the heartburn episodes considered to be an acid reflux disease symptom, the patients suffering from the condition usually experience worse conditions that are accompanied by weight loss, blood loss, and food sticking to the throat. If the person suffering from heartburn also tastes a sour acid at the back of the throat, the possibility of heartburn being an acid reflux disease symptom becomes more probable.

Acid Reflux Disease Symptom: Managing Heartburn

If you’re suffering from heartburn, here are simple tips to help you control this acid reflux disease symptom:

1. Watch your diet. Keep track of what you eat and avoid the foods that trigger your heartburn.

2. Avoid large meals. Eat smaller more frequent meals to improve digestion and decrease acid secretion.

3. Quit bad habits. Excessive smoking and excessive drinking only exacerbates heartburn and should be avoided as much as possible.

4. Take a breather. Find ways to relieve yourself of stress because it can upset your stomach and trigger heartburn.

5. Lose weight. Being overweight can puts strain in your abdominal muscles and makes it more difficult to digest food.

6. Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes. Clothes that are tight on your waist can squeeze your stomach and force food up you esophagus.

Heartburn and reflux are common to most people but what about GERD? Are you familiar with GERD and if you are, do you understand what it’s symptoms are?

GERD is short for Gastroesophageal Reflux disease and is a term introduced during the past 20 years which will explain why many people aren’t familiar with it. If you experience reflux on a regular basis, at least two or more times a week and your quality of life is being affected then it’s a strong possibility you may have it.

How Serious Is GERD?

If not treated properly, it can impact not only your quality of life but can cause damage to your esophagus. If left untreated it can lead to other possible health complications. That’s why the message to chronic sufferers of reflux is usually strong about seeking medical advice if it’s a factor several times a week.

The cause of GERD occurs when food is deposited into the stomach under normal circumstances but is usually prevented from moving into the esophagus by a special valve-like muscle. This, under normal circumstances is a one-way street; food will make it’s way into the stomach and usually that’s where it stays until digested. On occasions, there is a malfunction; the muscle valve is retarded and acid rises up into the esophagus causing pain and irritation. The result is GERD.

Did You Know?

Heartburn is a symptom of GERD. People often get heartburn and reflux confused but the former is better known as a symptom. However, frequent heartburn attacks such as twice or more a week which diminishes a person’s quality of life suggests the presence of GERD.

The Symptoms

Apart from heartburn, which is the main symptom of GERD, other symptoms to take notice of include pain in the chest, sore throat leading to a difficulty in swallowing and an ugly type of after taste. Heartburn is the main symptom however and should be watched closely if it’s present on a regular basis.

Treatment

When GERD is established as the problem by a medical professional the treatment process usually needs to be maintained over an extended period of time. While the symptoms themselves may be controlled, a person will need regular support to make sure they stay under control.

Whether treatment includes medication or a change of lifestyle, maintaining proper screening will be encouraged by your doctor. It’s vitally important though, self diagnosis and self treatment be avoided as Gerd is a chronic condition.

If you suspect GERD in your life then set up an appointment with your doctor. The chances are strong it could be a factor particularly if you suffer several bouts of heartburn every week.

Your doctor will cover every aspect of your condition and will generally be keen to know whether you are taking any type of medication. Remember, delaying medical opinion may eventually lead to more serious medical problems.

Drugs and medications for acid reflux are readily available. They are to be seen in adverts, some medications for heartburn are sold over the counter, and most doctors are happy to prescribe them on a promise of immediate termination of the crippling pain of acid reflux. After all that, you are surely asking yourself of medications for acid reflux are in any way effective when it is a matter of fixing the real cause of your condition of acid reflux and if the temporary respite justifies the side effects.

Heartburn, also known as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), comes about when the valve in the esophagus (the LES or lower esophageal sphincter) becomes weak and instead of acting one-way, lets stomach content flow back into the esophagus. Usually, after glutition, the LES opens to let food into the stomach before closing to prevent acid from returning into the esophagus. The backward flow of acid coming from this acid reflux is often noticed as a burning sensation that is called heartburn. Therefore, acid reflux patients often experience a particular burning feeling under the breastbone, often coming at night.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a menacing condition necessitating immediate diagnosis and treatment. If unattended, GERD can badly corrode the lining of the esophagus causing continual inflammation and possibly even esophageal cancer. Persistent GERD with its concomitant symptoms of heartburn can be distracting and painful enough to ruin your daily activities and seriously impinge on the esophagus.

Acid reflux medicaments are not imperatively the remedy of choice, even if they appear to be the most readily accessible treatment for heartburn. There are four principal classes of medicaments for use with GERD:

1. Antacids take effect by neutralizing acid in the esophagus and do this for up to a few hours. They can be bought in different formats such as liquid, chewing gum or tablets and so on.

2. Alginates encapsulate stomach contents and reduce reflux.

3. H2-receptor antagonists imitate the production of stomach acid in order to put a block on your gastric system. They take 30 to 60 minutes to start working and can then produce this effect for up to 12 hours.

4. PPI (Proton pump inhibitors) inhibit the release of acid in the stomach by acting on the stomach cells.

These medicaments all have a common element, even if they vary in the way in which they work, as well as for their duration and effect:

1. They are of temporary effect. Acid reflux is complicated, being created by a group of factors of the environment, lifestyle and diet. However, most acid reflux medicaments focus on treating the immediate short-term causes of acid reflux, so they only bring temporary relief and sidestep the real causes of heartburn.

2. Using these drugs for a long duration can produce multiple side effects. Prolonged usage of antacids can worsen the damage from long duration acid reflux: gastric acid is necessary for good digestion and immunity and continually ingesting antacid interferes with these processes. PPI therapy usually does more good than harm for side effects. Its most frequent side effects including serious headaches and diarrhea, PPI have also been associated with osteoporosis.

Most medications for acid reflux will do no more than bring temporary respite but with many side effects. This is because conventional medication therapy for heartburn is based on the approach that, in comparison to the holistic approach, does not care for the body, but seeks only to remove the disease’s symptoms. Alternative treatments for acid reflux such as homeopathic solutions, changes in lifestyle and diet, herbal remedies, and detoxification, will sort out the cause inside of acid reflux to safely and effectively prevent it from returning.