Many people suffering from heartburn and/or acid reflux are unaware that this can lead to serious consequences if unchecked.
And I’m not talking about the occasional heartburn or pregnancy induced heartburn (which are both avoidable by the way!).
I’m talking about chronic acid reflux that is being treated with OTCs or prescription medications. These meds have their own risky side effects. Read more about that here: https://www.facebook.com/1642097416054811/posts/1946521692279047/
Acid reflux is one of the most common disorders of the digestive tract. And in my professional experience, one of the easiest to treat through dietary changes.
Chronic inflammation caused by acid reflux can lead to Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous condition that involves changes in the esophageal lining. (1)
In the past 30 years, esophageal Cancer has increased sixfold! (2) This increase in incidence is greater than that of breast cancer or prostate cancer, and may be mostly because acid reflux is on the rise. (3)
Due to the fact that 28% of people in the US suffer from heartburn and/or acid regurgitation, compared to just 5% of the population in Asia, suggests that dietary factors may play a key role. (4)
So what foods are associated with increasing risk of Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal Cancer? The most consistent association based on research points to meat and high-fat meals. (5)
Why meat and fatty foods?
Within five minutes of eating fat, your sphincter muscle at the top of your stomach relaxes, allowing acids to creep back up into the esophagus (6)
A study where volunteers consumed a high-fat meal (McDonald’s sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich) experiences more acid squirting up into their esophagus than those eating a lower-fat meal (McDonald’s hot cakes) (7)
If I had my way, no one would consume McDonald’s food EVER but that is a different topic for a different day.
Also, when you compare meat eaters to vegetarians, the odds of reflux-induced esophageal inflammation is two times higher in those that eat meat. (8)
If you want to finally get your heartburn, GERD, acid reflux, etc under control, Nutrition Response Testing can help! We will pinpoint the offending foods and help to introduce a healthier diet that will help heal and prevent these disorders.
Questions? Just ask!
Want to work with me 1:1 to create the perfect diet for you and/or your family? Contact me today at dana@thrivekin.com.
Sources:
1. Lagergren J, Bergstrom R, Lindgren A, Nyren O. Symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux as a risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma. N Engl J Med. 1999;340(11):825-31
2. Pohl H, Welch HG. The role of overdiagnosis and reclassification in the marked increase of esophageal adenocarcinoma incidence. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2005;97(2):142-6.
3. Parasa S, Sharma P. Complications of Castro-oesophageal reflux disease. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2013;27(3):433-42
4. Navarro Silvera SA, Mayne ST, Risch H, et al. Food group intake and risk of subtypes of esophageal and gastric cancer. Int J Cancer. 2008;123(4):852-60
5. De Ceglie A, Fisher DA, Filiberti R, Blanchi S, Conio M. Barrett’s esopha, Esophageal and esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma: the role of diet. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol. 2011;35(1):7-16.
6. Nebel OT, Castell DO. Lower esophageal sphincter pressure changes after food ingestion. Gastroenterology. 1972;63(5):778-83.
7. Becker DJ, Sinclair J, Castell DO, Wu WC. A comparison of high and low fat meals on post-prandial esophageal acid exposure. Am J Gastroenterol. 1989;84(7):782-6
8. Jung JG, Kang HW, Hahn SJ, et al. Vegetarianism as a protective factor for reflux esophagitis: a retrospective, cross-sectional study between Buddhist priests and general population. Dig Dis Sci. 2013;58(8):2244-52.
9. Article referenced from How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger.