Download ACID REFLUX – GASTRITIS Acid reflux or gastritis is extremely

ACID REFLUX – GASTRITIS
Acid reflux or gastritis is extremely common in today’s population. Conventional treatment
for these conditions tends to mask symptoms instead of correcting the problem.
So what is the cause, behind the problem?
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Excessive tissue acidity caused by an over-acidic diet. In the process of normal
metabolism, the body produces a variety of acids; for example, carbonic acid during
respiration, lactic acid in the muscles when exercising and several others in the process
of digestion, metabolism and detoxification, (fatty acids, oxalic acid, uric acid,, pyruvic
acid, etc.). This creates an acidic load that must be neutralized somehow before it
reaches the elimination system, to avoid burning tissues, the large intestine and urinary
tract and other elimination systems like the lungs, sinuses, or skin. In order to do this,
the body uses sodium bicarbonate which is produced mainly by the pancreas.
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Sodium bicarbonate is composed of carbon and ionic sodium. Carbon is abundant in
organic chemistry, but ionic sodium is obtained almost exclusively from vegetables and in
smaller proportion from certain fruits. Non-Ionic sodium, as in salt (especially refined
table salt), has a very strong ionic bond and therefore has a very poor absorption rate
and is therefore not a good source of sodium for acid neutralization purposes. If the
body lacks an abundant supply of ionic sodium, it starts by robbing sodium from the bile,
setting up the perfect environment for gallstones, and from the stomach lining,
increasing the probability of ulcers. If the acidity levels are excessive, the only plausible
solution is to start robbing other alkaline minerals from the body’s reserves, in particular
from the bone mass. It is no surprise that osteoporosis, along with arthritic conditions
are so rampant today with our highly acidic lifestyles. The most acidic foods are sodas,
sugar (including alcohol), coffee, pasteurized dairy, meats and grains.
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Again, to insure an adequate supply of organic sodium, a 50% to 75% vegetarian diet by
weight is ideal.
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So, back to the stomach. When body tissues are acidic, meaning deficient in alkalizing
minerals, they are said to have a low pH.
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The scale for measuring acid/alkaline composition is the pH scale, which goes from 0 –
super acidic or no minerals to 14-super alkaline, with 7 being the neutral or balance
point.
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But the letters pH come from the term “potential of Hydrogen”, meaning the capacity of
tissues to release Hydrogen so it can be used in other metabolic processes.
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When we are acidic, our pH is low, meaning our Hydrogen donor ability is impaired.
Since stomach acid, which is essential for digesting proteins, is H+CL, Hydrogen plus
Chloride, we end up deficient in essential stomach acid.
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With impaired stomach acid production, digestion of protein such as meat, eggs, dairy,
etc., slows down to a crawl, so instead of digesting in 2-3 hours, the food remains in the
stomach for up to eight hours or more.
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Since we don’t eat protein by itself, but rather usually accompanied by carbohydrates
such as bread, pasta, potatoes or sugary stuff, here is where the problem continues.
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Any carbohydrate that we eat begins it’s digestion in the mouth while chewing and starts
to break down by the time it hits the stomach. If it spends too much time decomposing
in an enclosed warm space such as the stomach, the sugars begin to ferment.
Fermentation produces gas and fermentation acids and it is these acids that we begin to
belch up, causing from mild to severe distress.
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So, what is the solution?
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Temporarily, the solution is to acidify the stomach during meals to make up for the low
stomach acid, using a supplement such as one capsule of Betaine HCL from the health
food store. You can buy them here:
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/NWF286/ItemDetail
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Or for severe cases, using a complete digestive enzyme might work even better, such as
NOW brand Super Enzyme Caps: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/NWF098/ItemDetail
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But the permanent solution is of course to remove the cause and alkalize the body with a
diet high in vegetables (excluding corn, potatoes and beans which are not really
vegetables anyway).
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ALSO VERY IMPORTANT: Excessive stress and unresolved emotional upheaval will also
cause a highly acidic state by forcing minerals to be lost through the urine. Stress can be
just as or more acidifying than a poor diet
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For additional information, contact me directly at [email protected] or 816-582-7399