Tums look like candy, come in different fun flavors, help stop acid reflux and give you a dose of calcium, what could be wrong? If you only use them occasionally, there's probably nothing to worry about. But if you use them daily, you need to know that there are serious health risks. As discussed in my last blog post, long-term reduction of stomach acid can affect nutrient absorption and put you at risk of infection and a host of other health issues.
The active ingredient in Tums is calcium carbonate which neutralizes the stomach acid. However, this form of calcium is cheap and not easily absorbable by the body. Calcium also needs proper amounts of Vitamin D and Magnesium to be used by the body. Too much calcium carbonate can also interfere with the absorption of other minerals, such as iron and zinc, cause kidney stones, and even begin to calcify tissue in the body. Antacids such as Pepcid AC are used frequently for mild cases of heartburn and sometimes as a preventative. However, this can make the underlying problem worse. This class of antacid, H2 blockers, are not approved for continuous use for more than 14 days. Long-term continuous use of acid blockers is particularly dangerous for senior citizens, who are at an increased risk of bone loss and hip fractures due to the depletion of stomach acid and the inability of the body to absorb nutrients and minerals. Try some of these natural alternatives to antacids for the discomfort of acid reflux:
Please refer to my prior blog post here on ways to increase stomach acid naturally. In good health... Please contact me for more information specific to your symptoms or condition. Nutrition, wellness, and general health information is intended for educational purposes to assist clients in their personal lifestyle management and is not a substitute for professional medical care or diagnosis.
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I believe that most modern health conditions are caused by an imbalance in the digestive system. The digestive system (or gut) is where the majority of the body’s immune system resides.
Antacids are one of the most popular drugs in the United States. Doctors write over 100 million prescriptions for proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) each year to treat Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or acid reflux. Americans spend over $5 billion on Nexium, the most popular PPI, alone. PPIs reduce the production of acid in the stomach by blocking the enzyme in the wall of the stomach that produces hydrochloric acid. High stomach acid can be diagnosed by an endoscopy, but it is fairly rare. If you suffer from GERD, most likely you have too little stomach acid. That’s right, most people with GERD are suffering from too little stomach acid, not too much. This condition is called hypochlorhydria and it affects up to half of all Americans. Production of stomach acid decreases as we age, and is also affected by a poor diet of processed foods. Acid reflux or GERD is caused by stomach acid leaking up into your esophagus due to dysfunction of the valve that separates the lower end of the esophagus and the stomach, known as the lower esophageal valve (LES). The LES opens to allow food and liquids to pass easily into the stomach. Except for belching, this is the only time the LES should open. If the LES is functioning correctly, it doesn’t matter how much acid is in our stomachs - the LES keeps it out of the esophagus. Too little stomach acid causes a malfunction of the LES, allowing it to open improperly and stomach contents to reflux into the esophagus. The effects of low stomach acid are serious:
There is a simple, at home test you can perform to see if you may suffer from low stomach acid: Mix one quarter teaspoon of baking soda in 6 to 8 ounces of water and drink first thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything. Time how long it takes to belch. If you have not belched within five minutes, stop timing, your stomach acid is probably insufficient. If your stomach is producing adequate amounts of hydrochloric acid you should belch within 2 to 3 minutes. Early and repeated belching may be due to excessive stomach acid. There are ways to increase stomach acid naturally:
There are also natural alternatives when acid reflux does strike:
If you are currently taking a PPI, don’t quit cold-turkey. It’s important to reduce dependency gradually and that’s best accomplished under the supervision of a health professional. Look for my next blog post of over-the-counter acid reflux medications. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule a consult, please contact me: http://mccannnutrition.com/contact.html Additional reading: http://chriskresser.com/fda-sounds-alarm-on-dangers-of-antacid-drugs https://draxe.com/low-stomach-acid/ https://chriskresser.com/the-hidden-causes-of-heartburn-and-gerd/ http://www.natap.org/2009/HIV/070409_02.htm |
AuthorCathy McCann is a functional nutritionist, coach, writer, speaker and meditation teacher, who is passionate about health and guiding people through the journey of healing. Archives
October 2020
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