Call me paranoid, but Big Pharma’s heartburn business sure seems an awful lot like a plot to keep you hooked on their drugs forever.
Sure, popular PPI drugs that are given for acid reflux and heartburn work. At least at first.
They mask your symptoms by cutting acid. And within days of starting on one, the uncomfortable burning fades away for most folks.
But, unfortunately, that’s NOT the end of the story. Because PPI’s can actually make acid reflux WORSE over the long run. Which is something countless folks have learned when they try to quit the drugs.
You see, when you stop a PPI, it can trigger a frightening “rebound effect.” The acid reflux comes back with a vengeance, and for many people the problem is even worse than before.
And that could make it IMPOSSIBLE to get off the meds.
See what I mean about the plot? But wait, it gets worse. Now new research has exposed something even more terrifying.
It turns out PPIs could be causing silent damage to your gut. You won’t have a clue while it’s happening, of course. But it could set the stage for a deadly superinfection months or even years later.
The PPI link to superinfections
Light the fuse, and drop it in. That’s what taking a proton pump inhibitor for acid reflux is like. A bomb that blows out your stomach acid.
But there’s a problem with this approach. You actually NEED that stomach acid. It helps break down food. Plus, it serves as the first line of defense against viruses and bacteria.
Most germs will die within just 15 minutes of exposure to your gastric juices, especially hydrochloric acid. But when a PPI suppresses the acid, bacteria have a better chance of making it through.
Once they do, they may not hurt you right away. But those bugs can start to colonize, slowly growing in your gut, and waiting for an opportunity to strike. And that’s how you can end up getting the worst infection of your life.
And it’s also likely why a new analysis of a dozen studies finds that PPI users have a shocking level of drug-resistant germs just lounging around in their guts. Plus, they were 74 percent more likely to be harboring bacteria that are resistant to MULTIPLE drugs.
Some people say this doesn’t PROVE the drugs are to blame. But I sure wouldn’t stick around to find out.
If you’re on the meds now, it’s time to find a way off.
Ditch the acid reflux AND the drugs
The big challenge of ditching a PPI, of course, is that acid reflux rebound effect I mentioned earlier.
When it comes roaring back, most people think, “Wow, look at what these drugs were saving me from!” And they quickly restart the meds.
In reality, of course, the drugs are actually responsible for that rebound. So work with your doctor to carefully wean yourself off your PPI and onto better, safer, drug-free options for acid reflux.
Ask your doc about trying a deglycyrrhizinated (DGL) licorice root supplement to help ease the transition. It can help soothe and protect your gut from the rebounding acid.
In many cases, heartburn is triggered by specific foods in the diet. Anything from spicy foods to chocolate could be a trigger for you. So it may be time to make some changes to your menu and consider testing for allergies and sensitivities.
In other cases, you may be able to rebalance your gut to make it more efficient and less likely to bubble over. A combination of probiotic supplements and digestive enzymes can go a long way toward easing acid reflux symptoms.
Work with a naturopathic doc to find the approach that’s best for you.
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