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EventsLow carb can cure reflux disease
Heartburn – caused by reflux disease – is super common, millions of people suffer from it. Many people take medication for it every single day to reduce the symptoms. What if many of these people could cure the disease with a dietary change?
An earlier small study tested a LCHF diet on a few people with this problem, and they got significantly better. Even the pH in their esophagus improved, so it was not just placebo.
Now another, slightly larger, study has tested this idea again. Not only does it find that carbohydrates, sugar and the glycemic load of the diet was associated with reflux disease. They also test what happens when the participants go on a lower carb diet. The result?
Big improvements
Has a low-carb diet improved your reflux symptoms? Please let me know in the comments below.
106 comments
I was on reflux medication twice a day for years, since going on a low carb diet in the last 5 weeks, I have only had to use my medication twice. My pain is gone.
?
I am on a paleo diet alternating with a normal diet (I have a weak will, so there is an occasional break of the paleo diet - mostly so
For a week after the month of adherence) for last 4 months. In April I was diagnosed with reflux esophagus. Immediately after the visit I started to practice paleo. Within a few days, all problems with reflux have disappeared. I did not even start a drug treat. After a month I left for a holiday, unfortunately I started to eat again unhealthy - the reflux was back. Upon return, I started to eat low-carbohydrates again - the reflux again disappeared. Until yesterday, I had been eating regular food, including pastries and sweets, for about ten days - I started to have trouble again. Today I began eat low carb again, so far I'm fine, we'll see how it develops. But I suppose the symptoms will disappear as last.
It seems I need to ADAPT - means no bacon, sausage and coconut oil for me just yet... when I switched to soft boiled eggs i felt better, when I stopped lathering coconut oil on top of almond muffins, I felt better, and definitely no food after 7.30 pm...when not eating for long periods E.G. involuntary fasting (due to surroundings and work crisis) I needed to double dose the wretched PPPI (first p stands for purple!) and probably a swig of maalox before bed and then I feel much better...elevated supine sleep takes care of the inflamed adenoids and deviated septum/sinus problems ... now the hard part, bringing it all together:)
I wish Diet Dr. would add a section on us in the Adaptation section...
Shoud I be more successful and without heartburn?
Upon switching to low carb 5-6 years ago, I have never needed another Tum, nor purchased anything for acid reflux since. It is simply gone. I believe my dental health is much better because of this too.
I used to have to get up and take an antacid and if that did not work I would sometimes spend the whole night propped up on pillows so the re-gurge was manageable.
Now on LCHF I have had no recurrence. The only time I had it was when I went out to a party and ate from the help yourself buffet. Boy - did I pay for that.
The things that set me off (trigger foods) are white flour and sugar - in any form you care to think of. As long as I stay clear of them I seem to be OK.
LCHF and intermittent fasting has changed my life. Diabetes type two is a lifestyle disease - the only way to cure it is to change the lifestyle. I am living proof that it works.
One thing I will mention is, more than a year ago I had an episode over a week where, when I ate solid food, I would get reflux and pain in the mid abdomen. Went to hospital once, nothing found. Had a gastroscopy, nothing found. I was in agony at home after eating, vomiting. Out of desperation and suspecting that the issue was related to my spine (having been treated by chiropractors in the past), I asked my wife to rub an anti-inflammatory on my mid back around my spine - the pain stopped! Went to see my chiropractor the next day, symptoms nearly gone after an adjustment. I now self-adjust my mid-back by lying on a rolled up towel. I'm just saying don't discount the nervous system in stomach related issues, as I suspect alot of my issues were related to this.
Good health to all
I had a stomach ulcer five years ago , was always taking antacids of various over the counter types. Then Omeprazole for years. I tried to get off it but was always in pain and went back to it after a few days.
I was diagnosed as prediabetic in May 2017. My GMP suggested the dietdoctor site and I have been enthusiastically keeping to it since then.
About five days after starting it I realised I was no longer having acid reflux. I stopped the Omeprazole and haven't had one since. I still have some indigestion but no painful reflux.
A miracle.
May the Keto be with you-- by the way, I am no longer prediabetic.
thank you for your help xox
she said to up my magnesium, more salt more water but If I do dont sleep better ♥
The third week, which was last week, I went every other day with NO real issues. This week I am going to go off for two days at a time and I am pretty confident it will be a success.
I had severe reflux for about fifteen years. Omeprazol worked initially but then failed on the second attempt. After that, non of the proton pump inhibitors worked for me.
For many years only peptac gave some relief. There was no logic to my redux, eat a certain food one day, I’d be fine. But eat it the following day and I’d pay the price of reflux. I must say that any stress would always take reflux to another level. If I get a cold or flu, my throat and esophagus is very sore. I gargle night and morning with warm salt water. This works for me by killing the bacteria I suspect.
After six months of a moderately low carb diet, I rarely eat sugar, and I loose too much wait fasting, I rarely get reflux.
I initially started low carb to improve cholesterol levels, still haven’t got around to getting it checked yet, but I will. The added bonus of a clearer mind for me is amazing.
For over a decade I have had a hiatus hernia, with the associated acid reflux problems, and was taking Lanzoprazole to manage the reflux.
I switched to a LCHF diet, and experimented with not taking the drugs, but still, after an hour or two the acid would begin to rise.
Then I tried time restriced feeding (no food after dinner, and no food before lunch), along with the LCHF and bingo! No more reflux!
I haven't had to take Lanzoprazole for over 2 months now and I am chuffed to bits about it.
I hope that helps someone else.
I am sticking to the two week meal plan precisely as directed on this site. Should I add Apple cider vinegar to my fluid intake?