Are you really what you eat? Part 1

As we get older, body parts just don’t work as well as they used to, it’s a fact of life that everyone accepts. Amongst many things, hair goes grey, skin loses elasticity and our vision becomes impaired. With that in mind, what do you think happens to our digestive system. Does it increase in activity? Does it become stronger or does it suffer the same fate as the rest of our bodies?

I imagine that most would answer that it deteriorates like the rest of our bodies. Well I agree, and here comes the issue; as we get older it is common belief that heartburn and indigestion is inevitable. It is caused by excess stomach acid and the cure is an antacid. This implies an increase in the activity of the acid pumps in the stomach. This thought process is illogical, why would the stomach increase in productivity as we increase in age?

After decades of refined sugar, caffeine, alcohol, grease and oxidised oils, fluoride and chlorine from water, chemical flavourings and colourings, pesticides, herbicides, gluten, lactose and other allergens then the stomach actually starts to fatigue. As a result the production of acid slows down. This process may to take a few decades in some, or with more acute abuse may develop in their teens

The reason that heartburn occurs is because of a malfunction of the ring of muscle at the top of the stomach, when we have low stomach acid food doesn't digest properly causing the release of gas, when this pressure builds the gas comes out of the top of the stomach and brings stomach acid with it. This acid comes into contact with the delicate lining of our oesophagus (the pipe the food goes down) and causes discomfort.



Antacids work by eliminating the symptoms not the problem. For example taking a painkiller to reduce the pain of a broken leg doesn't mean that they leg was broken due to a lack of painkiller. So, antacids exacerbate the problem by reducing stomach acid further, the lower the stomach acid the more heartburn.

Consider how many other over the counter medicines which people regularly spend money on cure the symptoms of illness without addressing the underlying issues.

‘When diet is wrong medicine is of no use. When diet is correct medicine is of no need' - Proverb

The next article will cover the effects of low stomach acid on the body, how to identify a deficiency, treat it and reap the benefits.


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