Reflux: Apple Cider Vinegar

You would think that adding acid to an already-acidic situation would be just plain wrong. But so many people have reported such success with taking apple cider vinegar for their acid reflux that it's hard not to sit up and take notice.

I found a recipe for apple cider vinegar and baking soda for reflux on this web site.

I highly recommend Bragg's apple cider vinegar if you wish to try this inexpensive remedy. And if you do, let us all know how it works for you!

Probiotic: The Stronger the Better

When you are choosing a probiotic, look for one that has as high a potency as possible to get as much good bacteria packed into each capsule/scoop as possible.

There is a lot on the internet about probiotic, and honestly, it leaves even me confused. So, I rely heavily upon what works for others. And I've heard VERY good things about Beeyoutiful's Tummy Tuneup. For more info on this amazing supplement, click on the Tummy Tuneup banner below.

How do you know if YOU need to balance the bacteria in your gut? You may be a candidate for probiotic if you or your kids deal with any of the following:
Allergies and food sensitivities
Difficulty losing weight
Sugar/carbohydrate craving
Frequent fatigue
Poor concentration
Frequent constipation or diarrhea
Faulty digestion, acid reflux and other gut disorders
Sleeping poorly, night sweats
Painful joint inflammation, stiffness
Bad breath, gum disease and dental problems
Frequent colds, flu or infections
Chronic yeast problems
Acne, eczema skin and foot fungus
Extreme menstrual or menopausal symptoms (PMS)

(I've highlighted the ones I personally have dealt or deal with right now--ok, that's embarrassing to air my dirty laundry :-D)

If you deal with any of these symptoms of an unbalanced gut, please consider getting yourself some probiotic.

In a healthy intestinal tract are approximately 400 different kinds of microorganisms. (Due to their inability to withstand an acidic environment, not many are found in the stomach.) As we move on to the small intestine, the number of bacteria increases by a factor of 10, and by the time we get to the colon, there are almost a billion times more than found in the small intestine.

As you can see, getting good bacteria in the form of a probiotic is essential to your overall health! Every health pantry needs a good probiotic--so grab you some today.

Reflux: Probiotic

I have been dealing with some reflux of my own with this pregnancy. It will even wake me up at night and make it uncomfortable to sleep no matter what position I lie in. I have found that taking some probiotic "soaks" up that burning sensation very well. I usually do not take it until I feel something, but it would definitely be best if I took probiotic all the time.

And it would be best for you, too--even if you're not pregnant! :-)

There are so many benefits to taking probiotic on a regular basis! I like the way the folks over at Beeyoutiful describe how probiotic works: Our stomachs normally contain both good and bad bacteria. When the two are in balance, the good guys win—even when viruses attack. But the balance can get thrown off if we eat too much processed sugar and white flour or take antibiotics, which indiscriminately kill all bacteria.

Taking a probiotic regularly helps to boost good bacteria which in turn fight off bad bacteria. An abundance of good bacteria is so incredibly important to the health of your intestinal tract and to your overall health that I just have to make sure you know about probiotic.

One of the beautiful things about probiotic is that it is safe for everybody--pregnant women, babies, etc. I love that! Just make sure not to take it when you're just about to drink something really hot because the heat can kill the good bacteria.

To order some of the best probiotic I have found on the market, click on this banner below.

Reflux: Go Alkaline

Paul is doing very well with his reflux! One of the biggest factors, I believe, has been one of the least complicated and least costly--watching his diet.

Going alkaline is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body no matter what ailment you're dealing with. Diseases and sicknesses thrive in acidic environments, so if you increase the base in your body (does this remind you of high school chemistry class?), the bad stuff has a lot harder time surviving and doing any damage. That's good news!

The challenging part is saying no to or limiting those foods that can increase the acid levels in our bodies. We Americans are so addicted to foods that include: coffee, popcorn, white flour, carbonated drinks, dairy, sugar, fried anything, and just about anything in a can. Just to name a few.

Does it mean we can never eat these things? There will be times you simply can't avoid it, but it is to our advantage to limit these foods and replace them at home with more whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies and raw nuts and seeds. Just to name a few.

I am so proud of my husband. Paul has cut back to one cup of coffee per day, and we are also looking into buying a Toddy cold brew system. The Toddy will apparently reduce the acid in coffee by as much as 67%. I have tasted coffee made by this system, and its smooth, creamy flavor was very pleasing to this non-coffee drinker.

So, I encourage you this week to think green. Think fresh. Think whole. Think low acid. And see how much better you feel for it!

All Choked Up: A Story of Acid Reflux

Last weekend, my husband ate a bite of pot roast at my mother-in-law's house during a party and it got stuck, completely stuck, in his esophagus. Immediately, he had the strangest look on his face and I knew something was very wrong.

A long story short: we ended up in the local emergency room and they transported him to the renowned Methodist hospital in Houston to see a thorasic surgeon (a doctor who cuts on/removes esophaguses). The surgeon scoped his throat several times and removed the pieces of food bit by bit and then took a biopsy while in there to investigate why this might have happened. They think he has acid reflux.

Paul has never had the traditional symptoms of acid reflux, such as heartburn. He does cough very hard, though, and often just out of the blue. According to the surgeon, that can be a sure sign of reflux that shuts out the other common signs, causing the person to not even realize acid is burning their esophagus.

Needless to say, I am very interested now in how to deal with acid reflux naturally. My husband doesn't want to live on Nexium when he's got good, body-blessing options.

So, I will be posting some of the things I'm finding and that we're trying as we go along this journey. Stay tuned for the exciting results.