CHC Blog

GERD - Part 2

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 23:59:04 GMT

GERD - Part 2

“All disease starts in the gut.” ~ Hippocrates (the father of Medicine)

Adjunctive treatment

You can try Marshmallow root extract as an adjunct or substitute. One dropperful coats the tissues of the esophagus for protection. You can use up to 4 dropperfuls a day. No known side effects found. It may or may not work for you.

Question: What are the common treatments for GERD and how do they work?

Answer: Here are some common treatments.

Antacids
H2 receptor Blockers
PPI drugs which are Proton pump inhibitors. They work by blocking the pumping of acid into the stomach and change the PH of the stomach to alkaline like Nexium. Other over-the-counter medicine like Zantac block the receptors for acid in the stomach or antacids like Tums are also alkalizing.

Question: Is there anything else important for me to know about GERD?

Answer: Two important pieces of information to consider.

If you have been self-medicating for a long time which means months or years with PPI’s you it may not be wise to just stop them. A reaction that is common is Hyper-acidity Rebound. This is simply that the body has been trained overtime to try and override the medicine by producing more acid in the stomach. This overproduction of acid does not stop suddenly when you stop the medicine you have been taking. The body needs time to get the message to stop the flow of acid. So it is very important to gradually wean off the medicine. Talk to your doctor about a sensible tapering schedule and you might combine the tapering with the gentle use of marshmallow root extract for extra protection as your body adjusts.
As with any treatment it is important to discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of any treatment. Most of these medicines for GERD were intended to be 6-8 week treatments and then stopped and the underlying causes assessed and addressed as part of the treatment. But because these medicines have gone over the counter, people often extend their treatment by self-medicating. It is not always apparent to your doctor what you are taking over the counter. It is important to work in partnership with your doctor or provider and express the willingness to do what it takes to keep yourself healthy. It is important to know that OTC medicines used improperly can have long term unintended effects.

What are the long term effects of PPis’ over time?

Answer: There are several long term effects.

Because they work to decrease the acidity of the stomach while taking these medicines, your ability to absorb vitamins, minerals and break down proteins will be lessened. If taken continuously for years Osteopenia and/or osteoporosis can develop as you need to absorb many minerals to keep bones healthy and your risk for fraction could theoretically increase.
Watch for B 12 deficiency, Fe deficiency which can lead to anemia, and fatigue.
Risk of infections are increased in a continual alkaline environment since one of the first lines of defense is your stomach acidity. As this is altered this natural function in your body is less effective.
For example if you have a bleeding ulcer proton pump inhibitor medicines like Nexium or Omeprazole can be helpful in healing this condition and would probably do so within 2 months of treatment.

Read Part II

This is only Part 2 of this article. If you did not read Part 1, please click on the blog, "GERD - Part 1". Enjoy!

GERD - Part 1

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 23:45:16 GMT

GERD - Part 1

“All disease starts in the gut.” ~ Hippocrates (the father of Medicine)

GERD is the medical term for Acid Reflux and the common description is “heartburn”. Just to be clear, this condition has nothing to do with anyone’s heart burning. What happens, in general, is that for a variety of reasons we will discuss, the acidic contents of the stomach leak up to the esophagus where that acidity is not tolerated by this tissue. When this happened, one experiences the acid burning on the lining of the esophagus. Many people have this condition of GERD or acid reflux (heartburn) and there are ways to ameliorate or eliminate the symptoms. In this two part Blog presentation we are going to review normal digestion principles how and why GERD might occur. In Part 2 we will detail some ways to lower the discomfort of heartburn and to review treatment and some pitfalls of self-treatment.

In Part 1, we will cover how the body is naturally functioning especially in the environment of the esophagus and stomach and some common reasons heartburn symptoms might develop.

Let’s first talk about why the stomach produces acid enough to cause the burning. The stomach is at an acidic ph. of 2-3 where neutral Ph. is about 7 which is close to the acidity of our blood. There is more of the physiology to understand that could be helpful. Let’s do this in the form of questions and answers.

Question: Why does our stomach environment remain acid when we eat foods?

Answer: It is the best environment for absorption of nutrients that we ingest.

It is in this environment that proteins especially, can be broken down into parts that we can absorb for nutrition.
This acid environment also is beneficial to absorb other nutrients such as vitamins and minerals that serve as co-factors in many biochemical pathways to keep your body running efficiently especially while you are working to release extra pounds.
Another very important function is an initial line of defense against bacteria or viruses that we might encounter when taking in food or beverages. The acidic stomach denatures those bacterial and viral proteins and renders them harmless to the body. We then are more likely to avoid infections. We also have that ability through our nose with the hairs there and mucous which traps airborne bacteria or viruses. Our bodies are always working to keep us well.

Question: How does normal digestion occur?

Answer: The answer is in the physiology of digestion.

First of all LES, which stands for the Lower Esophageal Sphincter is a round area at the bottom of the esophagus. It is located at the junction of the stomach and it is made up of smooth muscle. As it is a muscle, it sometimes contracts and closes the space between the esophagus and the stomach and sometimes it is appropriate to be open for short periods of time. The LES does serves as a barrier so that acid containing stomach contents normally do not come in contact with the esophagus. When it is functioning properly, it naturally only opens long enough and timed perfectly to allow food to pass through.

Question: Why does the LES open too long?

Answer: There are several reasons the LES relaxes too much for too long.

The timing mechanism for opening after swallowing is disrupted and it stays open too long. This is a function of signals misfiring with the stretch receptors of the stomach for example.
Often extra weight in the middle of the body creates ‘up pressure’ on the LES and it is forced open too long mechanically.
Foods and drugs and medical conditions can cause this laxity of the LES. Here’s a common list
Foods like : chocolate, alcohol, peppermint, caffeine
Hormones like progesterone
Drugs such as inhalers
Certain drugs such as morphine, meperidine, treatments for blood pressure like Calcium channel blockers, benzodiazepine such as diazepam
Conditions like Diabetes, Barrett’s esophagus
Smoking and Stress.
Hiatal hernia which is a portion of the stomach pouching through the LES. This condition can resolve with weight reduction.
GERD can result but not always in the cases of a sliding hiatal hernia by mostly widening the junction between stomach and esophagus. Reducing weight can positively effect this problem or resolve it.

Question: Are there other contributing factors to creating GERD?

Answer: Yes.

Other contributing factors: have to do with gravity along with eating late at night or eating too much late in the day. If after doing this this one goes to bed, then lying down flat with full stomach can contribute to the upward flow of acid contents of the stomach. Spicy foods that stimulate digestive juices which are acidic combined with lying down work against gravity. In this situation then the stomach contents can flow up where they should not be.

Question: What are some ways to avoid GERD or acid reflux i.e. heartburn?

Answer: Here are some ideas below.

Treatment of symptoms and underlying cause are found in lifestyle changes and are accomplished with clear intention and firm resolve to heal this condition.

Weight reduction.
Avoid spicy food especially later at night or evening meal.
Upside down positions after a meal such as yoga.
Avoid foods, like alcohol, and try to decrease the use of some drugs like inhalers, talk to your doctor if on a Ca channel blocker for HTN if GERD is too much of a problem.
Stop smoking.
Take steps to reduce stress which shift hormones in the body and are favor resolution of GERD.
Alleviation of GERD may require a combination of healthy steps
Increase transit time of stomach contents to relieve up pressure with the use of enzymes with meals including betaine.

Read Part II

This is only Part 1 of this article. To read part 2, please click on the blog, "GERD - Part 2". Enjoy!

Vitamin D Can Prolong Your Life!

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 23:13:23 GMT

Vitamin D Can Prolong Your Life!

Like many, you may have been taught Vitamin D keeps your bones strong and while this is true, we now know there are many more vital functions of this fascinating vitamin.

Do you slather on sun block to cover up from the sun? Does the worry of damaging effects from the sun prevent you from being outdoors? If your answer to these questions is yes, it may be important for you to know about the health effects of limited time in the sun. Spending just 10-15 minutes of peak hour time outside on a sunny day without sun screen, is one formula to produce enough Vitamin D to help prevent some serious health problems. Vitamin D-3 is also available as an inexpensive supplement.

The medical journal, The Archives of Internal Medicine published a study in August 2008 concluding that overall, people are 26% more likely to die prematurely if they are severely deficient in Vitamin D. In the science world and the real world both, this means an enormous number of people are affected. Alarmingly, findings in recent years show we are now in a global epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency. Why? Because we go from house to car to work indoors and use UV protective sunscreen when we spend any time outdoors and leave little chance for our skin to produce vitamin D. So maintaining adequate Vitamin D levels could prolong your life!

Why Do You Need Vitamin D?

Like many, you may have been taught Vitamin D keeps your bones strong as an adult and growing properly if you are a child. While this is true, we now know there are many more vital functions of this fascinating vitamin.

In addition, Vitamin D:

* Protects your heart: You'll be half as likely to have a heart attack if you maintain enough Vitamin D in your body.
* Helps Prevent Flu: Each Fall, just as you cover up from the cold, Vitamin D levels drop and the flu season begins. Vitamin D is required to make a compound that protects the body against the flu. Some researchers see this as a cause and effect sequence: that a drop in Vitamin D levels makes us more likely to catch the flu and other viruses
* Guards against Cancer: Even more exciting findings are that scientific studies suggest that Vitamin D helps prevent some cancers from forming in the body. Specifically, breast, ovary, colon, prostate and skin cancer are less likely to develop with adequate levels of Vitamin D.
* Eases one form of Depression: While cause and effect have not been established as of yet, there is a relationship between falling Vitamin D levels and the onset of depression in the shorter, cooler days of the year. This is known as seasonal affective disorder or SAD syndrome.
* Helps those with Multiple Sclerosis: Multiple sclerosis has been known for many years to be more common at more northern latitudes. Clear molecular biology evidence is now available, which demonstrates why MS patients do worse with Vitamin D deficiency and how they improve with Vitamin D supplementation.

How do you know if you are Vitamin D deficient?

Your doctor may not be aware of the best test to find out. I recommend you write down the name of this specific blood test . Ask your doctor for a 25-hydroxy Vitamin D level. Most labs agree that levels of 32 ng/ml and higher are satisfactory. However, targeting optimal health requires a level of 40-50 (Vitamin D Council). Keep in mind that obtaining a level is important, as there is recent evidence that a level above 55 may be harmful.

How do you raise your level if it is low? A commonly held belief is that the best source of Vitamin D is milk. In fact, most deficient individuals would need to drink 20 glasses of milk a day to bring their level up to normal or higher. The safest method is to take Vitamin D-3 by mouth. You can find it very inexpensively at a store selling vitamins and other supplements. People who are deficient, need to start with a minimum of Vitamin D-3 , 1000 units a day. By comparison, we can generate 10,000 units over the course of a day with sun exposure, but then we have the concern about sun damage.

We need to understand that the skin's exposure to ultraviolet wavelengths of the sun's rays activate a key step in the body's manufacturing of Vitamin D. Ultraviolet A and B waves are also the cause of sun damage to the skin and can promote skin cancer. The paradox is that low Vitamin D also makes us more at risk for skin cancer. The fact is that most of us are avoiding the sun or using sunblock at the cost of low Vitamin D in our body. One successful strategy is to judiciously expose your arms and legs to the sun and protect your face with a hat or sunblock.

Your Choices

-- Enjoy 10-15 minutes of sun without sunblock to generate your own Vitamin D (the "sunlight in moderation" approach)

-- Take a Vitamin D-3 supplement of at least 1000 units a day (the "I'm playing it safe" approach)

What makes me more susceptible to inadequate Vitamin D production, resulting in Vitamin D deficiency?

* First, inadequate exposure to sunlight; anyone who is housebound or who covers their arms and legs with sunblock or clothes when in the sun
* Those who get their sun exposure through window glass
* Darker skin pigmentation (African Americans generate up to 80% less vitamin D than Caucasians)
* The elderly, with thinning skin
* Those with liver or kidney failure

Therefore, supplementation is usually needed in the above groups of people. It is always safest to check your level and be guided by your physician.

In Summary

Vitamin D is an extremely important compound to the human body's skeletal system, immune system, emotional well-being and cardiovascular system, and helps us live longer in ways we are just beginning to understand. Deficiency is at an epidemic level worldwide, and many of us are dying prematurely due to low levels of Vitamin D. Check your 25-hydroxy D level with your local practitioner. If you choose to avoid sun exposure due to the risk of damaging your skin, supplementing with Vitamin D-3 is safe and inexpensive. You'll have a new appreciation for the Light of the sun now.

For more information, the Vitamin D Council provides readable summaries of research, Wikipedia has a good summary, and Dr. Michael Holick has written comprehensive review articles on Vitamin D.

Thoughts on Sexuality and Obesity

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 23:12:47 GMT

I begin with a quote from Prince:

“I've always understood the two to be intertwined: sexuality and spirituality. That never changed.”

I begin with a quote from Prince:

As one makes a choice to improve their health by changing their weight, we are committing to something new. What if the commitment involved a continuous feedback loop and continual daily choosing a new way of living?

The "weight loss and found game" can be then be replaced by thinking of releasing weight and a clear directional change in living. F is for feedback not failure in some circles of regard. Past experiences then are redefined as learning experiences that got us to this new level of commitment. Our past memories the good, bad, and even the ugly now are referenced as learning experiences rather than just past "failures".

What if "feeling sexy", being sexy, expressing a lot of sexuality is more than just looking better by weight release? What if creating a sustainable way of living healthy and feeling sexy also requires saying goodbye to hurts and resentments with heartfelt self-forgiving and forgiveness of others? What if doing a releasing of the past, allowed us to begin to see our experiences in a very different light is well worth our time and devotion?

Attitude

Attitude toward this process is key. If our attitude sustains itself as gentle, loving, self-accepting, the ‘work’ can turn into an uplifting relieving, worthwhile gratifying journey of life that supports sexy sustainability.

Another Look at Fiber and its Benefits, including Lowering Cholesterol

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 22:30:15 GMT

Another Look at Fiber and its Benefits, including Lowering Cholesterol

Nutritional Fiber is our friend in a few different ways.

Consuming fiber helps to keep the colon moving so it is clearing waste out of the body and it also can help to lower cholesterol. Here’s a review of some sources of fiber and what they can do to decrease cholesterol to healthier levels in the body.

First of all, a better understanding of what cholesterol does in the body may help you to understand why it is essential to your health. At the same time, why we want to regulate the amount floating in the blood stream in the body. Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that the body uses to make healthy cell walls, other cell constituents, hormones, vitamin D and bile acid which helps you digest your food properly. It is much needed but in the proper amounts. Over time, we can run into problems when cholesterol builds up too much in the blood stream. When this happens, cholesterol can possibly be deposited in blood vessel walls and cause a narrowing of the vessels. We need to supply blood to the heart and all organs and tissues of the body.

There Are 3 General Types of Cholesterol.

LDL - low density Lipoprotein is found in blood vessel cell wall plaque causing blockage if it is too plentiful.
HDL - high density Lipoprotein which is mostly cardio-protective for men and women.
Triglycerides which typically increase when we ingest a lot of carbohydrates, (particularly refined carbohydrates) like breads, cakes and cookies.

What Affects the Process of Cholesterol Accumulation?

For some people their genetics are such that cholesterol levels are increased by dietary sources.
For most others, if your diet has too little fiber, more cholesterol will be re-absorbed from the intestine back into the blood stream and so less is eliminated from the body. In other words the blood level goes up with too little dietary fiber.

Easy Solutions

Exercise is a great partner of a diet rich in fiber for balancing cholesterol. Exercise can help tremendously to keep cholesterol in good standing. It raises the HDL cholesterol which is cardio-protective and it helps to lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides…. all of which are beneficial to your health.

More Dietary considerations:

You can lower cholesterol with a diet rich in fiber, both soluble and insoluble.
Diets rich in fiber naturally absorb water into the colon. When this happens you eliminate more easily and avoid constipation. The fiber can also bind to cholesterol in your colon and this will help your body lower LDL by eliminating the bound cholesterol in your stool.
By adding fiber you can also slow the absorption of sugars into your blood stream and lower your triglyceride levels.

Why Does the Body do This?

Fiber that absorbs water can reduce the re-absorption of cholesterol through the intestines and into the blood stream. The body is conservative. It will try to reabsorb and reutilize those substances that it needs by reabsorbing them before we eliminate them as waste through the bowel. Fiber keeps the bowels moving and with cholesterol we also eliminate toxins from outside sources and the byproducts of our own cellular metabolism.

What are Common Dietary Sources of Fiber?

Pectin, for example, is found in stone fruits like peaches, pears, apricots, and apples.
Oat bran can be purchased as the bran from oats or consumed in lesser amounts in oatmeal.
Ground flax seeds are best consumed for all their nutritional value by grinding them about 2 tbs /day soon after grinding then fresh in a coffee grinder. Once ground, they can be kept refrigerated for a few days to catch the benefit of the essential fatty acids. Otherwise those oxidize quickly once the seed is ground. They still have benefits for the fiber they contain.
Psyllium husk, can be purchased easily in capsules or in bulk powder.
Guar gum (bene-fiber)

Other Nutrient substances known to naturally lower cholesterol are nutritious, delicious and rich in fiber:

Polyphenol containing foods which include blueberries, cranberries, bilberries, black currants, peanuts, onions, legumes, and parsley.

In Summary

Consuming a variety of fresh and well prepared vegetables, legumes, fresh fruits, and whole grains all are fiber rich and good for you in a myriad of ways. The fiber contained in them is not just a filler… It helps your colon health, your cholesterol levels and, in many biochemical ways, supports healthy blood sugar metabolism. This is nature’s bounty conspiring to keep you stay healthy …so fiber in its many forms is worth consuming every day.

CHC Blog

GERD - Part 2

GERD - Part 2

“All disease starts in the gut.” ~ Hippocrates (the father of Medicine)

Adjunctive treatment

Question: What are the common treatments for GERD and how do they work?

Question: Is there anything else important for me to know about GERD?

What are the long term effects of PPis’ over time?

Read Part II

GERD - Part 1

GERD - Part 1

“All disease starts in the gut.” ~ Hippocrates (the father of Medicine)

Question: Why does our stomach environment remain acid when we eat foods?

Question: How does normal digestion occur?

Question: Why does the LES open too long?

Question: Are there other contributing factors to creating GERD?

Question: What are some ways to avoid GERD or acid reflux i.e. heartburn?

Read Part II

Vitamin D Can Prolong Your Life!

Vitamin D Can Prolong Your Life!

Like many, you may have been taught Vitamin D keeps your bones strong and while this is true, we now know there are many more vital functions of this fascinating vitamin.

Why Do You Need Vitamin D?

How do you know if you are Vitamin D deficient?

Your Choices

In Summary

Thoughts on Sexuality and Obesity

I begin with a quote from Prince:

“I've always understood the two to be intertwined: sexuality and spirituality. That never changed.”

I begin with a quote from Prince:

Attitude

Another Look at Fiber and its Benefits, including Lowering Cholesterol

Another Look at Fiber and its Benefits, including Lowering Cholesterol

﻿

Nutritional Fiber is our friend in a few different ways.

There Are 3 General Types of Cholesterol.

What Affects the Process of Cholesterol Accumulation?

Easy Solutions

Why Does the Body do This?

What are Common Dietary Sources of Fiber?

In Summary