Looking for acid reflux relief? This is why heartburn medications do more harm than good
It’s a very common practice to turn to acid reflux medications when you are in need of some acid reflux relief. But the truth is, those cleverly marketed products that supposedly “fight” the symptom actually end up making it worse.
I often see patients who complain of chronic acid reflux. Many are surprised to learn that it’s a symptom of too little stomach acid in the body, not too much like those over-the-counter medications suggest. It can understandably get very confusing. But it’s important to realize that over-the-counter medications for the issue only temporarily mask the symptom versus address the actual problem. And in the process end up causing more harm than good. This is why.
Decreased nutrient absorption
Your body needs vitamins and minerals to thrive, but acid reflux medications hinder your ability to do that. Impaired digestion promotes an ideal atmosphere for things like candida (yeast) to grow inside you. Yeast overgrowth leads to symptoms like chronic fatigue, bloating, mental fog, muscle aches, and more.
Poor bone health
We often think that poor bone health is just a symptom of aging, but that’s not entirely accurate. Many things can contribute to it, including ongoing use of acid reflux medications. When they’re a medicine cabinet staple, you become more prone to bone fractures. Some types of bone fractures are worse than others, but they can all affect your lifestyle. You make experience limited mobility, muscle stiffness, or even arthritis.
Increased risk of liver disease
While you’re busy temporarily relieving heartburn symptoms with acid reflux medication, your body is busy at work suppressing stomach acid. Doing so changes your microbiome for the worse and promotes liver injury and the progression of chronic liver diseases.
And this is only the beginning! But don’t worry, if you’ve taken medication for acid reflux relief only a small handful of times, these things likely won’t happen. But now’s the time to kill that habit and understand that with the right lifestyle and nutrition plan , the symptoms can disappear completely without the use of medication.
