Welcome to Issue 36 of our newsletter!

Let’s focus for a moment on Heartburn. Acid reflux. GERD.  Indigestion. We have many names for the uncomfortable, acidic feeling that bubbles up in our throat or even our mouths. For all of us, it’s a normal, occasional event (i.e. once every couple of months). For some, it’s a daily struggle. Bottom line: it’s unpleasant or downright painful. Over time, it can lead to inflammation in the esophageal tissues (that’s the lining of your throat). For a few, this can lead to Barrett’s Esophagus or even esophageal cancer. So it’s important not to ignore that acidy feeling you get after eating pizza or in the middle of the night. It’s important to get to the root cause of your acid reflux and fix it.

Notice I said fix it, as in cure it – not hide it or “band-aid” over it. Because acid reflux medications do not heal your body. They do not address the root cause of your acid reflux. They just take away the discomfort temporarily and allow you to keep doing what will cause your reflux to come back. Again and again and again. For the past decade, they have been the #2 top revenue generating class of medications in the US: proton pump inhibitors (or PPIs). You know them as blockbusters like Nexxium, Prilosec, Protonix, and Omeprazole. I have met many new clients who use these drugs daily – sometimes for years or even decades. And they usually have no idea how much damage these drugs are doing to their bodies. And why they can actually CAUSE the depression, IBS, osteopenia, or diabetes that might show up a few years down the road.
I’m going to expand on the dangers of PPIs in Part II of this article in a couple of weeks. But first, let’s talk about what acid reflux really is and how to get rid of it – for good. Contrary to popular belief, almost no one has acid reflux because their body is making too much stomach acid! Keep reading to learn more!

Oh – and be sure to join us on the next Whole Foods walking nutrition tour on June 25th.  Details below.

Eat on purpose. Live on purpose.  Choose to be well!

Tracy