Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs—such as Nexium and Prilosec) are the go-to treatment for acid reflux, with annual sales of at least $10 billion in the US.

PPIs “work” by shutting down your stomach’s acid production.  With less acid in the stomach to shoot up in your throat, you get relief from reflux.

Simple, right?

Not quite.

What many people don’t realize is that acid reducers are a wolf in sheep’s clothing, opening you up to a list of extremely serious health risks that continues to grow.

From reflux to RIP?

Crippling your stomach’s ability to produce acid like it should can have these devastating consequences:

• Increased risk of dementia—due to reduced absorption of essential brain nutrients
• Increased risk of chronic kidney disease—starting as drug (PPI)-induced kidney inflammation (acute interstitial nephritis) which can progress to chronic kidney disease
• Increased risk of heart attack—due to the drugs damaging the inner lining of your arteries
• Increased risk of fractures—due to reduced mineral absorption
• Gas, bloating and constipation—because your stomach needs acid to properly digest proteins
• Imbalanced gut flora—a result of poor digestion; can weaken immune functioning
• Vitamin B12 deficiency—since stomach acid is needed to assimilate B12
• Food poisoning—because stomach acid protects you against dangerous bacteria in food

Funny how Larry the Cable Guy never mentions any of these in the Prilosec commercials.

And now the latest--PPIs also increase your risk of DEATH!

The grim reaper may come calling

A study conducted at the Washington University School of Medicine and published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) showed that long-term use of PPIs increases death risk by a whopping 50 percent.

Senior researcher Ziyad Al-Aly, MD stated, “No matter how we sliced and diced the data…we saw the same thing: There’s an increased risk of death among PPI users.”

What makes this even more concerning is that the average PPI user DOES use them long-term!  That’s how they are very carefully and lucratively designed—to be taken every single day to not only control reflux but also prevent it. 

Stop acid reflux BEFORE it happens!

If you take PPIs (especially if you’ve been on them for a while), it’s time to have a conversation with your doctor about reducing your dose or weaning off them altogether.

If he asks why, show him this blog.

And do your part to help stop acid reflux before it happens by addressing its common root causes:

Acid reflux cause #1: Food

It never ceases to amaze me how people eat fast food, junk food or smorgasbord-type meals, then wonder why they have a 4-alarm fire in their chest every night.

If you have acid reflux, it's time to face facts--YOUR DIET is a main cause of your misery. 

Accept it, stop making excuses and do something about it.  Change your diet to include more nutritious REAL foods—stuff that doesn’t come with a bar code and ingredients you can’t pronounce.  Lay off the soda too while you’re at it. 

Also, make your meals easier to digest.  Don’t mix animal proteins and starches together because that combination is very taxing on your system.  Instead pair proteins OR starches with lots of veggies and a tossed salad. 

You’ll be amazed at how different you’ll feel after eating.

Acid reflux cause #2: Enzymes

If you've eaten a typical modern diet for a while, chances are excellent that you have expended far more digestive enzymes to break down your meals than Nature intended you to.

As a result, your body's ability to produce enough enzymes may be diminished...and this can be a major contributing factor to poor digestion and acid reflux!

Plus as we age, our bodies' ability to produce enzymes naturally decreases.

If you suspect low enzymes are a concern for you, or have been told you're low in stomach acid, then a natural plant-derived enzyme supplement like Digestizol Max can give you the enzyme boost you desperately need.

Acid reflux cause #3: Stress

Digestion is a parasympathetic process, meaning your body must be in a relaxed, non-stressed state for it to be accomplished. 

Eating in a relaxed state also encourages you to eat slower, which means that your body can recognize satiety before you overeat.

But if you instead eat when your sympathetic nervous system is in gear (such as when you're working, driving, emotionally upset, stressed, rushing, etc.) that can have a devastating impact on your digestion and trigger reflux.

So slow down and relax!  Make time for meals and don't eat on the run. 

Acid reflux cause #4: Smoking

Nothing obliterates your digestion like smoking. 

So add this to the list of reasons that you should put that deadly habit behind you for good.  There are many stop smoking aids and programs out there—get the help you need.

Help your body bounce back too!

If you’ve been a long-term PPI user, chances are excellent you’ve got a degree of imbalanced intestinal flora going on and/or may be running low in vitamin B12.

If you’ve been noticing you get one cold or bug after another, you’re frequently bloated or you drive people out of the room with your gas, trust me, your gut flora is probably waving the white flag of defeat!

To help support a healthier gut microbiome, which in turn helps encourage sound nutrient absorption, less gas and strong immune function, a full-spectrum multi-strain probiotic formula like Super Shield is your ticket.  

And if you’re B12 deficient (your doctor can do a simple test to find out), then a sublingual vitamin B12 formula like Hydroxaden 2.5 can help ensure your body has health-supporting levels of this crucial heart, immune and brain health nutrient. 

But what if I overindulge?

We’re all human…and that means that every now and then, we might overindulge and end up with heartburn as a result!

But there are safe, natural answers for occasional heartburn—here are some you can try:

• Fresh ginger
• Licorice-- look for deglycerrhized licorice (DGL licorice) supplements
• Slippery elm bark
• Aloe Vera
• Apple cider vinegar—seek out raw, unfiltered varieties that contain “the mother”

Get going now to battle acid reflux naturally at its root causes and help your body recover!

You just may end up living longer as a result.

To your health,

Sherry Brescia