Based on what I read and my own experience, I believe that the real
reason that many older people develop chronic heartburn is that their
stomach cells no longer have enough energy to digest food as well as
when the people were younger. As a result, not enough acid is produced
to adequately digest food and the stomach also has inadequate ability
to heal itself, which causes chronic discomfort in the stomach and
sensitivity to certain foods in the stomach. And if there is not
enough acid, your esophagus sphincter doesn't close, which allows the
acid there is to go up into your esophagus. Also, a lack of acid
allows the food in your stomach to ferment, which is bad for you. So
the problem is not that there is too much acid. The problem is that
there is too little acid.
I think the primary solution is to take Glutamine, which is an amino
acid. It gives your stomach cells and also your intestines the energy
to heal themselves and to digest food properly. So whenever you feel
heartburn or discomfot in your stomach, instead of taking antacid,
take a couple of pills of glutamine. I also take glutamine on an empty
stomach when I wake up in the morning and then I don't eat for an
hour. That enables it to be better absorbed. With enough glutamine in
your stomach, you will feel very good and you will be able to digest
food properly and painlessly just like when you were younger.
I've also experienced that high carb foods such as pastries, bread,
pizza, and pecan pie are the hardest on my stomach. They do the most
to bring on heartburn.
I think glutamine is the best, but there are also a few other things
that help you digest better and avoid heartburn. You can take
hydrochloride acid pills and multi-enzyme pills for better digestion.
Also you should eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and fiber. And
you should eat foods with probiotic bacteria, such as certain brands
of yogurt and kefir. And lastly, you should avoid eating any foods
made out of flour, because it's bad for you all around. If you do eat
flour, try not to eat very much of it. Flour is one of the worst foods
you can eat.
Try not to use antacid pills very often. Use them occasionally if you
must, but they decrease your ability to digest food. The solution is
to improve your stomach, not to get rid of the acid that you need to
digest food.
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