Since going on low carb (again) my GERD is completely gone.

How does low carbing cure this?

(BTW, the Mayo Clinic website recommends acupuncture for GERD but not low carb. )

I dont know the actual reasons, but mine went too! I suspect for me it was cos I was eating so much!!

Jo xxx

I suspect gluten, and the massive reduction thereof on LC.

From Chris Kresser :


To review, heartburn and GERD are not caused by too much stomach acid. They are caused by too little stomach acid and bacterial overgrowth in the stomach and intestines. Therefore successful treatment is based on restoring adequate stomach acid production and eliminating bacterial overgrowth.
This can be accomplished by following the “three Rs” of treating heartburn and GERD naturally:
1. Reduce factors that promote bacterial overgrowth and low stomach acid.
2. Replace stomach acid, enzymes and nutrients that aid digestion and are
necessary for health.
3. Restore beneficial bacteria and a healthy mucosal lining in the gut.
REDUCE FACTORS THAT PROMOTE BACTERIAL OVERGROWTH AND LOW STOMACH ACID
A high carbohydrate diet promotes bacterial overgrowth. Bacterial overgrowth – in particular H. pylori – can suppress stomach acid. This creates a vicious cycle where bacterial overgrowth and low stomach acid reinforce each other in a continuous decline of digestive function. It follows then that a low carb diet would reduce bacterial overgrowth. "

My DH, who wasn't overweight (abdominal pressure just from being fat contributes too) cured his GERD when he stopped eating only wheat. He basically eats low carb with me, but will have ice cream with dairy and sugar, so the improvement seems to be mostly from eliminating grains.

Yeah, but I've still had some large meals after going low carb and it hasn't been the problem it was before.

My diet has been pretty high in gluten for most of my life, but GERD only became a problem a couple years ago.

I don't think I'm sensitive to gluten, but honestly I don't know if I am or not. My hunch would be that gluten was not the issue though.

This sounds interesting and plausible. If it's true, it also means that maybe the TUMS weren't really helping.

You're right, the Tums and the PPIs actually make the problem of low stomach acid worse. Why some people get relief from heartburn by taking vinegar, not acid reducers. I took that Kresser quote from his free 32 page eBook on GERD from his website, just need to sign up for email list, which is good anyway. If just giving up grains and sugar doesn't reduce your SIBO and low acid and stop the GERD completely, he has other steps to take, e.g. Probiotics, various supportive foods, etc. to restore intestinal health. We did these while at the same time reducing my DH's dose of PPIs until off the meds, inc. Tums.

I had never heard of taking vinegar before. If I ever need to again, I'll try it instead of TUMS.

While I know that a lot of people have found that apple cider vinegar has helped their acid reflux, it did not help mine at all. Quite the opposite!
I don't mean to play devil's advocate here, but I do feel it only fair to give my experience. The vinegar simply burns. So much so that I had to drink what seemed like gallons of water to flush the pain away.
The only thing that has helped my reflux has been eating low carb plus PPIs. Must make another attempt at weaning off the PPI again soon...

I can imagine it would burn if anyone already has damage to esphogus, more for mild occasional heartburn. We didn't use Vinegar for my DH either, There are other home remedies to use in conjunction with 1. Most important removing all grains from diet 2. Cutting down PPIs very slowly (rebound effect if just try to stop it cold). Things like DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice), aloe juice, probiotics, digestive enzymes, almonds, etc. http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2013...tural-products/. This same website has many reader comments about PPIs and rebound. Heartburn is a frequent question over the years.
But Chris Kresser's ebook has remedies that seem to have more scientific backing, than folk lore.

The rule is if vinegar eases acid reflux, then you have too little stomach acid. If it burns, you have too much stomach acid. It doesn't burn me and I was diagnosed with too little acid.

It can take years or decades for food intolerances to show up. I know of lots of folks that got rid of GERD by going gluten free.

Exactly. I was just making the point that not everyone has too little stomach acid. And despite still needing a PPI, my reflux is still miles better on low carb.

A new theory on Heartburn:

http://chriskresser.com/is-heartbur...eaky-esophagus/

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