Issue: May 2008

Greetings!

This month we would like to take a moment to talk about something that plagues over 25 million Americans: Heartburn. If you are one of the many who suffer from this painful problem (and let’s face it- who hasn’t had indigestion?) then YOU MUST READ THIS ARTICLE! Throw out everything that you think you know about heartburn and prepare yourself for a real solution to this chronic and sometimes dangerous condition. If you dream of acid-reflux free days, then you must read on!

Take The Burn Out Of Hearburn

By Leigh Erin Connealy, MD
Natural News, May 2008

Are you one of the 25 million Americans suffering from heartburn? Over the past decade we’ve been lead to believe that the cause of the heartburn epidemic is an overproduction of stomach acid and as a result doctors are writing millions of “acid blocker” prescriptions each year. Yet ironically, low stomach acid levels may be causing your heartburn and the very act of “blocking” your stomach acid production can have disastrous consequences for your health down the road.

Acid reflux is often incorrectly thought of as a stomach acid disease, but actually it is the result of a malfunctioning muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES is a flap that separates the base of the esophagus from the top of the stomach and opens only to allow food and liquids to pass down or vomit or gas to pass up. When the LES is functioning properly it will remain closed at all other times, sealing off the esophagus from the harmful acids in the stomach. However, when the LES is malfunctioning the corrosive stomach acids are able to make their way into the esophagus where they burn the esophageal lining. Over time this can lead to ulcers, swelling and even cancer. Many things can lead to LES malfunction: the consumption of nicotine, caffeine, chocolate, certain drugs, eating large meals, obesity, hernia (hiatus), alcohol, food allergies and low stomach acid.

The idea that low acid levels are causing your heartburn may be difficult to swallow, but consider this: As we age our stomach acid levels decline. Acid levels are at their highest in our teen years but decline as much 45% as we enter our 30’s. By the time that we’re in our 60’s we have less than 30% of the stomach acid we did in those early years. Yet, do you recall having heartburn in your teens or early 20’s?

If all of this is true, then why do acid blockers seem to work? The answer is, when you block the production of stomach acid there isn’t any acid to reflux into the esophagus. So, while the cause of heartburn isn’t an overproduction of acid, by shutting off (or slowing down) acid production you are minimizing the chance that the acid can harm the esophagus. However, this does nothing for the initial problem of the malfunctioning LES. Should you cease taking the acid blocking medication, your heartburn will return almost immediately.

And, while your medication may be working temporarily, the damage that it’s causing to your body can be extremely dangerous over the long term. Stomach acid plays an important role in both digestion and overall health and by blocking its production you are essentially starving the body of life sustaining nutrients.

Stomach acid is absolutely vital to digestion, breaking down valuable nutrients in our food so that they can be more easily absorbed into the bloodstream. These nutrients, such as amino acids, minerals and vitamins, are necessary to power the cells in our body. Without an adequate amount of nutrients the cells will not function properly and the body will essentially starve.

Stomach acid also serves the purpose of protecting your GI tract from harmful bacteria, parasites and other invading microorganisms. When acid levels become too low, bacteria can spread and excrete toxic substances throughout the entire body. Research has shown that over time low stomach acid can lead to a wide range of serious diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type 1 diabetes, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, allergies, skin disorders, and depression.

The good news is that acid reflux can be treated naturally and safely by getting to the root of the cause. When a patient comes to me complaining of heartburn the first thing that I do is test their stomach acid levels. More often than not I find that their levels are below the normal level. I also do an extensive background to find out what might be causing their LES to malfunction. So many times I find that food allergies play a factor in the problem and by simply eliminating those foods from their normal eating plan we can correct the problem. As there might be multiple causes for the problem, the solution will often involve a combination of nutritional supplements to get the patient back on track.

Once we have developed a treatment plan, weaning the patient of their prescription acid-blocker becomes key to a full recovery. I generally recommend that the patient begin by decreasing their medication to every other day during the first week, then down to only twice a week in the second week, once a week in the third and finally stopping the medication completely in week four. During this time I place the patient on an all-natural supplement designed specifically to treat the effects of heartburn and indigestion called perfectlyhealthy Heartburn Ease^TM. Patients should take 2 to 3 perfectlyhealthy Heartburn Ease^TM capsules between each meal and 2 to 3 more directly before bedtime. Additionally, I recommend 2 ounces daily of Aloe Vera 80 Stomach Formula to stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria in the intestinal tract and to help maintain normal acid levels. Once the malfunctioning LES has been corrected, acid reflux will subside and the supplements can be taken only when are needed.

As a nation we find it so simple to pop a pill to “cure” what ails us, but in this case the pill might be causing more harm than good and it doesn’t address the root cause of the problem. You owe it to yourself to make intelligent and informed decisions about what you put into your body and how you attend to your health problems. If you suffer from acid reflux, seek out a doctor who is willing to treat the root cause of the problem. Decide on good health today!

Featured Products

Heartburn Ease^TM by perfectlyhealthy
180 caps/$34.95

Heartburn Ease™ provides soothing relief from symptoms of heartburn, acid reflux, GERD and indigestion. The unique blend of ingredients, when taken between meals and/or at bedtime, soothes your stomach naturally and restores digestive health.

pH Plus^TM by perfectlyhealthy
120 caps/$34.95

pH Plus™ works synergistically with the proper supplements to provide the right balance of acidity and alkalinity within your body. Stress, lack of physical activity, a diet high in acidic foods and toxic environmental pollutants can all contribute to a state of acidosis and pave the way for serious health problems down the road. pH Plus™ is a superior product designed to regulate and maintain a proper pH balance in an effective, safe and all natural way.

Whole Leaf Aloe Vera By Desert Harvest
180 caps/$68.00

Aloe vera helps promote healthy digestion throughout the entire digestive tract including the esophagus, stomach, small & large intestines, and the colon. It helps restore and promote regularity.

Aloe Vera Stomach Formula by Lily of the Desert
32 fl. Oz./$17.95

This soothing herbal digestion formula contains a unique blend of the finest quality certified organic whole leaf and fillet aloe vera with select organically grown herbs specifically formulated to aid in digestion.

For more information about these products, or to place an order, please contact our Healthy Product Advisers at (949) 680-1913 or send an email to orders@cfnmedicine.com.

Do You Know What’s In Your Personal Care Products?

Your medicine cabinet is one of the most dangerous areas of your house, and not for the reasons that you may think. Lurking just behind your bathroom mirror, where all of your favorite beauty products are housed, lays a virtual toxic nightmare. The growing list of synthetic ingredients manufacturers add to their products are turning the most innocent looking shampoos and moisturizers into cocktails of toxins that could cause cancer or reproductive damage over years of sustained use. Modern cosmetics contain a host of dangerous ingredients, which would be more at home in a test tube than in our bodies.

Click here to continue reading…

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May 28th
Detox Class # 1 (of 2)
Energize and cleanse your body before you dive into summer! Join Liliana Partida, CN in this MD-approved program that provides easy, practical ways for your whole family to reduce toxin exposure in your everyday lifestyle.

June 10th
Weight Loss Class #1 (of 6)
The medical staff of South Coast Medical Center and our renowned fitness expert and certified nutritionist, Liliana, have created this science-based, multi-faceted program to give you the tools you need to transform resistance into understanding.

July 2nd
Prevent Diabetes Class #1 (of 2)
Did you know that 500,000 people die each year from diabetes complications, but half of the people who have diabetes are unaware that they have it??? Take steps now to avoid this serious medical condition by attending our 2-part Diabetes Prevention Class, given by our certified staff nutritionist, Liliana Partida.

“The future depends on what we do in the present.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

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