Indigestion is something I heard a lot about growing up. My Dad always had a bottle of Maalox next to his chair, and sipped it as someone else would an after dinner drink. It turns out that he had a weak sphincter in his esophagus that allowed the stomach acid to back up into his esophagus, and in his case up into his throat and mouth. My mother on the other hand ‘couldn’t eat’ certain foods. She had found that certain foods gave her gas and cramping. Her solution was to avoid them. Indigestion can be anything from a sour stomach, belching, gas, to cramping and diarrhea. The causes of it are many, just like the symptoms.
If you listen to the television advertisements all indigestion is caused by too much stomach acid, so the solution is to get rid of the stomach acid. The problem with this scenario is that sometimes indigestion can be caused by too little stomach acid. We need some stomach acid in order to digest our food. If we don’t have enough the food will sit in the intestines and feed the bad bacteria instead of us. The bad bacteria will then give off gas as a byproduct of their digestion, hence the gas and bloating we feel. Studies have shown that as you age your body tends to make less acid, not more. Ron Schneider has an interesting test to help you determine if you have indigestion from too much acid, or too little. When you feel the symptoms of indigestion mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with water and drink it. The water dilutes it enough that it won’t burn your mouth and throat, but not enough that it won’t be effective. Then you wait and see if your indigestion gets better or worse. If it gets better you are acid deficient. You will need hydrochloric acid supplements and a good enzyme mixture such as Enriching Gifts Plant Enzymes. If your indigestion gets worse it shows you have too much acid. Then you would want to take some baking soda mixed with water, or an antacid tablet to temporarily neutralize the excess acid.
The problem with taking antacids or Protein Pump Inhibitors is that they do have side effects. Antacids can cause constipation or diarrhea, white or pale stools and stomach cramps. Bismuth containing products can cause skin rash, weakness, joint pain, diarrhea, or stomach irritation. Not having enough stomach acid can cause an overgrowth of bad bacteria, which can bring on a whole host of problems. One solution for this is to take Enriching Gifts Pro-Biotic with FOS. The good bacteria in Enriching Gifts Pro-Biotic with FOS will not only help you digest the foods, but they will also prevent the overgrowth of the bad bacteria that can cause you problems. When I have over eaten, or eaten the wrong foods Enriching Gifts Pro-Biotic with FOS are what I take to relieve that achy feeling and belching I get. It also works really well after a high fat meal. Of course I combine Enriching Gifts Pro-Biotic with FOS with a couple of extra capsules of Enriching Gifts Plant Enzymes just in case it is the extra enzymes I really need.
Are there times when indigestion can be an indication of something more serious?
Yes, there are and in these cases you need to see a medical professional. These include having a dull ache in our chest or abdomen that is accompanied by nausea or sweating. Also be wary of a pain that begins as a dull ache around your entire midsection, then localized in your lower right abdomen within a few hours. Another one is when your abdominal pain is accompanied by vomiting; black, blood-tinged or bloody stools; or fever and vaginal discharge. See you doctor if the abdominal pain keeps getting works, or lingers for more than 2 weeks.
As with many other issues there are things you can do at home to either prevent them, or relieve the discomfort. I have already mentioned two of them Enriching Gifts Plant Enzymes and Enriching Gifts Pro-Biotic with FOS. Other things you can do include reducing the amount of food at a sitting. Reducing the alcohol you consume, both with your food and between meals. Alcohol can relax that sphincter in the esophagus that I mentioned was my Dad’s problem. Slowly increasing the fiber content of your food or taking a fiber supplement can be helpful. Eating slowly, and in a stress free environment is extremely helpful to some people. Cutting out the high fat foods is a good idea. Fat can be hard for the body to digest, and can increase your discomfort. Many people will have unique triggers. These can include spicy foods, pickles, hot peppers, citrus fruits, tomato products, caffeine, mints, and milk.
Including mints in the list is interesting because peppermint is one of the longtime herbs recommended for indigestion. Other herbs include chamomile, ginger, anise, caraway seed, coriander, fennel seed, marjoram, rosemary and turmeric. One remedy I have heard many times is ginger. A friend of mine tried simply putting the spice from her cabinet in a capsule, and it gave her temporary relief from her indigestion.
Sources:
Nature’s Medicines by Gale Maleskey and the Editors of Prevention Health Books, copyright 1999 by Rodale Inc.
The Herbal Drugstore by Linda B. White MD and Steven Foster, copyright 2000 by Rodale Press
Blended Medicine Combining Mainstream and Alternative Therapies by Michael Castleman copyrighted 2000 by Michael Castleman.
Smart Choices in Alternative Medicine by Samuel Benjamin, M.D. copyrighted 1999 by Meredith Corporation.
