Can you help with my Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)?

Yes, we can help you identify the root cause of your GERD symptoms and guide your way back to health.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or acid reflux, has become twice as common over the last ten years, according to the NHS. Eating rich or acidic foods often gets the blame.

Acid suppressants like Omeprazole do the job they’re supposed to do: they suppress stomach acid.

But it's not as simple as that. 

Research has shown that people with acid reflux don’t have too much stomach acid: it's just in the wrong place.

In other words, something has gone wrong with the ‘door’ that separates your stomach from your throat, so your stomach acid flows into the tube connecting your mouth and stomach (esophagus).

Stomach acid and why we need it 

Because stomach acid serves an essential function, reducing it can have adverse effects. For example, too little stomach acid can prevent you from absorbing zinc and vitamin B12, which can lead to fatigue, poor immunity and even nerve damage.

Stomach acid is also needed to digest protein. Without it, digestion in the small intestine won’t be as efficient, as it’s the acidity which causes the digestive enzymes in the next stage of digestion to be released. 

This can cause poor digestion of carbohydrates and fats too, and allow pathogenic bacteria to thrive, making gut conditions like SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) a lot more likely to happen.

Other potential causes of reflux 

Recent research suggests that an increase in intra-abdominal pressure is a more likely and common cause of reflux than simply having too much stomach acid.

Intra-abdominal pressure can increase if you have SIBO, as a result of the excess bacteria in your small intestine producing gas when you eat.

So, not only can taking acid suppressants for a long time can cause SIBO, but SIBO can also cause or worsen acid reflux.

Treatments for GERD/Reflux

If you have GERD or chronic acid reflux, it's best to understand the root cause first.

Taking a SIBO test is a good first step. Even if you don’t have SIBO, the food plan and supplement protocol that you’ll get from our practitioner with the results of your test will set you on your path to great gut health.

Optimising great gut health is the best way to beat GERD and reflux for good.