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Have GERD? Here’s a Natural Alternative to Manage It

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Hi there!
In case you missed my healthy Halloween recipe lineup last week, you can check it out here.

Today, we’re going to talk about GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. It’s a condition that effects up to 60% of people and is characterized by feeling heartburn or a burning pain in the chest or throat.
 

Let’s look at why it happens. At the bottom part of your throat, your esophagus, lies a sphincter, a circular band of muscle that relaxes (opens) to allow the entry of food and water to the stomach and closes again after.
 
For someone who has GERD, his or her sphincter is not functioning properly, causing the stomach contents to rise up to the esophagus. Since your stomach content is naturally acidic, when it touches the lining of your esophagus, it creates a burning feeling–which we call heartburn.
 
For years, patients and physicians have depended on PPIs or proton-pump inhibitors to manage GERD, a group of drugs whose main action is to significantly lessen the production of stomach acid. However, the use of PPI has been linked to increased death rate due to heart diseases and stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, various infections, nutrient deficiencies, disruption of the gut microbiome, and many more. In fact, earlier this year, a popular PPI was cautioned against due to increased evidence linking it to kidney disease.
 
I’m a huge proponent of getting to the root cause of symptoms rather than quick fixes which tend to lead to bigger health problems down the road. However, getting to the root cause can take time and correcting imbalances does too…so while you are doing those things, you don’t need to suffer! There are healthier alternatives that allow symptom relief as you support your body to heal.
 
One of the best choices for heartburn symptom relief is alginate-based raft therapy.
 
Normally, after eating, an acid layer forms on top of the stomach contents to create an acid pocket. With raft therapy, a gel-like “raft” floats on top of that acid pocket so that stomach contents don’t go up to your esophagus.
 
But why alginate?
 
Alginate or alginic acid is a compound found within the cell walls of brown algae and is naturally a gelling substance–making it a very effective raft to block stomach content reflux.
 
Alginate is taken with natural buffering agents such as calcium carbonate. Aside from being a buffer, calcium carbonate plays an important role in making the raft float. When it mixes with stomach acid, carbon dioxide bubbles are produced and trapped in the raft, causing it to float on top of stomach content.
 
The raft lasts for four hours in the stomach, and it can be digested and eliminated from the body, just like other dietary fibers. It is used after a meal in either tablet or liquid form. If taken during a meal or in capsule form, it will simply combine with food in the stomach and not form a raft.
 
Compared to PPIs, alginate-based raft therapy is safer and more effective. It is supported by a number of clinical studies, researches, and reviews. Read more about alginate-based raft therapy.
 
Now to be clear, while this can be a great option for symptom relief and protect the lining of your esophagus, it still doesn’t address the cause of heartburn.
Next time, I’ll share some additionally helpful information about relieving GERD naturally and look at how to address the root cause.

It is my passion to work with people like you whose health symptoms are getting in the way of you living life fully and with a sense of freedom in your body. I can help you to regain your health so you can feel great and free to enjoy life fully.
 
If you’re ready to discover where your best health has been hiding, I’d love to connect with you!
Apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session. http://bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).
Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health!

~Rebecca

How CBD Can Help Your Gut

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How CBD Can Help Your Gut

You’ve probably heard about something called cannabinoids before, usually in reference to cannabis or marijuana. But did you know that your body produces its own cannabinoids?
 
It’s true! Your body has what’s called an endocannabinoid system–a complex system of naturally produced cannabinoids in the body. These endocannabinoids, as they are called, stimulate the cannabinoid receptors found in the different parts of the body.
 
The endocannabinoid system is involved in a lot of your body processes such as appetite, digestion, mood, the sensation of pain, inflammation, and even your memory.


 
When you take a cannabinoid such as the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC or cannabidiol (CBD), they fit into your cannabinoid receptors and affect the level of your neurotransmitters which ultimately affects how your brain cells communicate with each other. But as I mentioned, your own body makes cannabinoids–endo, means made within, hence the name endocannabinoid. Your brain makes these cannabinoids and they circulate throughout your body and attach to receptors to help your body in some way. Let’s explore how.

CBD and Digestion

Can CBD (derived from the hemp plant) help with digestion? Yes. Many researchers believe that the ECS (endocannabinoid system) is the link in the brain-gut axis. It allows communication between the central nervous system (CNS) and the enteric nervous system (ENS).  The CNS is your brain and spinal cord while your ENS runs from your esophagus to your rectum. Both of them speak the same language, using the same receptors, neurons, and neurotransmitters.
 
Moreover, cannabinoid receptors are found in the entire GI tract. These systems work together closely.
 
In summary, the ECS affects your gut in three major ways:

  • Modulate inflammation–The cannabinoid receptors, when stimulated by certain cannabinoids, help in protecting the gut from inflammation.
  • Regulates digestive action–Proper gut motility ensures all food is digested and nutrients are well absorbed. Cannabinoids found in plants can stimulate the cannabinoid receptors so that nausea and vomiting are prevented. This calms the stomach and even decreases excess stomach acid. Much of the research shows that the endocannabinoid system regulates nausea and vomiting in humans and other animals.
  • Regulates communication to your brain–As I mentioned earlier, the ECS links the brain and gut. When you are stressed or in pain, this alters your digestive function. When you have GI problems, this is communicated back to the brain.

4 Ways to Support your ECS

To support your ECS for gut health, take these tips into consideration:

  1. Manage your stress. Although it’s the ECS that helps regulate your stress response, chronic stress will deplete the ability of your ECS to do so. So take it easy. Make sure you have time to relax, rest, and recuperate. HeartMath, meditation, tai chi, yoga, and breathing exercises are all great ways to support your ECS.
  2. Limit alcohol consumption. Heavy drinking of alcohol definitely impairs the ability of your cannabinoid receptors to process cannabinoids.
  3. Eat dietary cannabinoids. These are found in cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage. Fatty fish, nuts, and seeds also contain fatty acids–like Omega 3 fatty acids–that are building blocks for endocannabinoids. Herbs and spices such as rosemary, black pepper, clove, and basil, are good sources, too!
  4. Take a CBD supplement. CBD is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. CBD oil is natural and non-harmful. Thus you can use it for the long-term. You can check out the many health benefits of CBD oil by following this link.

It is my passion to work with people like you whose health symptoms are getting in the way of you living life fully and with a sense of freedom in your body. I can help you to regain your health so you can feel great and free to enjoy life fully.
 
If you’re ready to discover where your best health has been hiding, I’d love to connect with you!Apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session. http://bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health!
~Rebecca