Acid Reflux and Fats

[Indy51]

Here's a link to a recent podcast interview with Norm Robillard you might find useful:
http://paleomagonline.com/paleo-magazine-radio-eps-38-resistant-starch-take-two/

 

[catherinecherub]

There are people who suffer acid reflux when their stress levels are high.

Does Stress Really Make It Worse?
It’s still debatable whether or not stress actually increases the production of stomach acid or physically creates a worsening in acid. Currently, many scientists believe that when you’re stressed, you become more sensitive to smaller amounts of acid in the esophagus. In other words, though the study participants reported feeling more discomfort, the scientists didn’t find any increase in total acid produced.
In another study published in 2005, researchers measured the levels of esophageal acids in more than 40 patients who had chronic heartburn or acid reflux. They found that those who were stressed when required to prepare and deliver a five-minute speech reported more intense reflux symptoms. However, they actually produced no more acid than the patients who weren’t stressed.

http://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/stress

We all know that stress can cause the body to change how we feel. There are two types of stress, good stress and bad stress. It is how we manage the bad stress that makes the difference.

http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/stress-management/good-stress.htm

 

[SJC]

I too was on Lanzaprole, but they simply did not do anything for my acid reflux. Having a doctor at the time that didn't give a toss didn' help either.

In the end I found that the low carb diet has helped massively - however I still can't do the fat part very well - even using "healthy" fats. Things such as mackerel/sadines will cause me problems which is really annoying as I love them. Cream and butter also cause problems at times, but if I don overdo things I can mostly get away with it.

I have over time managed to create a list of foods I can tolerate that contain fat/carbs that don't cause me acid or spikes - it has taken trial and error. I usually start out by banishing a food completely from my diet for about 4 weeks and then reintroduce it. Not sure why - my body seems to need a "reset" on certain foods sometimes.

I will admit to living on salad most of the time, but I don't mind them. I do experiment with what I serve them with i.e.

small piece of salmon / grilled chicken / tuna / omelette/ mixed bean
I do cheese - but not cheddar - I use salad cheese/feta or buffalo mozerella and for english cheese I use wenslydale or cheshire and sometimes white stilton
For grains I have less issue with rye based bread/crackers than with wheat, but still keep it a restricted part of the diet.

I did invest in a low carb cookbook wich has been most useful for prompting ideas. - more so in winter when hot food is preferable "The Complete Book of Low-Carbohydrate Cooking" Elaine Gardner

Try restricting both grains/fats for a while and then re-introduce them as required.
Hope this helps
Eater of Ants

I understand I must keep a better diary of foods and symptoms. I have been winging it with acid reflux for years. Weirdly though my flare ups show no obvious cause other than stressful times when it is more likely to play up. Since changing to LCHF I have managed to go to the toilet every single day. Before this I was lucky if I went 2 or 3 times a week.....sometimes once a week!

 

[SJC]

There are people who suffer acid reflux when their stress levels are high.

Does Stress Really Make It Worse?
It’s still debatable whether or not stress actually increases the production of stomach acid or physically creates a worsening in acid. Currently, many scientists believe that when you’re stressed, you become more sensitive to smaller amounts of acid in the esophagus. In other words, though the study participants reported feeling more discomfort, the scientists didn’t find any increase in total acid produced.
In another study published in 2005, researchers measured the levels of esophageal acids in more than 40 patients who had chronic heartburn or acid reflux. They found that those who were stressed when required to prepare and deliver a five-minute speech reported more intense reflux symptoms. However, they actually produced no more acid than the patients who weren’t stressed.

http://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/stress

We all know that stress can cause the body to change how we feel. There are two types of stress, good stress and bad stress. It is how we manage the bad stress that makes the difference.

http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/stress-management/good-stress.htm

With being a trained anxiety management therapist, I do tend to practice what I preach. I have had cancer, big operation, and three deaths to deal with all inside 2 years. It's been a tough old time and I think even the calmest of people would have struggled to keep stress levels down
.Work in progress

 

[SJC]

Unfortunately that was my experience too - all they want to do is prescribe PPIs - it seems to be their only answer to everything.

I read Dr Pimentel's book, read a lot about digestion on the net and came up with my own plan. Then for the past year, I've also been seeing a naturopath to fine tune some of it. The supplements she's given me have made a big difference. I wouldn't say things are 100% fine now, but compared to what they were like when I was diagnosed, there's no comparison.

I think I got a kick start though by having 2 lots of antibiotics for a UTI (also part of my diagnosis) - so gave me a clear playing field for dietary intervention. Another thing that makes a big difference to dysbiosis for me is keeping my Vitamin D levels topped up - too much or too little and my gut tells me about it.

I think there's some kind of breath test for SIBO - but not sure if it's done in the UK - most of the stuff I've read about it comes from US sites.

There's not a naturopath for sixty miles near me. Maybe wouldn't hurt to ring one for advice. Do they practice this kind of thing under any other body name?

 

[Indy51]

There's not a naturopath for sixty miles near me. Maybe wouldn't hurt to ring one for advice. Do they practice this kind of thing under any other body name?

I'm in Australia, so no clue about what happens in the UK except what I read about here and other forums.

After listening to the Robillard interview again, I'm thinking his book on SIBO would probably be a good investment. There's also links to his website in the interview notes and maybe you'll pick up some more tips there.

There's also another functional medicine practitioner called Allison Siebecker who seems to specialise in it, so might be worthwhile checking out her site as well: http://www.siboinfo.com/

 

[SJC]

I'm in Australia, so no clue about what happens in the UK except what I read about here and other forums.

After listening to the Robillard interview again, I'm thinking his book on SIBO would probably be a good investment. There's also links to his website in the interview notes and maybe you'll pick up some more tips there.

There's also another functional medicine practitioner called Allison Siebecker who seems to specialise in it, so might be worthwhile checking out her site as well:
http://www.siboinfo.com/

Thanks for your help. Is the SIBO test the breath test? It's very costly if I can't get it done on the NHS. There is another test for candida that I can buy. Would that be worth the money.I was tested for H pylori and it came back negative. I don't seem to suffer with diarrhoea. I take it these are two completely serperate tests?

 

[Indy51]

Thanks for your help. Is the SIBO test the breath test? It's very costly if I can't get it done on the NHS. There is another test for candida that I can buy. Would that be worth the money.I was tested for H pylori and it came back negative. I don't seem to suffer with diarrhoea. I take it these are two completely serperate tests?

Yes, the SIBO test is the breath test. No idea about candida test. I've never had either. I've also had the H. pylori test each time I've had an endoscopy (3 times now) and has always been negative. I was on PPIs for around 9 years in total and I think the drug completely screwed my digestion up.

 

[SJC]

I remember once saying to my gastroenterologist, 'why do PPIs sometimes make me worse'? He had no idea!!
I have just bought Robillards's book.

 

[SJC]

I read the whole book! I absorbed about 70% of it but when it came to the end and the recipes I felt a bit deflated. I need a concise list of foods to avoid really and a few recipes that I actually like the look of would be a bonus.

 

[Indy51]

Reading the reviews of the book at Amazon, there are supposed to be tables at the end of the book that list foods with their FP (fermentation potential) - isn't that the kind of list you're looking for? [assuming you bought the Fast Tract Digestion (IBS/SIBO) book]

I found it interesting that he mentioned how high sweet potato was in the interview - I tested myself ages ago with a small amount after a long break from eating it and could literally track it through the digestion process by the amazing noises!

 

[SJC]

Yes there are some. I am finding there is no exhaustive list though.

 

[Indy51]

Yes there are some. I am finding there is no exhaustive list though.

There's also the Specific Carbohydrate Diet - I saw quite a few books on it in my local library, but haven't read any. If you ignore the hard sell stuff at http://scdlifestyle.com/ you can pick up quite a lot of info there. I enjoy some of the podcasts. I've never tried their method as it's very restrictive at the beginning - basically only meat, non-starchy vegs, cooked apple and pear for the first few weeks, then introducing foods one by one.

FODMAPS, Robillard's method and SCD are all variations of a theme though and take quite a bit of discipline - a period of "starving" the bad bacteria (or killing them off with the correct antibiotics or botanicals like oregano oil etc), then introducing the FODMAPS foods to test what effect they have on you. If you have a doctor who will prescribe rifaximin, that would probably be a good start, though I've found doctors are finally getting the message about overprescribing antibiotics these days. Even then you may need to add digestive aids. I've stumbled around on my own for 2 years trying to sort it out. It would be much easier if you could find someone to guide you through it. Maybe the app from Monash Uni would help?

http://www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/fodmap/

 

[Adelle0607]

Hi I've had acid reflux since I was a teenager and when I eat a high fat diet it really does trigger it. I've found that If you also try to eat small frequent meals (2-3 hrs) it doesn't trigger it very much but if I eat a big meal/to the point you feel bloated then that's when I get really bad attacks of gerd....

and also caffeinated drinks...eating only fish/seafood and vegetables also improved my gerd....and not eating lots , just small meals and eating on time...hope that'll help


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[Adelle0607]

And also stress do play a factor too yes I remember my acid reflux also goes haywire when I'm doing work overtime or caught up with doing projects that extend till the early am...plus coffee/tea...


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[jack412]

Alcohol does mine in

 

[jassi]

I suffered from acid reflux and was on treatment, but once I was diagnosed with type 2, and stopped eating large amounts of carbohydrate, particularly flour based products, the problem completely disappeared and I haven't suffered for several years.

 

[Gillie Ruth]

Stress, stress and more stress does me in! Swollen tummy, gas, burps that could inflate a hit air balloon, and pain...bleh!

I find small meals, mild rather than spicy, small frequent drinks of water...a large glass sets me belching...and mild coffee or tea, again small helps.

Going too long without a small meal on board makes me acidy, so I sort of graze rather than eat big meals.

Greek yoghurt seems to help a lot, alcohol only a little with meals or pain and burps.

I use berries and blood plums with Greek yoghurt in a smoothie for.breakfast, seems to help, and take all my meds with that yoghurt.