Alkaline Water Healing Properties for GERD

Unlike conventional drinking water, pH 8.8 alkaline water instantly denatures pepsin, rendering it permanently inactive. In addition, it has good acid-buffering capacity. Thus, the consumption of alkaline water may have therapeutic benefits for patients with reflux disease.
Other Warnings
Do not consume alkaline water with any medicines, supplements, or other additives. The alkaline water is reactive, and can form potentially dangerous by-products when mixed with a drug or other chemical compounds.
You should store ionised water in sealed glass bottles rather than plastic bottles, because it is reactive and can react with some plastics. It also reacts with the air and loses its ionisation if it is left exposed (of course, the alkaline minerals remain).


Others say that alkaline water helps:
http://www.alkalinediseasecure.com/acid-reflux/

From what I've read, it seems that alkaline water may help but only where you in fact have High Stomach Acid GERD.  Where you have Low Stomach Acid GERD, it appears that alkaline water may make the problem worse.

So, if you've determined that you have High Stomach Acid GERD, which you can do by doing the HCL test, then you may want to try alkaline water.  When you do, make sure you pay attention to how you feel and how your body reacts to the alkaline water.

Papaya Good for GERD? The Jury's Still Out

There's tons of articles, blogs, and websites out there that talk about the benefits of Papaya fruit and GERD:

Papaya is a powerhouse fruit that is not used nearly enough in our society. Papaya is an excellent natural remedy for acid reflux disease.  It is not only a low acidic food, but contains an enzyme called papain that is designed specifically to help with digestion.  It also consists of potassium which is helpful in providing  an healthy bacterial setting for your intestines.  This eases the digestive process and helps your stomach not work as hard.  This is the underlying source of health to fix the disease process. 

Papaya also has more than the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C.  vitamin C also helps with digestion.  You don't necessarily have to eat papaya to get it's benefits.  You can also buy a papaya enzyme supplement.  My family uses this to get our papain and it comes with a mint taste. 

and

Papaya : If you have access to fresh papaya, eat half of one for breakfast every morning with half a cup of yogurt and you will see a huge improvement in the amount of acid your body is producing. Papayas contains papain which will aide in the digestive process along with the live cultures in the yogurt. Squirt a slice of lemon over the flesh of the papaya for added flavor and Vitamins before eating, or sprinkle with a Tablespoon of wheat germ for a nutty flavor. If papaya is not available in your area, pick up some papaya tablets at the health food store. Read the label to be sure they do not contain any salt, sugar or sorbitol (sugar substitute).

However, after more digging, it seems there's still no real evidence, or consensus on Papaya: 

Papaya Enzyme 
One of the alternative treatments for GERD that you may have heard about is papain, or papaya enzyme.Papaya enzymes occur naturally in the fruit of the papaya plant, and they have well established proteolytic properties, meaning that they help digest proteins. For this reason, one of the historical uses of papaya has been as a meat tenderizer -- marinading tough cuts of meat in papaya for several hours can soften the muscle fibers, making the meat easier to chew.

Enzyme FunctionThere simply isn't any scientific evidence that papaya enzyme can help reduce symptoms of GERD. In part, this is because enzymes are very reaction-specific, as explained by Drs. Mary Campbell and Shawn Farrell in their book "Biochemistry." Enzymes with roles in metabolism don't play a part in digestion. Enzymes that digest fats can't affect carbohydrates. In the specific case of papaya enzyme, because it digests protein, it has by definition no effect whatsoever upon acid production or reflux.

Other Considerations

A further reason that papaya enzyme can't affect or reduce your GERD is that enzymes operate within a very narrow range of temperatures and acidity levels. Very few enzymes can survive the highly acidic interior of the stomach, and papaya enzymes aren't among them. As such, when you consume papaya enzyme, your stomach acid renders it inactive. You simply digest the enzyme, which is itself a protein, as you would any other dietary protein.

For now, I've added papaya to my list of items to buy at the super market.  We'll see how it goes.

GERD Remedy: Apple Cider Vinegar

I think if you do a search of the internet you'll find that Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is considered almost a universal cure.  I tried it myself and it did provide some relief, but just not enough.  Nevertheless, there's plenty of people that swear by ACV and how it both helps and removes their symptoms.  Just note, that, currently, there's no studies to support if ACV does or doesn't help with acid reflux.  

Some people say that ACV helps to tighten the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES).  The LES is the valve separating the stomach and the esophagus that when weak is said to be the reason why stomach acids flow back up towards your throat.  Some people say ACV encourages the production of acid in your stomach, and so helps if you have low stomach acid.  Others still say that ACV helps in the digestion of fats.

What Kind of ACV

People recommend Bragg's raw unpasteurized apple cider vinegar because it retains the natural enzymes that are lost during pasteurization. You can try finding other brands, but Bragg's seems to be the most popular.  Just make sure it's organic and raw unpasteurized.

How to Drink It

1. Try two tablespoons with a glass of water.  If you hate the taste then mix in a tiny bit of honey.

2. Another GERD remedy I found:
Heaping teaspoon of bee pollen granules. (Let them soak in 8 to 10oz of Purified or Alkaline Water for 15minutes
1/4 teaspoon pure cinnamon (I use Saigon)
1 tablespoon Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother
Mix them together after the bee pollen granules have soaked, and drink it down. Don't sip, gulp.  

Possible Side Effects

1. Teeth Enamel Damage - Make sure to dilute the vinegar.
2.  Apple cider vinegar is suspected to negatively interact with:

• Diuretics
• Laxatives
• Heart disease medication
• Diabetes drugs

3. DO NOT TAKE IF YOU SUSPECT AN ULCER.  ACV can seriously aggravate your ulcer.  Check with your doctor before taking ACV to make sure you're not making your condition worse.

What are H2 Blockers and GERD

Many of us run to the pharmacy as soon as we feel any kind of heartburn. When we get to the pharmacy, we're bombarded by different remedies.  One type of remedy we can take are called H2 Blockers.

I thought maybe you'd like some more information on these drugs:

Examples of H2 Blockers

Generic Name	Brand Name
cimetidine	Tagamet
famotidine	Pepcid
nizatidine	Axid
ranitidine	Zantac

H2 blockers (also sometimes referred to as acid reducers or H2 receptor antagonists) are available in nonprescription and prescription forms. Prescription forms are stronger than the nonprescription forms.
H2 blockers are usually taken by mouth, although some can also be given as an injection. Two doses (morning and evening) are generally recommended to control both daytime and nighttime symptoms. Doctors sometimes recommend a single dose, taken at bedtime, for people who have difficulty remembering to take their medicines.

How It Works

H2 blockers reduce the production of stomach acid. This makes the stomach juices less acidic so that any stomach juice that gets into the esophagus is less irritating. This relieves symptoms and allows the esophagus to heal.

Why It Is Used

H2 blockers are used to treat the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). They may be prescribed for your symptoms without any diagnostic testing if your symptoms point to GERD.

• H2 blockers may be used together with antacids.
• Nonprescription H2 blockers may be used for up to 2 weeks for short-term symptom relief. But if you have been using nonprescription medicines to treat your symptoms for longer than 2 weeks, talk to your doctor. If you have GERD, the stomach acid could be causing damage to your esophagus. Your doctor can help you find the right treatment.
• H2 blockers may be used on a long-term basis to relieve persistent GERD symptoms.

How Well It Works

All of the H2 blockers in this class are about equally effective.
H2 blockers heal the damage done to the esophagus by GERD (esophagitis) in about 5 out of 10 people.

H2 blockers also work to help symptoms of GERD. But the number of people who take H2 blockers and who have no GERD symptoms is usually less than 5 out of 10 people. That means that of the people taking H2 blockers, more than 5 out of 10 still have some GERD symptoms.

Side Effects

H2 blockers have been in use since the late 1960s. H2 blockers are well studied and are considered very safe.
Minimal side effects occur with use of H2 blockers. Side effects may include:

• Headache.
• Dizziness.
• Diarrhea.
• Constipation.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

GERD Causing Foods to Avoid

Tangy Citrus Fruits

Oranges, grapefruits and orange juice are classic heartburn foods

Tomatoes

They're highly acidic and are likely to trigger your GERD.

Garlic

Onions

Spicy foods

Peppermint

Cheese

Nuts

Avocados

Greasy redmeat (rib eye)

Alcohol

Caffeine

Chocolate

Carbonated Beverages

Fried/Fatty foods

Vinegar 

Excluding apple cider vinegar which has been known to help some GERD sufferers

High sugar foods (including fruits) 

Foods to Eat to Prevent GERD

I personally eat these foods, they generally do not aggravate my GERD.

Oatmeal
Drop that doughnut, unless you want heartburn for breakfast. If you have GERD, high-fat food is usually a recipe for pain. Instead choose oatmeal. It's a low-fat, high-fiber meal that can soothe your stomach. Top it off with sliced bananas, which are thought to fight stomach acid naturally.

Ginger
Fresh ginger acts as an anti-inflammatory and is an age-old remedy for stomach problems of all kinds. You can get your daily dose—2 to 4 grams (more than that can actually cause heartburn)—by steeping ginger in hot water to make tea, chewing a piece of ginger, or using ginger generously when you cook.

Pasta (hold the red sauce)
Tomatoes and heavy sauces are a no-no for people with GERD—which rules out a lot of classic Italian dishes (unfortunately). For those with a craving for pasta, the National Heartburn Alliance recommends thin, broth-like sauces. And using a whole-wheat pasta will boost your fiber intake.

I personally like to make a garlic sauce.  Make sure you use locally grown garlic to make sure the import process has not killed off the health benefits of your garlic.

Beans
Certain fatty meats, such as ground beef, are thought to trigger heartburn. Beans are an excellent source of protein and fiber and a great alternative to meat. If you have GERD, they should be a regular feature in your diet.

Almonds
Raw almonds are wonderful if you're looking for a mid-day snack.  It's loaded with protein and vitamins, and you can be quite satisfied by just eating a handful.

I found a chart that's pretty handy, to which I both added and put some notes for you.  I definitely don't subscribe to eating all these foods, particularly the cookies.  But take a look:

Safe Foods for the Acid Reflux Diet

Food Group	Foods With Little Potential to Cause Heartburn
Fruit	• Apple, fresh • Apple, dried • Apple juice • Banana • Melons • Strawberries Try to limit high calorie fruits.
Vegetables	• Baked potato • Broccoli • Cabbage • Carrots • Green beans • Peas • Romaine or iceberg lettuce • Eggplant • Celery • Sweet bell peppers • Lentils • Watercress Some websites warn against eating vegetables rich in starch, such as potato, sweet potato, carrots, brussel sprouts, tomatos and turnips.
Meat	• Ground beef, extra-lean • Steak, London Broil • Chicken breast, skinless • Turkey meat • Egg whites • Egg substitute • Fish, no added fat • Shrimp, crab meat I've read that pork may not be good for GERD.
Dairy	• Cheese, feta or goat • Cream cheese, fat-free • Sour cream, fat-free • Soy cheese, low-fat Just make sure you're not lactose intolerant or that lactose in some way may be the cause of your GERD.  Cut all lactose out then introduce it again to see if this may be the cause.
Grains	• Bread, mult-grain or white • Cereal, bran or oatmeal • Corn bread • Graham crakers • Pretzels • Rice, brown or white • Rice cakes Just keep in mind that your GERD may be cause because of some Gluten intolerance, so try to cut glutens out then introduce them to see how you feel.
Beverages	• Mineral water • Alkaline water I've read some articles on the benefits of alkaline water, so this may be worth a try.
Fats / Oils	• Salad dressing, low-fat • Olive oil • Coconut oil Try to limit the use of oils as much as possible because, as you probably know, grease can aggravate GERD.
Sweets / Desserts	• Cookie, fat-free • Jelly beans • Red licorice • Potato chips, baked I've been staying far away from all kinds of deserts period, but you can give these a try and note how you feel.

My GERD Cause: Water Addiction

Believe it or not, I think my virtual addiction to water may have contributed to me having GERD.

Let me go back, so about 6 years ago I gave up soda and fruit juices.  Like most of you, I read and heard on the radio and TV about how soda is so bad for you, along with every type of drink that has tons of sugar.  So, me, being a pseudo health conscious person, gave up soda.  Yeap, just like that.  Cold turkey.

I went from a about a liter of soda a day to about a gallon of water a day.  I think I got addicted to the drinking motion.  The best thing is that water is quite accessible, and free!

I think my problem started with my obsession with drinking at least a glass of water at night.  I'd just chug down a whole glass then get to bed.  It's only now, with all my GERD research, that I realize that putting water in your stomach is the same as putting food in your stomach.  Water, like the rest of your food, has to be digested.  Also, like I've written in other posts, water dilutes stomach acids.  This means that I was filling up my stomach with liquid that needed to be digested, while at the same time diluting the stomach acid that was meant to digest it.

By filling my belly with water I was forcing my stomach to digest at night (when digestion slows), while my body was lying down (no gravity to help), and diluting the stomach acid that was meant to do the digestion.

My GERD Cause: Eating Too Little, Eating Too Much

My hate of food goes back to when I was young, being told I wasn't skinny enough.  So I started starving myself.  Unfortunately, my love of food would call me back and I would eat and eat a lot.  I'm not sure if I was a binge eater per se, particularly during my college years.  I was quite thin and eating was just something you did between all the other stuff going on.  This all changed when I came back home and started to work.

Once you're working, going out to eat becomes a big part of socializing.  You eat, you drink, and sometimes you eat some more to sober up before you pass out.  However, as I got older and exercised less, while still going out then I started to put in more pounds.  This is when I discovered lemonade cleanses (which most people I knew used as a diet really).  At some point I lost 20lbs doing that cleanse, just to be told by my doctor that I was much too weak because I had lost so much muscle mass.  I also suspect that doing those lemonade cleanse (ie. starvation diets) led to other health complications, which I wont go into right now.

At some point I just couldn't do the lemonade cleanses, so I started doing crazy calorie diets, trying to stop myself at 1,000 a day; though 1200 was the very minimum they recommended for me.  This is when my binging really started.  I would devoutly keep my diet but once I was off the diet then I just lost all control and would buy like $20 worth of candy, ice cream, and cookies.  I wasn't a big chip person, all sugar for me.  You'd laugh now but I was quite good at eating right during the day, organic, local, all that bs that at night I completely forgot.  Also, I'd control myself all day, whether by choice or because I was busy, then just eat as much as I wanted at night, which was always too much.  Then I'd crash.  I think going to bed with my stomach twice the size of what it should be was an every day thing.  I blamed it on my scheduled: work was at fault for me working late hours so of course I have to eat late then go to bed full.

Prevent Night Time GERD

There's tons of suggestions out there on how to prevent night time GERD.  Just know, I find that by preventing night time GERD, you can wake up to a GERD free morning too.

So here are some of the suggestions I've found out there:

1. Eat your big meal at lunch instead of at dinnertime.

This is very important to make sure you digest your food before sleep.  Going to bed with a full belly is a guaranteed way of not getting a good night sleep.

2. Eat at least two to three hours before lying down.

This will give you time to digest and go to bed with an empty stomach.

3. Avoid foods that are known to lead to heartburn.  Some foods to avoid: chocolate, mint, citrus, tomatoes, pepper, vinegar, catsup, and mustard.

Consider a high protein and low carbohydrate diet.  I'm now on a paleo diet.

4. Eliminate late-night snacking.

This has been extremely hard for me.  I use to do most of my eating as night time snacking.  Just take a look at how I got here. The thing is, that every little bit of food and liquid (including water) needs to be digested and in order to have a good night sleep most of your digestion has to be done before hand.

5. Sleep with your head and shoulder on an incline.

I raised the head of my bed by 4 inches.  I have read in many places that this helps by relieving pressure from your esophagus.  Gravity is a great thing for us GERD sufferers.

6. Sleep on your left side.

I prefer to sleep on my back, but I have found that sleeping on my right side doesn't feel as comfortable.

7. Make sure your bed clothes are loose-fitting.

This really applies to everything.  Forget the tight clothes, they restrict everything in your body. Loose clothing helps your body's circulation.

8. Stop smoking.

Considering all the other problems that smoking causes, this is just not a surprise.

9. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and carbonated drinks.

This is quite painful.  It means no going out to bars, unless it's to drink water, and no morning coffee.

10. Eat your food slowly.

I find this is very helpful.  I use a small teaspoon, cut my food into tiny pieces, and make sure I pay attention to what I'm eating and how I'm eating.  For this, you may need to turn the TV off while eating.  Just pay attention, slow it down, and chew a lot.

11. Eat smaller portions.  

I think I've cut my food portions by more than half.  Sometimes it's because I really can't eat any more.  Smaller portions will help you not over eat, which very important in controlling your GERD.

12. Avoid fatty/greasy foods. Try lean meats.

I mostly only eat poultry and fish now.  I'm not looking forward to this summer though, because I've always enjoyed a big burger. I've just found that everything to control grease.  I find that eating greasy food will give me what I call my "GERD attack," which is sudden shortness of breath and painful bloating and burping.