Acid and Digestive Disorders: Breaking the Vicious Circle

THE RISK

The primary symptom of acid reflux is obvious to those who have it. During the digestive process, acid flows up into the throat and causes a burning sensation. This is caused by a breakdown in the valve that separates the stomach from the esophagus. It's an indication that the acid-alkaline balance in the digestive tract has been disrupted. Unless that balance is restored, any attempt to treat or correct the acid reflux problem will provide nothing more than short-term relief.

The accumulation of acid in the digestive tract is often the result of eating the wrong types of food. Acid is not caused only by excessive consumption of junk food. Anything processed or overloaded with additives can upset the acid-alkaline balance in the digestive system. Even foods that you think are healthy can be highly acidic.

In a digestive tract that's already out of balance, something as simple as cooking your food can lead to further problems. Cooking destroys natural enzymes in the food that assist with digestion. When your digestive system is unable to produce the necessary enzymes for digestion, the loss of natural enzymes makes the problem worse.

Lifestyle also contributes to digestive disorders. Stress intensifies hyperacidity. Blood is diverted away from the stomach to the heart, lungs and muscles for the "fight or flight" response. The stomach is deprived of necessary oxygen and nutrients and cannot form sufficient enzymes for proper digestion.

THE DAMAGE

Acid reflux irritates and swells the mucous lining in the throat, esophagus and stomach, which disrupts the digestive process. The irritation can form ulcers. The acid-alkaline balance of the digestive tract is also upset, leading to further accumulation of acid.

The intestines are affected even more severely. Unlike digestion in the stomach, the intestinal digestive process is meant to be alkaline, not acidic. Therefore, the intestinal walls do not have a thick mucous lining that protects from acid as the stomach does. The intestinal walls are meant to facilitate the absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream.

When acid inflames the intestinal walls, it disrupts the acid/alkaline balance of the digestive tract. It kills off the friendly bacteria that aid in digestion ? friendly bacteria that are no longer present in much of our food supply. The intestinal inflammation also slows down peristalsis, the contraction of the colon that pushes food along the intestinal tract. Undigested food particles putrefy and lead to greater accumulation of acid.

The liver and gallbladder are also affected. When the liver becomes overloaded with acidic waste that it can't eliminate, it crystallizes bile and acid waste into gallstones. The gallbladder has difficulty releasing bile, which inhibits proper digestion and further slows peristalsis. Acid levels continue to rise, the liver becomes damaged, and all other body organs become vulnerable to deterioration. Degenerative disease sets in.

THE BENEFITS OF A BALANCED pH

The best way to restore pH balance to your digestive tract is to eliminate foods that cause acid reflux. This also means identifying and eliminating foods that cause an allergic response.

Certain raw foods and whole foods and the right combination of vegetable juices can heal the digestive tract lining and eliminate further accumulation of acid waste. They can heal and prevent the formation of ulcers.

Supplements that replace the friendly bacteria and the digestive enzymes destroyed by acid can also help.

If you truly want to change and help your body heal itself you need to take a proactive approach. Don't expect to feed your body processed foods, not exercise, then pop a pill and be all better? it just doesn't work that way. If you want to bring your body into pH balance then you need a complete approach. A great place to start is the Immersion Kit, you can learn more by going to http://www.pH-health.com

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/32046/cid=1273248692ei=rUooSeqZCKCQ6APU-6hBusg=AFQjCNGqdllzOcydwwIDwECTOgcXj51WqwbNutrition/b Wise: Osteoporosis Risk in Cancer Survivors, Graham b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fKansas City infoZine,nbsp;MOnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Karen Collins, MS, RD, CDN - Q: Is it true that cancer survivors face increased risk for osteoporosis? Q: Are graham cracker piecrusts lower in fat than b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.wtap.com/news/headlines/34907029.htmlcid=1273059866ei=rUooSeqZCKCQ6APU-6hBusg=AFQjCNH2XaDSYsJTYXGYVjU2TcGrgljX2gThanksgiving bNutrition/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWTAP-TV,nbsp;WVnbsp;-/font nobr17 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1bNutrition/b is not something people typically focus on during the holiday season, but experts say the average person gains between five and ten pounds during b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.wtap.com/news/headlines/34875729.htmlcid=1273059866ei=rUooSeqZCKCQ6APU-6hBusg=AFQjCNG8jK0m7VioLxoxhxBLxIQD0ymAkQPreparing for Winter/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrWTAP-TV/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1273059866hl=ennobrall 2 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/norwalkadvocate/business/ci_11048229cid=1273164829ei=rUooSeqZCKCQ6APU-6hBusg=AFQjCNE7T7s1t6KEOqs160YpcYzOLF8rJgRockin#39; the right drink: Local couple makes bnutrition/b colorful b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNorwalk Advocate,nbsp;ctnbsp;-/font nobr10 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Harold Davis Amy Guerreri and her husband Robert of Old Greenwich are the co-founders of Rockin#39; Water, a vitamin water aimed at the youth market. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20081122/NEWS01/81122015/-1/YOURUPSTATEcid=0ei=rUooSeqZCKCQ6APU-6hBusg=AFQjCNHqsopfFs0x3m9_jCijIF_XENJMegGHS, YMCA team up on exercise and bnutrition/b plan/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fGreenville News,nbsp;SCnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b Achieving Total Health, physicians refer patients at risk for the conditions to the YMCA, where they will get a six-week exercise and bnutrition/b plan. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE4AK82Q20081121cid=1273037623ei=rUooSeqZCKCQ6APU-6hBusg=AFQjCNECzpp2yUHkDg-z3cfQ_yzPOLeHewTasks for Obama#39;s ag sec: School food, subsidy cap/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fReutersnbsp;-/font nobr19 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;With a downturn in the economy, USDA must meet the challenge of helping American families put food on the table and support their diets and bnutrition/b,quot; b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.thesnaponline.com/local/local_story_326093832.htmlcid=1272934742ei=rUooSeqZCKCQ6APU-6hBusg=AFQjCNH4NkjdTxQIdAiymMXAprHYwwOfxwAlbemarle bNutrition/b to host health fair Nov. 22/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fStanly News Press,nbsp;NCnbsp;-/font nobrNov 21, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Local CPA firm. Income Tax Preparation experience preferred. CPA preferred. Flexible hours (20-40) per week. Respond to ...gt;MORE First United Methodist b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://old.thejakartapost.com/detailcity.asp%3Ffileid%3D20081122.C03%26irec%3D2cid=0ei=rUooSeqZCKCQ6APU-6hBusg=AFQjCNGMkm5SfYXiUqYD-M6L6uLP9zaYBAbNutrition/b awareness pilot project succeed in educating the poor/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fJakarta Post,nbsp;Indonesianbsp;-/font nobr12 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Residents in Kalibaru, North Jakarta, said a pilot bnutrition/b and health awareness project aimed at abolishing malnutrition helped them understand how to b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://isurfhopkinsco.com/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D1280%26Itemid%3D120cid=0ei=rUooSeqZCKCQ6APU-6hBusg=AFQjCNGuKMP1sXWEpSJZ-4jnqhJKT3xVbAHawkins Touts bNutrition/b and Exercise/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fiSurfHopkinsCo,nbsp;KYnbsp;-/font nobr18 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1She is the bNutrition/b outreach coordinator for the Pennyrile Allied Community Service. Hawkins travels to elementary and middle schools in Hopkins, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://nashville.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2008/11/24/story3.htmlcid=1273003073ei=rUooSeqZCKCQ6APU-6hBusg=AFQjCNFqZSVWmQGOFB2WiORupFUiQz-NXwGoo Goo maker going gah-gah over bnutrition/b bars/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNashville Business Journal,nbsp;TNnbsp;-/font nobrNov 21, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The maker of Goo Goo Clusters made its mark with the marshmallow goodness, but that can’t compete with consumers’ cravings for healthy snacks. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.pafarmnews.com/Articles/2008/081122_PFB_lganimalvet.htmcid=1273274854ei=rUooSeqZCKCQ6APU-6hBusg=AFQjCNGg4EHiUwPZgXElZzsWvYBAY_9DaQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=KXHRgK7f2RMJimgurl=www.pafarmnews.com/images/Courtesy/ag-foundation.jpg width=80 height=56 alt= border=1brfont size=-2PA Farm News/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.pafarmnews.com/Articles/2008/081122_farmcity.htmcid=1273274854ei=rUooSeqZCKCQ6APU-6hBusg=AFQjCNEs5NeuoF3v-m45m04HLlvmavYyJQCumberland County Students Help Kick Off #39;Farm-City Week#39; in b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPA Farm News,nbsp;PAnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Kelly Renard, director of child bnutrition/b services for the Carlisle Area School District, taught students about bnutrition/b in a lesson entitled, “Whole Foods b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.pafarmnews.com/Articles/2008/081122_PFB_lganimalvet.htmcid=1273274854ei=rUooSeqZCKCQ6APU-6hBusg=AFQjCNGg4EHiUwPZgXElZzsWvYBAY_9DaQPA Friends of Ag Foundation Unveils Large Animal Vet Scholarship b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrPA Farm News/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1273274854hl=ennobrall 2 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
nutrition - Google News

Getting More Minerals From Your Fruits and Vegetables

Before the thirties, people knew the importance of mineral. Their... Read More

Focus on Trans Fat

There's no doubt--carbohydrates have taken center stage in public discourse... Read More

Cranberry Juice To The Rescue

Cranberry juice was first made by American settlers in 1683.... Read More

Lawsuits on Foods and Diets

The dangers of processed foods and diets Why is that... Read More

Find Mineral Nutrition Online

Mineral nutritionSearching for mineral nutrition information is much easier today... Read More

The Cholesterol Myth

Cholesterol. What images come to mind when you see this... Read More

An Open Letter to Mankind

In the last twenty years, a huge and growing body... Read More

Beauty Foods That Will Keep You Young and Healthy

You've heard that old saying: True beauty comes from within.... Read More

(Fitness) Health Thoughts, Living on the Health Minimum Wage?

Random thoughts taken from valuable sources, what many nutrition experts... Read More

Organic Eating - Why Bother?

Originally, all foods were "organic" ? grown and prepared without... Read More

The Sneak Attack of Trans- Fats

If you are like most people, you are probably confused... Read More

Physical Health is Attainable Through Proper Nutrition and Exercise

Obesity is epidemic in this country for both children and... Read More

The Secrets of the Centenarians: How to Live to 100!

When Helen Boardman was still a girlish 99, she fell... Read More

Nutrition as Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD Alternative Treatment: Help is as Close as the Kitchen

The quality of food we eat (or lack thereof) has... Read More

The Benefits of Iodine

Initially discovered as a new element in 1811 by Barnard... Read More

Fish Oil Data-some new facts about Fish Oil

According to the renowned research scientist and inventor of the... Read More

The History of Ambrotose® Complex

Ambrotose® - the Nutritional Alphabet of the "Sweet Language of... Read More

Male Infertility and Glutathione

Are You Half The Man Your Father Was?It is a... Read More

Protein and Endurance Sports

Endurance Sports are like music concerts. They start at a... Read More

Time Line of the Development of GlycoBiology and GlycoNutritionals

1880s - Characterization of monosaccharides by Emil Fischer.1952 - Fresh,... Read More

Dont Allow Your Food To Control You

Food addiction isn't a problem. Pretending like you can't live... Read More

Omega 3s: Using Our Heads to Nourish Our Brains

We sometimes hear about ways that we can take care... Read More

Green Tea, or not to Green Tea?

Wow! Is it just me or? Wait! Let me start... Read More

Glutamates

Approximately 30 years ago, food manufacturers were competing against the... Read More

Eating Instinctively

I start from the premise that eating instinctively means eating... Read More