Navigation

KCTinter · #1 02-02-2005, 11:02 AM

Does anyone have a CLUE as to how or why a low carb diet CURES acid reflux? I mentioned this on several posts -- how, without my even realizing it, I did NOT have to take my Nexium any more -- but a Nexium commercial last night just made me shout at the TV . . . "TRY LOW CARB!"

I have to remember to tell my doctor about this the next time I see her! It is so wonderful not to have to take prescription drugs any more!

cheftrina · #2 02-02-2005, 11:21 AM

Alida,
I SO know what you mean; I no longer pop Zantac like Tic-Tacs, and it is such a relief. I have tried to find a reason for this; from what I've read, it could be that we eat more fiber, or less wheat (though, products made with VWG don't seem to bother me).
Here's an article that mentions some theories as to why lc relieves acid reflux.

Rhalvahn · #3 02-02-2005, 12:59 PM

Alida,
On Dec 25th of 2002, my husband and I ended up in the ER because he was having REALLY bad chest pains. Turned out it was reflux. They gave him some drugs ($$$$) and off we were. We started Atkins Jan 1, 2003 and he never had to take more than that first dosage. Even when we took a side trip off Atkins, David still primarily ate Atkins stuff - he's a real 'meat' eater. I think that our body deals with the Atkins foods much better, the higher fiber/protein food lasts longer and our stomachs don't have to create so much acid. Most everyone I know that does low fat (high carb) has problems with reflux. All that extra acid to deal with all that high carb/sugar stuff causes the reflux. It's why most 'reflux' people will eat bread (dumb dumb dumb) to 'soak' up the acid - not realizing that the bread makes it WORSE!

Staci · #4 02-02-2005, 01:26 PM

Oh my, white bread causes heartburn like nothing else for me! No acid reflux is one of the big reasons I eat LC. I NEVER have reflux when I'm not eating the carby junk. When I think of the millions of buck spent on acid reflux meds, I get pretty furious at the medical profession. Leave it to them to overlook a simple and healthy cure in favor of a drug...

Catlady · #5 02-02-2005, 01:49 PM

Ok, this is my take on it:

From what I remember from my biology classes way long ago, proteins are primarily digested in the stomach (the acid is needed to break down the muscle tissue.) Carbohydrates are digested in the first part of the small intestine. Low fat/high carb diets tend to be very low in protein and so in a typical meal, there may be nothing for the acid to digest. Keep in mind that when you start eating, the stomach begins to churn in anticipation of the food coming down. If you are eating pretty much all carbs, they are going to pass through the stomach and into the small intestine at a rapid rate, leaving behind all that churning acid with nothing to do and perhaps that's why it starts coming up the esophagus. No wonder since I started to eat eggs and some meat for breakfast instead of cereal and toast I no longer start the day off with a nice case of heartburn.

Catlady · #6 02-02-2005, 01:57 PM

Trina, I just read the link and I can't say I'm all that convinced by the theory presented because I ate a lot of high-fiber whole grains (steel-cut oatmeal, brown rice, etc.) pre-LC and still suffered. Only when I cut them out of my diet all together did my heartburn and IBS disappear.

cheftrina · #7 02-02-2005, 02:50 PM

Esther,
There are a lot of different, individual reasons for digestion problems, and, like the article says, they aren't really sure why low carb seems to help. I think that in my case, it wasn't a sensitivity to gluten, but eating too many processed grains and not enough fiber. For you, it may be an inability to digest fiber effeciently. For others, it is often too many acidic foods (like citrus fruit and tomatoes). I know that I can eat food so spicy that it will make steam come out of my ears, but if I eat white toast, the heartburn is incredible. I think it is very much a YMMV situation, and I also think that eating and being healthier in general is a factor. Also, who knows, maybe sugar is a culprit for some.

Catlady · #8 02-02-2005, 03:06 PM

Trina, I do agree with you. The further along I go, the more I realize that there just isn't a simple, one size fits all, solution to our health/weight problems. What works for me might not work for someone else. I never could eat pizza without getting heartburn and I always thought it was the sauce. When I started to make Susan's pizza casserole which is basically all the same ingredients minus the crust, no heartburn. I never would have thought that it was the crust in a million years! Yeah, I probably do have a inability to digest fiber that's insoluable which is what most grain fibers are. Heck, I can't even eat flaxmeal without problems which is a real shame.

cheftrina · #9 02-02-2005, 03:16 PM

You know, it's funny: when I was a kid, and got a stomachache, my grandmother would make me eat dry toast and plain tea. It always made me feel worse, and she never believed me; she thought I just didn't want to eat it. I look back now and think that yeah, it was probably the toast and cereal I had for breakfast that made me sick to begin with! Back in the day that was considered a healthy kid's breakfast (and, unfortunately, still is).
I'm with you on the pizza; I always thought it was the tomato sauce, too. Who knew?!

Can you take flaxseed oil, Esther? The health benefits are amazing.

wolfman · #10 02-02-2005, 03:18 PM

I have no idea why (I've asummed an allergy to something... wheat... gluten..sugar..) but LCing cured my many stomach issues over the years.

In the past my doctor just decided it was "nervous stomach".

Constant cramping and such after every meal (sometimes incredibly painful chest pains (acid reflux or maybe one of those hiatal hernia things (sp??)).

All I know is that my stomach has "zero" issues while LCing. I even know now if I found hidden carbs in something cause my stomach will be the first thing to let me know with cramps and such.

So LCing has freed me from many many years of constant (all day) stomach problems.

PS - One note that I find interesting and wanted to see if anybody else has seen this... When I have gone off of LCing for an extended period of time and then come back, it never fails that 1 to 2 days into Induction... I get a massively painful pain in my chest (like someone turning a screw driver through your breast plate...). It normally goes away after a few hours and then never occurs again as long as I follow the WOL properly. (I do not think its heart related cause there is no pressure or anything like that...just pain...I have always assumed it's a hiatal hernia...but why would it kick in during Induction everytime?)

LovinLowCarb · #11 02-02-2005, 03:32 PM

I have to add my 2 cents here to this discussion...I suffered from nightly upset stomaches for several years and took Rolaids, Pepcid AC, etc. just about every day. In the last 15 months, since I have been on Atkins, I have probably only taken an antacid two or three times max! Besides that I was taking arthritis medicine and am off that too!

teelbee · #12 02-02-2005, 03:58 PM

I was told by a retired professor of nursing that losing weight greatly reduces the likelihood of acid reflux. Seems to make sense, as LC eating is so successful for weight reduction.

KCTinter · #13 02-02-2005, 04:59 PM

Wow, everybody, thanks! Trina, I'll check that article. And Teel, losing weight may be a factor, but I think by the time I noticed I was not taking my Nexium, I was probably only down about 15 or 20 pounds. But maybe it did help. I think the "old biology" lesson was a good one! It all boils down to . . . it's got to be the FOOD!

CarolynInTexas · #14 02-02-2005, 06:21 PM

Was watching late nite tv one nite, flipping thru channels, and came across this book about "home remedies, things they won't tell you cause the drug companies want to make their almighty dollar" anyway, one of the guys were talking about acid reflux, and how we never had these problems, and that the easiest cure for acid reflux (and I believe he also said it was good for plain old heart burn and indigestion) was taking vinegar.... seems that the acid reflux works because there is a lack of acid to attack the food, there by giving you the pain, drinking a little bit of vineger aleviates it...
am waiting to save the 30 dollars to get this book... sounds interesting.

huskersfan869 · #15 02-02-2005, 08:14 PM

I sitll take my prescription for reflux as it(my reflux) triggers my asthma...though I have not noticed that I needed it but maybe once since starting LC over a year ago...go figure!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Alpha Lipoic Acid	WendiGroce 12	Ongoing Weight Loss	1	04-15-2004 12:18 PM
High Uric acid levels	pollym	Low Carb Newbies	5	02-06-2004 03:32 AM
ACID REFLUX	opel	Low Carb Newbies	8	10-13-2003 12:29 AM

Navigation

LC curing Acid Reflux