Today, we look at the root cause of acid reflux and heartburn, and what you can do to stop the pain and discomfort forever.
Contrary to popular belief, that burning sensation you get in your chest after eating a full meal or certain foods isn’t caused by having too much stomach acid.
Acid reflux and heartburn occur when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) fails to close completely, allowing stomach acid to splash into the esophagus.
Advertisement
Ninety percent of the time, the reason for the LES malfunction is due to low stomach acid, also known as hypochlorhydria. That’s because adequate stomach acid levels are required to signal the lower esophageal sphincter to close.
Unfortunately, stomach acid levels decline with age, poor nutrition, and stress.
Studies have found that 30 to 40% of men and women over the age of 60, have little to no acid secretion because of atrophic gastritis-chronic inflammation of the stomach lining.
