When people have heartburn and acid reflux on a regular basis, unfortunately many of them turn to heartburn medications. A recent study from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has linked long-term use of heartburn drugs, known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), to fatal cases of cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and upper gastrointestinal cancer. The researchers found that such risks increase with the duration of PPI use, even when taken at low doses.
Other researchers independently have linked PPIs to adverse health problems, such as dementia, bone fractures, heart disease, and pneumonia.
Alarmingly, more than 15 million Americans have prescriptions for PPIs. And, many millions more purchase the drugs over the counter and take them without being under a doctor’s care. In fact, PPIs are among the most commonly used classes of drugs in the U.S.
What causes heartburn and acid reflux?
An article in Deliciously Organic explains the condition in easy to understand terms: When the food in your stomach has been mixed with the correct amount of stomach acid, enzymes, and other digestive secretions, it will reach an acidity between 1.5-3.0 on the pH scale and then move into the small intestine to continue the digestive process. When there isn’t enough stomach acid, the pyloric sphincter – the valve that releases the broken-down food from the stomach into the small intestine – doesn’t want to open. This leads to food sitting in the stomach for much longer than intended. Because the stomach can’t release its contents into the small intestine, it eventually sends the food back up the other way. Ironically, because the food has been bathed in some stomach acid, it burns when it comes back up the esophagus.
North Coast Organic Apple Cider Vinegar can help you manage heartburn and acid reflux naturally
So what can you do instead? Apple cider vinegar contains both acetic acid and malic acid, which help to stimulate stomach acid production. Taking 1 tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar with a little bit of water before each meal can help you manage or eliminate heartburn and acid reflux altogether.
Other preventative measures include: not going to bed with a full stomach, not overeating, eating more slowly, wearing loose-fitting clothes, drinking warm liquids, such as herbal tea, and avoiding the foods and beverages that trigger your heartburn symptoms, such as alcohol.
Where to find North Coast Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
North Coast Organic Apple Cider Vinegar is unfiltered, unpasteurized and diluted with water to 5% acidity. If you’d like to find out where to purchase North Coast Organic Apple Cider Vinegar and our other products, we invite you to check out where they are sold at markets and grocery stores near you.
North Coast Organic apple products are made in Sebastopol, CA from U.S. grown certified organic apples. They contain no added sugars, preservatives, colorings or flavorings.
