(Updated 14th March 2008)
Heart burn and hyperacidity are among the commonest digestive problems which afflict 20-30 per cent of people at any time in life. The digestion of protein rich foods like meats and nuts require acid. That is why high protein foods like red meats & nuts stimulate the secretion of large amounts of acid in the stomach. Alcohol, fat and spices increase gastric acid secretion and hence alcohol is often used as an "apertif" or digestive. Nicotine from cigarettes, stress, drugs like pain killers, all anti-inflamatory drugs like aspirin and Ibuprofen, steroids, food allergies especially milk allergy all increase gastric acid secretion and damage the stomach lining. This damaged lining is then prone to more damage when there is an excessive accumulation of acid in the stomach.
Fats are digested slowly and cause slowing of the emptying of the stomach. The combination of high protein and high fat foods like fried meats or nuts cause increased gastric acid secretion accompanied by slow emptying of acid from the stomach. This acid stays in contact with the gastric lining and if it has been damaged by the factors mentioned above causes hyperacidity and peptic ulcers.
High protein and high fat foods, like sweets, chips, fried foods like cutlets and fried meats all predispose to hyperacidity as they stimulate secretion of gastric acid. Alcohol, cigarette smoking, coffee, and acidic foods are important causative factors for hyperacidity. These problems may also be caused by anxiety, stress, hiatus hernia or by wrong foods. The ideal treatment for these conditions is to regulate the diet.
A simple remedy for heart burn and peptic ulcers is to take a table spoon of Fenugreek seeds (methi), boil it in one liter of water for 20 minutes, discard the seeds and drink 1 cup of this liquid every 3-4 hours for 21 days. This liquid forms a protective coating on the esophagus and the stomach, preventing the acid from coming into contact with the lining of the stomach and esophagus and so prevents burning sensation associated with the reflux of acid. If the valve at the junction between the esophagus and the stomach is loose it causes regurgitation of the acid when the stomach contracts. This can cause pain or burning sensation in the centre of chest, and a sour taste in the mouth, which are the symptoms of heart burn. Coffee, fried foods, gas forming foods, cigarettes, alcohol and sweets should be avoided by people who suffer from heartburn.
Another effective alternative to antacids is to drink cold water which cools the stomach reducing the acid secretion. The taking of antacids containing aluminum hydroxide can be hazardous for the reasons explained in the chapter hidden hazards in food. Antacids which only consist of calcium carbonate are much safer.
I have successfully treated many patients with hyperacidity and peptic ulcers who have not responded to repeated courses of antacids and anti-ulcer drugs, by telling them to stop milk and milk products. This is contrary to conventional ulcer treatment where cold milk is often prescribed as a part of the treatment. To stop the patient's milk is a cheap, safe & effective measure and the patient recovers promptly without needing any drugs.
Flatulence is caused by the fermentation of undigested food in the small & large intestines. Putrefaction of carbohydrate and protein material occurs when the food is not properly digested leaving a residue which ferments. Flatulence may also be caused by food allergies, or by eating stale or gas forming foods. (Refer to list of Properties of Foods).
Food is digested and should be expelled from the body as stools within fourteen to eighteen hours. If it takes longer than twenty four hours for the undigested food to be expelled we are constipated. If it takes less then twelve hours it means that intestine is moving the food along too fast. Flatulence can indicate that the food is being inadequately absorbed and is staying in the intestine long enough for it to putrefy and decay. The process of decay releases gas which can also be caused by bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections. Flatulence is also often due to food allergies commonly to dairy products and gluten (a protein present in wheat & corn).
Other foods which cause flatulence are beans, pulses, soya, radish, fermented foods like bread and other foods made with yeast, beer, wine, cooked cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, cabbage and broccoli. However cauliflower, cabbage & broccoli & other members of their familydo not cause gas when eaten raw and in fact give protection against some forms of cancer. A high fibre diet containing raw vegetables and fruits, prevents flatulence. These foods stimulate the walls of the intestine to contract regularly and move the food forward through the intestine at the correct speed so that it does not accumulate and putrefy.
Taking yeast tablets for flatulence is irrational. Yeast ferments undigested carbohydrate and can cause candidiasis (yeast infection) in the intestine, which causes diarrhoea, flatulence and malabsorption of food. Yeast is an opportunistic infection, which thrives in the intestine when the immunity is low. This often happens as a side effect of prolonged use of antibiotics.
It is easier to prevent flatulence by eating the correct type of food, than it is to treat it by drugs. As treatment with drugs is purely symptomatic the problem will continue to recur, whenever the drugs are stopped. Taking paprika 1/2 teaspoon (or red chilli powder if paprika is not available) and cumin seed powder 1 teaspoon dissolved in warm water helps to relieve flatulence. The paprika moves the gas along, while cumin seed powder helps to break up the gas bubbles in the intestines.
Commonly afflicts people with flatulence. When you wear tight clothes around the waist, bend forward after eating or overeat, the distended loops of intestine in the abdomen are compressed and are forced out of any weak spot. This leads not only to hiatus hernias but also to inguinal and umbilical hernias. After the cause of the flatulence has been tackled, an expert in soft tissue manipulation can return the herniated organs to their proper place and can thus cure the Hiatus Hernia. Many of my patients have benefitted from this safe & easy treatment for hiatus hernis which takes a few minutes.
Diets consisting largely of meats, bread, pasta and cheese which are popular in "developed countries" predispose to constipation. Passing a stool every two to three days is common in Europe but is not very good for health. Undigested food putrefies in the intestine, causing flatulence, gas and distension of the abdomen. The accumulation of putrefying food predisposes to cancer. It has been said that over 80% of people with any kind of cancer are constipated.
"Dr" Leo Schafer the Canadian herbalist was known as 'Canada's Cancer Doctor' for treating about 5000 patients of terminal cancers a year by herbs and diet with great success. He used to say "If a patient has cancer, he must be constipated."Many natural treatments for cancer prescribe a high fibre diet, lots of fluids including vegetable juices, and a diet rich in antioxidants like Beta-carotene, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, lycopenes etc. While there is no one treatment for all forms of cancer, detoxification by encouraging proper elimination of waste products forms a significant part of most natural and rational treatments for cancer.
The great increase in the incidence of cancer in the last 30 years is also related to our increasing preference for highly processed and refined foods.
A healthy diet contains more unprocessed food than processed foods. Foods like whole wheat bread, chapaties (unleavened Indian Bread) and brown rice are healthier than white bread and white rice as the indigestible portion of these foods slows down the absorption of carbohydrates and fats. Brown bread and whole wheat products contain more protein and are likely to contain more pesticide than white bread and refined flour products and so are more likely to cause food allergies. People with a gluten allergy are more liable to get into trouble with brown bread than white bread.