Eating healthy foods soothe GERD symptoms, taking supplements support your body to recover from nutrient deficiency as well as heals GERD.
11 Supplements for Acid reflux
Most people with GERD may have low stomach acid, weak digestion, parasites, weak LES, inflammation/ulcer in esophagus and other vitamin or mineral deficiency due to prolong malabsorption common among GERD.
1. Apple cider vinegar: take one-teaspoon apple cider vinegar diluted with a glass water just before or after food. This is suitable for those who does not have ulcer/inflammation in the esophagus. If have ulcer then the symptoms may aggravates due to acid flow over the ulcers. Alternative, people with ulcer can take Betain Hcl tablet.
2. Betaine HCL: most heartburns are due to lack of stomach acid; you can overcome this by taking acid supplements. Take 650 mg pill prior to each meal, monitor symptoms and increase number of pills until the symptoms resolve.
3. Digestive enzymes: take high quality digestive enzymes at the start of each meal. Enzymes amylase (to digest carbohydrates), lipase (for fat), and protease (for protein) help breakdown foods, digest properly and absorbs nutrients fully.
4. Probiotics: various digestive problems including GERD are mostly due to overgrowth of bacteria or fungus, probiotic supplements help re-establish (increase) healthy bacterial population in the digestive tracts. Take 25 to 50 billion units of high-quality probiotics daily (preferably lactobacillus and bifidobacterium combination). If possible, choose a probiotic with soil based microorganisms.
5. Magnesium: deficiency can cause improper functioning of LES resulting in GERD. Thus, magnesium supplementation effectively treat heartburn by proper functioning of LES. Take 400 mgs of magnesium supplement twice daily.
6. L-Glutamine: take five grams of glutamine powder twice daily with meals. Numerous research studies show that it helps to heal ulcers, thus helpful for GERD, leaky gut, ulcerative colitis and IBS.
Stomach acid is must for proper digestion and absorption of micro and macronutrients. Generally, people with GERD have low level of stomach acid.
Studies shown that people with acid reflux and those undergoing treatment with acid suppressing medication might lead to deficiency in various vitamins and minerals.
The continual reduction of stomach acid through medicines like proton pump inhibitors hinders digestion and absorption of key nutrients, this ultimately leads to deficiencies in key nutrients, such as vitamin B12, iron, calcium, magnesium, folic acid, and zinc. Proton pump inhibitors--uncommon adverse effects. Australian Family Physician. 2011 Sep; 40(9):705-8.
7. Vitamin B-12: People who take certain acid-reflux drugs might have an increased risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency, according to a research. Vitamin b12 deficiency can lead to depression, anemia, fatigue, nerve damage, and even dementia, especially in the elderly. A study in the Oct 2006 Journal of Pineal Research shows, supplementation with vitamin B-12 may aid in the improvement of GERD symptoms.
8. Magnesium: Proton pump inhibitor might lead to magnesium deficiency. Hess MW, Hoenderop JG, Bindels RJ, Drenth JP. Systematic review: hypomagnesaemia induced by proton pump inhibition. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2012; 36:405-13.
9. Zinc: GERD treatment linked to zinc deficiency. Sturniolo GC, Montino MC, Rosettol, Martin A, D Inca R. Inhibition of gastric acid secretion reduces zinc absorption in man. J Am Coll Nutr. 1991 Aug; 10(4): 372-5.
10. Calcium: A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found chronic use of acid-blocking drugs leads to osteoporosis and increase in hip fracture because blocking acid prevents the absorption of calcium and other minerals necessary for bone health.
11. Vitamin E: Vitamin E is another antioxidant and therefore may aid in fighting infection and symptoms of GERD. In addition to vitamin E supplements, you can find it in foods such as spinach, olive oil, avocado, nuts and nut butter.