You can take a wide range of herbs and vitamins to help lessen the symptoms of acid reflux, and in certain situations, prolonged exposure may even help to cure the condition. For instance, L-glutamine is an amino acid that helps to repair damage to the stomach and intestinal lining, which may eventually help to heal acid reflux. Ginger also helps the stomach to empty food more quickly, which helps with digestion. The content that follows is fairly diverse and includes supplements and herbs for intestinal and stomach health, not simply acid reflux. Try them out and see which ones suit you best!
Ginger
In addition to being a well-liked dietary supplement, ginger is a wonderful herb with many beneficial qualities, including helping with digestion. In a clinical study on the effectiveness of ginger on speeding up the breakdown of food in the stomach, they took 24 participants and gave them 1.2 grams of ginger one hour before eating a meal and then observed how long it took for the food to transit from the stomach into the intestines. The travel time for the dish is typically around 20 minutes. The average transit time for this group, however, was a mere thirteen minutes. This suggests that the ginger accelerated the food’s predigest by about 50%. This implies that ginger will aid in the predigesting of food, which will improve chyme and facilitate simpler absorption of the meal by the intestines. Ginger also aids in the alleviation of nausea sensations. One gram of ginger was administered daily to 32 pregnant women who were experiencing morning sickness in another scientific experiment. By the end of the study, 28 of the 32 women reported a significant decrease in morning sickness symptoms! Therefore, for those who are prone to stomach upsets, ginger not only aids in food digestion but also aids in stomach settling! Ginger can be taken in many different ways. You can add ginger into your cooking, but a very effective and tasty way to take ginger is as a tea.
Ginger Tea
Take 250 ml of water (eight ounces) and add in several slices of ginger, taken directly from ginger root. Take some ginger root (about three grams per cup) and peel off the outer layer of skin from one part of it and then cut off several slices. Take these slices and either crush slightly or blend in a mix for a few seconds before adding into the water. Another approach is to pound them slightly in pewter, as once the ginger is crushed a little, its helpful compounds will be released.
Boil the water and leave to simmer for a good 10 to 15 minutes to get the essence of the ginger out. When we think about boiling vegetables versus steaming, steaming is always recommended because boiling takes out the nutrients from the vegetables and puts them into the water, whereas steaming does not do this. However, in this case, we want the nutrients within the ginger to come out into the water as we are going to drink it!
When you notice a strong ginger scent, you know the tea is ready. Fill a cup with one tablespoon of honey. In the same cup, squeeze one tiny lemon or half of a medium-sized lemon. Pour the boiling ginger water through a strainer into the cup with the lemon and honey. The tea should be strong enough to slightly irritate your throat if you did it correctly. This indicates that you own the essence of ginger along with all of its wonderful health advantages! Other choices include adding cardamom, which has significant nutritional advantages in addition to adding flavor. Wheatgrass An amazing but underappreciated herb that supports intestinal health is wheatgrass. The grass that turns into wheat is called wheatgrass.
Wheatgrass Wheatgrass is an awesome yet underrated herb that can help gut health. Wheatgrass is the grass that becomes wheat, being chopped when the grass is only six inches in height. Anyway, this grass possesses many amazing benefits, which include the following benefits:
- Balances the body’s pH levels
- Deoxygenates our bodies
- Protects against cancer
- Boosts red blood cell count
- Cleanses the blood
- Detoxifies the liver
- Improves digestion
- Extremely high in nutrients including vitamins A, B6, C, K and E, manganese, selenium, copper and zinc
- Very high in dietary fiber
- Stimulates the thyroid
- Promotes weight loss
- Strengthens bones
- Regulates blood sugar levels
- Improves blood lipid levels
- Increases athletic performance
For a number of reasons, wheatgrass is so powerful that it is worthwhile to consume as a major health supplement. First of all, because dairy products and milk are acidic foods, our diet is highly acidic these days. Unless you are eating a lot of vegetables, your body is likely to be excessively acidic because the majority of base foods are vegetables. Our bodies are designed to function just a little bit outside of the 7.35–7.45 basic range. Coke and coffee are about a 4 on the pH scale, which goes from 0 to 6 (most acidic to least acidic). Water, which is pH neutral, is at a 7, and then we have 8, which is the least base, and 14, which is the most basic. Thus, we are supposed to have somewhat base bodies. The blood must remain within the specific range of 7.35 to 7.45, and our body will even bleach minerals from our bones to keep the lifeblood inside this range!
Now, aside from the fact that we would die immediately if the pH levels in our bloodstream deviated from this specific range, even if our body is able to artificially maintain this blood level balance, the body is generally too acidic, and in severe cases, this can lead to acidosis, which can cause a number of complaints, such as:
can encourage bowel motions, particularly in those experiencing digestive problems. Although wheatgrass is a fantastic herb that will improve your overall health, it does have a significant impact on gut health when taken first. It usually has a significant impact on bowel movements. Therefore, if you suddenly find yourself needing to use the restroom when you first start taking wheatgrass, don’t be shocked. Thankfully, this will be fixed on its own in a few days or weeks. The good news is that your gut is healing itself, and the wheatgrass is removing obstinate obstructions from your intestines, which is why you have so many bowel movements. As this “crap” (literally) is expelled from our systems, which is beneficial for our health, there will almost always be a backlog; clearing this backlog is the first step to having a healthy gut. Additionally, wheatgrass can assist balance the good bacteria in the gut for those who have diarrhea, which will have the opposite effect of normalizing bowel motions! Although growing your own wheatgrass is great, it can be quite a nuisance. Therefore, although organic wheatgrass grown in your garden is the best, you can also use powdered wheatgrass.
Obtain it at your neighborhood health store; it’s still quite good and well worth the time. Two teaspoons (30 grams) of wheatgrass should be combined with around 250 milliliters (eight ounces) of water, stirred with a spoon, and then consumed. Take this three times a day at first if you have been experiencing a lot of stomach health problems, but as things settle down, take it once a day. This will help to support both your gut health and your overall health.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Wheatgrass and apple cider vinegar (ACV) work hand in hand since ACV is a potent general health supplement that is also ideal for gut health. Among ACV’s advantages are the following:
- Balances the body’s pH levels
- Promotes digestion and stomach health
- Aids blood circulation
- Aids weight loss
beneficial to heart health reduces joint discomfort Anti-cancer Now, of all these wonderful benefits of gut health, we are particularly interested in ACV because of its ability to balance pH and restore stomach health. Here, there are two things to think about. First of all, ACV aids in regulating the stomach’s acidity levels. Heartburn is caused by acid reflux, which is characterized as an imbalance in the stomach when acid shoots up into the esophagus. However, from a holistic perspective, acid reflux is caused by insufficient stomach acid levels rather than atypical acid activity. ACV is helpful since it helps to normalize acidic stomach activities by balancing the pH environment in the stomach. Therefore, although ACV, like wheatgrass, functions as a base on the body, it is an acid before digestion, which helps the stomach balance its acid levels. After digestion, ACV turns into a base. The second benefit is that it works by creating an acidic environment in the stomach, which supports the growth of lactobacilli—beneficial bacteria that flourish in an acidic environment and aid in the maintenance of a healthy gut as well as the elimination of intestinal fungi like candida! One tablespoon of ACV is very easy to consume; simply add 250 ml (eight ounces) of water to a glass, stir with a spoon, and then drink. Because ACV is acidic, exercise caution and rinse your mouth with water or another beverage to remove any acidic materials that may have accumulated on your teeth. ACV is bitter, but other than that, it’s easy to swallow. Additionally, the perfect ACV has a hint of smoke because to the presence of a powerful substance called “the mother.” Therefore, when purchasing ACV, aim to obtain the slightly hazy version. In addition to helping those with acid reflux, ACV will have a general balancing effect on intestinal health. But it’s not the kind of supplement you take when you have severe symptoms of acid reflux. If you wish to address the symptoms of acid reflux, try taking an antacid, natural yogurt, or low-fat milk. However, if you make it a practice to drink at least one glass of ACV every day, it will affect stomach acid and overall gut health after a few weeks.
ACV also complements wheatgrass. Since wheatgrass is a base, it naturally removes the acidic ACV deposits from my teeth. I find that washing down a glass of ACV with a glass of wheatgrass is a great way to meet my daily quota of both.
Kombucha
Kombucha is a popular health drink; it is a sugary black tea, which, after fermentation, becomes laden with healthy bacteria, vinegar, B vitamins, probiotics, enzymes and healthy acids (acetic, lactic and gluconic).
Benefits of kombucha include:
- Gut health
- Weight loss
- Detoxification
- Improved immune system
- Reduced joint pain
- Anti-cancerous
Digestive health Loss of weight Detoxification A stronger immune system Decreased discomfort in the joints Anti-cancer The wonderful thing about kombucha, specifically in terms of gut health, is its amazing array of probiotics, which support proper digestion. Acetobacter, gluconacetobacte, lactobacillus, and zygosaccharomyces probiotics are abundant in kombucha. Therefore, it will significantly improve the functioning of your digestive system. These will help with digestion and remove fungi like candida because they include a lot of probiotics. Additionally, kombucha contains a lot of free antioxidants, which support digestive health and fight off free radicals in the stomach. Additionally, kombucha has been used to prevent and cure leaky gut syndrome as well as stomach ulcers. One or two glasses of kombucha each day can significantly improve stomach and gut health because it is a powerful tonic for gut health. However, keep in mind that kombucha contains so many probiotics that it may initially cause symptoms like gas, bloating, moderate stomach pain, and diarrhea if your gut is out of balance. This is the gut’s method of normalizing under the strong and powerful, so don’t worry about it.
effects of kombucha. Therefore, start with one glass of kombucha each day for a few days before increasing to two or three glasses daily. Reduce back to a maintenance level of one glass per day once you feel that things have stabilized, which should happen within a few weeks. Kefir The Turkish cultured dairy product kefir has a high probiotic content. Among its various health benefits, it has been used for millennia as a food. raises immune levels resolves digestive issues aids with lactose digestion eliminates the candida fungus addresses allergies makes bones stronger Detoxicant Kefir’s nutrient-rich composition is the source of its many health advantages. It has high levels of probiotics, enzymes, calcium, biotin, folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin K2. Kefir is particularly a powerful diet for gut health since it contains probiotics and enzymes. Enzymes reduce once one reaches 30 years of age, which, in turn, makes it more difficult to digest food, so eating a supplement that is high in digestive enzymes is a great way of improving digestion. Second, probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that, for instance, assist avoid harmful intestinal fungus like candida. Kefir is jam-packed with probiotics, which include bifidobacteria, acetobacter, lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus bulgaricus, lactobacillus caucasus, lactobacillus rhamnosus, lactobacillus, and leuconostoc. Kefir can thereby treat a variety of digestive disorders, including leaky gut syndrome. Also, interestingly, it helps people who suffer from lactose intolerance to start absorbing lactose! Kefir is worth a try for anyone experiencing digestive problems. However, kefir is a dairy product, so it might be challenging to take for anyone who is lactose intolerant. Individuals that are afflicted with
candida, for example, are lactose intolerant, so they won’t initially be able to absorb kefir. Make an effort to detoxify and clean up your digestive system in the first place. So, take other supplements such as wheatgrass, ACV, and ginger for a while, and then slowly add in the kefir.
Moringa
Moringa is a tree that grows prolifically in Southeast Asia and is often referred to as the “miracle tree” because it is very high in nutrients including beta carotene, vitamin C, carotene and protein. Moringa is so high in nutrients that it has 12 times more vitamin C than an orange, 10 times more vitamin A than carrots, and 17 times more calcium than milk, for example! In terms of gut health, moringa can help in several ways. For a start, it is high in antioxidants, which help to detox the intestines. Secondly, moringa helps to reduce inflammation in the body. Inflammation is the body’s way of coping with imbalances in the body; it’s a sort of cordon whereby the body cordons off infected areas. For a short time, it works well, but after a while, chronic health develops. Inflammation in the gut is a bad thing as it makes food nutrient absorption difficult and also the excretion of waste difficult. So, moringa can help to reduce inflammation through the body, which includes the gut. Moreover, moringa boosts liver functioning, which helps to detoxify the system, which is good as where there is a dysfunctional gut, there will be a buildup of toxins in the body. Moringa leaves can be used with your meals as in a salad or a juice, for example. If you can’t get raw moringa, you can probably get a hold of organic cold-pressed moringa oil. Moringa oil is expensive, but it’s potent with about a tablespoonful a day being a perfect overall health tonic and, of course, a gut treatment for gut health problems.
Supplements for Gut Health
So far, we have looked at foods that help to cure gut health problems, but there are also some supplements that can help. So, let’s take a look.
Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL)
Licorice has many health benefits and can help treat or cure a variety of illnesses. However, prolonged use can lower estrogen levels, edema, and blood pressure because of the presence of
Glycyrrhizin. All of the advantages of licorice are present in deglycyrrhizinated licorice, but it lacks the possible drawbacks of glycyrrhizin. Regarding gut health, DGL’s anti-inflammatory and gut-bacteria-balancing qualities make it a great treatment for gastritis, peptic ulcers, and heartburn. DGL is as effective as the allopathic medication, according to a study of 82 patients who took it versus an over-the-counter peptic ulcer medication. The patients who took two DGL tablets a day for two years showed the same degree of recurrence of peptic ulcers as the patients who took the medication! They further point out that after stopping DGL, the DGL group experienced a markedly higher incidence of peptic ulcers, similar to the pharmaceutical group. This implies that DGL only prevents peptic ulcers while taking it, even though it is just as effective at treating them as prescription drugs. So, DGL will most likely become a part of a lifelong therapy plan for those people who have severe stomach problems, such peptic ulcers! In terms of dose, DGL is often given in one to three tablets, with each tablet containing 380–400 mg. To assist ease your stomach, take the DGL tablet around half an hour before each meal. In light of this, it’s critical to keep in mind that, similar to long-term medication, using herbal supplements for an extended period of time may have harmful side effects. Most of the glycyrrhizin has been eliminated using DGL. There is still some, though, so if you want to use DGL for an extended length of time, periodically check your blood pressure and keep an eye out for edema. Liver poisoning can also happen in certain situations. Although deglycyrrhizinated licorice is a fantastic supplement with little chance of adverse effects, anyone taking long-term medication should be aware of this. Although DGL is just as effective as a pharmaceutical drug, it should be considered potentially harmful to health in certain situations. Because DGL is a natural product, it will have less negative effects than pharmaceutical medications; however, as with any potent plant, some hazardous side effects will still exist. And with all of the foods, supplements, and health advice discussed in this book, keep this in mind. In a perfect world, all illnesses might be cured, but in practice, gut
Health might differ from person to person. A few little adjustments can provide substantial symptom relief for some people. Anyone with a severe food allergy can attest to this! However, for other people, their gut health problems persist despite trying numerous diets or techniques. The important thing for those in this category to keep in mind is that gut health is a complicated subject, and while a complete cure may not be possible, a lot of relief may be obtained with time and the use of healthy healing techniques, foods, and supplements. Therefore, don’t give up if you have tried everything and your gut health problems persist. Things will improve, but it can take some trial and error. Even if there isn’t a complete recovery, there can still be a significant improvement. This book was written with the intention of providing you with some resources that you may not have previously thought of. Although there are many ways that contemporary healthcare can be helpful, there is a tendency to treat people symptomatically by prescribing different medications to address different symptoms. I’m not arguing that complementary health care is superior, but it does give us additional options and resources. Additionally, it emphasizes equilibrium, and when a rebalancing may occur, ailments frequently resolve themselves!
Betaine Hydrochloric Acid
Betaine Hydrochloric Acid is an ideal supplement for people who are suffering from insufficient stomach acid levels. As noted earlier, from a complementary point of view, acid reflux is a direct consequence of deficient stomach acid levels, which result in sporadic production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, some of which ends up in the esophagus, which results in acid reflux symptoms. Apple cider vinegar can help to restore this balance as ACV is an acid, but for more severe cases, if ACV doesn’t appear to help, it’s worth trying betaine hydrochloric acid. Betaine HCL will help to rebalance the acid levels in the stomach, which will not only cure acid reflux but also it helps to improve the overall health and vitality of the stomach and gut, and, finally, sufficient levels of HCL are required to effectively break down and digest vitamin B12, amino acids, and proteins! Regarding dosage, a little bit of trial and error is required. Start by taking a meal that contains at least 20 grams of protein (HCL is required to break down the protein). Take one betaine HCL pill (around 650 mg) and check in with your stomach, after eating, to check
whether digestion has changed in any way. Although you should feel better, it’s likely that too much acid was consumed if you have a burning feeling. Reduce to half a pill if you have a scorching distension sensation. Continue taking one pill with each meal, and after a few days, try taking two to see how you feel. This will help you determine if you feel better or not. Continue adjusting the dosage until your digestion improves without causing you any discomfort. Stop as soon as you experience any discomfort, and if necessary, lower the dosage slightly. Therefore, start out small and work your way up to taking enough betaine HCL to assist your digestion without going overboard, as too much HCL will make you feel sick. The recommended dosage of betaine HCL for most individuals is between 3000 and 5500 mg each meal. Inadequate intake will only increase the acidity of the gut environment rather than aid in digestion.
Contraindications
Using betaine HCL in combination with anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin, corticosteroids, indocin, ibuprofen, and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) in general is something you should be cautious about. The reason is that HCL tablets can irritate the stomach lining and even cause bleeding or the formation of an ulcer when taken with medications that are already present in the stomach. Therefore, even if betaine HCL is a fantastic remedy for indigestion and acid reflux, you must use caution to avoid making the condition worse! Additionally, anti-inflammatory treatments are widely used; ibuprofen, for instance (Motrin, Advil, and Brofen) is a highly recommended headache medication, and aspirin is often used as well. Therefore, be sure to check your prescriptions and avoid combining them with HCL!
L-Glutamine
L-Glutamine is a beneficial supplement. It is an amino acid, being the most common amino acid used by the human body (around 30 present of all amino acid nitrogen in the blood is L-glutamine). Being an amino acid, L-Glutamine will be a big help in building muscle and maintaining lean muscle when dieting, but it also comes with many other benefits, which include:
- It is excellent for intestinal health as it helps to rebuild and repair damage to the gut
- It helps to heal ulcers, cure leaky gut syndrome and prevent further damage to the stomach and intestines
- It improves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and diarrhea by balancing mucus levels in the stomach lining
- Reduces cravings for sweets and alcohol
- Improves metabolism
- Detoxifies the body (including the intestines)
- Improves blood sugar control
- Anti-cancer agent
- Promotes muscle growth and prevents muscle wasting
cleanses the entire body, including the intestines. enhances blood sugar regulation An anti-cancer substance inhibits muscular atrophy and encourages muscle development. enhances sports performance and exercise recovery L-glutamine is essentially a bodybuilder that aids with the healing of intestinal health problems. The group that received L-glutamine in addition to the intravenous meal showed improved permeability and experienced less gastrointestinal deterioration than the group that did not, according to a study of 20 patients who were fed intravenously for two weeks. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of L-glutamine since intravenous feeding damages intestinal health. L-glutamine’s therapeutic mechanism, which involves controlling the IgA immune response, was observed in another investigation. An antibody called IgA defends the body from dangerous bacteria and viruses. It also has to do with allergies and food sensitivities. L-glutamine will therefore aid in the treatment of food intolerances. They found that L-glutamine controls the TH2 immune response, which controls inflammatory cytokines, in another study published in the Journal of Clinical Immunology. This indicates that L-glutamine lowers inflammatory reactions, which helps to lessen a variety of intestinal disorders.
In conclusion, L-glutamine can heal wounds, lessen allergic reactions and food sensitivity, and lessen or even completely eradicate the inflammatory effect. For those who are having problems with gut repair, L-glutamine is an essential nutrient. For instance, in addition to being uncomfortable, leaky gut syndrome can lead to various degenerative illnesses like psoriasis, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and even Hashimoto’s disease, which is characterized by a slow thyroid. When it comes to gut health, we need to consider eliminating toxins, balancing out imbalances, and mending organic damage. This is where L-glutamine can help. Diverticulosis, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are just a few of the gut health conditions that L-glutamine aids in healing.
How to Take L-Glutamine
There are two types of L-glutamine. The free form must be taken with meals in order to be properly absorbed. The other kind is referred to as alanyl-L-glutamate or trans-alanyl glutamine. The latter can be taken on an empty stomach if desired because it is more absorbable than free form L-glutamine. It can be taken after meals, and because it promotes both muscle repair and athletic performance, it is especially beneficial before or after gym sessions. Although up to 10 grams can be taken daily, the normal dosage is two to five grams. It makes the most sense for folks who are concerned about their gut health to take it three times a day, either before or after meals to aid with digestion. Additionally, taking a daily vitamin B12 supplement is a smart idea for long-term use since it helps control the body’s levels of L-glutamine, which can be hazardous if it accumulates too much. Increased perspiration in the hands and feet, back discomfort, joint pain, muscle pain, headache, dizziness, exhaustion, runny nose, dry mouth, gas, vomiting, and stomach pain are all side effects of taking too much L-glutamine. Even though these are unlikely to occur, it’s still helpful to know. Although vitamin B12 should lessen the likelihood of negative effects, if any do occur, lower the dosage appropriately. Contraindications: Individuals with liver or kidney problems should not take L-glutamine.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a super plant that has many great benefits, which include:
Strong anti-inflammatory qualities relieves constipation encourages frequent bowel motions Detoxification promotes beneficial gut flora aids in the treatment of leaky gut syndrome relieves acid reflux and heartburn Rich in antibacterial and antioxidant qualities combats the fungal candida Protects against parasitic infections cures mouth ulcers lessens dental plaque enhances the quality of skin Avoids wrinkles All things considered, aloe vera is an amazing plant with a variety of uses. Specifically, it has a fantastic effect on intestinal health. Calcium, copper, chromium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, selenium, and zinc are among the many nutrients that aloe vera is rich in. In addition to being a fantastic source of vitamin B12, choline, and folic acid, it is also rich in the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E. Eight digestive enzymes that aid in food digestion are also present in it: alianase, amylase, catalase, alkaline phosphatase, carboxypeptidase, cellulose, lipase, and peroxidase. Probiotics, or good gut bacteria, are abundant in aloe vera and aid in reestablishing the equilibrium of gut health. A study on the impact of aloe vera on lactobacilli probiotics found that supplementing with aloe vera significantly increased the levels of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus casei. Finally, aloe vera supports the body’s ability to regulate pH levels, which benefits intestinal health.
How to Take Aloe Vera
Aloe vera can be taken in a number of different ways. It can be taken as a pill or as a drink. In terms of dose, you can begin with a modest amount, such as one teaspoon taken twice daily before meals. Increase the dosage gradually until it reaches a maximum of four tablespoons twice daily. Your gut health concerns and how you respond to aloe vera juice or tablets will determine how much you consume. Because aloe vera encourages bowel movements, it is best to take a small amount, especially at initially, as it will assist to remove any backlog in the intestines. If you take too much too soon, you may experience symptoms similar to diarrhea! On the other side, a lot of people steer clear of aloe vera because they think it’s a laxative. However, it’s actually safe to consume, and children may even take it as long as they only take a teaspoon or two a day. Although aloe vera is harmless, taking too much of it too soon can have a laxative effect and unbalance bowel motions.