Heartburn and indigestion are common problems that can make eating difficult and stressful. There are several potential causes, and the solution often depends on what is causing it. Poor gut health and poor digestion is believed to be one of the root causes of many common health issues including heartburn, and repairing the gut may be key to heartburn and indigestion relief. Healing the gut also has many other potential benefits like a healthier immune system, increased energy levels, decreased brain fog, etc. Let’s discuss some potential causes of heartburn and indigestion, and what you can do to help support your gut health.
Causes
There are several medical conditions and habits that can contribute to heartburn, indigestion and other digestive issues. Many people assume heartburn is caused by too much stomach acid, but it is often the opposite. Low stomach acid is a relatively common problem that often goes undiagnosed. When there is not enough stomach acid, it is difficult for your body to digest your food, often leading to slow/poor digestion which can cause heartburn, indigestion, belching and bloating. Another potential cause is a hiatal hernia, which occurs when a portion of your upper stomach pushes up through your diaphragm and into your chest cavity. This increased pressure can push stomach acid and food back into your esophagus, causing heartburn. Hernias are relatively common and there are a few different types, and many people who have them are unaware.
There are some other risk factors that can contribute to the development of heartburn and indigestion. Things like a diet high in spicy and/or acidic foods, being overweight or obese which can lead to increased pressure in the abdominal cavity, excessive alcohol consumption, eating large meals, laying down after eating, and smoking can all contribute to digestive issues like heartburn and indigestion.
Possible Solutions
There are some natural remedies for heartburn, but it often depends on what is causing it. If the cause is low stomach acid, then increasing the stomach acid through supplementation with betaine may help. If the cause is due to a diet high in spicy and acidic foods, decreasing consumption of these foods may be the solution. Everyone is different, and it often takes some trial and error to find the cause of your heartburn. Some other things that may help include losing weight if you are overweight, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol intake. Avoiding excessively large meals, and not laying down or bending over after eating are also good habits to have if you suffer from heartburn.
If you frequently experience heartburn, indigestion or other digestive issues, consider making some changes to your diet and every day habits. There are also some supplements that may help, including GI Support as it contains deglycyrrhized licorice root extract, L-glutamine and several other ingredients that may help soothe the stomach. Digest Ease is another great product that provides almost immediate relief from acid reflux for many of our patients. Probio Ease is a great probiotic that can help maintain a healthy gut microbiome and help promote regular bowel movements.
You can listen to our Acid, Indigestion, and Bloating podcast episode here. You can also listen to it on our YouTube channel here.
