A team of researchers at Mayo Clinic recently uncovered an interesting physician bias regarding the diagnosis of the upper digestive conditions gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and functional dyspepsia (also known as indigestion). The two conditions can overlap, but each condition has its own distinct symptoms.

The researchers uncovered a bias on the part of physicians who diagnosed the two conditions. Although the number of GERD diagnoses has increased in the last 20 years, the reported GERD symptoms have decreased. When symptoms of both conditions are present, the most common diagnosis is GERD. Further, when only symptoms of functional dyspepsia are present, diagnosis of GERD is still more likely.

I believe this is due to the influence of the pharmaceutical industry over doctors when it comes to treating upper GI conditions with proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), among the most commonly prescribed drugs today. Proton pump inhibitors were first used to treat peptic ulcers until it was discovered that peptic ulcers are not the result of too much stomach acid, but instead the result of infection with a bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori. Without a condition to treat, the focus of these drugs was turned to heartburn. Thus began widespread belief that heartburn was simply the result of too much stomach acid. To the rescue: Proton pump inhibitors and acid blockers.

As the Mayo Clinic study shows, functional dyspepsia is also now transitioning into a category in which proton pump inhibitors come to the rescue. But PPIs are not FDA approved to treat functional dyspepsia. Instead, doctors are seeing its symptoms—incomplete digestion, bloating, belching, excessive fullness, delayed stomach emptying—as those of GERD, a condition for which they have a well-known drug to treat it with.

The findings of this study are not surprising. The pharmaceutical companies have a lot of influence—on us (who hasn’t seen a pharmaceutical commercial or magazine ad lately), and on physicians (many of whose pockets are lined by these companies, in one way or another). Fortunately, when it comes to digestion, there are many dietary and lifestyle changes that can be made to improve the condition. If you are dealing with these conditions, or trying to avoid them, educate yourself!

It is true that functional dyspepsia can be difficult to treat. I have found that digestive enzymes are very helpful with easing the symptoms associated with this condition, which often result from poor diet, poor eating habits, and insufficient digestive enzyme production, all of which can be helped by digestive enzymes.

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The gut-brain connection is an interesting one because it travels in two directions—from the brain to the gut and from the gut to the brain. For the longest time this connection was thought to only travel in one direction, from the brain to the gut, like when strong emotions trigger an upset stomach. But researchers now know that what happens in your gut has an effect on your brain.

One recent study at the Stanford University School of Medicine tried to elucidate this connection. According to one of the researchers, “Gastric irritation during the first few days of life may reset the brain into a permanently depressed state.” Genetic susceptibility also plays a role, of course, since not all stomach upsets will lead to depression, but this connection is interesting.

The gut is connected directly to the brain by the vagus nerve, and even has a nervous system of its own—the enteric nervous system. This connection between the gut and the brain allows for close communication. Many studies are finding that the gut has a major effect on the brain. I have blogged about it before. More than once.

The researchers used an animal model of functional dyspepsia, also known as indigestion, to determine that stomach irritation early in life can lead to depressed and anxious behaviors that last much longer than the indigestion itself. Their findings will lead to more studies to investigate how this gut brain connection works, and if new ways can be found to treat depression and anxiety in humans, based on the gut-brain link.

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 Most people have a difficult time making the association between what is going on in the gut and health problems in other parts of the body. I help them connect the dots so that they can achieve better health. I help them get started on The Road to Perfect Health.

The Road to Perfect Health begins in the gut (your digestive system). If your digestive system is not healthy, the rest of you is typically unhealthy in some way.

Sure, you know that conditions like heartburn, gas, bloating and indigestion are related to your gut. But did you know that conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, skin conditions, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and even arthritis are all related to the gut? It’s true. And I have seen it in so many people, including myself.

There are many different factors contributing to chronic illness that begin in the gut, but one primary factor is gut microbial balance. You need the proper balance of gut bacteria. I call it your “GPS”—your Gut Protection System. Your GPS is made up of 100 trillion bacterial cells. In fact, the bacterial cells in your gut outnumber the cells in your entire body by 10 to 1! That’s right, there are 10 times more gut bacteria than all the rest of the cells that make up your body.

The beneficial bacteria in your gut are known as probiotics. Probiotic means, literally, “for life.” Pro means “for” and biotic means “life.” This is in contrast to “antibiotic” (“against life”). The most common and most widely studied probiotic bacteria are what I call the L’s and the B’s—Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. Lactobacillus bacteria are most associated with the little (small) intestine, and the Bifidobacteria are mostly found in the big (large) intestine, or colon. Having the right balance of good bacteria (more good guys than bad guys) is essential on The Road to Perfect Health.

For more information on how your GPS can help you return to perfect health, check out my new PBS show, The Road To Perfect Health. Check your local PBS listings for show times.

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“Renew You” Challenge – Be a part of my Weekly Challenge to help set you off in the right direction for bringing health to your week. So this week I wanted to challenge the way you eat. 

Heartburn, indigestion, gas and bloating. At one time or another you’ve probably experienced a bout of post-meal discomfort that had you thinking, “What on earth did I eat that just isn’t sitting right??” Well, guess what? You were on the right track.

Most of the time things like heartburn and upset stomach can be prevented just by being choosy about what we put on our plate, since a lot of foods have natural components that can help our digestive system do its job. That’s right—Mother Nature knew what she was doing, folks!

Yogurt and cottage cheese, for example, contain probiotics that help keep your digestive system in balance and promote regularity, and so do fermented foods like kefir, sauerkraut, miso and tempeh.

Raw fruits and veggies contain powerful enzymes that work to break down all kinds of foods like carbohydrates, fats, sugars, and dairy foods, and they also help your body absorb nutrients. Papaya and pineapple, for example, contain an enzyme called papain that is especially helpful for digesting protein in the diet.

And—no surprise here—fiber is also important for healthy digestion. A good blend of soluble and insoluble fiber from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts helps keep food moving through your intestines and promotes regular, healthy bowel movements.

So this week I want you to really pay attention to your meals and try to choose foods that benefit your digestive system rather than those that work against it. Steer clear of high-fat, sugary and processed foods, and load up on easy-to-stomach foods like fresh produce, whole grains, and probiotic-rich yogurt and fermented foods—your belly will thank you!

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Heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux—we’ve all felt that awful burning sensation at one time or another, but chances are we blamed it on something we ate and reached for the nearest antacid. Why? Because for years mainstream doctors have been telling us that symptoms like these are the result of too much stomach acid—when in fact 90 percent of the time they’re wrong! And when was the last time your doctor actually tested you to be sure? Probably never!

Tomorrow on the Poop Scoop I’ll be talking with CEO Harry Simmons of Heidelberg Medical, whose work with the Heidelberg pH Diagnostic System has revolutionized the way we look at digestive disorders. Imagine a capsule you can swallow that will travel through your digestive tract and help doctors actually see where the problem is coming from! Today, pH diagnostic testing has become essential to the successful treatment of many digestive disorders, including low stomach acid, gastric ulcers and GERD. I can’t wait to hear all about it from the expert!

Log on and listen to Brenda’s Poop Scoop LIVE every Wednesday from 4-5 pm (EST) right from your computer. Missed an episode? Visit the Episode Directory on my website and listen to past shows from the archive!

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You’ve probably heard of Heart Awareness Month, Women’s Health Awareness Month, and Breast and Lung Cancer Awareness months. Well did you know that April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month? I’m really glad too, because IBS is among the most common gastrointestinal disorders in America today and effects 1 in 5 people nationwide – that’s 20% of the population folks! I’m also glad because I’m passionate about helping IBS sufferers ease their discomfort and lead a normal life. It can be done! So if you have IBS, or even if you occasionally suffer from some of the common symptoms like cramping, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and indigestion, stay tuned this month for valuable information and tips on the most effective ways to mitigate your symptoms. There are things that can really help that don’t include potent prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

IBS can be triggered by several factors, including diet (for example, consuming too many high-fat or caffeinated foods and beverages), stress, illness, and even the use of certain medications. Plus, you might not even know that IBS affects not just the digestive system, but the body as a whole. In fact, IBS can be depressing, both figuratively and literally. That is because serotonin, the “feel-good hormone,” is produced not only in the brain but also in the gut. Therefore, if the digestive system is out of balance, the body may be lacking in serotonin, which can lead to depression, as well as anxiety and irritability.

Everyone should realize that reversing IBS is a slow process and one that sometimes takes up to six months before improvement is seen, but it can be done.  It just takes a commitment to making the necessary changes. Stay tuned!

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Heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux—we’ve all felt that awful burning sensation at one time or another, but chances are we blamed it on something we ate and reached for the nearest antacid. Why? Because for years mainstream doctors have been telling us that symptoms like these are the result of too much stomach acid—when in fact 90 percent of the time they’re wrong! And when was the last time your doctor actually tested you to be sure? Probably never!

This week on the Poop Scoop I’ll be talking with CEO Harry Simmons of Heidelberg Medical, whose work with the Heidelberg pH Diagnostic System has revolutionized the way we look at digestive disorders. Imagine a capsule you can swallow that will travel through your digestive tract and help doctors actually see where the problem is coming from! Today, pH diagnostic testing has become essential to the successful treatment of many digestive disorders, including low stomach acid, gastric ulcers and GERD. I can’t wait to hear all about it from the expert!

Log on and listen to Brenda’s Poop Scoop LIVE every Wednesday from 4-5 pm (EST) right from your computer. Missed an episode? Visit the Episode Directory on my website and listen to past shows from the archive!

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Antacid, Digestive diseases, digestive system, Dyspepsia, gastric ulcers, Gastroenterology, gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD, Harry Simmons, Heartburn, indigestion, Peptic ulcer

I know too many people who are swallowing antacid pills and potions and even taking prescription drugs on a daily basis, and it got me thinking about stomach acid and pH levels. I recently read an article titled “Too Little Stomach Acid Can Be a Problem Too” by Pharmacist Suzy Cohen. Imagine my surprise—finally someone in mainstream medicine was echoing what we in the natural health field have been saying for years now: most physicians do not test you for pH levels and just assume you have a high stomach acid level, and they hand you a prescription to reduce stomach acid—not what you need!

In reality you likely have a condition known as hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid) and can be setting yourself up for compounded health issues by taking the acid-blocking meds that are commonly prescribed. The article then goes on to say that a simple blood test for gastrin levels can indicate whether or not you have low stomach acid.

Gastrin is a hormone that is produced to stimulate the production of stomach acid.  Because it works on negative feedback, high blood levels of gastrin can indicate that your body is producing too much in an attempt to produce more stomach acid.  This could be one way to test for hypochlorhydria, but a more accurate test would be the Heidelberg capsule test.

I have to say, I was very impressed by the information contained in this article and by Dr. Cohen’s understanding of basic physiology and natural health approaches to this growing problem. Check it out for yourself, or better still, take a copy to your physician and get properly tested before swallowing any more meds.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/sfl-suzy-cohen-columnist,0,2948334.columnist

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Achlorhydria, Acid, digestive system, Gastric acid, Gastrin, Gastroenterology, Heartburn, Heidelberg test, hypochlorhydria, indigestion, Stomach, stomach acid, Stomach disease, Suzy Cohen