Probiotics & Heartburn: Finding Permanent Relief
Don’t worry, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart.
A delicious, decadent meal that is heavy in fat or spice may leave you feeling happy and satisfied until the heartburn starts. Next, you begin groaning in discomfort and need an instant relief with antacids.
Heartburn and acid reflux
Heartburn or acid indigestion is a symptom. It is so named because the esophagus is just behind the heart, and it is the point where burning sensation felt. Heartburn is a painful burning that appears in the chest or throat. It is often accompanied by a sour taste in the back of the mouth that creeps up from the throat. This pain often gets worse in the evening, right after eating, as well as when you bend or lie down.
Heartburn can last between a few minutes to several hours. It happens when stomach acid reverses up into the esophagus. Certain foods, alcohol, some medications and pregnancy are all potential causes of heartburn. Over time, reflux can damage the throat, which is why treating heartburn is important.
What causes heartburn?
Although heartburn is commonly caused by eating problematic foods, it can also be a symptom of certain medical conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). There are successful over-the-counter options for treating occasional heartburn, and it doesn’t tend to cause lasting damage. But persistent heartburn can severely damage the esophagus and may cause difficulty swallowing, bleeding or inflammation. If a person experiences regular heartburn, medical treatment becomes necessary.
A ring of muscles known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), located at the end of your esophagus where it joins your stomach, prevent the stomach compounds from flowing back up into the esophagus by tightening after we swallow food. Sometimes this muscle remains loose, leaving the entrance to the stomach slightly open. In this situation, stomach acid can enter into the esophagus and may cause heartburn.
Lack of probiotics may also cause heartburn
When the digestive tract has a deficiency of beneficial bacteria, harmful bacteria become overpopulated, and it can lead to various digestive conditions that cause heartburn, such as a lower rate of nutrient absorption.
Due to lack of good bacteria, the synthesis of digestive enzymes decreases, and proteins cannot split into amino acids that stop the absorption of nutrients in the gut. This decrease in digestive enzymes and nutrients causes a slow or less efficient digestive process, which, in turn, increases material in the digestive tract that leads to higher abdominal pressure and constipation. The LES cannot close because of this added pressure, allowing acid to reflux. Harmful bacteria produce hydrogen and methane gas in the intestines generating upward pressure on the stomach, and it also leads to belching.
Acid reduction
Reduction in stomach acid sounds great, especially when someone is suffering from heartburn, but, in actuality, low acid levels in the stomach causes acid reflux. Sufficient acid levels are needed to trigger the LES and for proper digestion. When the LES doesn’t close properly, stomach acid refluxes back into the esophagus.
Probiotics for heartburn relief
A bacterial imbalance causes digestive issues that allow disease to proliferate in the body. Probiotics bring balance to the digestive system and reduce the your chances of experiencing heartburn. For example:
- Probiotics prevent bacterial overgrowth by fighting against harmful bacteria and yeast infections. This action prevents and eliminates bacterial infections such as small intestine bacterial overgrowth.
- Probiotics improve stomach acid levels, which can trigger the LES to close and prevent acid reflux. Optimal stomach acid levels also kill harmful bacteria and properly digest food for improved absorption of nutrients.
- Probiotics increase gastrointestinal mobility and reduce constipation by eliminating harmful bacteria. These bad guys cause slow, inefficient digestion. But probiotics can optimize the production of stomach acid for breaking down food; improve nutrient absorption and their proper functioning; and maintain muscle activity, which moves material through the digestive tract.
- Probiotics also improve the immune system by preventing leaky gut and helping with the production of antibodies. An improved immune system protects against harmful bacteria overgrowth, improves digestion and reduces the risk of acid reflux.
- Probiotics help prevent bloating and belching. Bloating and belching weaken the LES, leading to acid reflux and heartburn. Probiotics reduce harmful bacteria levels and lead to less gas and lower risk of undermining the LES.
- Probiotics reduce body fat by creating optimal bacteria levels, which not only helps with the absorption of nutrients, but also shows that harmful bacteria in the digestive tract may influence body metabolism and food cravings. Raising the body’s metabolism and lowering food cravings help reduce excess weight. Excess weight increases abdominal pressure, which weakens the LES closure and causes acid reflux.
Why probiotic supplements for heartburn?
Probiotic supplements and fermented foods introduce good bacteria into the digestive system. The best source of probiotics is fermented food and beverages such as kefir, kombucha, buttermilk, kimchi, miso, sauerkraut, sour cream and yogurt. Probiotic foods must be unpasteurized. Pasteurization kills bacteria, which is why the need for probiotic supplements such as Probioform is increasing.
Probioform
Probioform is a living liquid, and it is synthesized by the process of fermentation to grow beneficial bacteria for your gut health and provide permanent relief in issues regarding heartburn and acid reflux, as well as to promote overall health and wellbeing.
