If you were to ask the common person what diet has to do with acid reflux symptoms, they would probably tell you that spicy food gives you heart burn. But what most people don’t know is that a well-known nutrient can actually help with acid reflux.
You hear about it all the time for improving bone density, but the mineral calcium also plays an important role in keeping stomach acid where it belongs in the body. Many people don’t know that a loose lower esophageal sphincter (LES) can be a cause of acid reflux symptoms. Calcium can be used to improve muscle contraction of your involuntary muscles like the LES.
Dr. Leo Galland and practitioners of Functional Medicine will sometimes recommend calcium supplements once other causes of acid reflux have been ruled out. Some calcium supplements are better than others, and in this case calcium citrate powder is most effective. The powdered preparation (which can be taken dissolved into water or juice) is absorbed almost instantaneously in the body to help tighten the LES.
With growing awareness of the dangers of taking common medications for acid reflux symptoms, more people are looking for natural alternatives. Avoiding or eating certain foods for health reasons is becoming a more popular practice among people who are actively choosing to stay healthy. Getting adequate calcium intake from food sources is important. Try these calcium rich foods:
- Leafy green vegetables
- Sesame Seeds
- Sardines
Dr. Marina Rose has helped people with acid reflux symptoms and other challenging, chronic health conditions in and around the city of Sunnyvale, CA.
Can citrate calcium help tighten the Les sphincter