| Acid Reflux is a condition and not a disease! Unless of | | | | sugar, which is very acidic. |
| course you think in terms of "Dis-Ease", which | | | | There are also other things that can increase |
| basically means "uneasy" or "ill-at-ease". | | | | stomach pressure, such as H.pylori bacterium, a |
| It has become all too easy for the medical | | | | peptic ulcer or gastritis. Even anger, frustration and |
| community to label simple health problems as | | | | stress all contribute to stomach pressure. |
| diseases, when in fact many of them are just | | | | One of the major causes of stomach pressure and |
| conditions, which in the majority of cases can be | | | | reflux is when the body is in an acidic state. Meaning |
| corrected without the use of toxic drugs. | | | | that your pH levels have fallen below the desired |
| Reflux in the dictionary is defined as a "backward | | | | range of 7.3 to 7.4. Symptoms of being too acidic are |
| flow". However a simple burp or belch is also classified | | | | burping, belching, stomach bloating and flatulence |
| as reflux and we all know that burping is not a | | | | more than normal. |
| disease. Burping or belching is a natural function of | | | | Not only will high acid levels have an effect on your |
| the human body, and occurs when the stomach | | | | overall health, they are also a major cause of |
| pressure gets too high. Much like a pressure relief | | | | diseases like cancer and heart disease. |
| valve, the act of burping lowers stomach pressure. | | | | In fact many cases of cancer have been completely |
| The pressure in the stomach is always being exerted | | | | reversed when people have shifted their pH levels |
| against the Lower Esophageal Sphincter valve, and | | | | from being too acidic to an alkaline state. Even mild |
| when the pressure becomes too great it forces the | | | | acidity over time can cause health problems like |
| valve open. The pressure continues to build up in our | | | | cardiovascular damage, all forms of cancer, diabetes, |
| esophagus until it reaches a point where the Upper | | | | kidney and gallstones, high blood pressure, |
| Esophageal Sphincter valve is forced open and the | | | | Alzheimers, sinusitis, osteoporosis (bone loss) and |
| acidic stomach gases come rushing out of our | | | | many other health problems which can be prevented |
| mouths. We define this as a burp or belch. It is | | | | by keeping our bodies in an alkaline state. |
| normal! | | | | This simple at home test will determine if you are too |
| When food reaches the stomach, it displaces the | | | | acidic, and could save you many health disorders that |
| liquid contents in the stomach which causes the liquid | | | | acidic people face on a daily basis. |
| level to rise. This not only increases the stomach | | | | CHECKING pH LEVELS |
| pressure but also the, pressure being exerted against | | | | You can purchase some Litmus Paper at the health |
| the LES valve. That's why we burp after a meal, or | | | | food store, and check the acidity of your saliva. You |
| having a beverage. | | | | fill your mouth with saliva a couple of times and then |
| A stomach disorder like H.pylori bacterium or a peptic | | | | spit into a container. Dip the end of your test paper |
| ulcer will increase stomach pressure also and may | | | | into the saliva and leave it there until it changes color. |
| cause bloating. Bloating is pressure, and as we know | | | | Then match your test paper up with the color chart |
| now, too much pressure causes reflux. | | | | on the package that the paper came in and you will |
| Being too acidic or having your pH levels on the acidic | | | | see a value or a number. Your reading should be |
| side will also cause bloating, burping, and you may | | | | around 7.3 to 7.4, values lower than these are acidic |
| even experience flatulence more than normal. | | | | and should be corrected. Do the test in the morning |
| Anyone who has ever had too much to drink is very | | | | when your stomach is empty and then again in the |
| familiar with all of these symptoms. Alcohol is acidic, | | | | evening before you retire and then you will have an |
| and so is the mix that you use. They both contain | | | | average reading. |