Treat GERD Naturally and Effectively

The Cometa Wellness Center

Natural Approach towards GERD for disease cure, not symptom suppression!

The most important thing to remember when it comes to your digestion is that it is responsible for digesting your food! Gut mucosal integrity is essential for both competent digestion and the correct absorption of nutrients. Factors such as digestive enzymes, mucus, bacterial flora, and low pH (yes! an acidic environment!), are integral to mucosal integrity, health and function. Proton-pump inhibitors (i.e. the stomach acid-inhibitors such as Nexium, etc), NSAIDs (e.g. Motrin), steroids, antibiotics and poor dietary habits are examples of culprits that breakdown the first line defense against hypersensitivity to food proteins, as well as the aid we need in digestion and nutrient absorption.

Integral to most of the GI support programs I have successfully implemented in my medical practice, is the recognition and treatment of food intolerance. The loss of food tolerance leads to hypersensitivity. Such food hypersensitivity can lead to an array of gastrointestinal disorders. The many causes of food intolerance are still a quandary to conventional medicine. This is not the case for those of us that implement natural medicine. One very common type of food intolerance is food allergy and/or sensitivity. Whether it be GERD, IBS, Colitis, Gastritis, Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD), or any combination of the above, the identification of food sensitivity and/or food allergy in that patient is imperative. Food allergy and sensitivity testing is available at The Cometa Wellness Center. Stayed tuned for the next blog to learn more about food intolerance and the difference between food sensitivity and food allergy.


 Always remember when it comes to food and you...View the forest, not the trees, because you are what you eat!

Correct nutritional and herbal support can enhance your Gut Integrity and Digestion/Nutrient Absorption

Glutamine

Glutamine is a critical nutrient for the health and function of the gut mucosa and its residing immune cells. Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in our blood stream. It has been studied in the field of nutritional support for years. Although classified as a non-essential amino acid, it is considered a conditionally essential amino acid when a person is under "catabolic" stress such as in the critically ill patient. Glutamine is considered an essential amino acid under catabolic stress (i.e. body breakdown) because the body mobilizes glutamine from muscle tissue to provide substrate for more needed energy. Glutamine is the main fuel for enterocytes (i.e. cells of the colon) and it plays an important role in the structure and function of the GI tract. Supplementation with glutamine has been proven through many studies now to lower morbidity and mortality in the critically ill patient through its importance as an important dietary nutrient. It provides respiratory fuel for the immune cells, liver cells and intestinal mucosal cells, and is key to the nitrogen balance required by these systems when protein metabolism must be "amped up". In my medical practice the nutritional support provided by the addition of the amino acid glutamine is integral to a successful GI support program. The relevance of glutamine enriched diets for required nutritional support in disease is well supported in the literature. Glutamine is available in the supplement Glutagenics and GI Integrity below.

Gamma-oryzanol

To best explain how we naturally treat GERD and other GI tract dysfunction, it is helpful to explain bowel function itself. Gastrin is a hormone that stimulates secretion of gastric acid (HCl) by the parietal cells of the stomach and aids in gastric (stomach) motility. It's release is stimulated by G cells in the stomach, duodenum, and the pancreas. A product which reduce gastric secretion and is shown to prevent ulcers since 1978 is known as Gamma-oryzanol. Extracted from rice bran oil and other grain oils such as corn and barley, the active constituents of gamma-oryzanol (ferulic acid compounds) are also present in many foods, including oats, berries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, olives, and vegetables. Luckily gamma-oryzanol is also available in the natural supplement cited in the Treat GERD Naturally Package, Heartburn Essentials. Similar to how strontium is able to reduce the activity of osteoclasts from excessive bone breakdown, (rather than "poisoning" osteoclasts as the Fosemax-like drugs do) gamma-oryzanol reduces Gastrin production but does not totally suppress this important hormone Gastrin.

DGL

Deglycyrhizinated licorice, also known as DGL, is a well know GI supportive herbal preparation. DGL, is a licorice preparation that has been modified in such a way that the 'hypertensive' effects of Glycyrrhizin have been removed and the agents that sooth and heal the mucous membranes have been enhanced. Known, to enhance the positive effects of Goblet cells lining the stomach, DGL helps both heal the stomach and small intestine from ulcers as well as heal the esophagus and stomach from inflammation (esophagitis and gastritis, respectively). DGL is also very effective at healing mouth mucosal ulcers. DGL is used in my practice to both heal as well as PROTECT the GI mucosal tissues from insult. It is in both the Heartburn Essentials as a capsule preparation to be taken with meals or as a powder preparation in the product Glutagenics.

N-Acetyl- D-Glucosamine

Just like glucosamine sulfate is used for joint support, N-Acetyl- D-Glucosamine is a naturally occurring amino sugar integral to GI support. N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (NAG) is incorporated into glycosaminoglycans and is a major structural component for intestinal mucous secretions. This mucous is both protective as well as necessary to propel digested food through the GI tract. Supplementation with NAG helps maintain normal glycosaminoglycan synthesis and intestinal mucous production. In patients with GI integrity breakdown such as GERD and IBS, conversion from glucosamine into NAG is less effective. That's why for the GI tract, NAG supplementation is usually preferred over glucosamine sulfate. N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine is available with glutamine and other gut enhancing nutrients in the formulated supplement GI Integrity.

Treat GERD Naturally Supplement Program


The following program has historically been implemented with the greatest long term success, when accompanied by "health-full" whole food choices and at times, the temporary elimination of sensitive and/or allergic foods. Remember, stayed tuned for our next blog at drcometablog.com to learn more about the difference between these potential food intolerances in your life that may cause discomfort and disease. One does not need to be a patient with Dr. Cometa to take advantage of this very useful testing available at the Center. Call the Center at 410-296-6100 if you would like to be tested. 

1. Heartburn Essentials
Take 2 capsules three times a day with each meal

2. GI Integrity 
Take 2 after breakfast and 2 after lunch

3. Glutagenics
Take 1 teaspoon in the PM after dinner and in AM upon arising as necessary for extra support and protection

For a fair trial, this strong GI Support program should be followed for 2 months with careful eating. Supplements never replace common sense! The process of food reintroduction and GI support supplement reduction must be done slowly and very carefully. Please do not rush off the supplements before you slowly and methodically reintroduce and test allergic foods back into the diet. For help with temporary food elimination and reintroduction as well as general nutrition, do not forget...The Cometa Wellness Center has a fabulous new Certified Nutritionist, Ana Goldseker, CNC. Ana Goldseker's philosophy and knowledge of nutrition is completely "wholistic", and has been a great asset to the Center.

Ariane Cometa, holistic doc
The Cometa Wellness Center Pharmacy