The Root Cause of Reflux with Michelle Shapiro, RD
Dec 4, 2023
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Michelle Shapiro, RD, delves into the complexities of reflux treatment, discussing symptoms, causes, and the impact of pregnancy on reflux. She explores the connection between stress, thyroid health, and the importance of listening to your body. Topics include managing stomach acid levels, strategies for reflux relief, and the interplay of thyroid health and digestion. The podcast also covers circadian histamine release, stress management for reflux, and the influence of posture, fascia, and the vagus nerve on digestion.
Functional medicine focuses on increasing stomach acid for reflux relief, contrary to conventional medicine's approach of reducing it.
Understanding the intricate connection between histamines, reflux, and circadian rhythms can aid in managing these conditions effectively.
Symptoms like gnawing hunger at 5 AM and nervous system responses may indicate histamine intolerance, impacting reflux.
Proper posture, eating habits, and stress management are crucial for effective reflux and digestive issue management.
Deep dives
Understanding Reflux and Digestive Support
Reflux, a prevalent health issue, can be caused by high or low stomach acid. While conventional medicine suggests reducing stomach acid for reflux, functional medicine often focuses on increasing it, leading to confusion. Factors like posture, eating speed, and nervous system health impact reflux. Physical positioning during meals and prioritizing self-care play crucial roles in managing reflux and histamine issues.
The Complex Relationship Between Histamines and Reflux
Histamines act on stomach acid production, affecting reflux symptoms. Histamine intolerance and reflux commonly occur together, but the correlation is often overlooked. Circadian release of histamines at specific times can worsen reflux symptoms. Understanding the intricate connection between histamines, reflux, and circadian rhythms can help in managing these conditions.
Histamine Intolerance and Symptoms Timing
Histamine intolerance can manifest as gnawing hunger around 5 AM, potentially indicating reflux issues. Symptoms like dizziness, disorientation, numbness, or heart rate changes beyond typical reflux may suggest histamine involvement. Histamine reactions are often associated with nervous system responses, highlighting the importance of self-awareness and symptom tracking.
Addressing Reflux in Specific Contexts
Factors like pregnancy, H. pylori infection, and hiatal hernias can exacerbate reflux symptoms. Pregnancy-related reflux may benefit from cautious stomach acid adjustments and focus on posture and meal speed. Hiatal hernias, which affect the diaphragm and stomach, can contribute to acid reflux and may require targeted treatment strategies.
Importance of Posture, Eating Habits, and Nervous System Health
Maintaining proper posture, eating habits, and supporting nervous system health are crucial in managing reflux and digestive issues. Slowing down eating, maintaining an open body posture, and reducing stressors can aid in improving symptoms. Balanced self-care practices, addressing histamines, and understanding symptom triggers can lead to more effective reflux management.
Reflex or Hiatal Hernia Concerns
The podcast episode highlights the importance of addressing tenderness around the rib cage as it could indicate a hiatal hernia, a common cause of reflux. The speaker shares a personal anecdote about a family member with long-term reflux issues due to a hiatal hernia, emphasizing the significance of considering physical factors affecting reflux symptoms. Chiropractic interventions for correcting hiatal hernias and the potential role of stomach shape and LES function in reflux are discussed, urging individuals to seek medical advice and possibly consult with chiropractors specializing in hiatal hernias.
Strategies for Managing Reflux Symptoms
The podcast explores various strategies for managing reflux symptoms, including dietary and lifestyle modifications. Different approaches from conventional and functional nutrition perspectives are compared, with an emphasis on addressing root causes in functional nutrition. Recommendations such as using alkaline substances like baking soda for short-term relief, supplementing with mucilaginous agents for protective barriers, and adopting slower eating habits and proper posture are suggested to alleviate symptoms. The significance of liver support, cautious consumption of spicy foods, and considerations for higher protein intake, posture, and stress management in reflux management are also highlighted.
In this episode, I am interviewing Michelle Shapiro, an integrative functional registered dietitian who's going to unravel the confusion that often surrounds reflux treatment. We'll explore why conventional medicine's approach to reflux may not always be in your stomach's best interest, and why you may sometimes need to fuel the fire. Michelle helps us understand the contributing factors of reflux symptoms – ranging from a burning throat and chest pain to that nagging feeling of hunger paired with nausea. Michelle also cautions about supplements and touches on the complex relationship between pregnancy, hiatal hernias, and how managing stress and histamine levels plays a vital role in your health.
If you've ever wondered about the connection between stress, your thyroid, and the importance of listening to your body – you won't want to miss this episode. We also have a special Q&A waiting for you over at patreon.com/hormonehealingrd.
As always, this episode is for informational purposes only. Please talk with your healthcare provider to figure out what's best for you.
This episode covers:
Common symptoms of acid reflux
Causes of high and low stomach acid levels
Connection between histamines, stomach acid, and acid-reducing drugs
The impact of pregnancy on reflux and histamine intolerance
Strategies for reflux relief and dietary management
