April is National Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month.

And although I’m not a big fan of “awareness” events because they are typically a lot of hoopla and not much more, this one deserves mention.

Because there is a distinct “string of events” that can lead to esophageal cancer, and the first of those is a condition that affects a whopping 66 million Americans. 

Acid reflux. AKA GERD.

Here’s what happens:

It all starts with heartburn!

One of the most common symptoms of acid reflux is the presence of stomach acid and food residue rising up into your esophagus after eating and causing a burning sensation affectionately known as heartburn.

Now the common mainstream medical theory is that this is the result of too much acid in the stomach, so the go-to treatment is to shut it down with acid reducers.

Less acid production means less acid to rise up in your throat.

Problem solved, right?

Nope.

Here’s why.

What you’re not told about acid reducers

What most doctors fail to acknowledge is that your stomach NEEDS acid to break down proteins!

So if you cripple it with acid reducers, you are destroying your digestion, and trust me, when that happens, things won’t be pretty further down the digestive tract either.

When your foods are not broken down like they should be before they leave the stomach, it creates a tremendous burden on your small intestine, pancreas, liver and gallbladder to try to finish digestion.

So you may also experience gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. These are the common side effects of many acid reducers and now you know why that is so.

Plus you are susceptible to decreased nutrient absorption (especially Vitamin B12), which opens you up to a number of deficiency conditions as well as depression, IBS, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), pneumonia and C-diff.

And get this--when you take acid reducers, your stomach knows something’s up and reacts by making MORE acid. So the drugs actually make the problem even WORSE!

In addition, your pancreatic enzymes aren’t activated without proper stomach acid, so that obliterates your digestion even more! 

If this vicious cycle continues long enough you may be on the road to…

Barrett's esophagus

Barrett's esophagus is a condition where the cells lining your lower esophagus change and begin to resemble the inside of your intestines.

This is called intestinal metaplasia and is the result of repeated exposure to stomach acid, such as with acid reflux.

Although Barrett's esophagus symptoms are usually similar to acid reflux, it's also possible to have NO symptoms at all.

People with Barrett's esophagus have an increased risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma – one of the deadliest cancers in the US.

Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer

Once esophageal cancer occurs, depending on the degree of severity it can result in losing a portion of your esophagus.

The surgery is called an esophagectomy and involves removing your esophagus and the top part of your stomach. A portion of your stomach is then pulled up into your chest and connected to the remaining portion of your esophagus.

The procedure has an extremely high mortality rate, and complications include:

• Breathing problems
• Lowered immune function
• Permanent damage to your larynx (voice box)
• Difficulty swallowing 
• Frequent vomiting

 

Clearly, Barrett's is something to take seriously.

So naturally, many people with it are desperate to do whatever they must to avoid its worst consequences.

Now, the typical suggestions for Barrett’s are the same as acid reflux/GERD--take acid reducing drugs.

But as you saw above, challenging Mother Nature by shutting down your stomach acid is not an effective solution.

So what is the answer?

If you want to curb acid reflux and lessen your chances of Barrett's esophagus (or help prevent it from worsening if you have it), the true key is to...

Make sure your digestion is efficient!

When your digestion is accomplished thoroughly and completely as Nature intended, there is no rotting mass of food and acid to come rising up into your throat.

So you basically eliminate the root cause of acid reflux and Barrett’s!

This can be accomplished in two simple steps:

1- With the right diet

Although the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) claims that, “Researchers have not found that diet and nutrition play an important role in causing or preventing Barrett’s esophagus,” all I can say is those researchers must have had their heads you-know-where.

NOTHING impacts your digestion more than your diet! So to say that one has nothing to do with the other is an extreme disservice and downright wrong.

To make a difference in your digestion, you must eliminate harmful acid-creating foods (processed and fast food) and smorgasbord-type meals that cause digestive disaster and replace them with real, nourishing foods and simpler meals that your body can break down more efficiently.

Pair proteins OR whole grain-based starches with lots of fresh vegetables and salads in your meals. Limiting your meals to just ONE highly concentrated food (protein or starch) makes your stomach’s job much easier and paves the way for complete digestion. 

At the same time, avoid highly processed, refined sugars and starches, as they are inflammatory and cause imbalance in the gut microbiome.

Once you start making your meals simpler and healthier, chances are excellent you’ll see a difference in how you feel VERY quickly!

If you need more guidance on easy to digest meals, check out my Great Taste No Pain system. I wrote Great Taste No Pain because eating this way also eliminated my IBS 32 years ago, never to return.

2- With enzyme supplementation

If you've eaten typical complex meals or processed or fast food for a long time and/or have used acid reducers, chances are excellent that your body's ability to produce adequate enzymes for digestion is reduced or impaired.

That’s why supplementation with an enzyme formula like Digestizol Max can be so helpful to so many people.

Digestizol Max contains enzymes that target any kind of food you can eat—proteins, carbs, fats, dairy, fiber, etc., plus soothing herbs that can help calm an inflamed GI tract.

Other helpful suggestions

Other safe, natural measures to help soothe an inflamed GI tract and enhance digestion can include:

• Chiropractic treatment
• Meditation/prayer
• Yoga
• Acupuncture
• Quitting smoking

You can fight and win

If you have Barrett’s esophagus, or if you have acid reflux/GERD that you want to help PREVENT from progressing into Barrett’s (and possibly esophageal cancer), see what an ENORMOUS difference it can make when you take safe, natural measures to help encourage sound digestion and heal inflammation in your GI tract.

To your health,

Sherry Brescia