Gastrointestinal Reflux Disorder (gird) And Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (gerd)
Posted on May 29, 2008 - Filed Under Health and Fitness
GastroIntestinal Reflux Disorder (GIRD) and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) are two common digestive disorders that share similar symptoms: heartburn (burning sensation and or pain in the stomach and or chest, behind the breastbone), abdominal bloating, gas, nausea, shortness of breath and or acidic or sour taste in the throat. Both are generally caused by poor diet: too building or too cleansing.
Digestion is a very simple process. Food is taken via the mouth, chewed, mixed with saliva and sent down via the throat and esophagus into the stomach, where it is mixed with acid and enzymes. This mixture sits and ferments (souring process) before being sent down into the small intestines for further digestion and eventual nutrient absorption into the bloodstream.
The major symptom of GIRD and GERD is heartburn. Heartburn is usually caused by a back up of hydrochloric acid (HCl) into esophagus, irritating and or burning sensitive tissues. HCl is produced by the stomach. Its back flow is generally prevented by esophageal sphincter muscles that control the opening and closing of the valve, which connects the throat to the stomach. When these muscles become weak, back flow, heartburn can occur.
Weak sphincter muscles can be caused by poor, anemic diet. Protein and fat build and fuel all structure and function. Everything else (fruit, vegetables and grains) reduces, cleanses, cools and moistens. Low protein, low fat and high carbohydrate diets (grain, pasta, bread, salads, raw vegetables, fruit, especially tropical, juices, etc.).
High carbohydrate foods, fruit, vegetables, especially when eaten at the beginning of the meal, tend to dilute and weaken digestive acid and enzymes, producing abdominal bloating, gas, nausea, reflux and in the extreme, heartburn, acid indigestion.
Overeating, especially protein, fat and starch can also produce the same symptoms. The digestive tract, mouth, throat, stomach and small intestines are more or less one long tube (25+ feet) that connects to another long tube, large intestines before exiting the anus. Food and fluids, digestive energy moves down. Overeating can clog any part of the tube causing a back flow of energy, food and fluids, just like a clogged drain that backs up and overflows. Back flow is generally prevented by valves in the throat, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, etc. that open and close. Overeating, eating too fast or disorderly can clog, jam the valves causing reflux, heartburn, etc.
GIRD and GERD that are caused by poor diet can generally be cured by proper diet.
The following diet, meal plan will generally prevent and or cure most cases of GIRD and GERD. There are always exceptions.
1/3 Protein and fat (meat, eggs, chicken,. cheese, beans, etc.). One protein per meal.
1/3 Grain (rice, noodles, bread, etc.)
1/3 Vegetables, cooked (3-5), fruit (1)
Spices (cumin, coriander, fennel, etc.), tea
Reduce salads, tropical fruits, cold drinks, milk, yogurt and cottage cheese.
GIRD and GERD can also be caused by pregnancy, excess weight and or tight clothing.
Author, Hot and Cold Health; Acupuncture Physician (FL 1992-2002); Owner, operator Food and Thought, health food store, Hollywood, FL (1984-2001); Questioned and counseled 30,000+; “What do you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner?”; Cooking teacher; Chi gung practitioner, daily, outdoors, since 1988; Web: http://www.hotandcoldhealth.net
Tags: diet, digestion, nutrition
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