Ask AI Mark suggests natural alternatives to antacids: deglycyrrhizated licorice, glutamine, aloe, probiotics, digestive enzymes, magnesium, and zinc carnosine. Long-term acid-blocking drugs carry potential side effects worth avoiding.
So instead of using Tums or Rolaids or that kind of stuff, you can use licorice, actually something called DGL, deglycyrrhizated licorice, which you can chew two or three tablets before you eat, and that often can be really effective and before bed. Also, I use a combination of glutamine, which has been really well studied and used a lot in Japan and other countries, but not so much here for reflux. Glutamine is an important amino acid, but it helps heal and soothe the gut. Aloe also helpful. Licorice combination. Probiotics also can be very helpful. Digestive enzymes help break down the food magnesium. also really important, relaxes the digestive system. And also you're going to have something called zinc carnosine, also in helping the digestive function. Zinc is important for your activating enzymes. The key is not to take these acid blocking drugs. And the data is pretty strong on these. They can cause bacterial overgrowth in irritable bowel. So you trade one gut for another. They can cause pneumonia, B12 deficiency, zinc deficiency, osteoporosis. So short term fine, but long term not a good idea.
