Dr. Joy Kong argues heartburn usually comes from low stomach acid, not excess, and that antacids damage digestion and nutrient absorption. Chronic acid suppression can cause B12 and iron deficiencies and SIBO. She recommends apple cider vinegar, digestive bitters, slow eating, and deep breathing instead.
Do you think the antacids that you got from your doctors for your heartburn is harmless? Well, think again. You aren't fixing the problem with these pills. You're actively making your digestion worse. The truth is heartburn is rarely caused by too much stomach acid. It's usually caused by too little. When your acid is low, food sits and ferments, creating gas pressure that forces stomach content upward. If you're constantly neutralizing these acids, you shut down your body's first line of defense. You need strong stomach acid to break down proteins, kill harmful pathogens, and absorb critical nutrients like B12, iron, and magnesium. Chronic use can lead to significant deficiencies and gut issues like SIBO, which is small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. So how can you address these annoying heartburns then? You must shift the paradigm from suppressing stomach acid to optimizing it and restoring proper mechanical function. First, you can boost your digestive fire by utilizing apple cider vinegar, digestive bitters, or hydrochloric acid before meals to reestablish the acidic environment that's required to properly break down food and signal the esophageal valve to stay tightly shut. At the same time, you should try shift your nervous system into a parasympathetic rest and digest state via mindful, slow eating and deep breathing to optimize vagus nerve function, which directly stimulates natural acid secretion and proper gastric motility. And you need to protect the lining of the gut and reduce the pressure that forces acid upward. You can do so by chewing your food thoroughly to reduce fermentation time and avoid tight clothing around your abdomen and eating your last meal 3 to 4 hours before laying down. So try these adjustments and let me know how your heartburn goes. Remember, there are times that you should not listen to your doctors.
