Q: About four years ago, one of my doctors told me that I would be on acid-blocking drugs for the rest of my life. I’d had trouble with acid reflux for about 10 years by that time.
This expert couldn’t tell me what causes acid reflux. After doing my own research, I figured out how to change my eating habits and get control of the reflux. I quit taking the drug after three months. I have had a good success over with my revised diet. Now that I am fasting regularly, acid reflux is seldom an annoyance.
A: Thank you for sharing your success story. Taiwanese scientists concluded a small crossover study in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and found that high-carbohydrate diets make the reflux worse (Journal of the Formosan Medical Association, November 2018). This connection was first reported in 2006 (Digestive Diseases and Sciences, August 2006), but not all gastroenterologists are aware of this link.
Cutting back on sugar might be especially helpful (European Surgery, December 2017).
We appreciate your observation on intermittent fasting. Researchers don’t appear to have studied this very much, but perhaps others will want t try it for their reflux symptoms.
– Article by Joe and Teresa Graedon
– Copyright The Seattle Times