The silent damage to your body

Heartburn, reflux and indigestion are symptoms, not the underlying condition. Masking them with medications doesn’t solve the problem; it makes it worse.

Antacids and acid-suppressing medications contain more than just the active ingredients like omeprazole or ranitidine. They’re loaded with aluminium and magnesium compounds, titanium dioxide, microcrystalline cellulose, lactose and other fillers and coatings.

These additives aren’t harmless: aluminium is a heavy metal that accumulates in the body and strains the kidneys, while magnesium in high doses can cause diarrhoea and electrolyte imbalances. Titanium dioxide (used as a coating) and other fillers irritate the gut and disrupt the microbiome. Over time, these medications are slowly poisoning your digestive system.

Here’s what they do to your body:

• Damage the stomach lining: Over time, they irritate and wear away your protective stomach lining, causing chronic inflammation, discomfort and ulcers.
• Slow digestion: Low stomach acid means food isn’t broken down properly. You feel bloated, heavy and sluggish – and nutrients never reach your cells.
• Increase infection risk: Stomach acid is your body’s natural defence. Suppressing it leaves you vulnerable to gut infections like SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and even more serious illnesses such as pneumonia.
• Strain on your kidneys: Over time, they reduce kidney function and contribute to kidney stones.
• Create nutritional deficiencies: Vital nutrients like vitamin B12, magnesium and calcium don’t get absorbed, leaving you fatigued, weak and mentally foggy.
• Neurological effects: Deficiencies and chronic inflammation impact brain health and contribute to cognitive decline.

What’s really causing your digestive issue?

Heartburn, acid reflux, bloating – these are signals, not the enemy. Understanding the root cause is key to ending the pattern of pain:

• Overeating or trigger foods: Large meals or foods that are spicy, fatty or acidic overwhelm the digestive system, increasing pressure in the stomach and triggering reflux.
• Stress and nervous system imbalance: Chronic stress disrupts digestion by reducing stomach acid production, slowing gut motility, and weakening the body’s natural defences against reflux.
• Low stomach acid or enzyme production: Surprisingly, too little stomach acid or digestive enzymes can cause bloating, reflux and poor nutrient absorption, because food isn’t broken down properly.
• Gut inflammation, infections or imbalances: Infections such as  pylori (a bacteria that lives in the stomach), food sensitivities, or gut bacteria imbalances irritate the stomach lining and oesophagus, increasing the risk of reflux.
• Lifestyle and habits: Eating late at night, lying down after meals, smoking and excess caffeine all trigger symptoms by putting additional stress on the digestive system.

The smarter approach: Take back control

Chronic digestive issues are self-created – years of sugar, coffee, alcohol and poor eating habits have built this cycle. No medication can undo what these choices have caused. It’s time to take responsibility and give your body a chance to heal.

Here’s how to break the cycle:

1. Identify and remove triggers completely
Cut out spicy and fatty foods, sugar, chocolate, coffee and alcohol completely – no compromises, no ‘just once’.

2. Eat for your gut
Focus on smaller, balanced meals and chew food thoroughly. Include gut-friendly foods such as vegetables, high-fibre whole grains and fermented foods like sauerkraut or kefir. Avoid lying down immediately after eating and eat earlier in the evening.

3. Support digestion
Use natural remedies to soothe and nourish your gut:

• Slippery elm and marshmallow root: create a protective coating for the digestive lining, reducing irritation and discomfort.
• Ginger and chamomile: calm digestive spasms, support stomach motility and reduce bloating or nausea.
• Magnesium and zinc: magnesium supports enzyme function to help food break down
  efficiently, while zinc is needed for stomach acid production, aiding proper digestion and nutrient absorption.
• Digestive enzymes and probiotics: improve digestion, restore healthy gut flora and support nutrient absorption.

4. Move your body by taking a gentle post-meal walks to support digestion and stomach emptying.

5. Manage stress with relaxation techniques, mindfulness, or gentle movement Tai Chi.

6. Avoid drinking water with meals as fluid dilutes stomach acid and digestive enzymes, making it harder for your body to break down food properly. This slows digestion, leading to bloating and increased risk of reflux.

7. Keep a food and symptom diary to identify personal triggers and measure improvements over time.

8. Get professional support or train in nutrition yourself

Work with from a CNM-trained natural therapist who takes a holistic approach, considering diet, lifestyle, stress and gut function. They can help uncover root causes, tailor your diet, recommend herbal and nutrient support, and guide stress management techniques to restore digestive health. Or empower yourself by training in nutrition and naturopathy to confidently make healthy choices for yourself and your family, understand which remedies are best for common health concerns, and take control of your wellbeing.

You have the power to stop covering up symptoms and start healing. The responsibility is yours – cut the triggers, support your gut and give your body a chance to recover.

Incredible results from CNM’s student clinic

No more groggy mornings!

“I used antacids daily and still couldn’t enjoy meals. Working with a CNM practitioner, I learned what was triggering my reflux and added herbs and simple routines to calm my gut. Within weeks, I felt comfortable after meals, slept through the night, and didn’t need any more medication!”

Emma R