Hong Kong Integrative Medical Practice
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
New WhatsApp 94563881
Life Clinic, 3rd floor, 33 Wellington St
Email: susan@susanjamieson.com
  • Home
  • Doctors
    • Dr. Susan Jamieson
    • Dr. Denny Tang
    • Dr. Adrian Chi Tong
  • Therapies
    • Functional Medicine / Integrative Medicine
    • Anti-aging Acupuncture and QI Healing Therapy
    • Allergy Treatments
    • DNA Analysis
    • Hong Kong Gut Health Centre
    • Mind-Body – Spirit
  • Therapists
    • Dr Susan Jamieson
  • Specialties
    • Maintain Your Happiness And Passion
    • Chronic Pain Solution
    • 中文项目
    • Fertility and Hormonal Imbalance Solution
    • Stress and Depression Solution
    • Hong Kong Gut Health Centre
  • Health Articles
    • Child Health
    • Mental Health
    • Gut Health
    • Nutrition
    • Therapies
    • Health Improvement
    • Disease Prevention
    • Weight Loss
    • Health In Hong Kong
    • Clinic News
    • Blog en français
  • Covid 19/Online consult
  • En Français
  • Jobs
  • Home
  • Gut Health
  • Acid Reflux and Weight Loss

Acid Reflux and Weight Loss

Posted on January 6, 2018 by Dr. Susan Jamieson in Gut Health, Weight Loss

Tips for dealing with acid reflux disease or GERDAcid reflux is on the rise around the world, and obesity appears to be the culprit. While there are medications available such as Xantac, these have their own issues. Xantac has been linked to lower levels of vitamin B12. B12 keeps nerve cells healthy and a deficiency of vitamin B has been linked with depression, so long-term use of anti-reflux medications does not appear to be a good idea.

Gastritis, gastroparesis, heartburn, delayed gastric emptying, gastroesophageal reflux disease… all of these terms relate to issues which often have acid reflux as a symptom.

A common cause of acid reflux is when fat accumulates around the stomach and esophagus. This prevents the valve where the esophagus joins to the stomach from closing fully, allowing stomach acids to pass up the esophagus.

Acid Reflux Versus GERD: What Is The Difference?

Acid reflux may appear relatively minor — occasional heartburn, for example. However, if left unchecked it can devolve into its dangerous big brother, GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. GERD can lead to dry throat, trouble with swallowing, and persistent coughing. It can also lead to ulcers and esophogeal cancer.

Acid Reflux And Diet

Weight loss is the best thing you can do for acid reflux. As you burn away the fat that has accumulated around your stomach, the pressure will lift on your esophagus, allowing its valve to close fully. Diets are available that target acid reflux specifically. Ask your doctor or a nutritional therapist about what you can do. In the meantime, there are plenty of things you can do right now to get ahead of acid reflux.

Exercise

Burn that fat off. Even a half-hour walk each day helps. Build exercise into your life.

Sleep

Getting a proper night’s sleep consistently makes you more alert, which relieves stress and helps keep you to your weight-loss schedule.

Remove bad fats and sugar from your diet

Look for whole foods, and avoid foods with a low quality fats. Avoid sodas and other sugary drinks.

Consider trying a gluten-free diet

Some people who remove gluten from their diets experience both relief from acid reflux and weight loss.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine

Both alcohol and caffeine contribute to acid reflux. Decaffeinated tea is a pleasant substitute for coffee.

Skip chocolate

Sorry, chocolate lovers, but chocolate is a well known contributor to acid reflux. Remove it from your diet, even as an occasional snack.

Plan on an early dinner

Don’t eat anything near bedtime, as this puts your stomach to work and generates acid — which has an easier time creeping up your esophagus when you’re lying down. It’s recommended that you sit upright or move around for at least three hours after you eat. So no after-lunch naps.

Try a bed wedge pillow

Sleeping with your head slightly raised can provide relief.

If you smoke, quit

You should do this anyway, but smoking exacerbates acid reflux, so you have another good reason to break this habit. Your lungs as well as your stomach will thank you.

Speak to your doctor about supplements which can help

HCL or digestive enzymes can provide relief by helping food move more quickly through your digestive system. In fact, some people’s reflux is caused by low stomach acid (and taking anti-reflux medications can actually make that worse over the long term). If you’re having issues with reflux or a persistent cough, your integrative doctor may be able to help with non-medication based supplements that can help resolve the issue instead of only treating symptoms.

Beating Acid Reflux Through Lifestyle

Reflux isn’t something you can address by temporarily dieting until it goes away, because if you regain the weight you’ve lost, reflux will return. That means the diet you choose needs to be something sustainable. Your exercise program needs to be one that you can fit into your life as part of your new lifestyle. But with these changes, this problematic condition can be beaten.

acid reflux, delayed gastric emptying, Diet, dietary choices, gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastroparesis, healthy gut, heartburn, lose weight, overweight

Comments are closed.

Book an appointment here!

Book a consultation in Wellington St with one of our doctors, or an online tele-consultation.

Dr Susan Jamieson (GP)

Clinic AppointmentOnline Consultationn

Contact Details

NEW WhatsApp Phone: 94563881

Phone: 25238044

Email: susan@susanjamieson.com

Clinic Opening Hours

Monday to Friday: 9am – 6pm.

Location

Office Life Clinic, 3rd floor, 33 Wellington St Central, Hong Kong

Learn More:

For more Health & Wellbeing news as well as information about events at Dr. Susan Jamieson Integrative Medical Practice, please visit us on Facebook for regular health updates or register for our newsletter.

© 2012-2022 Dr. Susan Jamieson Integrative Medical Practice