Mon
12
Nov
Acid reflux usually occurs when a donut shaped muscle at the bottom of the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) doesn’t operate properly. Normally, the LES prevents the backflow of acid by tightening up after swallowing. However, when people have acid reflux, the LES becomes relaxed and weak, which allows acid and the stomach contents to seep back up the esophagus.
Although there is still no consensus on exactly what causes the LES to weaken, there are several factors have been shown to worsen on contribute to acid reflux. These factors include:
- Obesity (extra weight can put pressure on the LES)
- Pregnancy
- Hiatal hernia, a condition where the top of the stomach protrudes above the diaphragm muscle of the chest
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
- Caffeine consumption
- Eating large meals
- Eating before bedtime
- Medications such as antihistamines, calcium channel blockers, theophylline, and nitrates
- Fatty, fried, and spicy foods; citrus fruits; chocolate; tomato-based foods; mint; garlic; and raw onions
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Monday, November 12th, 2007 at 11:00 am
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February 9th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
MINT TOOTHPASTE IS OVERLOOKED AS MAIN CULPRIT
Everyone, listen up: no one realizes that mint toothpaste — the hyper minty gel kind like in Colgage Total — is what’s behind the acid reflux epidemic of today. Whatever doesn’t get rinsed during nighttime brushing, seeps down the esophagus after we go to bed and loosens up that sphincter muscle night after night, until it stays open permanently. As soon as I switched to non-mint toothpaste, my chronic reflux went away. I’ve helped others cure their reflux and heartburn as well, and have submitted articles to both Health and Prevention magazines this week because I want to spread the word. Think about this: toothpaste and mints weren’t that strong in the past and either was society’s heartburn issues. They happened around the same time. Anyway, please help get the word out. Colgate Total and Altoids: good for your breath; bad for your health. When I switched from Colgate Totl to Cinnamon Closeup; Tom’s Fennel and Crest citrus flavored toothpaste my acid reflux went away. It’s been 6 years and I’m heartburn free.