Heartburn?
marlamp10
Posts: 26 Member
I've been at this about three months now, with the first month at <50 carbs a day, and after that a LCHF macro of 80/15/5 (which is about 18 carbs/day for me).
I've mostly felt really good on that ratio, but have noticed over the last several weeks that I'm experiencing some fairly regular heartburn/reflux, especially in the evenings. I tend to skip breakfast (or maybe coffee and cream only), then eat between around 2pm-10pm, so I can see the possibility that just the timing of my meals could be a problem in itself. I've always been a late eater, and I often don't go to bed until after midnight.
But are there certain high-fat foods that are more likely to cause heartburn than others? My fats come primarily from almond butter, coconut oil, cream, and cream cheese. Some days it's pretty heavy on the dairy. I've been wondering if the dairy fats are the problem, or if it's just the high fat in general.
I know most people say their heartburn goes away once they go lowcarb, and mine did, too, at least for awhile. Have any of you had it start back up, or found it to be connected to specific fats?
Finally gave in and took a Zantac two nights ago, and it worked right away. I just don't want to get in that habit if I don't have to.
I've mostly felt really good on that ratio, but have noticed over the last several weeks that I'm experiencing some fairly regular heartburn/reflux, especially in the evenings. I tend to skip breakfast (or maybe coffee and cream only), then eat between around 2pm-10pm, so I can see the possibility that just the timing of my meals could be a problem in itself. I've always been a late eater, and I often don't go to bed until after midnight.
But are there certain high-fat foods that are more likely to cause heartburn than others? My fats come primarily from almond butter, coconut oil, cream, and cream cheese. Some days it's pretty heavy on the dairy. I've been wondering if the dairy fats are the problem, or if it's just the high fat in general.
I know most people say their heartburn goes away once they go lowcarb, and mine did, too, at least for awhile. Have any of you had it start back up, or found it to be connected to specific fats?
Finally gave in and took a Zantac two nights ago, and it worked right away. I just don't want to get in that habit if I don't have to.
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I have had issues with heartburn forever. I'm in the process of getting an ulcer to heal right now. LCHF hasn't fixed that for me yet. I do have to take Protonix, and Zantac daily. I haven't been able to correlate any particular foods with the symptoms either. I have ordered some Kombucha (recommended by these wonderful people here) to try. If I understand correctly, it's fermented cabbage and it's supposed to help the acid levels in the gut. I've been unable to find any in my area so I ordered it from Amazon. Supposed to be here on the 4th of Jan. There was a thread about this not too long ago that may help you too!0
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Mine went away for about 9 months but has come back recently in a slightly different form. Now it feels more like throbbing pain, but it's still indigestion. I've noticed for me it happens after I eat peanut butter, but only sometimes. I assume in my case it's the sugar in the peanut butter (because it's regular peanut butter, not sugar free).0
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Mine went away for about 9 months but has come back recently in a slightly different form. Now it feels more like throbbing pain, but it's still indigestion. I've noticed for me it happens after I eat peanut butter, but only sometimes. I assume in my case it's the sugar in the peanut butter (because it's regular peanut butter, not sugar free).
I have also noticed that it coincides with sugar more than the fats for me. Are you eating sugars that might be the cause? It used to be that I could not eat pepperoni or sausage at night without being up in the middle of the night with heartburn, and it was even getting to the point that hamburger would do it too. But now I can eat any of that with no problems.0 -
My heartburn has greatly improved since going keto, unless I have a lot of coffee and then it is more of an acid reflux thing going on that just standard heartburn. I have been doing BPC for breakfast several times a week and notice that I tend to have heart burn/reflux if I drink anymore coffee than that. I usually follow up the BPC with a cup of black coffee because hey, I love coffee
. If it only loved me as much 
Maybe because I am not putting anything solid in my belly is the cause of the heartburn and coffee is really acidic going into an acidic environment and I am having acid overload?? So maybe it is due to an acidic food you are eating? Just throwing around ideas here since honestly I don't have an idea. 
I usually don't eat lunch until after 12 or longer depending on what time I drank the BP coffee. It usually holds me 6+ hrs before I get tummy grumbles for food at work and even longer at home so I don't plan on giving it up as I am not a breakfast fan unless I am starving. I will just have a Tums and go on my merry way those mornings. That seems to be what is doing it to me. Throughout the day I am good and I have been able to go off my reflux meds. On mornings that I have a "regular" breakfast, I have no heartburn/reflux.
And on a brighter note, I have not had any gastritis flare ups since going LCHF. I was having a flare up every other month it seemed. I don't know what the correlation is there, some more science-y mind might know, but other than the occasional reflux I have had no stomach pains/issues at all which is glorious.0 -
Keep in mind that in the vast majority of cases, heartburn is actually caused by too little acid in the stomach. Next time you have an attack, instead of reaching for the calcium, take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and mix with about 8oz of water and drink. It sound counterintuitive, but it will likely work, especially if you have limited results with things like Tums or need to take Zantac/Prilosec all the time. If that does work, look into bile salt or Betaine HCl supplements to help raise your stomach acid level.
The reason this happens is because, if we're on low fat for an extended period of time, take a lot of acid-blocking substances, or we raise our fat intake drastically and suddenly, our body doesn't make enough bile and stomach acid to handle it (fat is broken down in the stomach), causing indigestion and other GI issues. Time is often all that's needed, but some people need help in the meantime or need help permanently (due to enzyme deficiencies).0 -
Dragonwolf wrote: »Keep in mind that in the vast majority of cases, heartburn is actually caused by too little acid in the stomach. Next time you have an attack, instead of reaching for the calcium, take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and mix with about 8oz of water and drink. It sound counterintuitive, but it will likely work, especially if you have limited results with things like Tums or need to take Zantac/Prilosec all the time. If that does work, look into bile salt or Betaine HCl supplements to help raise your stomach acid level.
Thanks! I'll check that out.0 -
I have also noticed that it coincides with sugar more than the fats for me. Are you eating sugars that might be the cause? It used to be that I could not eat pepperoni or sausage at night without being up in the middle of the night with heartburn, and it was even getting to the point that hamburger would do it too. But now I can eat any of that with no problems.
I'm being pretty careful on the sugars, except for the couple of glasses of wine I've had in the last week--those didn't exactly coincide with the heartburn, but maybe it contributed. I think the last time I had any real sugar was eating a piece of real chocolate pie on Thanksgiving, and the heartburn problems didn't start up until weeks after that. When I eat nut butters, it's natural almond butter.
But I do drink coffee, and eat a lot of heavy meats (especially sausage and ground beef chili). I'm going to keep watching this and see if it improves on its own.0 -
Dragonwolf wrote: »Keep in mind that in the vast majority of cases, heartburn is actually caused by too little acid in the stomach. Next time you have an attack, instead of reaching for the calcium, take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and mix with about 8oz of water and drink. It sound counterintuitive, but it will likely work, especially if you have limited results with things like Tums or need to take Zantac/Prilosec all the time. If that does work, look into bile salt or Betaine HCl supplements to help raise your stomach acid level.
The reason this happens is because, if we're on low fat for an extended period of time, take a lot of acid-blocking substances, or we raise our fat intake drastically and suddenly, our body doesn't make enough bile and stomach acid to handle it (fat is broken down in the stomach), causing indigestion and other GI issues. Time is often all that's needed, but some people need help in the meantime or need help permanently (due to enzyme deficiencies).
See I knew a wise old soul would show up with a good answer. This makes sense to me as seeing as how I am dumping a lot of fat on an empty stomach with the BCP. And as how my BCP is twice the amount of fat as a "normal" breakfast of eggs fried in butter with a couple slice of bacon(sometimes if I feel like cooking. I hate cooking bacon for some reason) when I eat breakfast. can see how this fat "overload" is occurring on those mornings. A Tums usually settles me down if I feel it gets bad enough to take one. Usually it passes on its own or when I eat something solid.
The sound of the ACV makes me feel all gaggy lol even though I always dump a ton on my collards. There is just something very unappealing about a ACV shooter.
I had been on Prilosec for awhile for my gastritis and reflux but went off of it after my last gastritis resolved (just kind of stopped taking it because I am horrible at remembering medications unless I am in pain).
Thanks for the insight!
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From what I understand, taking tums and using acid blockers might alleviate your symptoms at the time, but they do nothing to remedy the actual problem which I heard the same as @Dragonwolf described. You need the acid to digest the food. The indigestion, occurs often due to there not being enough to handle the given food. So, you end up with it all just sitting there churning basically. Blocking the little acid there is, to soothe the beast can prevent proper digestion.0
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SoosannahK wrote: »
The sound of the ACV makes me feel all gaggy lol even though I always dump a ton on my collards. There is just something very unappealing about a ACV shooter.
A couple of tablespoons in a glass of water tastes like a light wine, really. But you could also probably add it to other things to disguise it, tea maybe?
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SoosannahK wrote: »
The sound of the ACV makes me feel all gaggy lol even though I always dump a ton on my collards. There is just something very unappealing about a ACV shooter.
A couple of tablespoons in a glass of water tastes like a light wine, really. But you could also probably add it to other things to disguise it, tea maybe?
Ooooh, I like wine but tend to not to drink it because I just don't have a taste for alcoholic beverages anymore. I might try it and see. I'll get back to you on my thoughts and if indeed it is either gaggy or winey.
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I just drank the acv in water. How long before I know it has, or hasn't, helped? What do you recommend @Dragonwolf if it doesn't? Would you go ahead with a try on the bile salts? I'm so tired of taking these acid blockers! I'm 48 years old and have been taking them since I was 24! Omg, that's half of my life! These doctors are stuck on what presumably helps, instead of taking the time to find the root cause! No telling what the long term use of these "wonder drugs" has done to me!
Don't mean to hijack your thread OP! This has been an issue of mine for far too long!0 -
Thanks this is all very helpful. I too have had a mild resurgence of heartburn which I had attributed to increased dairy. I'll try some Bragg's ACV drinks to see if it helps.I have had issues with heartburn forever. I'm in the process of getting an ulcer to heal right now. LCHF hasn't fixed that for me yet. I do have to take Protonix, and Zantac daily. I haven't been able to correlate any particular foods with the symptoms either. I have ordered some Kombucha (recommended by these wonderful people here) to try. If I understand correctly, it's fermented cabbage and it's supposed to help the acid levels in the gut. I've been unable to find any in my area so I ordered it from Amazon. Supposed to be here on the 4th of Jan. There was a thread about this not too long ago that may help you too!
I'm not sure if there is a kombucha "mother" made with cabbage or not but traditional Kombucha is fermented green (or black) sweet tea. You can make your own by growing a scoby (the fermenting mother) from a bottle of kombucha that you buy - which you can then add to your own room temperature sweet tea flavored however you like it to make more kombucha.Dragonwolf wrote: »Keep in mind that in the vast majority of cases, heartburn is actually caused by too little acid in the stomach. .....
Yep! I think because it is often associated with a very common bacteria H. Pylori which thrives in low acid environment. Stress tends to lower your stomach acid. I learned all this last year when my 15 yo had an ulcer and ultimately missed 3 months of school because Drs who failed to diagnose h. pylori gave her acid reducing meds.
BTW if you get tested for h. pylori know that there are three antibodies but some Drs only test for one of them. Also, there is a tea you can buy that supposedly eradicates the bacteria within a month, guaranteed.
- Lisa
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Thank you for correcting me on the Kombucha! I read so much that it tends to run together sometimes!
Report on my acv dose from earlier. I feel that it's helped! I may have used a bit much (2 tbsp in 12 oz. water), and have been tasting it ever since. I'm headed now to find me some bile salts! Thank you @Dragonwolf!0 -
I made it through the night without any wake ups from heart burn. I did order me some bile salts/enzymes from Amazon (I'm very rural, any places that may have them is an hour's drive from me) and will be here by Monday. Would I keep using the acv for heartburn until I get them?
I am excited about eliminating two more prescription medications! I didn't think these were possible to discontinue, for me!
Thank you @marlamp10 for beginning this thread! You never know how many people you can help when doing so!0 -
I'm still too chicken to try the ACV but I haven't had heartburn either.0
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Awesome to hear, @Karlottap! Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner.
For general reference, most cases of heartburn will see relief shortly after drinking it (at least the start of relief), and sometimes even before you're done, with total or majority relief coming within a few minutes, in my experience. However, more "advanced" cases (such as yours, with the long-term acid blocker use) might require a little more time and a little more than the 1tbsp in water, simply because of the level of acid being so low.0 -
Dragonwolf wrote: »Keep in mind that in the vast majority of cases, heartburn is actually caused by too little acid in the stomach. Next time you have an attack, instead of reaching for the calcium, take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and mix with about 8oz of water and drink. It sound counterintuitive, but it will likely work, especially if you have limited results with things like Tums or need to take Zantac/Prilosec all the time. If that does work, look into bile salt or Betaine HCl supplements to help raise your stomach acid level.
The reason this happens is because, if we're on low fat for an extended period of time, take a lot of acid-blocking substances, or we raise our fat intake drastically and suddenly, our body doesn't make enough bile and stomach acid to handle it (fat is broken down in the stomach), causing indigestion and other GI issues. Time is often all that's needed, but some people need help in the meantime or need help permanently (due to enzyme deficiencies).
This is great info. Have you heard of Dr. Berg? A lot of what you are saying he talks about. I get heartburn too....but usually only when I drink wine :-(
I drink Braggs apple cider vinegar 3 times a day with water before meals. It's very good for you! Mine heartburn is getting better.0 -
esaucier17 wrote: »Dragonwolf wrote: »Keep in mind that in the vast majority of cases, heartburn is actually caused by too little acid in the stomach. Next time you have an attack, instead of reaching for the calcium, take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and mix with about 8oz of water and drink. It sound counterintuitive, but it will likely work, especially if you have limited results with things like Tums or need to take Zantac/Prilosec all the time. If that does work, look into bile salt or Betaine HCl supplements to help raise your stomach acid level.
The reason this happens is because, if we're on low fat for an extended period of time, take a lot of acid-blocking substances, or we raise our fat intake drastically and suddenly, our body doesn't make enough bile and stomach acid to handle it (fat is broken down in the stomach), causing indigestion and other GI issues. Time is often all that's needed, but some people need help in the meantime or need help permanently (due to enzyme deficiencies).
This is great info. Have you heard of Dr. Berg? A lot of what you are saying he talks about. I get heartburn too....but usually only when I drink wine :-(
I drink Braggs apple cider vinegar 3 times a day with water before meals. It's very good for you! Mine heartburn is getting better.
I recall having seen his body type quiz before, but I haven't paid much attention to him (video-only blog, with no transcripts or notes are a pretty big turn-off for me). He seems pretty low-carb friendly from what I've been able to glean from his site, though.0 -
Thanks for this topic, marlamp10, my husband has extreme heartburn , and I have learned a lot of great info. So I am copying Dragonwolf's post to let him read for himself..... he never believes anything I tell him...sound familiar to anyone...Men!! lol0
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I've made it through today without any heartburn, but have had an upper tummy ache, off and on, today (I do still have an ulcer in there too that's in the process of healing) that reminds me of the ulcer pain. I'm sticking with no medicines again today. Btw: I've been tested for H. pylori via endoscopy and it's always negative. I almost wish that an antibiotic would fix it! I'm sure this adjustment will be a process of discomfort and healing too! Thank you @Dragonwolf! Please, don't ever apologize for delayed responses! Anytime is fine, and means the world to me too!0
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http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/09/05/why-you-should-get-off-prescription-acid-reducing-drugs-asap.aspx.
He recommends not stopping PPIs (Protonix, Prilosec...) abruptly because of the rebound of symptoms. I have had worsening of the tummy pain today. I went ahead and took my Protonix, and will wean myself off, while taking the supplements.
This is the first "link" I have ever posted on a thread! I think I may finally be learning somethings (fingers crossed that it works!)!0 -
Drinking too much water during/after a meal can also cause bile and fats to float, creating a type of heartburn.'
Also, adding lemon and/or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to your water can help some people too. My guy gets stuck in the heartburn loop, and lemonade is his go to first step! LOL
@Karlottap - Sauerkraut is the cabbage - as the other person said, Kombucha is tea... There are a ton of fermented foods available, so if you don't like one thing, try another.
Fermented foods and probiotics tend to help with gut health...
For me, bile salts did not help, but that was mostly before low carb. I'd love to know if they might help now, so @Karlottap - looking forward to more updates!0 -
I stopped my Prilosec pretty abruptly after I'd been on keto for a month or so and had no problems. I'd tried doing that pre-keto and did have a bad rebound so I was pleasantly surprised.
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I'm still working on getting off this darn stuff! What I have done so far:
Drinking acv anytime I feel heartburn (was daily and is now about every third day).
Stretching the Protonix dose (I've managed 4 days, but average is 3 in between doses). The tummy pain associated with this is hard once it kicks back in. Hence, the 3-4 day dosing. I base it on when the pain starts.
Kombucha, meh. I haven't consumed anything carbonated, for years (personal preference, and then being a weight loss surgery patient too). I didn't think of fermented being similar to this. I tried it and I felt like I was swollen inside, even with sipping. I was unable to eat enough food too, later in the day, after drinking about a half cup. It did change the bathroom results though! I'll just say that things were much more effective!
May try it again, one shot at a time, and see if that makes a difference! 
I am taking a gastric enzyme supplement too that I began when I started this process.
I can feel a change, for the better, taking place, but man, once that pain hits its time for the next dose. It's not easy to allow yourself to hurt when the fix for it isn't far away!
I will make it off of this junk! Btw: this seems harder than it was to wean myself from daily Dilaudid three years ago! I'm serious! This hurts when it starts, but luckily it goes away within 15 minutes of taking the Protonix. What isn't fun is being at work when it starts hurting, and not having the medicine with me (not happening again)!
Hugs all!0 -
You listed your macro backwards, btw. Shoot for 20/20/60. 20% carbs, 20% protein, 60% fats. All be fine.
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I'm still working on getting off this darn stuff! What I have done so far:
Drinking acv anytime I feel heartburn (was daily and is now about every third day).
Stretching the Protonix dose (I've managed 4 days, but average is 3 in between doses). The tummy pain associated with this is hard once it kicks back in. Hence, the 3-4 day dosing. I base it on when the pain starts.
Kombucha, meh. I haven't consumed anything carbonated, for years (personal preference, and then being a weight loss surgery patient too). I didn't think of fermented being similar to this. I tried it and I felt like I was swollen inside, even with sipping. I was unable to eat enough food too, later in the day, after drinking about a half cup. It did change the bathroom results though! I'll just say that things were much more effective! May try it again, one shot at a time, and see if that makes a difference!
I am taking a gastric enzyme supplement too that I began when I started this process.
I can feel a change, for the better, taking place, but man, once that pain hits its time for the next dose. It's not easy to allow yourself to hurt when the fix for it isn't far away!
I will make it off of this junk! Btw: this seems harder than it was to wean myself from daily Dilaudid three years ago! I'm serious! This hurts when it starts, but luckily it goes away within 15 minutes of taking the Protonix. What isn't fun is being at work when it starts hurting, and not having the medicine with me (not happening again)!
Hugs all!
Kombucha should be started in 2 oz increments. Doing a 1 oz shot, sipped, should start to help, particularly considering previous surgeries and such that lead to difficulty processing things. I have found that the carbonation in kombucha does not affect me anywhere near the same way as other carbonated drinks.
If you decide to keep with it, you can actually brew your own and stop before it gets fully fizzy. It's all about timing. Another thing would be that once you've started a bottle and released the pressure, shake it each time before opening the bottle to release some of the fizz and such. The benefits are in the contents, not the fizz, so you can make it as flat as you like.0 -
Thanks Carley!0
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I was on protonix for 5 years, I got off of it after reading that long term it causes severe magnesium deficiencies. Even my Gastroenterologist didn't know that (what a surprise). Are you taking any digestive enzymes? The ticket for me was Now foods super enzymes. It took a good week of heartburn coming back and I kept at bay with Dcl and sodium bicarbonate all while taking enzymes with every meal. After a week, it's been 3 years since I've had heartburn.
Apple cider vinegar prior to meals also helps as well.
https://youtu.be/3oeetGmVg_g 0 -
Hi @pedropaz, if you are addressing me, yes I am taking the exact brand of gastric enzymes that I began when I started this process. I'm using the acv for actual heartburn with great results there. It's just the tummy pain that comes in between the weaning dose of Protonix (I've been on some form of acid reducer/proton pump inhibitor for 24 years) that is the worst part right now. I will make it though! I'm determined to be healthy all the way around! Interesting video! I have learned from some great people here that cabbage can be beneficial for ulcers too (the video mentioned coleslaw)! Thank you for posting and for your recommendations!0
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