Should you take an acid blocker?
Do you struggle with heartburn, acid reflux, indigestion, or peptic ulcers? Some of the most commonly prescribed drugs to treat these conditions are a class of medications called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
You might be asking—should I take this medication?
👉 Most importantly, you should always talk to your doctor and never change your medications based on a social media post 👈
Still...if you’re taking a medication, it’s important to understand how it works, what the side effects might be, and whether or not there are other options!
PPIs work by stopping the production of stomach acid. That sounds great if you have acid reflux, but then we have to think about all the downstream effects. Without enough stomach acid, you could…
Compromise nutrient absorption (like vitamin B12, calcium, and magnesium)
Change your gut microbiota (possibly even leading to overgrowth and SIBO)
Affect the health of organs outside the gut (including the kidneys and heart)
Plus...
👉 A new study of more than 200,000 Americans found that regular use of PPIs increased the risk of developing diabetes by 25%.
The risk for diabetes was highest in people who took PPIs for the longest duration of time. That’s important because PPIs were approved only for short-term use of 2 weeks. Sadly, many people take these medications for a much longer time because they don’t know what else to do!
The real question we should be asking is whether there are other options.
I say yes 👍
Functional medicine has an extensive toolkit of options for optimizing digestive function and eliminating symptoms like heartburn for good. Instead of covering up the symptoms with an acid blocker, we’ll search for the root cause and help your gut recover naturally.
Want to get started on a better path to health?
Click through our bio for information about becoming a patient at our clinic. We hope to see you soon!
Why antihistamines don't work.
It truly can feel like torture. The underlying itching of eczema can be annoying, but the flares? For some people, it can be completely maddening. Especially when antihistamines don’t even work.
New research out of Washington University tells us WHY these acute flares of itching might not respond to typical medications.
It’s because the sensation is transmitted to the brain by a different mechanism. Whereas most itching is mediated by histamine (hence the use of antihistamines), acute eczema flares can create crazy itching via activation of IgE and basophils— but not histamine!
The researchers think this is really great because they can develop new drugs that deal with basophils instead of histamine.
👉 I think we need to get to the root cause 👈
The rashes and itching of eczema are only on the surface. They are clues that your body needs balancing on a deeper level. Maybe you would benefit most from…
👍 Probiotics to optimise gut immunity
👍 Omega-3s to quell inflammation
👍 Quercetin to stabilise the immune response
👍 Antioxidants to detox and strengthen immune health
👍 Other specific supplements to balance out the immune response
Every person is unique. The goal of functional and naturopathic medicine is to find the root cause and fix that. The result? Your symptoms improve naturally. And the benefits last.
Learn more about how we can help with things like allergies, asthma, eczema, and more by clicking through to our website.
31% of people who don’t respond to gluten-free have this.
Have you tried a gluten-free diet but seen no benefit? Maybe you’ve even been diagnosed with celiac disease and gone gluten-free but still have symptoms?
A recent study found that a shocking number of people in this situation had another underlying cause.
👉 31% of the patients with celiac disease who did not improve on a gluten-free diet tested positive for SIBO 👈
SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and can manifest with many of the same symptoms as celiac disease or IBS. There’s often lots of bloating, gas, abdominal pain, and either constipation or diarrhoea.
The good news is that we know how to test for SIBO and how to treat it.
If you are trying to get to the root cause of mysterious digestive problems, please call my clinic. We will do a comprehensive assessment and order lab tests you may have never even known existed. We’ll use the most natural therapies possible to help you recover your gut health for good.
Let me know in the comments—have you ever gone gluten-free? Did it help?
Tips for a better daily rhythm
People living where there is a high level of artificial outdoor light at night are at a higher risk for breast cancer and thyroid cancer.
Earlier studies have linked nighttime light to breast cancer, and now a study published in the peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society reports the link also extends to thyroid cancer.
Why would nighttime light lead to cancer? Here’s what we think…
👉 Light at night suppresses melatonin
👉 Light at night disrupts the circadian rhythm
Melatonin modulates oestrogen activity & immune function—both of which can influence hormonal cancers of the breast and thyroid. Circadian rhythm disruption has also been linked with other cancers.
The take-home message here is that we should protect ourselves from artificial light at night and do our best to mimic the natural rhythms of day and night. Some things you can do?
👍 Get black-out shades to keep your bedroom dark
👍 Dim the lights in the evening hours
👍 Turn off the TV, phones, and devices at least an hour before bed
👍 Keep a regular schedule for bedtime and waking
👍 Get direct sunlight first thing in the morning!
Our bodies and hormonal systems work on a rhythm and respond to our habits and environment.
Tell me—how much light are you exposed to at night?