Is Carbohydrate Restriction the Ultimate Cure for Acid Reflux?

I've been reading these comments about GERD and low carbs, etc. and was especially interested to read Dr Norm's biochemical explanations for avoiding a lot of carbs. In basic terms I think the idea is to starve out the critters inside who thrive on sugars, etc. This is more or less the same explanation that Elaine Gottschall (also a biologist rather than MD) comes to in her book about controlling Crohns by a special carb diet. The similarities are really striking. Wondering if Dr Norm is familiar with her work.

Yes, "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" is the book I was referring to. I'd be very interested to hear your reaction to it, Dr. Norm. There's also some info about it on her website (easily googleable). Thanks for the Eades recommendation. Sounds intriguing.
The science behind it, as well as behind your thoughts and Gottschall's (if I understand things right) makes a lot of sense to me. Biggest problem for me though is incorporating the ideas into daily life. After all, one important reason carbs (i.e. grains and sugars) are so popular, and have been for however many hundreds of years, at least since Biblical times when bread was considered the staff of life, is that they are so quick and handy, don't spoil so fast and are transportable. So I'm looking for ways to make low-carb just as quick and handy, well, at least to some extent. Looking for alternatives to sandwiches to take to work / school, etc.
Thanks.

PennyLane,
Gret thoughts. For quick and easy low carb meals, I would recommend Dana Carpenter's 15 minute low carb cook book (can get exact name tomorrow if needed). Really good stuff. Try brining the sandwiches with out the bread or use low carb tortillas. I eat meat and cheese roll ups on the fly along with deviled eggs, penut butter celery or veggies and sour cream dip to mention a few. Add a few mixed nuts to a baggy. Dried strawberries too.

If our digestive systems are more akin to the wolf than sheep as has been suggested, we should not have to worry about a few rough seeds, etc. My son's dog (young small headed pit) eats through bones like crazy. If we are even close, I would not worry. I do know that carbs equal reflux. Last night I had a few Coronas, which is unusual for me, and tonight out to dinner in Santa Barbara I eat a molases muffin and garlic potatoes (don't know what got into me). No relfux after the beers, but tonight it caught up to me and was having some reflux, but not burning, on the way home. Mild and will subside now that I will be back to low carb tomorrow. I think I have really found a system to beat this thing. What a difference in quality of life.

ckg,
You're a tough nut to crack. I will give it another try later today, need to run out for a bit. I enjoyed your other post and will respond. For the moment, I have to say my quality of life is much much higher without GERD in it.

Take Care,
Norm

sounds great ...

i'm so happy you're feeling better!

best,
ckg

Hi,
Some people may go back to eating what ever they want and not enjoy the weight loss, stopping reflux or the many other long term health benefits of controlled carb eating, but many more make a lifestyle out of it and are healthier for it. In the case of GERD patients the benefit of eating this way is huge. As you get better at knowing the foods, it gets a lot easier. Many people that don't need to loose weight or control GERD still eat this way, just because they understand the negative health consequences of insulinemia and excessive carb diets. Very unhealthy and can lead to high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and cardiac arrest.

Norm
my opinions based on my experinece and research

Hi Norm

Yes,I'm carrying on cutting grains, potatoes, sugar and everything containing sugar.I just eat veg, salad and protein, a bit of fruit mainly berries, nuts and seeds and plain yogurt once a day.I feel so much better as I've posted eleswhere.Yesterday I had a pain in my back-but no Hb,no bloating,no acidy stomach,no painful abdomen, no nausea AND my normal appetite seems to be returning.All in all I'm very happy.

Interestingly because of the pain I had yeaterday (which I think may have been caused by a combination of 2 glasses of wine the night before and an Indian meal at a restaurant where I did have a tablespoon of rice and some Dahl and bending down too much)I din't eat anything for breakfast which would have reduced my carb count for the day to about what you suggest-25g.Anyway, as a result of that I feel that I didn't have any reflux last night and most definitely still no hb--This morning I am pain free with no symptoms.Also,you probably don't want to know this but with the increased veg intake my bowels are functioning beautifully!

I'd like to reduce my carb intake to 25g --to irradicate the night gerd. Are you sure that in patients with a hiatus hernia this is possible--any anecdotal evidence or other?I may try it now that my body seems to be working so much better.

Thanks Norm

Jocaste,
Great to hear about your progress. Wonderful news. I do want to hear about your increased veg intake. Perfectly fine and recommended in my plan. I eat a large amount of daily veggies. I wonder if many people interpret controlled carb as meaning no veggies. Not true at all. Just need to stay away from high sugar / high starch veggies and grains.

As for your slight symptoms, don't blame the wine over the rice. Sounds like you are on your way. Once fully healed, your sesitivity to swallowing food should go away. By the way, after getting things under control, the occasional cheat should not be a problem. I had three giant cookies at a lunch meeting yesterday. I just can't resist them. No symptoms at all. I believe it is because I am fully "decompressed" from eating controlled carb as a life style. To the occasional cheat like the cookies yesterday or the bread at a resturant last weekend are tollerated. The key is getting rid of your symptoms completely before experimenting with the cheats.

Very best of luck in your continued success.

Norm
comments based on my experience and research

Jocaste,
No, I don't think so. Never checked. Though this condition may pose a greater challenge, I would imagine that the same principles apply and my low carb heartburn diet should help a great deal. I suppose you could also have some external presure on your fundus (top part of your stomach) from the positioning beyond your diagphram, but it should still make a big difference I would think.

Norm
opinions based on my experience and research

Hi Norm

I've had a few days of eating the wrong things--we're only human aren't we!Over three days I sneeked in 3 cerial bars and some  chocolate as well as 2 pieces of toast.At the time there seemed to be no problem but the bad carbs seem to build up in the system.It's my own fault...I know why I have pain.I have no HB but I do have oesophagitis so I've had to swig gaviscon, I think that means that I am refluxing at night even though this is not registering as hb--my oesophagus feels raw and my stomach hurts.

Anyway, I've decided now to start tomorrow on 25gs of carb--with a vengence.It's a testimony to the effectiveness of low carb eating that you feel so much better you almost believe everything is back to normal and you can handle whatever you put into your body, so you indulge yourself.--wrong

take care

Dr. Norm,

I'm assuming you're a doctor. I am very interested in your ideas. If they prove to be correct, and I think they will, then two things would probably be correlated and true with your theories.

1. High-glycemic foods would cause GERD. (in those with issues)

2. Cultures with Low carb diets would have a lower incidence of gastric distress.

Am I correct?

Dr. Norm,

I have been reading the postings on this message board for several weeks and have tried and am still on the low carb diet.  I have been on it over a week and have been very diligent with it, but I am not seeing the results that I was hoping for.  I have had GERD for 3 years that I know of and have had reflux pain for most of that time.  I was on Nexium for several months and am now on a double dose of Aciphex everyday.  A couple of months ago, I had a stricture in my esophagus and had 2 endoscopies with dilitation with no success.  I then had a barium swallow which just showed mild acid reflux.  They tried to do a manometry, but I couldn't tolerate it so it wasn't done.  My throat always feels swollen, I must have another stricture.  I have been to 2 gastroenterologists, the second of which now wants to do yet another endoscopy and do 8 biopsies and place a monitor in my esophagus for 2 days to monitor the PH level.  Anyway, I'm telling you all this because I was excited to read that a low carb diet may help me, but have been disappointed with the results.  I have not noticed a difference in the swelling or pain since I've started this diet.  I should also tell you that I lost 18 lbs. in 1 month because I couldn't eat anything but soft food.  I am now eating better, but just can't eat much at a time.  What would you tell someone like me re: this low carb diet?

JC,
Thanks for your posts. I am truly sorry that this approach has not given you relief. As posted above in testimonials and as noted by other physicians like Michael and Mary Dan Eades and Atkins himself, that have used this approach with many many patients, as well as with the subjects of Will Yancy's and Eric Westman's clinical study, controlled carbohydrate dieting has dramatically helped the majority of GERD sufferers. My experience and that of three members of my family as well as people who have read my book and implemented my diet can be added to the list. Yet as one poster in the testimonials above wrote and your own experience demonstrate. nothing appears to be 100%.

If I were to try to understand your case, I would look at two things first. The fact that you have some complications (Strictures, invasive procedures, etc) may warrant further analysis by your physician and yourself. You mentioned that your barium swallow test showed only mild reflux. Perhaps your controlled dieting is helping limit your reflux. Is if possible that you have pain from previous damage or the procedures but your actual reflux is reduced? I also noted in a previous post about my friend that was not helped only to discover that he had a blocked artery. Not to say I think that is the case with you, it just goes to show you how other afflictions can mascarade as heartburn. The second thing I would look at is your actual diet. You may be an expert low carber with not cheating or hidden carbs. Yet some people while believing they are low carbing actually still consume more carbs than they are aware of once each meal and snack is analyzed. If you care to post your current meals and snacks, I would be happy to discuss this point further.

What ever happens, I wish you the very best. I remain open to discussing both the successes and failures of people trying this approach and I am glad you posted. Through this process we can learn more about why this approach can be so successful for so many people yet does not appear to cure heartburn completely for everyone.

Norm
Opinions based on my experience and research on GERD.