GERD is an extremely common problem, suffered by at least 44% of people in the U.S. once a month, and 20% once a week. Drug companies sell 7 billion dollars’ worth of acid suppressing drugs every year. The drugs are used because of the theory that GERD is caused by stomach acid burning the esophagus -- but what if that isn’t the case?
Recent research seems to indicate that human acid reflux is not actually capable of causing esophageal damage. Instead, it indicates that GERD is an autoimmune disease. Refluxing acid causes your esophagus to release inflammatory cytokines.
Chris Kresser writes:
“... [A]cid reflux is caused not by too much stomach acid, but by not enough ... [L]ow stomach acid causes bacterial overgrowth in the gut, which in turn produces gas that puts pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter, causing it to open and inappropriately allow acid into the esophagus. I also offered a simple, 3-step protocol for treating reflux and GERD without drugs ... This is important because acid-suppressing drugs have numerous side effects and complications.”