If you’ve ever been pregnant, you probably are very much aware of that queasy feeling that seems to strike you every morning during the early months of your pregnancy. But what if you’re not pregnant and you still feel nauseated with inexplicable regularity, every day?
Better Homes and Gardens explains that morning sickness is not relegated only to pregnant women. Anybody can get “morning sickness” for a variety of reasons, such as those suffering from acid reflux, which actually begins while you sleep. If you wake with a blinding headache and feeling nauseous, however, it could be a signal that something more serious is going on, and you need to see a doctor.
Of course, if you have that headache-stomachache combination, sharing your concerns with your doctor is absolutely necessary, as you need to rule out certain diseases or other problems. But, if you find you’re simply suffering from frequent heartburn — which can manifest at all hours of the day, as well — you may also find yourself being prescribed a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) such as Prilosec, Prevacid or Nexium to inhibit acid production.
The problem with this is that PPIs, although they’re meant to relieve chronic heartburn, in the long run can cause more problems than they fix. Research has even linked PPIs to kidney disease, dementia, heart attack, overgrowth of bacteria, infections, bone fractures and the fastest-growing type of esophageal cancer.
Even so, research shows that PPIs are outrageously overprescribed when there are many alternative treatment strategies that can help ease this painful problem without the serious side effects. The long-term answer to heartburn and acid indigestion is to restore your natural gastric balance and function.
The most important step is to eat real food, as processed foods and sugars are a surefire way to exacerbate acid reflux. Reseeding your gut with beneficial bacteria, either from traditionally fermented foods or a high-quality probiotic supplement, is also important.
Aside from that, there are a number of natural substances that can help address the root of the problem, from raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar to bromelain to aloe juice and more. For example, ginger has been found to have a gastroprotective effect by suppressing Helicobacter pylori. It also helps prevent reflux and inflammation, with one study showing that it is far uperior to lansoprazole for preventing the formation of ulcers, exhibiting up to eight-fold greater potency over the drug.