Skip to main content

How I Recovered From Severe Acid Reflux (And Best Foods For Leaky Gut)

Written by Erin Porter

Do you suffer from severe acid reflux and are looking for the best foods for leaky gut?  Hypocrites said “all disease begins in the gut.”  If this is true then it is probably safe to say whatever the illness, strengthening your gut may be the first step in recovery.  I will also share in this article the best foods for leaky gut.

LPR, Acid Reflux, Leaky Gut, or Gerd?

I specifically had LPR ( laryngopharyngeal reflux).  LPR is when the stomach acid travels up the esophagus and spills into the throat or voice box (called the pharynx/larynx).  However, Gerd is when acid repeatedly “refluxes” from the stomach into the esophagus and does not travel into the throat.  I can assure you LPR is more painful than Gerd, as mine started out as Gerd.  At the height of my reflux I was taking up to 4 Pepcid AC’s a day and 2 prescription Nexiums.  I will never forget the day I had an endoscopy.  While being wheeled back for the procedure, the nurse whispered in my ear the dark side of all the medications the GI had placed me on.  

According to cancercenter.com, researchers at the University of Hong Kong studied more than 60,000 patients who took PPIs to treat H. pylori. The study concluded that long-term PPI (proton-pump inhibitor) use more than doubled ones risk of stomach cancer.

Watch Me Discuss My Years Of Severe Acid Reflux and Leaky Gut

Could My Acid Reflux Be Contributing To My Sinus Infections?

Twelve years ago I walked into a health food store and spoke to the owner (or more realistically cried to the owner.)  I was out of options.  I had just had my fourth sinus surgery two weeks prior and my infection was already back.  The owner told me in order to heal my sinuses I would need to heal my gut.  She said the problem is not just a sinus problem, or a fatigue problem. Or even a heart problem (I was having arrhythmia’s daily back then.)  She explained that I could throw antibiotics and anti-fungals at my sinuses all day long and I would still not get better.  In fact, I would continue to harm my gut flora making my acid reflux worse!

I walked out of that store feeling hopeless because I thought that was the worst advice I had ever heard.  I could not reconcile the horrendous state of my health having anything to do with my “gut”.  She planted the seed, but it would take another year or two, any many many more antibiotics before I could wrap my mind around that concept and healing could start to begin.  You can read my full health history here.

How Did My Acid Reflux Start?

Like a detective I had to back track and see where and how my health had gotten so off track.  It started with mold in my environment which lead to infections, which lead to countless courses of antibiotics.  Even just one round of antibiotics has the potential to throw your whole gut “eco-system” out of wack, yet I had been on over 100 courses trying to get rid of infection after infection.

Putting The Pieces Together

Once I realized the cycle of events that occurs: antibiotics lead to depleted good bacteria in gut, which opens the door to fungi like candida, which leads to intestinal permeability (leaky gut or dysbiosis), which leads to inflammation and food allergies.  If left unchecked for too long, opens up the door to auto immune disorders like chronic fatigue, food allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, Hashimoto’s, etc.  Antibiotics are not the only thing that can cause our gut to be compromised.  The typical American diet is full of processed foods, additives, preservatives, and artificial colors and flavors.

Certain medications and too much alcohol can also lead to dysbiosis.  So what is the best way to go about healing your gut?   I have listed the best supplements and foods below.  With a strict diet eliminating sugar and grains, along with the right supplements, intestinal permeability can be healed in 1-3 months say experts.

Why We Need Our Stomach Acid

First of all we need our stomach acid.  It’s there for a reason.  A very good reason!  Stomach acid is needed not only to digest food and absorb nutrients, but also to kill pathogenic organisms. When our stomach acid is low we can’t digest our food as we should. The food starts to ferment and rot causing stomach problems.  Low Stomach acid will make it difficult to absorb b12.  We are also more prone to bacterial infections, parasites and yeast without proper acid levels.  In an upcoming article I will discuss how I rid myself of H Pylori in 7 days, a pathogen that neutralizes stomach acid and weakens the lining.

Beneficial Supplements for Leaky Gut and Acid Reflux

Below I list everything I contribute to helping my reflux.  I also put them in order of importance in my personal experience.

Colostrum (I use sovereign laboratories colostrum)– this actually should be the very first one since colostrum is actually proven to heal and seal leaky gut, it’s also recommend not taking probiotics for 4-6 weeks until your gut is healed.  This product hands down was one of the most important pieces to healing my sinuses.  I had a stubborn pseudomonas infection which kept returning no matter what antibiotic I took.  Personally, I believe it has something to do with the lactoferrin it contains, as lactoferrin is supposedly something that can penetrate the bio film of pseudomonas. It’s a little on the expensive side but so so worth it, and I figure I spent over $30 dollars a month on pepcid AC and Nexium back in the day!

Probiotics – probiotics add good bacteria back into the intestines especially after a course of antibiotics.

Digestive Enzymes– helps to digest your food

Betaine HCI – Many GI doctors will tell you that you have too much acid and that this is the problem.  Many in the health field or people that have lived with reflux find it’s the opposite.  Once I added hydrochloric acid half way through my meals with protein the reflux lessened.

Beta Glucan Allergy Formula by NSC is great if you have food allergies.

L- Glutamine – helps repair the lining of the intestines

Natural anti-fungals like citridrops (I put these drops in my water as well as irrigate my sinuses with them) oil of oregano, caprylic acid , garlic, etc

DGL – Licorice Root – supposed to be great for leaky gut and even for reflux but I have tried to use this twice and have had allergic reactions so start slow.

Skip ahead to minute 14:06 to hear me talk about my reflux on televisions Know The Cause

 

Supplements For Detoxing

Binders such as charcoal, bentonite clay, glutathione, and psyllium husk can help you gently detox.

Best Foods For Leaky Gut

vegetables to help acid reflux

  • Yogurt and Kiefer (plain no sugar added)
  • Fermented foods like sauerkraut
  • Juicing fresh vegetables
  • Bone Broth-if you don’t like the idea of making your own, many health foods now have them ready to go, I am also seeing bone broth in powdered form now which can be added to soups and smoothies.
  • Sprouted seeds – I often toss Chia seeds in baked goods and smoothies.  It helps support the good bacteria in our gut.

These are some of the best foods for leaky gut.  When you set out to focus on healing your gut and transforming your eating habits, this is where miracles happen.

Check out the 2nd edition of my book Eat Pray Get Well – A Journey from Chronic Illness & Brokenness to Wholeness & Healing.  Foreword written by Doug Kaufmann – Host of televisions Know The Cause.  As seen on ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS American Health Journal, CTN, Know the Cause and more.

Related Posts

How to Minimize the Damage of Antibiotics

Coming up – I will write a post on how I got rid of my H Pylori infection.

Disclaimer- I am not a physician.  I cannot help individuals with a personal plan or advice.  I can only write about my experience.  Please consult your physician when starting any new diet or supplement, and never forgo seeing your doctor in in lieu of internet advice. There are affiliate links in which I get a percentage on sales of products I use myself. I only recommend brands I personally use.  Thank you for your support and enabling me to provide you free content.

 

 


Erin Porter
Erin Porter
I have been fortunate to be featured on national Television including PBS American Health Journal, Know the Cause, CTN, ABC, NBC, CBS and more. I was sick for decades, endured many surgeries, took over 100 courses of antibiotics, and then I changed everything and everything changed.

Recent Posts


Comments (4)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Eat Pray Get Well Book

If you suffer from Chronic Fatigue, Sinus Infections, Fibromyalgia, Food Allergies, Auto Immune Disease, Acid Reflux, Candida, Depression – this book is for you.

Don’t Miss a Post!

Newsletter

About Erin

I have been fortunate to be featured on national Television including PBS American Health Journal, Know the Cause, CTN, ABC, NBC, CBS and more. I was sick for decades, endured many surgeries, took over 100 courses of antibiotics, and then I changed everything and everything changed. My book Eat Pray Get Well is about overcoming a tumultuous childhood, decades of chronic illness, and finding God in the process. Includes exclusive interviews with renowned Cardiologist Dr. Stephen Sinatra, Supermodel Carol Alt, Doug Kaufmann, and many more. Plus 55 gluten free recipes woven throughout. 

Legal Information

As an Amazon Associate EatPrayGetWell.com earns from qualifying purchases. EatPrayGetWell.com also participates in affiliate programs with ShareASale and other sites. EatPrayGetWell.com is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

Favorite Health Posts