Re: Carb/Protein Shake and Acid Reflux

[Guest guest]

Before engaging in the slightest unwarranted speculation about your

condition it would first be of great help to learn what's in your

protein drink besides the rather inert ingredients you've listed.

Only time I ever have heart burn is due to butter fat - in ice cream,

milk, half and half. Well, I take that back - fat in other foods,

usually meat dishes, can do the same thing.

In the " old days " , mixing Rheo H. Blair's milk and egg protein powder

with unpasturized dairy cream usually didn't induce heart burn, likely

because we took HCl capsules with it!

best

Ken O'Neill

Austin, Texas

>

> I was wondering if anyone else has had an experience similar to this:

>

> I get up very early to work out. Before and during the workout, I

take a

> " shake " that includes whey protein and maltodextrin, highly diluted.

After

> the workout, I take another shake that includes whey protein, casein,

> maltodextrin, and creatine monohydrate. Then, I shower and take a

45 minute

> nap, before getting ready for work. Within 20-30 minutes of hitting the

> sack, I get acid reflux. My throat gets irritated, and I start

coughing.

> That does not happen if I'm running late, and I don't have time to sack

> out. Moreover, it stops as soon as I get out of bed. I would

expect to get

> acid reflux if I were eating spicy foods. But it's hard to imagine

anything

> more bland than a protein/carb shake. There is, of course, the

obvious fix:

> (A) Don't take the shake or ( Don't hit the sack. However, I would be

> interested in knowing whether there is another " fix. " I'm especially

> curious to know what might cause that. To me, its counterintuitive.

>

> --

> J. Pitruzzello, Ph.D.

> Chicago, Illinois

>

[Guest guest]

This is not a sure fire remedy, but taking a digestive enzyme supplement

with foods and drinks that cause your heartburn *may* help your issue.

Ideally, the supplement should contain betaine HCL to add a little acid.

Dr. Ralph can correct me or add his own info, but the sphincter that is

responsible for closing off the esophagus to the stomach is partially

influenced by acidity. Basically, acid signals it to close. Many people do

not produce enough acid, so using a digestive enzyme supplement with acid

added does two things. One, it 'tells' that sphincter to close, therefore

reducing the chance of reflux. Two, it provides the acid and enzymes needed

to breakdown/digest the food or drink you consumed.

The other option is to avoid those foods that cause symptoms. If lactose

containing foods cause the reflux (like your whey shake), then you can find

an alternative. Even switching to a different brand of the same stuff may

help.

I'm glad that Dr. Ralph is a GI doc because I always wanted to discuss what

I've learned about this issue. One big question I have is about acid

blockers/reducers/neutralizers like Prilosec, Tums, Protonix, etc. These

reduce the acidity in the stomach, which can cause a few unwanted side

effects like reduced closing of the sphincter (perpetuating the reflux),

reduced absorption of minerals (require acidity for proper absorption),

reduced ability to destroy pathogens entering the system, and insufficient

breakdown of food prior to moving further along the digestive tract.

Perhaps I am way off base here, so I'd be interested in your thoughts. This

is all anecdotal, but many patients I see have acid reflux and are on meds

long term (many years) and told they can not go off them. I'd say over half

find great relief just by taking digestive enzymes with meals.

Buddy

Buddy A. Touchinsky, D.C.

Blue Mountain Family Chiropractic

www.bmfchiro.com

Healthy Habits Natural Market

www.healthyhabitsnaturalmarket.com

1209 Centre Turnpike

PO Box 217

Orwigsburg, PA 17961

> , I probably should step and reply to this since I am a

> Gastroenterologist and treat this condition every day.

> Both Jim and got it right.

> Reflux, Gerd, Heart Burn, or whatever else you want to call is is not

> caused by spicy foods or acid foods but rather by a defective valve at the

> entrance to the stomach and gravity. Liquids, as we all know, do not flow

> upwards but seek the lowest level.

>

> As I explain to my patients, imagine that your stomach is a bottle which

> has liquid in it. If you lie it on its side what will happen?

>

> If it has a good top that is on tight nothing will happen. If on the other

> hand if the top is leaky or not on at all, the contents of the bottle will

> spill out of the bottle and onto the table. The more there is in the bottle

> the more there is to spill.

>

> The same occurs with the stomach. There is a valve at the top of the

> stomach which is supposed to stay closed at all times except when food or

> beverages are swallowed and then it opens just long enough to allow contents

> of the esophagus to empty into the stomach after which it closes.

>

> If the valve is functioning properly you should be able to eat and drink

> and then stand on your head with no reflux. Unfortunately there are many

> reasons why many individuals develop a leaky or non functioning valve. For

> the sake of brevity I will not go into these reasons for now.

>

> I recommend to my patients, who complain of GERD, among other things, to

> not lie down for at least two hours after eating.

>

> Ralph Giarnella MD

> Southington Ct USA

>

>

>

> > From: Pitruzzello <tonypit45@... <tonypit45%40gmail.com>>

> > Subject: Carb/Protein Shake and Acid Reflux

> > To: supertraining <supertraining%40yahoogroups.com>

> > Date: Wednesday, November 26, 2008, 11:31 AM

> > I was wondering if anyone else has had an experience similar

> > to this:

> >

> > I get up very early to work out. Before and during the

> > workout, I take a

> > " shake " that includes whey protein and

> > maltodextrin, highly diluted. After

> > the workout, I take another shake that includes whey

> > protein, casein,

> > maltodextrin, and creatine monohydrate. Then, I shower and

> > take a 45 minute

> > nap, before getting ready for work. Within 20-30 minutes

> > of hitting the

> > sack, I get acid reflux. My throat gets irritated, and I

> > start coughing.

> > That does not happen if I'm running late, and I

> > don't have time to sack

> > out. Moreover, it stops as soon as I get out of bed. I

> > would expect to get

> > acid reflux if I were eating spicy foods. But it's

> > hard to imagine anything

> > more bland than a protein/carb shake. There is, of course,

> > the obvious fix:

> > (A) Don't take the shake or ( Don't hit the sack.

> > However, I would be

> > interested in knowing whether there is another

> > " fix. " I'm especially

> > curious to know what might cause that. To me, its

> > counterintuitive.

> >

> > --

> > J. Pitruzzello, Ph.D.

> > Chicago, Illinois

>

>