Re: Fresh Kefir for heartburn?

[Guest guest]

--- Tamara <all-natural-nut@...> wrote:

>

> And if you have heartburn problems, maybe you want

> to try this one out!

>

> HTH,

> Tamara in NJ

I had heartburn for a period of two years. Definitely

caused by a course of antibiotics that I had taken. I

drank lots, LOTS of fermented drinks and ate fermented

foods. Rejuvelac, Kombucha, and a probiotic

supplement, as well, so it does not surprize me that

Kefir would have that effect.

-

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[Guest guest]

--- Tamara <all-natural-nut@...> wrote:

> My MIL has had chronic heartburn for over 40 years. She has tried

> everything from pharma drugs to ACV and other natural remedies.

> Recently, she started to drink fresh homemade kefir every day. Ever

> since she started over 3 weeks ago, she has not had a stitch of

> heartburn. Normally she would get it 3-4 times a week. Now, NOTHING.

> She has not done anything different in her diet other than adding

> the kefir. Interestingly enough, yogurt is one of the many offending

> foods that actually causes her heartburn. But the kefir helps her.

>

> I'm curious if anyone else has had this result; I have not heard of

> kefir as a heartburn remedy.

Tamara, yes, I've found that when on rare occasions I get indigestion,

drinking a little kefir immediately settles and sooths my stomach.

[Guest guest]

As a followup, my MIL " tested " the kefir-heartburn-remedy by loading

up on some foods that ALWAYS cause her immediate heartburn: she ate a

whole grapefruit and drank some lemonade (fresh-made).

NOT A TRACE OF HEARTBURN. She considers this an absolute miracle after

40 years of struggling to find a solution.

One up for whole, natural foods!!

-Tamara in NJ

[Guest guest]

It cured mine too.

Desh

[Guest guest]

Tamara-

> Recently, she started to drink fresh homemade kefir every day. Ever

> since she started over 3 weeks ago, she has not had a stitch of

> heartburn. Normally she would get it 3-4 times a week. Now, NOTHING.

>

> She has not done anything different in her diet other than adding the

> kefir.

>

> Interestingly enough, yogurt is one of the many offending foods that

> actually causes her heartburn. But the kefir helps her.

Heartburn is caused by the atrophying and/or malfunctioning of the

lower esophageal sphincter, which is sometimes caused by a bacterial

infection or overgrowth. It can also be caused by insufficient

stomach acid production, as acid is the trigger which causes the

sphincter to close. As such, there are several different ways kefir

could be helpful. Commercial yoghurt isn't a very effective

probiotic, partly because it's not actually fermented that much;

kefir, by contrast, tends to be made with more aggressive and vigorous

organisms, and so all else being equal, it's probably a stronger

probiotic and more effective at displacing competing organisms. Also,

kefir cultures includes acetobacter, which produce acetic acid

(vinegar) which might be helpful in stimulating the sphincter to close

and is certainly effective at killing off undesirable organisms.

-

[Guest guest]

,

Thank you SO much for such the excellent explanation. I've always heard that

" ACV is the best thing for reflux because reflux is actually caused by a

shortage of acid in the stomach. " I accept that. But, most people that suffer

from heart burn won't! Now I know WHY! Thank you SO much!

kathy

---- Idol <Idol@...> wrote:

> Tamara-

>

> > Recently, she started to drink fresh homemade kefir every day. Ever

> > since she started over 3 weeks ago, she has not had a stitch of

> > heartburn. Normally she would get it 3-4 times a week. Now, NOTHING.

> >

> > She has not done anything different in her diet other than adding the

> > kefir.

> >

> > Interestingly enough, yogurt is one of the many offending foods that

> > actually causes her heartburn. But the kefir helps her.

>

> Heartburn is caused by the atrophying and/or malfunctioning of the

> lower esophageal sphincter, which is sometimes caused by a bacterial

> infection or overgrowth. It can also be caused by insufficient

> stomach acid production, as acid is the trigger which causes the

> sphincter to close. As such, there are several different ways kefir

> could be helpful. Commercial yoghurt isn't a very effective

> probiotic, partly because it's not actually fermented that much;

> kefir, by contrast, tends to be made with more aggressive and vigorous

> organisms, and so all else being equal, it's probably a stronger

> probiotic and more effective at displacing competing organisms. Also,

> kefir cultures includes acetobacter, which produce acetic acid

> (vinegar) which might be helpful in stimulating the sphincter to close

> and is certainly effective at killing off undesirable organisms.

[Guest guest]

-

Heartburn can also be caused by pregnancy hormones relaxing said

sphincter- I think there is actually a hormone refered to as relaxin.

And later in the pregnancy the baby can physically push up on, well,

everything.

Desh

[Guest guest]

> I've always heard that " ACV is the best thing for reflux because

reflux is actually caused by a shortage of acid in the stomach. "

My MIL tried the ACV (raw, homemade by my farmer) and that gave her

more heartburn. But the kefir solved everything. So my MIL must be in

the category of the first thing that described.

To this, I would say that kefir is better than ACV, since it appears

to address both issues!

-Tamara

[Guest guest]

, my family is very impressed with your explanation, and they all

think you must be a doctor or something to know such detailed

specifics about heartburn. We're just curious how you know so much

about heartburn.

Thanks!

-Tamara

[Guest guest]

Not particularly well AFAIK, though YMMV.

-

> Do you know how other cultured dairy, particularly fil mjolk, compare

> in these areas?

[Guest guest]

Tamara-

> , my family is very impressed with your explanation, and they all

> think you must be a doctor or something to know such detailed

> specifics about heartburn. We're just curious how you know so much

> about heartburn.

Heaven forfend! If I were a doctor, I'd probably be worshipping at

the altar of Prilosec. <g> I know about it because some years ago

(before my dietary enlightenment) I took an asthma medication which

largely destroyed my production of stomach acid. Along with other

problems, this caused my lower esophageal sphincter to malfunction

(and/or atrophy and/or become infected and stop working properly as a

result) which in turn caused ongoing problems with reflux, aspiration

of stomach acid and a resulting degradation of lung function. IOW, in

effect the asthma drug ultimately led to more asthma. So needless to

say, I've spent some time looking into remedies.

-

[Guest guest]

--- Idol <Idol@...> wrote:

> Heaven forfend! If I were a doctor, I'd probably be worshipping at

> the altar of Prilosec. <g> I know about it because some years ago

> (before my dietary enlightenment) I took an asthma medication which

> largely destroyed my production of stomach acid. Along with other

> problems, this caused my lower esophageal sphincter to malfunction

> (and/or atrophy and/or become infected and stop working properly as a

> result) which in turn caused ongoing problems with reflux, aspiration

> of stomach acid and a resulting degradation of lung function. IOW, in

> effect the asthma drug ultimately led to more asthma. So needless to

> say, I've spent some time looking into remedies.

, which asthma medication did you take once upon a time?

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Can you please share what asthma medicine you were on and what

natural helps you have found. Allergy season is approaching here and

i do not want to use my inhaler. I only have to use it during the

June-July months and only here in my hometown (Oregon - Willamette

Valley area). I have lived in a couple of different areas of Cali,

in WA., in TN/Kentucky area, and Germany. Did not use my inhaler in

those areas. Only when i live here.

This past pregnancy i had to use it as we just moved back to Oregon

right at the season and had been away from it for 4 yrs. It was

coined the worst season for pollen etc... plus i think being away

from it all for so long then coming back maybe i was not as

tolerant. I was in bad shape and had to go to the doc and have one

prescribed nothing at the HFS was working. I started suffering from

major reflux and indigestion which i had not experienced before the

inhaler, at least i recall it being after. Now i am wondering if the

inhaler may have made it happen. I know that PG can aggravate and

cause things like this but your post got me curious if my inhaler

played a role in it.

A side note, I was recently reading an article that says asthma is

totally an adrenal thing - low adrenal. I am very curious about this

too. Anyone else know more about this thought?

--- In , Idol <Idol@...>

wrote:

>

>I took an asthma medication which

> largely destroyed my production of stomach acid. Along with other

> problems, this caused my lower esophageal sphincter to malfunction

> (and/or atrophy and/or become infected and stop working properly as

a

> result) which in turn caused ongoing problems with reflux,

aspiration

> of stomach acid and a resulting degradation of lung function. IOW,

in

> effect the asthma drug ultimately led to more asthma. So needless

to

> say, I've spent some time looking into remedies.

>

> -

[Guest guest]

>

> Not particularly well AFAIK, though YMMV.

>

> -

>

That's the way it always has seemed, though I don't really know. Fil

mjolk is too easy to make and is so much easier to drink for everyone

in my family. Kefir - even if I only leave it out only 12 hours - is a

tough sell.

[Guest guest]

I had asthma from the age of 9 to the age of 22. Used 3

inhalers, and had allergies so bad that I took meds for them and

carried an epi-pen.

My last year of living at home with my parents (age 22) my father

called me to a health challenge...to see who could be the

healthiest. The only rule was that we could not eat meat, eggs and

dairy were fine though. I don't know why, I think it was just his

mindset at the time.

So I juiced 1 tall glass (of ANYTHING my mother had in the

fridge...and never organic) once a day, and made my last meal of the

day 1 LARGE salad full of anything I could think of, veggies,

fruits, seeds, dried fruits, eggs, cheese ... (including bad salad

dressing) Along with going to the gym about 3 times a week to do

aerobics.

About the 2nd month into our challenge I noticed my menstrual cycle

was RIGHT on time (NEVER happened before, but I think that was

because of all the hormones in the conventional meat I use to eat)

Another strange thing was that I wasn't popping my allergy meds. It

was at that point that I realized ... I hadn't used ANY of my

inhalers for over A MONTH !

I kept on with the challenge for about 9 months...and then I got

married ! That was the last time I saw a gym I am 38 now and I

still have never had a return of my asthma. My allergies did

return....but I now knew how to banish them...Eat a clean diet,

exercise & juice, which I did again and they went away.

My husband had heartburn for as long as I have known him. He kept

Rolaids and Tums EVERYWHERE! I read somewhere that celery helps

with stomach acid production. I began making him celery & apple

juices (very little apple). I don't recall how many days or weeks

it took... but he no longer gets heartburn...except the one time

that he began eating REALLY bad food for months on end again. And

when it returned I just gave him the hairy-eyeball and started

giving him the celery juice again. He then cleaned up his diet once

more and heartburn has never bothered him since.

I've just learned a little about fresh juices having pre-biotics. I

come from a childhood riddled with antibiotics...and that right

there is where all my problems began

> >

> >I took an asthma medication which

> > largely destroyed my production of stomach acid. Along with

other

> > problems, this caused my lower esophageal sphincter to

malfunction

> > (and/or atrophy and/or become infected and stop working properly

as

> a

> > result) which in turn caused ongoing problems with reflux,

> aspiration

> > of stomach acid and a resulting degradation of lung function.

IOW,

> in

> > effect the asthma drug ultimately led to more asthma. So

needless

> to

> > say, I've spent some time looking into remedies.

> >

> > -

>

[Guest guest]

-

> , which asthma medication did you take once upon a time?

Singulair.

I'm not sure which was worse -- Singulair, which wiped out my

digestion to this day, or Serevent, which did seemingly permanent

damage to my lungs.

-

[Guest guest]

-

> Can you please share what asthma medicine you were on and what

> natural helps you have found.

I've taken various asthma medications over the years. When I was a

kid, my mom often had to drag me into the doctor's office for an

adrenaline shot to restart my breathing. I've used an albuterol

inhaler. I took Singulair for awhile, as I told . And once, I

was given Servent, which is like a time-release version of albuterol.

For two days, my lungs were clearer and freer than they'd ever been

before. It was remarkable. Extraordinary. And then there was a

rebound effect which persists to this day.

As to what helps... avoiding conventional dairy, eating properly,

getting a lot of fresh-air exercise, dealing with GERD...

> Allergy season is approaching here and

> i do not want to use my inhaler. I only have to use it during the

> June-July months and only here in my hometown (Oregon - Willamette

> Valley area). I have lived in a couple of different areas of Cali,

> in WA., in TN/Kentucky area, and Germany. Did not use my inhaler in

> those areas. Only when i live here.

I've worked out pretty regularly for several years now, but indoor

exercise made absolutely no dent in my allergies or asthma. Last

year, though, I started playing some outdoor sports (ultimate frisbee

and then tennis) and much to my surprise, despite the increased

exposure to allergens, my allergies (and asthma) decreased

profoundly. As soon as it got cooler and I stopped playing frisbee

and tennis every week, presto, back came my allergies and asthma.

> This past pregnancy i had to use it as we just moved back to Oregon

> right at the season and had been away from it for 4 yrs. It was

> coined the worst season for pollen etc... plus i think being away

> from it all for so long then coming back maybe i was not as

> tolerant. I was in bad shape and had to go to the doc and have one

> prescribed nothing at the HFS was working. I started suffering from

> major reflux and indigestion which i had not experienced before the

> inhaler, at least i recall it being after. Now i am wondering if the

> inhaler may have made it happen. I know that PG can aggravate and

> cause things like this but your post got me curious if my inhaler

> played a role in it.

It could definitely play a role.

> A side note, I was recently reading an article that says asthma is

> totally an adrenal thing - low adrenal. I am very curious about this

> too. Anyone else know more about this thought?

Asthma is a symptom that can be caused by a number of different

things. Saying it's an adrenal thing is like saying a cut is a knife

thing; some cuts are made by knives, yes, but others are made by other

things. Reflux is not necessarily related to the adrenals at all, and

it can have a profound impact on the lungs. Ginger juice has helped

me with that, but I have yet to achieve a complete or permanent cure.

Though I'm a little worried about the lactose, I'm going to try kefir

starting this week; maybe that'll be more effective.

-

[Guest guest]

Well, you could always try adding a little fruit or some kind of

sweetener to the kefir...

> That's the way it always has seemed, though I don't really know. Fil

> mjolk is too easy to make and is so much easier to drink for everyone

> in my family. Kefir - even if I only leave it out only 12 hours - is a

> tough sell.

[Guest guest]

and ,

Thanks for the replies. I have been doing the NT diet since 2005.

Not 100%, usually 75% of the time. This is the first yr we have had

access to free range and raw milk. Prior i used only organic homog.

free milk and this was in Gemrany i am told they don't use the

various hormones etc. like we do. Anyhow after reading how bad

pasteurized is i did not use it more than once a week and started

using Kefir instead. Right now we are trying the GAPS diet and Kefir

is the only dairy we are using.

We do not veggie juice everyday on a regular basis but it has been

part of our regime since i stumbled on NT. At least a few times a

week - ona regular basis. This will be my 2nd yr back home so we

will see how it goes. At this point i do not think the NT diet has

helped to change nor juicing. I do find it interesting that i have

mild allergies where ever else we live but here it turns into needing

inhalers for the couple of months.

Interesting that you both mention excercise as a way to help it. But

the last yr i lived here i went to the gym daily as my kids were no

longer needy babes/toddlers (preschoolers) and i do not recall that

spring and summer being as bad or using my inhaler at all. I never

made a connection to that as PE stuff as a teen especially outdoors

in the spring would trigger it i would have to stop running laps

because an attack was coming on. Did not know it was asthma then, my

mom never cared enough to take me to see a doc. I used to get

detentions etc. for not running laps any longer as i could never

produce a doctors note saying i had any issues. Maybe all in all her

lack of care worked out for me - less meds etc. i wound up being

exposed to. My diet as a kid was much like that of a facotry cow

Lot's of crappy food like grains and twinkies and lot's of Antib's

(dad raised until teen yrs and he always took us and at first sign of

anything we were given antibiotics).

I know what you mean by the cause of asthma - could be anything.

Bascially the article was saying it is stress induced and the lack of

cortisol production is a major reason for asthma for a lot of people -

if a stressful situation induces an attack it is the adrenals. When

adrenals were addressed this symptom went away.

Have you not drank kefir before or are you meaning on a reg. basis

instead of milk?

--- In , Idol <Idol@...>

wrote:

>

>> As to what helps... avoiding conventional dairy, eating properly,

> getting a lot of fresh-air exercise, dealing with GERD...

>

>I've worked out pretty regularly for several years now, but indoor

> exercise made absolutely no dent in my allergies or asthma. Last

> year, though, I started playing some outdoor sports (ultimate

frisbee

> and then tennis) and much to my surprise, despite the increased

> exposure to allergens, my allergies (and asthma) decreased

> profoundly. As soon as it got cooler and I stopped playing

frisbee

> and tennis every week, presto, back came my allergies and asthma.

>

> Asthma is a symptom that can be caused by a number of different

> things. Saying it's an adrenal thing is like saying a cut is a

knife

> thing; some cuts are made by knives, yes, but others are made by

other

> things. Reflux is not necessarily related to the adrenals at all,

and

> it can have a profound impact on the lungs. Ginger juice has

helped

> me with that, but I have yet to achieve a complete or permanent

cure.

> Though I'm a little worried about the lactose, I'm going to try

kefir

> starting this week; maybe that'll be more effective.

>

> -

>

>

[Guest guest]

I found the same; then I discovered that if I add things to it, it

makes it more like traditional yogurt.

A banana usually does the trick. Sometimes I do a tiny bit of stevia

powder, then just a part of a banana.

You can probably trick them into liking the flavor better (like I did

for myself) by adding lots of banana in the beginning, then gradually

adding less and less.

I also started adding in bee pollen, 1 Tbsp per cup of kefir. I'm not

sure, but I think that makes it even more mild. Plus, according to

Dom, it makes the bee pollen even more nutritious.

HTH,

Tamara

[Guest guest]

--- <oz4caster@...> wrote:

> > , which asthma medication did you take once upon a time?

>

--- Idol <Idol@...> wrote:

> Singulair.

>

> I'm not sure which was worse -- Singulair, which wiped out my

> digestion to this day, or Serevent, which did seemingly permanent

> damage to my lungs.

, my wife takes flovent, which is " fluticasone propionate " (sounds

pretty nasty). She only takes one dose a day as a precaution against

asthma. I think the prescribed dose is two or three times a day, but

she only does it once. She hasn't had an asthma attack in quite a

while, over a year I think. She had used albuterol in the past when

she had attacks. She had the skin allergy testing done several years

ago and the worst allergen responses for her were dust mites, cat

dander, rodents, and aspergillus mold.

Our last cat passed away in December and I'm sure that has helped. We

also changed out carpets to hard floors, got rid of curtains and

fabric furniture, put plastic covers on mattresses and pillows, and

changed out air conditioners and ducting (the AC plenum had lots of

black mold on it). She didn't start having asthma problems until

after our daughter was born and she was in her early 40's. She has

had sinus allergies for longer and is constantly taking antihistamines.

She does eat whole plain yogurt made from pasteurized milk, but she

drinks pasteurized milk and won't switch to raw milk, even though I've

been drinking it for two years now. The yogurt is the only probiotic

she gets. She has tried making kefir from pasteurized milk but gave

up because she didn't like the flavor. I didn't like the flavor

either and much prefer the kefir I make from raw milk. I'll be

curious to hear what the kefir does with you.

My wife also has had GERD problems and still complains about it

sometimes. I've heard that it especially causes asthma problems while

sleeping, when the stomach juices can get into the lungs.

[Guest guest]

--- <oz4caster@...> wrote:

> My wife also has had GERD problems and still

> complains about it

> sometimes. I've heard that it especially causes

> asthma problems while

> sleeping, when the stomach juices can get into the

> lungs.

I read a study in which there is a high CORRELATION

between asthma and low stomach acid.

I don't have asthma but for a brief period I had GERD

issues. After much research, I discovered that the

problem was TOO little acid and also probably the

result of good bacteria that had been wiped out by

a course of antibiotics. This book, " Why Stomach Acid

Is Good For You " was instrumental in my COMPLETE

recovery:

http://www.amazon.com/Why-Stomach-Acid-Good-You/dp/0871319314/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8\

& s=books & qid=1207159088 & sr=1-1

-

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Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity.

-WB Yeats

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[Guest guest]

-

> , my wife takes flovent, which is " fluticasone propionate " (sounds

> pretty nasty). She only takes one dose a day as a precaution against

> asthma. I think the prescribed dose is two or three times a day, but

> she only does it once.

Well, less is better than more, but that's a steroid. Steroids were

the one type of medication I always insisted on avoiding no matter

what, particularly after seeing my mom turn into a raging four-hundred

pound psycho after going on prednisone. (Obviously a high dose of

prednisone is much, much more potent than flovent, but flovent's still

bad news.)

> She had the skin allergy testing done several years

> ago and the worst allergen responses for her were dust mites, cat

> dander, rodents, and aspergillus mold.

I tend to think skin testing yields a lot of false positives, but

still, those are among the usual suspects.

> Our last cat passed away in December and I'm sure that has helped. We

> also changed out carpets to hard floors, got rid of curtains and

> fabric furniture, put plastic covers on mattresses and pillows, and

> changed out air conditioners and ducting (the AC plenum had lots of

> black mold on it).

All sound measures. I know I'd feel better if I weren't cohabiting

with an infernal cat.

> She didn't start having asthma problems until

> after our daughter was born and she was in her early 40's. She has

> had sinus allergies for longer and is constantly taking

> antihistamines.

Hmm, the birth connection makes it sound like adrenal exhaustion and/

or nutrient deficiencies could be involved. The antihistamines...

well, I understand the impulse, but that's unfortunate.

> She does eat whole plain yogurt made from pasteurized milk, but she

> drinks pasteurized milk and won't switch to raw milk, even though I've

> been drinking it for two years now. The yogurt is the only probiotic

> she gets. She has tried making kefir from pasteurized milk but gave

> up because she didn't like the flavor. I didn't like the flavor

> either and much prefer the kefir I make from raw milk. I'll be

> curious to hear what the kefir does with you.

I've been eating homemade raw milk/cream yoghurt for a few years now,

and I don't think it's helped much with my asthma and reflux. It

definitely helps with digestion, though. I've had problems with

lactose in kefir in the past, but my digestion has gotten somewhat

better lately, so I'm hoping that the more aggressive and varied

organisms in kefir will make a difference. At any rate, I'll

definitely report on my results.

> My wife also has had GERD problems and still complains about it

> sometimes. I've heard that it especially causes asthma problems while

> sleeping, when the stomach juices can get into the lungs.

Yup. After sleeping and after eating. Would your wife at least

consider ginger juice, maybe?

-

[Guest guest]

Tried fruit, maple syrup, honey - I think all of them are great - but

no one else in my family does.

>

> Well, you could always try adding a little fruit or some kind of

> sweetener to the kefir...

>

[Guest guest]

i tried for a while, then let it slip, but this thread has me thinking

again of trying to get at least my son used to it. He already eats

yogurt, so I'm halfway there. I was thinking of mixing it with his

usual yogurt and gradually increasing the percentage of kefir.

I'll have to look into the bee pollen.

>

> I found the same; then I discovered that if I add things to it, it

> makes it more like traditional yogurt.

>

> A banana usually does the trick. Sometimes I do a tiny bit of stevia

> powder, then just a part of a banana.

>