No More Heartburn - Part 3- GERD & DIGESTIVE AILMENTS

Reference Links

<[www.afibbers.org]> -Part 1 DGL
<[www.afibbers.org]> -Part 2 GERD, Digestive Issues & Health

Part 3 continues the examination of what conditions might manifest as a digestive ailment or disorder. The following emphasizes how many varied symptoms and manifestations can be traced to digestive dysfunction. A large spectrum of potential causes must be professionally evaluated. Testing becomes very important as opposed to jumping to the conclusion that an acid-suppressing drug is needed. Various tests rule out pathogens such as Candida, parasites, leaky gut, allergies and metabolic disturbances. Sorry it is so lengthy, but I wanted to give examples from several experts to support that it is a complex consideration.

In forthcoming sections, we will cover testing and remedies that will also include a section on probiotics, but because this is complex, the overview is important to include as much of the whole picture as possible with consideration to space.

Excerpts and quotes from publications by these experts on digestive health appear throughout the following text. I highly recommend any and all of the books as essential reading for anyone suffering from digestive ailments not only because they can trigger afib but because they are so important to overall health.(See bios at the end)

Robert Blaich, D.C.
Russell L. Blaylock, MD (Blaylock Wellness Letter)
David M. Brady ND, DC, CCN, DACBN
Elizabeth Lipski PhD, CCN (Digestive Wellness)
Trent W. Nichols, MD (Optimal Digestion)
David Perlmutter, MD, FACN ( The Better Brain Book)
Sherry A Rogers, MD (No More Heartburn)


OBSERVATIONS CONTINUED
Causes of heartburn, GERD or reflux symptoms

There is currently an epidemic of digestive illness in this country. An epidemic that can be traced to the foods we eat and the way we live. One-third to one-half of all adults suffer from some sort of digestive problem and faulty digestion is directly responsible for a vast array of other ailments - everything from bad breath, ulcers, heartburn, and constipation - to colitis, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome. Disorders that are caused indirectly by this problem include arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and migraine headaches. (Lipski)

Billions of dollars are spent on OTC remedies, which often bring only temporary relief or none at all for the symptoms of indigestion, bloating, heartburn, diarrhea and constipation.(Blaylock)

The commercials tell us the minute there is pain or a problem take Advil, Motrin, Nuprin - all very caustic on the gut lining and have negative effects on production of various eicosanoids that are protective to the gut lining. (Brady)

Additionally, many prescription drugs as well as OTC remedies like aspirin and NSAIDS for pain also cause serious GI burning, nausea, diarrhea, cramps, gas, bloating but also bleeding. Coffee and caffeine contribute to gastritis and depression, especially when one becomes addicted to caffeine. Coffee/caffeine addicts are easily identified the first thing in the morning by that mandatory caffeine fix or at 4 p.m. to avoid a migraine or depressive slump. The extra acidity tears up the stomach and it’s not just from coffee but soft drinks, tea, cola, chocolate, Anacin, Excedrin, NoDoz. (Rogers)

Acid reflux can bring on heartburn, damage to the lower esophagus, difficulty swallowing, unexplained coughing, the feeling of having a lump in the throat and even cancer of the esophagus. In severe cases, intense scarring can result and even perforation into the chest — which can be fatal.(Blaylock)

Aging increases the incidence of digestive disorders but now larger numbers of younger people are affected – even pre-teens. Dr. Blaylock attributes this to the results of inadequate nutrition, excessively bad diet and exposure to a number of harmful food additives and toxins. Many of the digestive problems linked to aging are the result of a hydrochloric acid shortage. Ironically, acid loss can actually boost the risk of acid reflux.(Blaylock)

The whole digestive dysfunction issue is much more than just heartburn pain. The GI tract (which extends from the mouth and nose to the anus) is the largest component of the immune system. A malfunctioning digestive system leads to poor health. Many chronic disease conditions can be traced to a poorly functioning digestive/immune system. Gastritis, ulcers, acid reflux, bacterial infection, inflammation and the potential for cancer can all be linked to stomach illness.(Blaylock)

Since stomach acid functions as a first-line of defense mechanism, natural lack of stomach acid or use of prescribed a id blockers opens the door for pathogens. Many are food-borne. As an example, the severity of impact E.coli has on infants and the elderly can be directly linked to the lack of fully functioning, protective stomach acid production. Pathogens can flourish in the stomach and can infect the lungs resulting in pneumonia as well.
[www.fda.gov]
[www.cfsan.fda.gov]

[The immune system connection will be discussed in a subsequent segment.]


The Hyperacidity Myth pp. 25-28. (No More Heartburn – Rogers)

“ We eat a large conglomeration of foods. Sherry Rogers MD questions if our stomachs are meant for this much overindulgence since we often eat as if there is no tomorrow. She says “when a large bolus of food arrives in the stomach, if it contains chemical preservatives foreign to the body, if there has been insufficient chewing providing predigestion, or if there are insufficient enzymes to process the mass, it can just sit there with fermentation or bacterial action as the result. As the gasses rise,
they get trapped in and distend the esophagus, mimicking chest pain. The tension and pull of the overloaded stomach stresses the gastroesophageal valve to the point where it is pulled open.

The overstretched valve not only allows gasses up into the esophagus, but allows a backsurge or reflux of stomach acid (and perhaps some stomach contents), into the esophagus as well.”

The stomach is meant to tolerate strong acid but the esophagus is not and is very sensitive to acid. When gases, reflux acid or even undigested food particles slide back up into the esophagus, even a tiny amount is perceived by the delicate esophageal tissue as way too much.

The burning sensation in the esophagus can be interpreted as an upset stomach or a stomach with too much acid. The reality is quite different. Often there is too little stomach acid to complete the oversized job of digestion.

She says: taking an antacid or other medication to inhibit the secretion of stomach acid makes no sense….. Except for the companies that produce the pill or liquid.

She criticizes Tums as being touted as a good antacid and also a good source of calcium and says, the calcium in Tums is the carbonate form or chalk and in order for that to help, it needs acid to work but we know that calcium carbonate is the least absorbable form of calcium so it doesn’t provide much as a calcium supplement. What is known, she says (according to medical studies) is that with antacids use or even milk to ‘sop up’ acid, the body compensates or rebounds and send out extra acid the next time. (Rogers)

It is important to rule out food allergy and Candida since these are often the real culprits even if a hiatus hernia is indicated on X-ray. Once those are eliminated, patients usually don’t have to elevate the bed for relief. (Rogers)

Some people think peppermint is helpful and it is antispasmotic so muscles of the GI tract relax which generally is good. But adding peppermint after a meal will ensure reflux into the esophagus because it relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter muscle (LES) and allows food to flow back. During digestion the LES needs to remain closed.(Blaylock)

Acid reducing or buffering products OTC products like Tums, Maalox or Rolaids actual may worsen the condition as calcium stimulates acid release and there is often a rebound when too much buffer enters the stomach which results in more stomach acid.(Blaylock)

Carbonated drinks contribute to GERD. The carbonation increases pressure within the stomach forcing acid into the lower esophagus. (Blaylock)

Many studies have shown that GERD and gastritis cause intensified free-radical production in the stomach lining and esophagus. One more problem is inflammation in the lower part of the stomach (pyloric gastritis), which slows the emptying of its contents, causing acid to back up into the esophagus. It is important to understand that symptoms are not always noticed and often by the time there is discomfort, some damage is already done. Over time, the constant injury to the lower esophagus can result in the development of a cancer that has a very high mortality. Smoking and drinking alcohol to excess can dramatically increase this risk. (Blaylock)

Helicobacter pylori – ulcers – Current Thinking

The role of H.pylori often is a significant factor in GERD. This was not always thought to be the case.

(Brady) “Back in the early 80’s, the rule of thumb was that ulcers were really found in the Type A personality: - driven, under a lot of stress, produce too much stomach acid and they burned a hole in the stomach.

Although stress plays a role along with NSAIDs and aspirin and erosive type medications, we now know that H.pylori is the pathogen prevalent in people who have ulcers. Thanks to Barry Marshall, an Australian gastroenterologist and his in-house research where he experimented on himself and who proved that if exposed to enough H.pylori, one can get the disease. You can pass it along to your family as he did; and it can cause ulcers.

From his findings, they were the first to develop a triple-therapy pharmaceutical drug approach to treating H.pylori: an acid suppressor – proton pump inhibitor like Nexium, Protonics, Acifex, and a broad-spectrum antibiotic, usually two – either amoxicillin, clarithromycin, or metronadizol depending on resistance patterns.

Even with two heavy-dose antibiotics and an acid suppressor, it’s hard to kill. Plus there is the complication of taking two broad spectrum antibiotics for a couple of weeks at a time and all that entails with destroying the normal bowel flora.

Now we know that about 30 – 75% (depending on the study) of the total population in study groups have the infection. It’s been identified in saliva, dental scrapings and feces. But it is most found attached to gastric epithelial cells…especially in the antrum of the stomach. The stomach is a very hostile environment – highly acidic – so it is a hardy, tough bug just to live where it does. There is evidence to show there are strains that are pathogenic and cause ulcers and other strains that are not as pathogenic.

Different people react differently to H.pylori; some can be infected and it doesn’t bother them; others are sensitive to it and develop ulcerations. In some studies in duodenal patients, up to 100% are infected with H.pylori; in gastic ulcers about 80% in most studies and lesser associations with gastritis.

How it creates ulceration – the organism actually produces an enzyme known as urease which breaks down urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The ammonia produced in the process stimulates gastrin secretion which in turn causes excess production of hydrochloric acid or stomach acid which can lead to gastritis and then ulceration, mucosal atrophy and intestinal dysplasia. There is an increased risk of stomach cancer in long-term H.pylori infection and also a risk of mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue lymphomas of the stomach.

Dr. Blaylock concurs that infections involving this germ cause a loss of stomach acid and an eventual shrinking of the stomach lining (gastric atrophy). This in turn causes the cells lining the stomach to begin their transformation into pre-cancerous cells (metaplasia). He says, curing the infection often leads to the return of stomach acidity.

The germ also depletes the stomach’s levels of vitamin C, which is critical for iron absorption and protection against stomach cancer. He says H. pylori infection boosts the risk of getting stomach cancer by 600%. Smoking, alcohol abuse, a poor diet (devoid of fruits and vegetables) and low vitamin C intake all dramatically elevate this risk.

We must also consider the finding that bacterial overgrowth in the stomach (the result of a reduction in stomach acid) also amplifies the cancer risk posed by nitrites and nitrates in processed foods. Hot dogs, other packaged meats (such as bologna, ham, turkey, sausage, etc.) and some canned foods are packed with these additives. (Blaylock)

It is important to rule out H.pylori infection in cases of ongoing GI disturbance.

[Testing and natural therapies will be discussed in future segments]

DIGESTIVE ISSUES IN GENERAL (Brady)

Besides the outright GERD symptom, as mentioned previously, many chronic ailments can be traced to a Gastro-Intestinal (GI) source.

People with chronic illnesses and a multitude of symptoms, problems and complaints often have a gut ailment which can be from toxins, auto immune issues, food allergies, fatigue-related disorders, dermatological problems-- just a few examples of what conditions go back to the gut.

The whole functional medicine paradigm to focus on gastro-intestinal health as a core foundational issue in health holds true along with HPA axis and stress physiology. Many times these are very interrelated.
Stress physiology affects the gut in significant ways leading to downstream chronic disease.

People with chronic problems and multiple complaints usually including fatigue or lack of vitality – things that would indicate toxicity and need of detox problems often are related to gut since it is the biggest source of toxic exposure.

People with dermatological (skin problem)-- eczema or some unknown-- immediately suspect gut problems we always look at the gut. Any form of atopy or allergy-related diseases including asthma relates to intestinal function.

In people who have a lot of reactions to foods or being pan-allergic to foods – look at the gut.

Inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune thyroiditis – alert us to looking at the intestinal tract. There is reason for that and we have to find out what is driving it.

Dr. Brady says, “It’s a no brainer when a patient complains of diarrhea, constipation, cramping ulcer pain but quite another when there are GI imbalances and problems exist without any overt GI symptoms. So it becomes important to know the various GI symptoms that are often triggered by the gut or have an enteropathic origin and even if the patient doesn’t think they have gut issues, you must look there. Around the late 1800 – Mechnikoff, the great Russian biologist and 1908 Nobel laureate scientist, said ‘death begins in the colon’.

Classic example would be with inflammatory arthritis (RA) and the patient is taking tons of NSAIDs and doing things that are bad for the gut without knowing that the genesis of the inflammatory quasi auto-immune disorder issues actually lie in the gut and they are not being addressed like that by conventional rheumatology or conventional medicine, in general. This connection is not new science and there is strong science behind it indicating the relationship. Back as far as the 50’s enteropathic spondyloarthropathies were mentioned – inflammatory disorders of the joints or other areas of the body that original in the gut.

With the majority of the body’s lymphatic tissue in the gut, it makes sense to consider the connection. There is over a hundred million nerve cells in the small intestine alone which is roughly equal to that of the spinal cord. So there is a tremendous amount of neurological tissue in the gut and, in fact, the gut is the only organ or system in the body that has its own independently working nervous system - the Enteric Nervous System which is influenced by the Central Nervous System but does not depend on the CNS for its general function. When the CNS does influence it, it is usually in a negative way – it gets in the way and creates irritable bowel syndrome.

Every neurotransmitter ever detected in the brain has also been found in the gut and often at much higher levels. 95% of serotonin in the human body is not in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid but rather in the GI tract. So when you consider that alone – tremendous amount of neurological tissue, its own nervous system, high levels of neurotransmitters, it’s really indicative of how important the gut is in the surveillance of body function and the body is dedicating tremendous resources to surveillance in the GI tract.

Stool testing becomes very important in determining what’s going on in the GI tract and along with that comes organic acid testing to assess markers that are directly related to intestinal function.

It is commonly agreed that the average American has gut dysfunction. Why?

Three areas will be examined.
1. Food Stream
2. Stress
3. Physical/functional aspects of diaphragm and LES

1. Food stream

Junk food which Dr. Rogers identifies as C-R-A-P (Cigarettes, Coffee, Refined Sugars, Alcohol, Aspirin, Pop and Processed Foods) operate in the body as triggers to produce more acid as the stomach struggles to digest them. She says that if people eliminated all the difficult-to-digest CRAP, most digestive issues would be eliminated. Especially when the stomach is very irritated and the person continues to consume, it’s like pouring alcohol on an open wound. Drinking orange juice and other citrus on an empty morning stomach can bring pain all day. (Rogers)

(Brady) We have a population that eats mostly processed foods and foods of convenience which are full of chemicals and lack fiber.

Fiber is very very important if in nothing else but to physically debride the gut – to scrape off all the junk from the mucosal lining and that’s not done when the diet is soft, processed foods. We see in other cultures – Africa , South America, Polynesia, South Pacific- the ones that are studied - these cultures are eating more of a hunter-gatherer Paleolithic raw whole food diet. They don’t have hemorrhoids, colon cancer, or appendicitis, (which is the most common acute abdominal surgery done in the US). They eat a tremendous amount of more fiber than we do and they have a bowel transit time of about half of ours in the US.

With long transit times, we retain the toxic fecal material that contains a lot of detrimental components and we retain for twice the amount of time than that of healthier people.

From Rogers: The Dangers of Unseen Additives: The Great Medical Mimics p. 37

Quote: “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.” I don’t know where that phrase originated, but it appears to be an appropriate slogan for food manufacturers. Each day millions of Americans devour foods loaded with chemicals whose names they don’t recognize – and wouldn’t have the foggiest notion of what they mean. ...more alarming is that most of these additives are capable of creating symptoms that mimic diseases. In a society where disease usually equates to a deficiency of some prescribed drug, this can initiate the downward spiral of symptom-->drug-->side effect, new symptom-->worsening of the old symptom, and –since the cause is still not looked for – a new drug-->new symptom, etc.

Let’s look at the onslaught. Routinely-used food chemicals include coloring agents, preservatives, antioxidants, stabilizers, gelifiers, binder, thickeners, flavoring agents, taste enhancers, sweeteners, yeast and enzymes used for hydrogenation, catalysts, cooling by contact, extraction by solvents, lubrication, propulsive agents, resin ion exchangers and unmolding agents. In an era of increasingly informed consumers, it is strange that the vast majority still eat foods that contain chemicals that they have never heard of. Then too, what is not on the label may outrank what is – like heavy metal toxicity from aluminum cooking vats or pesticides used for storage and shipping of raw materials.

The gut was designed for absorbing nutrients from nutritious food and not foreign chemicals. “

Abbreviated list of chemicals and additives and how that adversely affect the gut and add to the detoxification pathway burden:

• Additives contain food particles that may be allergenic to that individual – example – Simplesse used in cream-based desserts and salad dressings as a fat replacement has the allergenicity of its milk and egg proteins.

• Prescription and OTC drugs nearly all have predominating gut side effects

• Chemical additives – MSG decreases plasma cholinesterase – critical enzyme in nerve chemistry and can mimic side effects of pesticide poisoning. The resulting massive histamine release can also cause symptoms like migraine or paresthesias, chest pain mimicking a heart attack, depression or brain fog and commonly, epigastric pain in the pit of the stomach.

• Tyramine, naturally occurring amino acid in foods – mysterious gut pain as well. Even low-doses of tyramine can cause stomach pain and massive histamine release causing headaches, hypertensive crisis, stroke or death especially in those genetically predisposed to a reaction or are on specific prescribed antidepressants.

(Rogers: “Since we live in a society where discovering the cause is rarely emphasized, but drugs are frequently prescribed to suppress symptoms, the real cause here is often missed.”)

•Antioxidants in foods such as sodium nitrate in hot dogs, vanillin in cream, BHT and BHA in boxed cereals… can cause stomach pain by inhibiting the enzyme that normally metabolizes histamines. If not metabolized, food histamines back up and cause a myriad of GI symptoms including heartburn, nausea, indigestion, pain, gas, bloating, diarrhea or constipation.

•Nicotine can cause increased acid production. (Nichols)

•Alcohol is a direct irritant to the GI mucosa. It commonly causes gastritis, liver damage and all types of inflammatory problems in the GI tract (Nichols)

•Caffeine increases acid production. As an irritant it can cause gastritis and ulcers. (Nichols)

•Consider that the body also has to work overtime to detoxify each chemical additive using up important nutrients that then are not available to help prevent environmental chemicals from causing genetic changes that initiate cancer, promote depression or retard healing of the gut.

•Research shows that food additives destroy any remaining nutrients that happen to remain in processed foods. Example: sulfur dioxide in dried fruit can inactivate thiamin and folic acid. Thiamin is also destroyed in baked goods or foods packaged in aluminum.

•Pesticides - food and environmentally, act as irritants to the gut and overburden the detox pathway.

Unhealthy food and ingredients

•Cereal contains dead, processed, bleached, enriched, broken grains, sugars, synthetic vitamins, chemical additives, dyes and hydrogenated trans fatty acid oils – usually soybean oil - and because it is such a popular mainstay in American diets, it has a profound influence on accelerating disease.

•Sugar in any form in packaged foods often also contain trans fatty acids which help premature deterioration of cell membranes where hormone receptors lie. This contributes to insulin resistance which can cause anything from poor healing of gut tissues to cravings, obesity and chronic fatigue.

A great problem with sugars is that over time as we age or with gut infections and gut medications, we stop making the disaccharidase enzymes that break down or metabolize sugar. Sugar causes fermentation.This results in bloating, indigestion, and major gut disturbance. In contrast, honey is a monosaccharide and does not cause the digestive problems that table sugar does.

Sugar supports the infestation and overgrowth of the pathogens – yeast, certain bacteria and parasites (Nichols)

Hidden Food Allergies Cause Gut Reactions

* Milk is top of the list of suspected causes of GI symptoms.
In sensitive individuals-- chief cause of nasal congestion and recurrent ear and sinus infections. Prevalent in irritable bowel syndrome IBS. Lactose intolerance predominates in thoseborn with a deficiency of the enzyme lactase that breaks down milk sugar… symptoms gas, bloating, pain, mucus, diarrhea – immediate or hours later. Some have only a partial enzyme deficiency so can tolerate yogurts and cheese.

* Wheat and gluten in sensitive individuals will also produce gas, bloating, indigestion, mucus, depression pain and serious destruction of the gut lining – as seen in Celiac disease where gut linings are destroyed.

* The gluten sensitivity not only is of concern for gut issues, but can cause significant neurological problems including telltale white lesions in the brain similar to that damage seen in patients with multiple sclerosis, as well as memory loss and confusion. Cognitive or nerve problems can be caused or aggravated by gluten sensitivities. Over time, gluten sensitivities can lead to severe malnourishment and nutrient deficiencies that can start the cascade of other conditions – elevated homocysteine, weakened antioxidant defenses which when combined with inflammation become toxic to the body. People with untreated gluten intolerance are not only prone to develop neurological symptoms but are at higher risk of osteoporosis, RA, lymphoma and other autoimmune problems. (Perlmutter)

Additionally, there are other food sensitivities or intolerances that cause GI symptoms of gas, bloating, pain etc. that will not be addressed specifically here.

The end of Part 3

Part 4 will include Stress, Physical/functional aspect of the diaphragm and LES, Other Influential Gut Pathogens and more, if not too lengthy.

Jackie


RESOURCES: THE EXPERTS

Robert Blaich, D.C.
Dr. Blaich is a chiropractic physician and an internationally recognized natural healthcare expert, both as a physician and a teacher. His experience in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) spans thirty years. Following pre-medical education he pursued a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, and became fascinated with a discipline and holistic approach to healthcare called Applied Kinesiology (AK). This system, based on doctor-patient interactive assessment of functional problems, challenges the physician to look at each patient as a biochemically unique individual. The orientation is to evaluate and treat the person who has the symptom, rather than treating the symptom itself.

Dr. Blaich has been a Health and Human Performance Consultant to world-class, Olympic and professional athletes, CEOs, and health care practitioners. He has worked with people who went on to win Olympic gold medals, the Tour de France, the Ironman, the Indianapolis 500, the Sebring 12-Hour Race, and the Superbowl. He has also worked with author Sydney Sheldon and musician Jackson Browne to help them perform at their highest levels. He is not anti-drug; he is pro-health.

Dr. Blaich is a unique generalist in the field of holistic health care, and his practice is truly a family practice. He consults with and treats patients from all over the world, who have a wide variety of health complaints and interests in improving their performance. Many people with difficult problems have improved through his approach of working to identify what is not functioning properly in their bodies and lifestyles and then going about working to restore and maintain the normal function that was lost. To schedule an appointment or consultation, call his office at 303-399-5117 [www.yourinnerpharmacy.com]
At 55 years old, Dr. Blaich maintains a successful health care practice, teaches seminars, and participates in many sports. He and his family reside in Denver, CO.

Russell L. Blaylock, M.D. not only compiles and edits the Blaylock Wellness Report, he is also a nationally recognized board-certified neurosurgeon, health practitioner, author and lecturer.

He attended the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans and completed his internship and neurosurgical residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, S.C. For over a quarter of a century, he practiced in the demanding field of neurosurgery in addition to having a nutritional practice. He recently retired from his neurosurgical duties to devote his full attention to nutritional studies and research. Dr. Blaylock has authored three books on nutrition and wellness: Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills (1994, 1998), Health and Nutrition Secrets That Can Save Your Life and his most recent book: Natural Strategies for The Cancer Patient

An in-demand guest for radio and television programs, he lectures extensively to both lay and professional medical audiences on a variety of nutrition-related subjects. Dr. Blaylock is a member of the international board of the World Natural Health Organization and is the 2004 recipient of the Integrity in Science Award granted by the Weston A. Price Foundation. He serves on the editorial staff of the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association and is the associate editor of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, official publication of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons.

He previously served as Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS, and is currently a visiting professor of biology at the Belhaven College, also in Jackson.
Russell L. Blaylock, MD [www.russellblaylockmd.com]
Reference: Blaylock Wellness Report October 2005 – Stomach Health www.Newsmax.com $48/year


David M. Brady ND, DC, CCN, DACBN
Latest book: “ Healthy Revolution: What You Really Need to Know to Stay Healthy in a Sick World” [healthyrevolution.info]

Before Dr. Brady entered the field of medicine, he was a graduate BSEE
and was employed by McDonnell Douglas Aerospace Corporation before starting his clinical education at Texas Chiropractic College where he graduated as Valedictorian of his graduating class in 1991. Dr. Brady is a licensed Naturopathic Physician, a Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist, and a Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition.

He is presently the Director of the Human Nutrition Institute and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Sciences at the University of Bridgeport (Connecticut, USA). Dr. Brady is the Chief Medical Officer of Designs for Health, Inc. a nutritional supplement and nutraceutical manufacturer for nutritional professionals. He has been a leading nutritional product formulator and clinical consultant to some of the most innovative nutraceutical companies and clinical laboratories in the country. Dr. Brady also maintains a private practice at The Center for the Healing Arts in Orange, CT, where he specializes in “Functional and Metabolic Medicine”. [mybbi.org]
Reference: DFH Teleconferences on Digestive Illness & Gut Dysfunction

Liz Lipski, PhD, CCN
Dr. Lipski holds a doctorate in Clinical Nutrition from the Union Institute in Cincinnati, OH. She is also certified by the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board. Dr. Lipski has been working in the field of holistic and complementary medicine for over 25 years.

The author of Digestive Wellness, Digestive Wellness for Children, and Leaky Gut Syndrome, she's also the Director of Doctoral Studies at Hawthorn University, the nutrition editor for Pilates Style Magazine, and a member of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Nutrition Professionals. Dr. Lipski is the founder of Access to Health Experts, a web-based holistic health membership site, and Innovative Healing, a web site offering the latest information on integrative healthcare. She is nationally known for her expertise in the fields of nutrition, integrative health, and digestive and auto-immune conditions.

Title: Digestive Wellness
Elizabeth Lipski, PhD, CCN
3rd Edition
©2004
ISBN: 0071441964
[www.innovativehealing.com]


Optimal Digestion – New Strategies for Achieving Digestive Health

Edited by Trent W. Nichols M.D. and Nancy Faass, MSW, MPH, the author team includes Elson Haas, M.D., Richard Kunin, M.D., Efrem Korngold, Lac, OMD, Michael Rosenbaum, M.D., and Martin Rossman, M.D. All are experts of integrative medicine and published authors, contributing information in their specialties.

Written by a team of medical experts, Optimal Digestion offers new ideas and information based on years of experience by doctors dealing with chronic digestive disorders, including heartburn, colitis, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and many more. This guide provides a comprehensive understanding of the newest patient-centered approach to healing, combining the best of mainstream and alternative treatments. Because this approach focuses on the individual rather than the illness, treatment is based on your unique makeup. Optimal Digestion will help you create an individual healing program using diet, nutrients, medications, exercise, rest, and stress reduction
©1999 Avon Books

David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, is a Board-Certified Neurologist and Fellow of the American College of Nutrition who received his M.D. degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine where he was awarded the Leonard G. Rowntree Research Award. After completing residency training in Neurology, also at the University of Miami, Dr. Perlmutter entered private practice in Naples, Florida where he serves as Medical Director of the Perlmutter Health Center and the Perlmutter Hyperbaric Center.

Dr. Perlmutter serves as Adjunct Instructor at the Institute for Functional Medicine in Gig Harbor, Washington, and has contributed extensively to the world medical literature with publications appearing in such journals as The Journal of Neurosurgery, The Southern Medical Journal, Journal of Applied Nutrition, and Archives of Neurology. He is the author of: BrainRecovery.com - Powerful Therapy for Challenging Brain Disorders, The Better Brain Book, and Raise a Smarter Child By Kindergarten , and is recognized internationally as a leader in the field of nutritional influences in neurological disorders.

Dr. Perlmutter was awarded the 2002 Linus Pauling Award for his pioneering work in innovative approaches to neurological disorders. In addition, he received the 2002 Denham Harmon Award from the American College for the Advancement in Medicine for his work in advancing the understanding of free radical biochemistry in neurological diseases and is the recipient of the 2006 National Nutritional Foods Association Clinician of the Year Award.

Dr. Permutter’s Health Center is located in Naples. FL where he treats neurological and digestive disorders through preventive medicine and nutrition.

Perlmutter Health Center - Commons Medical Center
800 Goodlette Road North - Suite 270 - Naples, FL 34102
Tel: (239) 649-7400 –
[www.perlhealth.com] [inutritionals.com]

Sherry A. Rogers, MD, ABFP, ABEM, FACAAI, FACN, is a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice and of the American Board of Environmental Medicine. She is a Fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and of the American College of Nutrition. Dr. Rogers lectures worldwide and teaches advanced courses for physicians. She developed the Formaldehyde Spot Test and has published her mold research in Annals of Allergy. Her chemical testing methods have been published in the National Institutes of Health journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Sherry Rogers has been in professional practice in Syracuse, New York for about 30 years. She has been the environmental editor for Internal Medicine World Report. Dr Rogers has published a number of scientific articles and authored 12 books including Detoxify or Die, Pain Free, Wellness Against All Odds, You Are What You Ate, The Cure Is In the Kitchen, and Recovery. Sherry Rogers is the editor of the TOTAL WELLNESS newsletter.

Dr. Sherry Rogers says: "You have been brainwashed into believing that the diagnosis given to your condition, a mere label, is the end of the line. But nothing could be further (and more dangerously) from the truth. In fact, the name or label that has been given to your collection of symptoms is totally inconsequential. The only thing that matters is what has caused the symptoms…

…If you are serious about healing, then brace yourself for a crash course in curing whatever ails you. I'll take you step-by-step through the most important paradigm shift of your life…the secret is in getting your body so chemically unloaded and nutrient primed, that it heals itself.”

No More Heartburn – Stop the Pain in 30 days – Naturally
Subtitle: The Safe, Effective way to prevent and heal chronic gastrointestinal disorders
Author: Sherry A. Rogers, MD
© 2000 Kensington Publishers
www.nutrition4health.org

Jackie--

Thank you for this AMAZING piece of work. I am so grateful for all the time and energy you give to us all.

Regards

Louise

Jackie,

Another amazing piece of work.

I found one sentence very interesting and that was the reference to skin problems/rashes etc., being linked to gastro problems. For years I was troubled with a reddish rash on my left shoulder and upper arm which I could never completely clear up. Since my coeliac "markers" have been identified and I have completely stopped eating wheat,frains, gluten etc., this has gone. I didn't actually realise that it had gone until quite recently as I was so used to it being there, so I think its disappearance must have been linked with adopting a gluten free diet. Its quite incredible how all our "bits" are linked together isn't it?

Once again, thanks a lot.

Sue, you're in the same boat as me.

My blood test didn't show up as positive for Coleiac, but I decided that I did have issues with grains so gave them up apart from Oats. I felt better but not perfect so decided to give up Oats also, I now feel better than I ever have, apart from when I accidentally ingest gluten and then I feel dreadful.

But what you say about all the little "bits" that link up, it was a bit like a jigsaw puzzle for me and the final picture looks a lot like Coeliac Disease.

Jackie, I don't know how you find the time to do all this work and keep yourself in good health, you are an absolute star.

Very interesting indeed. Thanks Jackie, keep 'm comin!

Rob -Thanks for your kind words. It's just my passion to enlighten or heighten awareness and this topic is really very important for afibbers as many can connect digestive issues to afib. I am in good health and I find that sharing this information helps keep me that way as I know it is a useful endeavor.

As for testing and celiac - I've read and heard continually, that testing - even by biopsy may not indicate the severity of a gluten/gliaden sensitivity but giving it up proves to be so helpful it confirms the connection. You don't have to be diagnosed as a true celiac to have all the implications of a sensitivity to that or other closely related proteins. The silent celiac disease issue is more likely to be what most afibbers experience.... as detailed in CR #54.

Once again - oats should be eliminated as they are highly suspect and none of the experts suggest that patients continue to consume it so it's good you it them up as well. It's virtually impossible not to have oats contaminated by gluten because of shared harvesting or transporting.

More is coming. Stay tuned.

Jackie