Keto heartburn?

[Jny]

I've been on a Keto diet for the last two weeks. Prior to that I was eating Paleo. I have been getting the most horrendus heartburn. I have a long history of chronic heartburn, but it pretty much goes away after the first few days on a Paleo diet so I have attributed it to gluten/wheat (almost everyone in my mother's family has had problems with heartburn and/or digestive issues, most of whom are now gluten free as well, so we seem to have a genetic non-celiac gluten sensitivity).

I have no gallbladder so at first I thought maybe it was a problem with digesting fats,but after yesterday's ordeal, I've noticed that it seems to happen when my stomach is empty. I haven't been restricting food or anything, I've been eating as much animal fats/meat as I need to feel satiated, but it does tend to not take too much to fill me up. I had two flare ups- late afternoon when I was getting hungry for dinner and in the middle of the night. Both times I ate something and it went away.

I also caved and took some prilosec because I just couldn't stand it anymore, but I'd rather find a non-pharm solution.

So eating something during the day isn't a big deal to solve this problem, but I really don't want to wake up in the middle of the night with raging heartburn every night. I also don't want to sleep sitting upright or inclined- I'd rather just take the prilosec I think.

Anyone else had problems like this? Any suggestions? I tried searching on the subject, but most people seem to have the opposite experience- heartburn goes away- when they start a keto diet.

 

[Laura]

I take digestive enzymes like betaine and bromelain. Also, never eat after 5 or 6 pm.

 

[Gaby]

You can also try DGL, it will probably relieve the pain. More info here:

_http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julie-chen-md/dgl-supplements_b_2976260.html

 

[Gawan]

For example betaine hcl can do wonders like this product and especially when you have no gallbladder anymore:

_http://amzn.to/1oqSTtc

Give it a try (or any other similar product) and maybe report back if it helps.

 

[Jny]

For example betaine hcl can do wonders like this product and especially when you have no gallbladder anymore:

_http://amzn.to/1oqSTtc

I actually have that exact product! It was recommended as a Must for the gallbladder-less in a paleo book I read last year, but I only took them for a short time. I'm horrible at consistently taking any kind of pills. I will add them back in to my diet and see if that helps.

You can also try DGL, it will probably relieve the pain.

Thanks, I will look into this one as well!

 

[Tracy Anne]

I too have noticed a return of heartburn since starting the keto diet 3 weeks ago. I wake in the night with it. A quarter teaspoonful of bicarb of soda settles it immediately.

Thanks for the above advice about the digestive enzymes. Will get.

Jny ....I took omeprazole for a year recently and dont wish to return to it but I can understand your desparation as the heartburn is so uncomfortable.

I am also taking a tablespoonful of cider vinegar before fatty meals and Ive noticed it helps.

 

[Laura]

I too have noticed a return of heartburn since starting the keto diet 3 weeks ago. I wake in the night with it. A quarter teaspoonful of bicarb of soda settles it immediately.

You should definitely NOT take sodium bicarb. That just cancels the digestion process. Also, don't take magnesium too soon after eating: it neutralizes the stomach acid, which you obviously don't have enough of, and then your food just passes through undigested.

Better to work with betaine and eating no later than 5 or 6 - and eat lightly in the evening.

 

[Jny]

French Marigold- I have also used a shot of aloe juice in the past. It works well for the "I need it right now!" fix, but it doesn't prevent it and it doesn't solve things long term. That may be a decent replacement for sodium bicarb when you really need something immediate though.

I would think it would help a damaged esophagus to heal, similar to treating an exterior wound with aloe (and it does feel soothing), I'd just make sure it doesn't have all kinds of additives. My gastroenterologist of course said there's no scientific evidence for that, but go ahead if I think it makes it feel better (of course she said the exact same thing about avoiding gluten...)

 

[Tracy Anne]

I too have noticed a return of heartburn since starting the keto diet 3 weeks ago. I wake in the night with it. A quarter teaspoonful of bicarb of soda settles it immediately.

You should definitely NOT take sodium bicarb. That just cancels the digestion process. Also, don't take magnesium too soon after eating: it neutralizes the stomach acid, which you obviously don't have enough of, and then your food just passes through undigested.

Better to work with betaine and eating no later than 5 or 6 - and eat lightly in the evening.

Thanks for that Laura.....when I think about it bicarb is very alkaline so of course it would neutralize acid, which we need to digest. Will keep the magnesium dosing in mind too though I have found that magnesium exacerbates my heartburn! Ugh!



Jny I hope this is helpful to you too. I was thinking the other day about starting a thread on heartburn with keto, so thanks.

 

[Tracy Anne]

French Marigold- I have also used a shot of aloe juice in the past. It works well for the "I need it right now!" fix, but it doesn't prevent it and it doesn't solve things long term. That may be a decent replacement for sodium bicarb when you really need something immediate though.

I would think it would help a damaged esophagus to heal, similar to treating an exterior wound with aloe (and it does feel soothing), I'd just make sure it doesn't have all kinds of additives. My gastroenterologist of course said there's no scientific evidence for that, but go ahead if I think it makes it feel better (of course she said the exact same thing about avoiding gluten...)

Thanks Jny for the Aloe recommendation. We dont have enough digestive enzymes and food is staying in the stomach for too long and causing reflux, from what I can gather. The Bromelain and Betaine is the way to go.