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Heartburn Meds May Increase Your Risk Of Alzheimer's by 33%
This week on the Harmony With Food Radio Show, we talked about an ice cream recall in Rhode Island, the way stress affects how you eat (and how you eat affects stress!), and talked about a new study that links heart burn medication with dementia.
Australia Constipation Study
I spoke about this a bit in last week's episode, but it is so important that I wanted to revisit it. The study showed that constipation was positively associated with hypertension and cardiovascular events. The researchers concluded that those with constipation had double the risk of hypertension and were more likely to suffer from major cardiovascular events such as heart disease and stroke.
In the past 30 years, the number of people with cardiovascular disease has doubled, and the the number of deaths from cardiovascular disease has increased from 12.1 million to 18.6 million.
You may be thinking that constipation is a little annoying, but it is more than that. If you have been dealing with chronic GI issues, now is the time to resolve them!
Ice Cream Recall in Rhode Island
No one likes food poisoning, but you may see it as just a temporary, unpleasant stomach bug that only lasts 24 hours. But did you know that there are 36 food poisoning outbreaks in the US each week and people are rushed to the hospital every 4 minutes because the food they ate made them ill?
While most people get over food poisoning in a few days, there are over 3,000 deaths from it each year. So, we need to do our due diligence and make sure to keep our hot foods hot and cold foods cold, and make sure that restaurants are doing things correctly.
You should also keep up with any food recalls. This week in Rhode Island, Real Kosher Ice Cream issued a recall for some of its products due to possible listeria contamination. Make sure you stay away from these products!
How is your relationship with food?
Have you ever thought about your relationship with food before? From emotional eating to appetite changes, stress and diet are intertwined, and the former can be significantly altered by the latter.
Stress affects our diet in two major ways:
Physical Changes with Food - This includes how much we eat, what we choose to eat, and not having the time or energy to focus on planning and preparing balanced choices.
Psychological Changes with Food - You may turn to food to cope with tough emotions under stress. Whatever the feeling is you wind up turning to food as the answer to your problems. You also just may be mindlessly eating and not tuning in to see what your body needs or when you are full.
It's normal to experience occasional appetite changes during stress, but if you're living in a constant state of fight or flight occasional emotional eating can become chronic to the point where you start using food to numb yourself.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, some people eat less when stressed. When that becomes regular, they wind up not getting enough food. The lack of nutrients can actually contribute to worsening their anxiety and depression.
These changes in eating habits (and stress itself) can also lead you to develop ongoing digestive issues, which will affect your eating habits even more. It's a vicious cycle, and if it is something you are experiencing you need help from a professional. Click the button below to schedule a free 45-minute call with me to get your eating back on track!
PPIs May Increase Risk of Alzheimer's
A new study shows that people who take a common type of acid reflux drug, proton pump inhibitors, for more than 4 years could have a 33% greater likelihood of developing dementia compared to those who did not take the medication.
Acid reflux occurs when acid escapes the stomach and reaches the esophagus, often after a meal or when going to bed lying down. Since acid isn't supposed to be in the esophagus, when it's present on a regular basis it can actually cause cancer.
Proton pump inhibitors reduce stomach acid by targeting acid producing enzymes in the stomach lining. These medications have been linked to conditions such as stroke, heart disease, and kidney disease.
This study followed participants for 5 years. The mean average age was 75 and those who were prescribed acid reflux medications were placed in four groups based on how long they took it. Those who took the drugs for at least 4 years had the highest rates of dementia and were 33% more likely to develop it.
The researchers of the study did state that they didn't check some factors that could influence results. For example, B12 deficiency, depression, socioeconomic status, and H. pylori infection. So it's difficult to tell if it is just the acid reflux or if it is the PPIs.
In 2022, the American Gastroenterological Association updated its guidelines for doctors on acid reflux prescription drugs, recommending taking the lowest effective dose for those who need the drugs to control stomach acid for severe Barrett's Esophagitis and peptic ulcers. They also recommend that people reduce foods known to trigger stomach acid, don't eat within three hours of sleeping, and elevate their heads when sleeping at night.
But, I want to ask you - if you could get off of acid reflux drugs naturally, why wouldn't you? There are so many natural things we can do to help you get off of acid reflux medication and start feeling better. That includes testing for food intolerances, improving your diet, and re-balancing your microbiome. If you're ready to take that step, click below to schedule a free 45-minute call with me.
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