How Do I Get Rid of Acid Reflux?
- Gut Honest Truth
- Feb 1, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 21
How do I get rid of my acid reflux?
The answer might surprise you...
Welcome to the Gut Honest Truth blog where a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner gives you digestible information to tackle your chronic health concerns.
That’s me, Katie Morra; and in this blog I am going to talk about acid reflux and how many of us can relieve heartburn by getting to the root cause. In doing so, I hope to help you not only relieve your acid reflux symptoms but to improve your overall gut health.
I can assure you the answer is not popping (and paying for!) heartburn medications (like Prilosec, Nexium, etc.) every day. So let’s dive in, shall we?
Side note- If you want an even deeper dive into understanding and resolving acid reflux - check out my "How to Get Rid of Your Acid Reflux" e-book.
And as always, working one-on-one for your specific needs is always our top recommendation, check out our appointment options to get started with one of our licensed health care professionals today.
What is Gastroesophageal reflux, or acid reflux?
Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) happens when stomach contents travel back up into the esophagus. When that acid hits the lining of the esophagus, it causes irritation and inflammation — which is what you feel as that familiar burning sensation in your chest, otherwise known as heartburn.
Reflux is incredibly common. Studies estimate that roughly 1 in 5 Americans experience it at least weekly, and nearly 18-28% of the U.S. population meets criteria for GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) — the chronic, more serious version.
How do I know if I have acid reflux?
Most people recognize the chest burning, but reflux can actually show up in a lot of ways:
Heartburn or burning in the chest
Bloating, belching, or gassiness right after eating
A sense of fullness after small meals
Indigestion, diarrhea, or constipation
Chest pain
Hoarse voice
Difficulty swallowing
Chronic cough
Nausea after eating or taking supplements
Multiple food sensitivities
Weak, peeling nails or hair thinning
There's also something called silent reflux, which has no obvious heartburn at all — just a nagging cough, throat clearing, or feeling like something is always stuck.
How Is Reflux Typically Treated?
When most people go to their doctor with reflux symptoms, they leave with one of three types of medication:
Antacids (Tums, Rolaids) — neutralize acid temporarily
Proton Pump Inhibitors / PPIs (Prilosec, Nexium, omeprazole) — suppress acid production
H2 Blockers (Pepcid, Tagamet) — reduce acid production via a different mechanism
These medications are often prescribed with little guidance on how long to take them — despite the fact that PPIs are intended for short-term use (approximately 6 weeks). Many people end up on them for years, sometimes decades.
And here's the problem: they treat a symptom, not a cause. When you stop taking them, the reflux comes back — often worse than before, due to rebound acid hypersecretion.
The Part Most Doctors Don't Tell You
Here's where things get interesting.
The conventional assumption is that reflux is caused by too much stomach acid. Reduce the acid, reduce the symptoms. Makes sense on the surface.
But in clinical practice, what I see far more often is the opposite: reflux driven by too little stomach acid.
This condition is called hypochlorhydria — and it's far more common than most people realize.
Here's how it works: when your stomach isn't producing enough hydrochloric acid, food doesn't break down properly. Large, partially digested food sits in the stomach longer than it should. This creates pressure — and that pressure pushes stomach contents back up through the lower esophageal sphincter, causing reflux.
Less acid. More pressure. More reflux.
And then we add an acid-suppressing medication on top of that, which reduces acid further — providing temporary relief, but worsening the underlying problem over time.
This is one of the most important things I want patients to understand: more acid production support often means less reflux, not more.
Symptoms of Low Stomach Acid
You'll notice these look almost identical to classic reflux symptoms — which is exactly why it gets missed:
Bloating, belching, burning right after eating
Heartburn or burning sensations
Feeling full quickly
Indigestion, constipation, or loose stools
Multiple food sensitivities
Nausea after supplements
Iron deficiency
Undigested food in stool
Chronic SIBO, candida, or parasites
Weak or cracked fingernails
Stomach acid is responsible for:
Stomach acid isn't the enemy. It's essential. It's responsible for:
Breaking down the proteins you eat
Orchestrating the rest of your digestion
Stimulating digestive enzyme and bile production
Promoting nutrient absorption
Acting as your first line of defense against pathogens — bacteria, parasites, and more
When acid production drops — whether from aging, chronic stress, medications, or nutrient deficiencies — the downstream effects can be significant. Low stomach acid has been associated with:
Autoimmune conditions
Osteoporosis
Inflammatory bowel disease
Iron-deficiency anemia
Skin conditions (acne, eczema, rosacea)
Anxiety and mood disorders
Asthma and allergies
Gallbladder disease
What's Actually Causing Your Reflux?
Based on what I see in practice, the most common root causes of acid reflux are:
Low stomach acid and/or low digestive enzyme output
Gut infections — H. pylori, SIBO, candida, parasites
Gut microbiome imbalances (dysbiosis)
Food sensitivities or allergies
Chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation
Nutrient deficiencies (especially zinc, B vitamins, magnesium)
Bile reflux or history of gallbladder issues
Hiatal hernia or structural issues with the esophageal sphincter
Medications that affect acid production or motility
This is why we test rather than guess. A GI-MAP stool test, for example, can reveal H. pylori infections, bacterial overgrowth, fungal imbalances, and markers of digestive output — all of which commonly drive reflux that doesn't respond to medication.
So, How do I Actually Get Rid of Acid Reflux?
The first step is identifying your specific cause — because the approach looks different depending on what's driving it.
If the issue is low stomach acid and digestive output: Supporting hydrochloric acid and enzyme production is the starting point. My e-book goes into this in detail — download it here.
If there's an underlying gut infection (H. pylori, SIBO, candida): These need to be properly identified and addressed. This is where functional testing becomes invaluable — because these infections often don't show up on standard labs, and treating symptoms without treating the infection means the reflux keeps coming back.
If food sensitivities are a factor: A structured elimination diet with proper reintroduction (not a generic "low acid diet") can be clarifying and therapeutic.
If there's a hiatal hernia: Working with a provider trained in manual release techniques can help. Hiatal hernia heel drops are also worth trialing.
If gallbladder history is involved: Especially if you've had your gallbladder removed, proper fat digestion support is essential and often overlooked.
Important note: If you have a diagnosis of Barrett's Esophagus, esophageal cancer, or active ulcers, please work closely with your physician before adjusting or stopping any prescribed medication.
What This Looks Like at Gut Honest Truth
At Gut Honest Truth, we don't guess — we test. When a patient comes to us with chronic reflux or an inability to get off their PPI, we start by understanding what's actually driving it. That often means running a GI-MAP stool test, looking at stomach acid markers, evaluating for H. pylori and SIBO, and reviewing the full picture of what's happening in their gut.
From there, we build a protocol specific to them — not a generic supplement stack, not an elimination diet that cuts out half their food forever, but a targeted plan designed to actually resolve the underlying issue.
If you're tired of managing symptoms and ready to understand what's actually going on, we'd love to help.
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