We give you the burning facts about treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and heartburn during pregnancy.
Many glowing mothers-to-be experience surges of warmth in their chests, that seem to emanate from their hearts.
Sadly, we are not describing maternal warm fuzzies. We’re talking about the torture of heartburn in pregnancy, and if you’re suffering, you’ll know there is nothing poetically heartwarming about that.
Up to 50 per cent of all expecting mothers cite having heartburn at some point in pregnancy. If you’re one of them, or know someone who is, we’ve gathered both anecdotal and scientific evidence on natural heartburn remedies that work.
To prepare you for the pain of childbirth? For the terrible twos and teenage years? Kidding aside, the misery of pregnancy acid reflux is no joke.
From mild discomfort to searing agony, there are several causes of GERD symptoms and heartburn while expecting, including:
Although it can strike any time, it is, not surprisingly, most common after meals or changing positions, like bending or lying down to sleep. Not to be confused with morning sickness, heartburn may occur when rising from bed.
Also known as acid indigestion, or gastric reflux, heartburn in pregnancy usually begins in the second trimester. Many women we’ve spoken to brushed off what they thought was first trimester acid reflux that would eventually go away, but did not.
As a family-owned business of farmers, us Fenfiber folk have witnessed and experienced the gamut of gastrointestinal issues associated with having a baby. As scientists, although we have anecdotal evidence of fenugreek fiber treating GERD in pregnancy, we also needed to conduct our own research.
Over-the counter pharmaceutical solutions for heartburn are considered temporary solutions. If you are suffering chronic heartburn in pregnancy, it’s important to use something safe for the long term, without side effects (in fact, overuse of some antacids have been proven to have the reverse effect).
Stronger antacids for severe heartburn may also be prescribed by your doctor, but those aren’t ideal for prolonged use normally, far less pregnancy.
So, what to do?
“Sugar & Spice and all things nice” as the outdated poem goes, are what little girls are made of. In factual terms, those can be what gastrointestinal woes are made of. Spicy, fatty and sugary foods are the culprits behind heartburn and acid indigestion. We would never dream of telling a mother-to-be to forgo chocolate or spicy butter chicken hankerings (or chocolate curry-- you never know with those cravings!) but you might want to try eliminating rich foods from your diet for a few days and see if there’s improvement.
Sorry to sound like your mother, but this article is written by one (and if you’re expecting, it won’t be long until you realize you’re sounding like your mother, too!) Sure, as raging hormones flood our system we might figuratively “get bent out of shape” but sit up as straight as you can when eating. Furthermore, avoid bending to lift, exercising or lying down after eating. (Despite how tempting the last one might be!)
Shrinking clothing and an expanding waistline are just par for the three trimester course! As you grow, make sure your clothes can grow with you by opting for stretchy waistlines. Constrictive clothing can push the food up into the esophagus from the stomach and cause gastric reflux. Ouch.
Throughout the day, be sure you’re getting plenty of water, around 3 litres a day. Although the following might sound counterintuitive, avoid drinking too many fluids while you’re eating, as that will only fill your stomach, causing its contents to travel upwards. And of course, avoid alcohol during pregnancy, for fetal development but also for its tendency to cause and exacerbate heartburn.
OTC heartburn relief is often recommended by doctors, but it’s important to understand your natural antacid options, especially during pregnancy. We have collected clinical and anecdotal evidence to support that fenugreek seed fiber is a safe, gentle, and effective natural heartburn remedy for pregnant women.
Fenfiber’s unique and powerful fenugreek seed fiber quickly turns into a soothing gel once ingested, coating your gastric tract and preventing occurrences of acid reflux and heartburn.
Wish to try it out for yourself? Order now. As a family-operated business, we only deliver products that we give our own loved ones.
]]>Learn a few simple methods to block your chronic heartburn. Your stomach needs a natural solution BEFORE you feel the burning start. And time to toss your antacids - which can have long term damaging effects.
If you are experiencing chronic heartburn, it is imperative to find treatments that do not have adverse effects on your health and digestive system. GERD can lead to a long-term cough, laryngitis, inflammation, ulcers, swallowing issues, and Barrett's esophagus (which leads to an increased chance of esophageal cancer).
In conjunction with Fenfiber®, here is an easy list to help alleviate your stomach acid reflux:
Extra fat puts pressure on your stomach. This pressure pushes your stomach acid up and into your lower esophagus sphincter. Losing weight and less fat equals less GERD.
Large meals put pressure on your lower esophagus. This pressure makes it easier to get acid reflux to get in your way.
Alcohol can cause esophagus muscle spasms as well as lessens the strength of your lower esophagus.
Your sleeping position matters when it comes to acid reflux. Keeping your stomach on an angle will keep your stomach acids down and less likely that the acids will enter your lower esophagus.
Nicotine has shown to relax your lower esophagus muscles allowing for reflux to pass through. As well, nicotine can also obstruct your saliva's natural defence for clearing acid from your esophagus.
Gravity can play a role in which way your stomach acid goes. Try to sit or stand upright at least three-four hours after you eat, keeping your acid reflux and heartburn down.
Anything that puts pressure on your stomach can cause upheaval with your stomach acids.
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]]>Let’s get to the heart of the matter - heartburn is painful and can be debilitating. Heartburn or acid reflux is a burning sensation in your chest and happens when your stomach acids back up into your esophagus.
This reflux is due to your lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle weakening or relaxing abnormally causing acid to enter into your esophagus.
Heartburn is a very common problem, roughly 25% of Canadian’s suffer from dyspepsia (or heartburn). And there are many causes of heartburn including an unhealthy lifestyle, poor diet, alcohol, smoking, obesity, various foods, diseases, and injuries.
Spicy foods, dairy, tomato products, citrus, and fatty foods are among the many foods that are often to blame for acid reflux. Keeping fit and an average weight will help tremendously to reduce your risk of heartburn.
If your heartburn persists, you can develop GERD or gastro-esophageal reflux disease. GERD can increase your risk of esophageal cancer as well as interfere in normal life.
While there are healthy lifestyle habits you can include, OTC or prescribed medications can also be used. The main issue with these drugs is that they can cause a dependency and can also increase your issue.
Fenugreek is a common plant in the Mediterranean and South Asian. It is used as a vegetable, herb, spice, flavouring agent, and traditionally as an Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. Going back to as far as 2000 BC, fenugreek seeds have even been found in the tomb of Tutankhamen. Fenugreek is, in fact, one of the oldest traditional medicinal plants on record as well as being considered safe by Health Canada.
While fenugreek has medicinal properties like lowering (LDL) cholesterol and keeping your blood sugar level from spiking, it also relieves heartburn.
Let’s go over how fenugreek fiber works to block your stomach acids.
While fenugreek fiber has been used for possibly thousands of years for heartburn, there are few studies. The available scientific research supports fenugreek fiber’s effective nature on heartburn – such as the pharmaceutical researcher’s clinical trials in Dublin, Ohio, 2011.
This scientific research concluded after 2 weeks of fenugreek fiber taken 30 minutes before meals, each test subject had a reduction in acid reflux. The results equated fenugreek fiber was as effective as an OTC antacid medication (like ranitidine at 75 mg twice a day).
Fenugreek fiber is a great replacement for antacids. While antacids work, you can also grow a dependency in which your body produces more acids increasing your need for more antacids. Fenugreek fiber, on the other hand, does not neutralize the acids but instead forms a gel barrier.
Fenugreek fiber seeds are rich in polysaccharides which form a water-soluble gel. And when you have heartburn, your stomach acids constantly attack the mucus lining in your stomach and esophagus; eventually wear it down. Fenugreek gel acts as an extra protection barrier – saving you from heartburn distress.
Heartburn causes oxidation and inflammation through the acid reflux burning of your esophagus. Not only that, small proteins cytokines are activated; which leads to inflammation; which in turn leads to oxidation. These factors lead to even further damage to your esophagus.
In research, the mucilage or gel contains certain properties that neutralize the cytokines thereby protecting the cells from any damage. This protection also applies to other digestive ailments like ulcers.
When your food is not digested properly, it will stay in the stomach and cause an increase in stomach acids. This increase can disrupt the pressure of your stomach contents creating heartburn. Fenugreek forms a gel to ease the process of digestion allowing food to be efficiently digested and thus preventing heartburn.
Despite the small amount of research, Fenugreek fiber has been a trusted and true antidote for heartburn and GERD. Not only through a soft gel coating protection and aiding digestion but also through its high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Protecting your stomach and esophagus from acid reflux not only stops the pain but can protect you from Barrett’s disease or esophagus cancer. Fenugreek fiber is a great start to a healthy digestive system.
]]>GERD - or gastroesophageal reflux disease - is a digestive disease that causes chronic acid reflux. A long-term condition, GERD affects the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).
The lower esophageal is the ring of muscles between the stomach and the esophagus that acts as an opening and shutting valve; opening to allow food to enter and shutting to prevent food and your stomach contents from leaving. When your valve fails to close properly, your stomach contents can go back into your esophagus (reflux). This includes your stomach acids and pepsin, a digestive enzyme that can burn your esophageal lining and cause heartburn.
GERD symptoms can range from uncomfortable to more severe symptoms that include the following:
Consider it an emergency if you are:
1 in 6 adult Canadians are affected by GERD and about 15-30% of Americans.
Gerd or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is widespread and can affect 2.5% to over 25% of the population – North America is estimated at 15%.
You also are at higher risk to develop gastroesophageal reflux disease if the following relates to you:
Untreated, GERD can be dangerous and cause major damage to your esophagus like scarring, ulcers, and bleeding.
15% of adult Canadians with GERD may develop Barrett’s Esophagus; Esophageal cancer is the main risk factor for Barrett’s Esophagus – only 14% of people with esophageal cancer will live more than 5 years after diagnosis.
There are many ways to control or prevent GERD symptoms from happening abd here are some simple changes to your lifestyle that can help:
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Cholesterol is a soft, waxy, fatty substance. Found in your blood, cholesterol can come from two sources – your body and from the food you eat. It can be broken down into two types:
LDL or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is considered the so-called “bad” cholesterol – making up most of your body’s cholesterol. Travelling through your blood vessels, this fat can build up plaque along the walls of your vessels. This plaque buildup makes it harder for blood to travel and can eventually become completely blocked. Blood flow to your heart and other organs can cause many health issues. High levels of LDL can raise your risk for stroke, heart attack, and heart disease.
The so-called good cholesterol, high- density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) absorbs LDL cholesterol sweeping it through the liver and out of the body. It is best to have a high level of HDL in order to lower your risk of stroke and heart disease.
Your body produces most of your cholesterol – roughly 80% – and this happens naturally, no matter what you do. The rest of your cholesterol – 20% – comes from the food that you eat.
The 20% of your cholesterol makeup that you can control by food can be pivotal to having a healthy body and wellbeing. Most nutritionists recommend avoiding saturated fats and trans fats from your diet.
Health Canada has banned artificial trans fat from all food items – from September 2018 and being finalized as of September 2020. This includes Canadian-made, imported, and foods prepared in all food service establishments. Artificial trans fat is created when hydrogen is added to cooking oil – making it solid. These foods can be vegetable shortening, margarine or baked goods like biscuits, frozen pizza, microwave popcorn and fried fast foods.
Certain animal products can have a small amount of naturally occurring trans fat. This includes some beef, goat, lamb, dairy and oil products.
Avoid artificial trans fat in hard margarine, vegetable shortening and commercial baked goods like donuts and cookies. Always check the label!
There is still no final word on saturated fats – so it is only a caution for now. According to Canada Health, saturated fats are not good for your health and that nearly half of Canadians consume too much. Saturated fats are found in dairy, animal-based foods and oils.
Butter, cheese, whole milk, beef, chicken, lamb, pork, veal, palm oil, coconut oil, lard and shortening are some of the few.
Your blood pressure can be raised by having too much salt in your diet. High blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart and kidney disease. Always check the label, it is often hiding. It is recommended to keep it under 2,300 to 2, 400 milligrams a day.
Weight gain, heart disease, and diabetes - all linked to your sugar intake. Limit your sugar as much as possible. It may be hiding on a label so check for other sugars like corn sweetener or syrup, dextrose, fructose, fruit juice concentrate, high fructose corn syrup, lactose, maltose, and sucrose.
If you have a family history of heart disease or stroke you may need to be more aggressive when treating high LDL levels. Also included in a higher risk category are smokers, people with low HDL levels, men over 45, women over 55 and people with diabetes.
Exercise, maintain a healthy weight and eat a balanced diet. The Canadian food guide is a great place to learn more about keeping a healthy diet.
Have your cholesterol levels checked once every 5 years over the age of 20 through a screening test called lipid profile. Health experts recommend that women over 45 and men over 35 are screened even more frequently due to increased cholesterol issues.
Triglycerides are substances also measured, not a type of cholesterol but a fat that also circulates in your bloodstream.
Before anything, your LDL levels should be maintained through a healthy lifestyle. If you cannot keep your levels at a healthy range, you will need to consult a doctor and possibly go on medication. Your doctor will choose the best medication for you. These medications might have side effects like cramping, diarrhea, stomach pain and joint pain.
The most common form of cholesterol medication and block the production of LDL cholesterol in your liver.
This medication will prevent your body from absorbing cholesterol from any foods that you consume.
These medications will most likely lower your LDL cholesterol levels or break them down.
Always remember that in order to stay healthy, you must stay informed. Keep on top of your cholesterol levels and keep fit!
]]>According to Canada Health Services, the average adult woman needs 25 grams of fiber per day while an average adult man needs 38. Most Canadians only receive half of their recommended fiber amount.
What is fiber anyways? Well, fiber is a non-digestible carbohydrate found in plant-based foods. Foods such as fruit, legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and whole grains.
More information on fiber can be found here.
Fiber is an important part of a healthy diet. Having the recommended amount of fiber plays a vital part in bowel regularity, lowering blood cholesterol levels, and making you feel full longer.
If you cannot reach the recommended daily amount of fiber through food alone, adding a naturally sourced fiber supplement to your diet is recommended by most doctors and dieticians. A trusted fiber source? Fenfiber is a naturally sourced water-soluble fiber taking easily in capsule form. Fenfiber is a great option for reaching your daily recommended amount of fiber.
]]>• Soluble Fiber
• Insoluble Fiber
Based on your diet and needs you could require different amounts of each fiber.
Soluble fiber when mixed with water creates a gel-like substance and swells. Soluble fiber has many benefits including moderating blood glucose levels, lowering cholesterol and helping to create a feeling of fullness.
Insoluble fibers do not absorb or dissolve in water. Instead, it passes through our digestive system in close to its original form. Insoluble fiber offers many benefits to the digestive system such as reducing the risk of hemorrhoids and constipation.
Since dietary fiber is found only in plant products, the average American falls significantly short of the recommended amount of fiber, consuming on average only 12-17 grams a day. Ways to increase your dietary fiber in your diet include:
• Choosing whole fruits and vegetables (with peels when possible)
• Choosing whole grain when possible
• Replacing meat with beans or legumes
Try experimenting with the above items. Try to slowly modify your diet in order for your body to become accustomed to a diet that is high in fiber to help avoid any gas or bloating.
If you find it difficult to reach your required fiber levels consider using a fiber supplement to help aid in this. Adding a naturally sourced fiber supplement to your diet is recommended by most doctors and dieticians.
Additionally, if you have high blood glucose or cholesterol levels consider a fiber source that is high in soluble fiber. FenFiber is a fiber derived from the fenugreek seed and it contains close to 80% soluble fiber. It is also locally sourced from sustainable Canadian farms.