MSM-24 Monograph N°05: Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV): Nature’s Antacid & High-Energy Elixir
Basic Hunter Physiology: True to our 2 million-year genetic heritage as Hunters and huntresses, we should be able to easily digest tough animal protein (meat) as part of the 'hunt of life'. After all, that was and still is , the whole point of the hunt: to acquire high-energy food. Logically, therefore, a healthy human stomach is uniquely well-suited to act as a real cauldron by secreting one of the most powerful acids: hydrochloric acid (HCl) to effectively ‘cut' through the tough protein bonds in meat like a hot knife through butter. So far so good.
Excess or Insufficient Acid? As a gastroenterologist, I often queried why "excess acid" became an issue after millions of years. What happened this past 50 years to make nearly 40 % of Americans take antacids to neutralize the "excess acid". Did our genetic code change overnight? Couldn't be.
My experience with patients with this "excess acid" seemed to invariably devolve to the point where the patient would be miserably dependent on the prescription drugs " ..... absolute agony without the meds, Doc". How could this possibly be so? Didn't make sense, at all. Illogical.
The ironic truth about most ‘acid reflux’ that finally dawned on me after years of frustration in prescribing proton pump inhibitors and H2 antagonists is that, contrary to popular thinking (due to excessive acid), reflux is a actually a situation of insufficient acid, of not having enough acid. This helps to explain why, even on powerful antacids (with loads of side effects) cannot fix the problem, only make it worse.
The Reasons
1) A Harvard physiology paper written a century ago experimentally showed that the pyloric sphincter (lower stomach valve that empties the stomach into the intestines) will only open when the pH gets low enough. Did you get that sophisticated intestinal messaging? Stomach-to-intestine: "Can I empty my contents now? Open up the pyloric valve!" Intestine-to-Stomach: "Not yet. Needs more acid. Not acidic enough!'
2) Moreover, acid reflux and indigestion happen whenever the stomach acid is weak, such as when antacids are taken. Why? Because, the stomach must churn violently to make better use of its limited acid-availability (to start digestion), which in-turn increases stomach pressure, causing reflux of the existing acid up the esophagus (path of least resistance), which burns like hell. Heartburn is the euphemism.
The Solution to GERD
GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disorder, or just “reflux"): the key to GERD is lifestyle, especially lowering body fat & abdominal girth (put pressure on the stomach to eject the acid upwards), coffee, sugar & alcohol ingestion, sleeping positions and timings. Antacids only worsen the condition. This happens because the human stomach exposed to antacids produces more acids than usual. The hunter will have the acid needed to breakdown meat.
Sidestep Depression through Lifestyle
There is a risk of side-effects for “millions who take unnecessary stomach drugs”. It said that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), used for treating symptoms of ulcers and heartburn (dyspepsia) by reducing stomach acid, are wrongly prescribed in up to two-thirds of cases. The potential side-effects, over-prescription, and problems associated with these drugs.
Since the drugs are so common, people may be unaware of their potential depressive effects, said a 12/2018 report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Researchers found that more than 200 commonly used prescription drugs have depression or suicidal symptoms listed as potential side effects. For drugs with depression as a possible side effect, use increased from 35 percent in 2005 to 38 percent in the 2013 to 2014 period. Use of antacids with potential depression adverse effects, like proton pump inhibitors and H2 antagonists, increased from five percent to 10 percent in the same period,
ACV Protocol (theory): apple cider vinegar is not a base, it is an acid, a very unique acid. It seems counter-intuitive, but adding acid to the GERD stomach works perfectly and here's the reason why. Remember the basics: the pyloric sphincter (lower stomach valve that empties the stomach into the intestines) will only open when the pH gets low enough.
The reason ACV works as a remedy for heartburn is because it closes the pH-sensitive the lower esophageal sphincter (LES: the sphincter or valve between the esophagus and the stomach), thus, preventing reflux, even in cases of hiatal hernia), while it opens the pyloric valve that empties the stomach.
Take-away lesson: Unless and until the pH reaches a low enough level (remember LOW pH = HIGH acidity) does the stomach contents empty efficiently, without refluxing northward.
ACV Protocol (practice):
1. During the Day: No sugar. Mix a soup-spoonful of ACV and a dash of organic honey, in a half-liter glass of cool sparkling water,
2. Three (3) times a day, 30 minutes BEFORE eating meals. Sip slowly.
3. Before sleep: add 1 Tablespoon of ACV to a half-liter of warm still water and drink slowly before going to bed, to have less acid-reflux suffering and better sleep. ACV = better sleep.
4. No food 90 minutes before sleep. Nothing.
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Fellow Hunter & Huntress with temporary reflux: Rest assured, what is presented weekly in the MSM-24 will slowly address all these issues.
Patience is key to implementing this protocol to turn the human stomach back into its natural cauldron state.
Now your hunt for understanding is complete.