| Hiatus hernia is a problem where the stomach pushes, or herniates, upward through an opening in the diaphragm into the thorax. Normally the result of a congenital abnormality or trauma, this condition
is associated with gastro-esophageal reflux, in which the muscle that encircles the juncture of the stomach and the esophagus fails to keep food and acid from coming back up from the stomach into the esophagus as it should. If that happens, the tissues in the esophagus become irritated, causing heartburn and may even cause the coughing up of bloody mucus. The common symptoms of hiatus hernia include: belching, burping,
and heartburn. If stomach acid comes up into the throat, it can cause a burning type sensation and pain behind the
breastbone area. It is estimated over 50% of people that over 40 years of age have
hiatus hernias.
Many of these people do not know they even have this problem. Smaller hernias do not
normally cause any real problems. It is the larger hernias that are most often responsible for reflux problems. Ulcers
will often occur with a hiatus hernia. The acid problems may cause ulceration in the esophagus. Ulcers can also occur in the duodenum (small intestine upper area) and the stomach. Stress maybe a
factor with hernias as it maybe with ulcers.
| Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
| Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
10 |
contains vitamin E, vitamin B ,
vitamin C, magnesium, manganese,
selenium, and zinc which are all helpful in
both the treatment and prevention of hernias. A good daily
supplement is also needed
for general good health and well being. |
| Zinc |
9 |
this mineral is needed for healing and repair of body tissue |
| Aloe Vera |
9 |
herb that promotes healing of the intestinal lining and is
also very helpful for stress and aids in sleep
problems. Often found in an herbal blend Kava kava and Chamomile. |
| vitamin A |
8 |
help in prevention of too much acid and helps the immune
system |
| B vitamins |
8 |
all B vitamins are needed for health and good functioning of
the liver and nervous system. They are known as anti-stress
vitamins. |
| vitamin E |
8 |
strong anti-oxidant that also helps with healing
in the body |
| Essential
Fatty acids |
8 |
combats inflammation of the liver and helps to lower serum
fat levels, fish oil, flax seed and borage seed are good
sources. |
| Calcium |
7 |
calcium is lost when stress occurs,
thus a
good supplement with calcium,
herbs, and magnesium may be helpful with hernia. |
| Magnesium |
7 |
this mineral works with calcium to
relieve stress related problems |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|
