I got a good question yesterday from a reader (Kirk) about
stomach ulcers, but it really can apply to just about any
digestive illness.
Here's what Kirk asks:
*******************
Hello,
My question is at 48 years old, 6'4 and at 280 pounds, I
think I may have a stomach ulcer. Reading some of the info
about it, what is best for one to do?
I am not looking forward to taking medication that will do
more harm then good. If going to a doctor means being told
that I do have an ulcer and being given medication for it,
I don't want to do that.
So what can I do to first to find out if I do really have
a stomach ulcer? Any advice will be helpful.
Thank you for your time and help.
Kirk W.
*******************
SB: Kirk, you didn't mention what symptoms you were
having, but if you suspect a stomach ulcer, I would think
you're probably getting pain and burning in your stomach
and throat.
And no offense, but if you're 6'4" and weigh 280 pounds,
unless you're a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers,
either something is seriously wrong with how you're eating,
you aren't very physically active or both.
I'll talk more about that in a moment, but first back to
your questions.
If you're having symptoms that concern you, it's wise to
go to a doctor so you know exactly what you're dealing with
and to rule out anything very serious.
If your doctor suspects an ulcer he/she will likely do
either a GI series (they have you drink a barium solution
and then take x-rays) or an endoscopy (a thin tube with a
lighted camera is passed into your stomach and pictures are
taken).
After all that, if the doctor says you do have ulcers,
does that mean you have to accept his/her "sentence" of a
lifetime of drugs and bland foods?
Absolutely not!
Doctors prescribe drugs and recommend bland foods because
they are not trained in nutrition and have no earthly idea
how the foods we eat affect our state of health. Sadly,
that is the truth.
And the focus of their training is one thing and one thing
alone--"treating" illness with drugs and surgery. They
have no other answers. Asking a doctor how to heal an
ulcer without drugs is like asking a cat to bark.
That's where I come in.
I've studied the role of food on health for 20 years. And
I can say that hands down, the most effective way to get
relief from ulcers, no matter what the cause, is to reduce
the level of acid in your digestive system. That is
because acid IS the cause of ulcers.
How is that done? In two simple ways:
1) Eat mainly alkaline foods (at least 50%, but
preferably 70-80% alkaline foods)
It spells out what foods are alkaline, so there's no
guessing.
It explains the science behind good food combinations and
why eating this way is SO effective at reducing acid (and
therefore eliminating ulcer symptoms as well as allowing
your body to heal them).
And the recipe book is loaded with such mouth-watering,
easy, scrumptious dishes that you'll feel like royalty.
Now, back to your build: Another great benefit of eating
how I teach in Great Taste No Pain is that you take off
excess poundage.
When you eat in a way that allows your stomach to
effectively digest your food and reduce acid, your body
starts to cleanse itself of built-up wastes in your colon
(which makes you lighter).
And because you don't have excess acid destroying the
nutrients in your food anymore, your body is nourished
better and you feel hungry less often. (The hunger signal
is triggered by a need for nutrients--not by an empty
stomach. Eating less = less of you to love.
So, Kirk, not only will you feel MUCH better in the
stomach, but you'll see that 280 number come down, down,
down to where it should be.
And so will the rest of you. I'm sure Kirk is in a very
crowded boat here and his story sounded familiar to many of
you (or someone you love).
PS: Suzanne thought her stomach was deformed and was
destined to a life of pain:
*******************
Sherry:
I am sooo glad I found your program.
I have had stomach problems all my life and have tried
everything to figure out why. I was making journals of
what I would eat and how I would feel afterwards but that
didn't really help much.
I was addicted to laxatives because that was the only
thing that would ease the pain, but it only helped for a
day or so then the pain was back.
I was starting to go crazy because it seemed that
everything I ate hurt my stomach and I was tired and cranky
a lot! It affected every aspect of my life and I would get
very depressed.
I went to the Doctor and all they said was to eat more
fiber and drink tons of water and take these pills that
cost so much I couldn't afford them.
I thought that my stomach was deformed and that I just had
to live the rest of my life with stomach pain, until I came
across your program.
I have been pain free for two weeks now and to me that is
a miracle. Thank you!
