Expert Columns

Food is an obvious part of the puzzle when addressing reflux, but it isn’t so obvious which foods need to be added to the diet or why certain foods act as triggers. Throughout this series, we have discussed the root causes of GERD and mentioned specific foods that could be triggers, depending on the root cause. In ... Read More

The breaking point came one day when Lauren Wilson was arguing with her husband. His drinking had intensified, and one day they were bickering and fighting. “And I just noticed that he was kind of looking right through me,” Lauren told show host Ivona Bhahda, in Episode 11 of the First Responder Families ... Read More

Episode 10 of The First Responder Families Podcast, with host Ivona Bhahda, Director of Family Services at FHE Health, answered this question: How do you stress less and celebrate more over the holidays? For highlights from the podcast, including some practical tips for managing holiday stress, read on. The Most ... Read More

In Part 6 of this series, you will notice a similar prevailing theme: Once again, too much stomach acid has nothing to do with the underlying cause of reflux. Sometimes acid goes into the esophagus, but it isn’t because there is too much acid. The real root cause is relaxing the guard gate between the stomach and the ... Read More

In Part 5 of our reflux series, we’re exploring a surprising cause of acid reflux that often goes overlooked: low stomach acid. While reflux is usually blamed on too much acid, some people actually have too little. Without enough acid, food isn't properly broken down, which can lead to fermentation, gas, delayed ... Read More

When reflux, gastritis, or ulcers flare up, many people are told that acid suppression is the only solution. While Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) can provide rapid and effective symptom relief, particularly during acute phases or active tissue healing, they are not typically recommended for long-term use due to ... Read More

If you’ve been treating your reflux with acid-reducing medications and still aren’t getting relief, you’re not alone — and you’re not imagining things. For many people, especially those who have had their gallbladder removed or are dealing with sluggish bile flow, the problem isn’t just stomach acid. It could be bile ... Read More

If you've been treating your acid reflux like it’s simply a problem of "too much acid," you're not alone. But in many cases, it’s not actually about how much acid you have. It’s about how well your digestive system is moving. In this post, we’re diving into the often-overlooked world of gut motility, the rhythmic ... Read More