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GERD & Acid Reflux: Why Antacids Make It Worse and What Actually Works

Dr. Nicole Rivera·January 20, 2026·7 min read

The short answer

GERD & Acid Reflux: Why Antacids Make It Worse and What Actually Works

Most acid reflux is caused by too LITTLE stomach acid, not too much. Here's why antacids are making your GERD worse and what to do instead.

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The Acid Reflux Paradox

Most GERD is caused by too little stomach acid, not too much. Low acid means food sits longer, ferments, creates gas, and pushes the sphincter open.

Root Causes of GERD

  • Hypochlorhydria — chronic stress, aging, H. pylori, zinc deficiency
  • H. pylori Infection — suppresses acid while causing inflammation
  • SIBO — fermentation increases abdominal pressure
  • Food Sensitivities — gluten, dairy, and other triggers
  • Hiatal Hernia — structural sphincter compromise

Our GERD Resolution Protocol

  1. H. pylori and SIBO testing
  2. Stomach acid assessment — too much or too little?
  3. Digestive enzyme and HCl support (when appropriate)
  4. Food sensitivity identification
  5. Gut healing — repair esophageal and stomach lining. See our leaky gut healing protocol
  6. Stress management — vagus nerve controls acid production
  7. Gradual PPI tapering (if applicable, under supervision)

Also read: IBS root cause treatment | Gut-brain connection

Heal your reflux at the root →

GERD
acid reflux
heartburn
gut health
digestive health
Dr. Nicole Rivera

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Nicole Rivera

Last updated January 20, 2026

Dr. Nicole Rivera is the co-founder of Integrative You and host of the Integrative You podcast. She has spent 15+ years in root-cause clinical practice, working with hormonal collapse, Lyme, mold, gut and autoimmune patterns.

  • Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)
  • IFMC certified
  • Training with IFM, Klinghardt, Kresser and Shoemaker
  • Member of the clinical medical board for Applied Functional Medicine
  • Clinical focus: epigenetic and DNA precision medicine
  • Clinical focus: hormonal health and women's medicine

Topics she covers

Mold illness & CIRSLyme diseaseHeavy metalsAnxiety & the nervous systemGut healthHormones & thyroidAutoimmune & skin

Sources

  • Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and irritable bowel syndrome — Frontiers in Psychiatry
  • Leaky Gut Syndrome: myths and management — Mayo Clinic Proceedings
Full bio and credentials Hear her on the podcast

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