If you think about how many prescription and over-the-counter heartburn medicines there are, you'd guess that everybody in American suffering from heartburn.

It is true. A Gallup Organization national survey discovered more than 60 million Americans experience heartburn symptoms every day. But, there is good news orange peel extract can work to relieve heartburn pain safely and effectively and without side effects. Many people tell about its great success in their lives.

What is heartburn?

Heartburn is the pain caused by the splashing up of fluids from the stomach into the esophagus. The stomach has a special lining to protect itself from the hydrochloric acid, the esophagus does not. At the bottom of the esophagus there is a circular muscle called lower esophageal sphincter (LES). When the LES opens to soon stomach acid travels from the stomach into the esophagus, this is what causes the burning pain.

What is the difference between heartburn and ulcers?

Stomach ulcers are sores usually caused by a bacterial infection or overuse of aspirin in the stomach. A stomach ulcer and heartburn are in the same family. They have mostly the same symptoms and treatments, and could eventually be a serious problem if left untreated.

What's the difference between heartburn and GERD?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease's (GERD) symptom is continual heartburn throughout an entire week. GERD can be a very serious disease because the hydrochloric acid can wear away the esophagus lining and develop scar tissue. Scar tissue causes problems with trying to swallow. GERD also can help cause asthma, pneumonia, hoarseness, chronic cough, and the erosion of teeth. Recently, doctors have found that GERD can be the cause for cancer of the larynx and pharynx.

What causes heartburn?

There are many causes for heartburn. The esophagus has an important function to allow humans to swallow. When we swallow, small muscle fibers contract creating a movement called peristalsis. The slowing down of esophageal peristalsis happens with age and heartburn can develop.

Overeating can also cause heartburn, because the food has overfilled the stomach which allows acid to come up. The acids can also cause heartburn when bending over, lying down, or lifting heavy objects.

Foods can cause the discomfort of heartburn. Foods and beverages such as: chocolate, tomatoes, raw onions, citrus fruits, garlic vinegar, black pepper, citrus juices, caffeine, carbon, and alcohol. Smokers are also more prone to heartburn because it relaxes the LES which opens to let the acid out.

Who else is prone to developing heartburn?

There are three major types of people who are more apt to having heartburn. People who are overweight get heartburn because their fat adds pressure to the abdomen. Also pregnant women get heartburn because of their pressure on the abdomen from the baby. Doctors also say that a woman's changing hormones can cause the muscle valve to relax. An overwhelming 25% of women have heartburn during their pregnancy.

Heartburn is also known to show up in people with hiatal hernias because in this condition, the stomach slides above the diaphragm, a thin muscle that keeps the stomach away from the chest. Food and the acid are now able to flow back into the esophagus, which causes heartburn.

What side effects do many heartburn medications have?

No medications can cure heartburn, but they can relieve the pain for a period of time. Some medications are known to impede some vitamins and calcium absorption, as well as interfere with digestion and stomach secretions.

Heartburn medications work for some people most of the time, but for some they lack a consistent relief. This allows for many people to switch brands to find the one that will work the best for their body.

Antacids use substances to neutralize stomach acid, but now the hydrochloric acid can not do its vital functions, like digesting food, inhibiting bacterial growth, and absorbing vitamins and nutrients. Also, when the acid is neutralized, our body reacts by creating even more, which would cause even greater heartburn. This cycle is known as "acid rebound."

Antacids also have many side effects. Food poisoning is more apt to happening because bacteria can survive longer with the antacids.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) restrain the acid from creating. Actually, it practically shuts down the stomach's ability to produce acid.

The most common heartburn medications, such as Nexium, Prilosec, and Prevacid are actually supposed to be used short-time, but people are using them as a long-term medication. Using the orange peel extract is a safe alternative because it has no side effects.

How does orange peel extract work?

Orange peel extract is being researched and there are several possibilities as to how it stops heartburn. Some believe that it helps food move through the stomach, forbidding food to stay in the esophagus for a long period of time. This minimizes the chance for heartburn. It can also work as a surfactant, which reduces the surface tension of a liquid and would decrease the potential for the hydrochloric acid to splash.

How much orange peel extract should I take?

It is recommended that 1,000 mg be taken every other day, which was used in the scientific studies. Look for a product with 98.5% purity of d-limonene, found in the orange peel extract.

How does orange peel extract cure heartburn?

Almost 90% of the participants in the studies said that their heartburn was happening less after two weeks and about one-third said that they had a resolution of the heartburn after about two days. Even better, participants said that although they stopped take the orange peel extract, two weeks after they hadn't felt heartburn. On a scale of 1-10 (10= mild and 1= severe), the study participants had an average rating of 7.8 and two weeks after the end of taking the orange peel extract they stopped having any heartburn. Seldom, some people felt heartburn after eating the foods that they previously avoided, but a single orange peel extract pill solved the problem.

Is orange peel extract safe?

It is an all-natural product, which makes it safe for many people. You should always follow the directions on the bottle.

You shouldn't take it if you are pregnant or nursing or if you have an ulcer. Ulcers will create a burning irritating sensation. Children shouldn't be given the orange peel extract because it has not been tested on them yet. Orange peel extract has been used in cancer studies for many years, and scientists haven't found any adverse effects.

Does orange peel extract affect cancer?

Research has discovered that orange peel extract has prevented cancer activity by inhibiting the way cancer cells divide and grow. Some cancers that the orange peel extract has prevented are breast, skin, liver, lung, pancreatic, colon, and stomach cancers, in laboratory studies.

One study had 32 cancer patients take the orange peel extract, and no toxicity was observed. Blood analysis revealed that the orange peel extract was absorbed in to their bodies very well. More research is needed on orange peel extract and cancer.

Some important last notes

Frequent heartburn could mean a more serious condition and if this is you, you should consult a professional health physician.

Conclusion

Heartburn can be very serious. It happens to millions of Americans who spend billions of dollars on medications. Orange peel extract is an inexpensive and safe way to relieve heartburn pain. Orange Peel Extract can be found at any health food store.