Because there are multiple causes for GERD, there are also a few different treatments. Commonly, GERD can be caused by food sensitivities. The acid in the stomach is necessary to kill bacteria and denature proteins to protect the body from pathogens and efficiently absorb nutrients. When there is too much stomach acid, the body is reacting to the foods being eaten and one may experience heartburn. Food sensitivity testing is important to identify those offensive foods. These foods can be eliminated from the diet for four weeks and then reintroduced, one at a time, to identify those foods responsible for heartburn and other symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

With age we start to make less hydrochloric acid, and the food eaten can remain undigested in the stomach for too long. That increased pressure against the sphincter that connects the lower esophageal sphincter to the stomach stretches out and the small amount of stomach acid you are making comes up through the esophagus and causes heartburn irritation. For those patients, taking hydrochloric acid can completely resolve their heartburn and GERD symptoms. The medications used to treat GERD, such as omeprazole and related drugs, can cause severe anemia, other nutrient deficiencies, and bone density problems. The effects of these medications has only been studied with up to six months of use. Therefore, for those GERD patients who have been on these medications for prolonged periods, it is crucial to do thorough blood testing to determine if nutrient deficiencies exist or if bone density has been affected.