If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know I’ve been on the AIP Diet for almost 30 days, and I absolutely plan to continue. My journey is not done yet. I have seen so much improvement, but there are still some issues that have not been resolved, one of them being my GERD.

Back Story:
I have been on Protonix for over three years now with minimal success. I can get through the day, but barely. The other day, one of my friends sent me an Instagram message, and as you do, I started watching memes and funny videos. Then, I came across one that asked, “Do you have low acid?”

In my mind, I was saying, “Definitely NOT,” but then I watched and realized I had almost every symptom listed. I was shocked. I also had most of the SIBO symptoms (common with Celiac) and H. Pylori symptoms. I was quite angry. I’ve had countless expensive tests done trying to resolve this issue, but I’ve never had a simple breath test. Anyway, I’ll save my indignation for another day.

Then I came across a video that showed how to do an at-home test for low acid. It’s not 100% guaranteed but is a good indicator. It’s very simple: mix baking soda and water, drink it, and time how long it takes to burp.

• If you burp within 30 seconds: high acid
• Between 2–5 minutes: normal
• Longer than that: low acid

You’re supposed to do it a couple of days in a row for the best results.

Small caveat: You have to do it first thing in the morning before eating for accuracy. Of course, I had to try it. I want my life back. And guess what? I never burped—not the first, second, or third time.

So, even though I’m not 100% positive, it feels right. This month, I’m going to implement some new things and continue doing some old ones. Let’s see if I make progress in healing my digestive system.

Things I’m Not Changing

• Eating clean: I’ll continue with the AIP diet. I want to stay consistent with my food so I know any changes are due to the new protocols, not a sudden diet switch.
• Licorice root hot tea: I love it, it makes me feel better, and it’s actually recommended.
• My peach smoothie: I’ll keep drinking my smoothie with aloe, collagen, Vitamin D, bananas, peaches, honey, and coconut milk. These ingredients are okay for low acid, and some are even recommended to help heal. I trust my body, and it seems I’ve already been doing half of the things they recommend.
• Vitamin D and B12: I’ll continue these because I’m deficient in both. B12 is highly recommended for all three conditions (low acid, SIBO, and H. Pylori). Vitamin D is also recommended, and honestly, who doesn’t need more of the sunshine vitamin these days?
• Protonix: My doctor adjusted my dose to 20 mg twice a day instead of 40 mg once a day to help me lower it, unless my symptoms worsen. She did the same with my Zofran.
• Melatonin: I love the better sleep it provides, and it also helps heal the digestive tract.
• Licorice Root, Marshmallow Root, and Slippery Elm supplements: These make my days easier and are highly recommended for gut healing.

Things I Will Be Adding

• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Mastic Gum
• HCL with Pepsin
• Zinc
• Probiotics
• B Complex
• Manuka Honey
• Digestive Enzymes (I take these now, just not consistently)
• Ginger Tea
• 54 ounces of water (half my body weight; I sip water all day but don’t track it)
• Magnesium (another supplement I take inconsistently)
• Oregano
• Garlic
• Broccoli Sprouts
• Oil pulling (I’ve done this before but not recently)

My Plan:

I obviously can’t add all these things at once, but I’ll introduce them slowly to see what works and what doesn’t. The best part is that everything is natural and allowed on AIP.

• Adding more garlic, oregano, and broccoli sprouts is no big deal.
• Water, ginger tea, and Manuka honey feel manageable.
• Magnesium, ACV, digestive enzymes, and zinc are things I’ve used before without issues.

Things I’m Nervous About:

1. HCL with Pepsin: There’s a 50% chance this will help. However, if my acid is actually high, it might make things worse. I’m nervous but willing to try.
2. B Complex: I used to take a multivitamin I loved, but I stopped when I went on AIP. It’s hard to find vitamins that agree with me, so I’m a little worried.
3. Probiotic: Honestly, I don’t want to take this. The last time I tried one, I was miserable for three days. I’ll look for a very gentle option.
4. Mastic Gum: Confession: I’ve had this sitting on my bedside table for days. I tried the gum, but it’s intense—I can only chew it for 5 minutes. I also bought capsules in case the gum doesn’t work out. This seems so promising, but I’m scared because my body is very sensitive. Still, it’s tree resin and natural, so I’ll try the oral supplement.

Worst-Case Scenario:

If nothing helps or if things get worse, I’ll stop. But this is a journey, and I want to take it with you all. I don’t want to let you down, so I’ll stay consistent with my regimen. You keep me accountable.

I’ll begin the experiment in just a few days, once I hit 30 days on my AIP diet.

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