Today you’re going to learn how a patient resolved her acid reflux through an anti-inflammatory diet—and in the process dropped 20 lbs of excess weight and balanced her hypothyroid condition.
My name is Dr. Tom Rofrano from the Natural Medicine Clinic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and author of the FreeDiet®. I’ve been blessed to have seen over 100,000 patient visits over the last 39 years, many involving thyroid issues—and this patient was one of them.
Patient Background: Acid Reflux, Fatigue & Hypothyroidism
A 24-year-old woman came in with:
- Acid reflux
- Heartburn
- Gas and bloating
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Low thyroid function
She had been gaining weight and couldn’t lose it—even after improving her diet and exercise. She felt inflamed throughout her body, and her legs felt swollen.
Her doctor prescribed pantoprazole, an acid-blocking drug, but it didn’t help. Improving her diet and exercise didn’t help either—and she still wasn’t losing weight.
So I ran lab testing to determine her root causes.
Root Causes Identified Through Functional Testing
- Food Reactions
She had:
- Gluten sensitivity
- Celiac genetics
- Leaky gut
Gluten is a common cause of:
- Reflux
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Gas
- Bloating
- Constipation
She had all of these symptoms.
- Infections
Her stool test revealed:
- Yeast overgrowth
- Bacterial overgrowth
These are common causes of digestive symptoms and chronic gut issues.
- Deficiencies
She had low levels of:
- Vitamin K2
- Folate
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Selenium
- Other nutrients
Chronic gut issues often lead to nutrient deficiencies.
- Hormonal Imbalance
She had:
- Adrenal dysfunction
- High TSH (hypothyroidism)
- Inflammation & Metabolic Markers
She had:
- High CRP (inflammation)
- High cholesterol
- High LDL
- High triglycerides
- Above-optimal insulin
Her Results After One Month
After putting her on an anti-inflammatory diet and the proper supplements, she returned one month later feeling dramatically better:
- No more acid reflux
- No more heartburn
- No more gas or bloating
- No more indigestion
- No more inflammation
Her labs showed major improvements:
- CRP normalized
- Cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides normalized
- Insulin dropped over 50% to more optimal levels
Her Results After Three Months
At her three-month follow-up:
- Her TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) was normal
- She had dropped 20 lbs, reaching her goal weight
- She was able to wake up early and exercise for the first time
- Her energy was significantly better
- Her reflux and gut symptoms remained resolved
- Her complexion improved and acne cleared
How She Did It: The FreeDiet®
The anti-inflammatory diet I put her on is called the FreeDiet®, which I developed years ago while healing my own Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroid condition, rheumatoid arthritis, IBS, fatigue, skin issues, and other chronic health problems.
What the FreeDiet® Removes
It’s free of:
- Gluten
- Grains
- Sugar
- Yeast
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Soy
- Legumes
- Nightshades
- Processed foods
These are the foods most commonly responsible for inflammation, gut issues, thyroid dysfunction, and chronic health problems.
I’ll include a link below to the FreeDiet® Phase 1 food chart, which we’d be happy to send you along with other resources.
How the FreeDiet® Works
It includes an elimination component:
- Phase 1 removes the most inflammatory foods
- In Phase 2, you add foods back one at a time to identify triggers
For example, if reflux clears up in Phase 1 but returns when you reintroduce coffee in Phase 2, you’ve identified a trigger food.
Supplements That Supported Her Recovery
She took the Functional Five™, the foundational nutrients I find most people need:
- Multivitamin
- Vitamin D with K
- Magnesium
- Fish oil
- Probiotic
Additional gut-support supplements included:
For inflammation and metabolic support:
For thyroid and adrenal support:
- Adrenal support supplement
- Thyroid support supplement
For deficiencies:
General Tips for Acid Reflux Relief
- Probiotic
- Gastric enzyme (a stomach enzyme)
- Finish your last meal 3 hours before bedtime
- Take a short walk after dinner
The Bottom Line: You Can Heal Acid Reflux Naturally
With the right testing, the right diet, and the right supplements, she was able to:
- Resolve acid reflux
- Heal her gut
- Normalize thyroid function
- Reduce inflammation
- Lose 20 lbs
- Restore her energy
If you have persistent reflux or other chronic digestive issues, identifying your root causes and being provided the right solutions can help almost anyone improve.
Go here if you would like a free copy of the FreeDiet® phase 1 food chart.
