In my late thirties I began to have problems with heartburn. Within a year or two, their severity and frequency increased to a daily problem. My family doctor referred me to a specialist and after some medical tests it was determined that my stomach acidity was too high. The doctor gave me a list of drinks and food – even some fruits, including anything I liked! – to avoid. That improved the problem, and I had heartburn less often. Next time I saw my family doctor he prescribed a new medication to take: a pill half an hour before each meal. The prescription was effective but caused repeated stomach aches.  About that time I read an article that inspired the following thoughts.

I knew that the stomach acid is hydrochloric acid (HCl). Hydrogen exists in all the foods and drinks but chlorine chemical compounds are all poisonous, except for salt (NaCl). Therefore my stomach has to use salt to make its acid. I also knew that baking soda (NaHCO) was a very effective medication to neutralize stomach acid (heartburn) that was used for long time. Taking baking soda for heartburn was stopped since it was known that although it neutralizes stomach acid effectively but the problem returns. Therefore instead of baking soda calcium carbonate (CaCO) was given for heartburn.  Using calcium carbonate, although less effective than baking soda, does not have the problem of returning heartburn. The difference between the two is that when baking soda neutralizes stomach acid the product of chemical reaction is salt itself. I thought that by reducing my salt consumption my heartburn might go away. I told all the above to a doctor friend of mine and asked his advice. He is an occupational medical specialist. My friend said human body liquids contain salt same level as sea water and you cannot stop production of stomach acid. He added that people consume too much salt and physicians always recommend less salt consumption. His advice was that there was no risk in consuming less salt. I remember from my high school chemistry that some chemicals, particularly chlorine compounds reactions does not take place or would be limited when the density of solution is low. I reduced my salt consumption and in a couple of weeks my heartburn disappeared without any medication. I do not remember having heartburn for over 40 years!! If you suffer from heartburn consult this with your doctor. I hope that a medical organization performs a scientific research on this.

Another experience: One day while I was having a meal alone at home, I choked on a piece of food.  I immediately did the following, as I had thought ahead of time for such a case: I made my body upside-down by hanging down on the chair I was sitting, with my upper legs on the chair.  I breathed in slowly as much as I could, then I coughed as hard as I could.  The piece that I was choking on shot from my air pipe like a bullet.  It hit the roof of my mouth so hard that it was cut and started bleeding.  I didn’t mind bleeding, I was only so happy to see the bloody piece of radish on the floor.  I washed it and ate it! Consult this with your doctor, see if he agrees.