It would be great to think that we could get rid of drugs and a healthy diet would cure everything. Unfortunately that can be very bad advice.   If you have had acid reflux in the past, it can have caused cellular changes to the esophagus which are irreversible - no matter how good your diet is now and how well you are looking after your body.   90% of those with Barrett's Esophagus do not know they have it. They may not feel any symptoms as Barrett's is asymptomatic and the changed cells are desensitised meaning reflux may still be present and they may not know. This can lead to cancer - less than 1% per year.   PPI drugs do have side effects but they are probably better than cancer.