Anyone can suffer from acid reflux at some point in their lives. This condition affects about 33% of Americans. As well known as it is, it’s odd to see that many people don’t know about treatment methods. Use the tips below to fight acid reflux effectively.
Eat your last meal three hours ahead of bedtime. If you are sitting after a meal, gravity keeps acid down. Laying down can cause both to rise again. You need those few hours before deciding to hit the sack.
You should drink when your meal concludes and not while in the process of eating. This can significantly help you manage hunger pains, because you are likely thirsty rather than hungry. Acid will stay out of your esophagus more often if you do most of your beverage drinking outside of your meal time frames.
You will not have to worry about GRED as much if you can reach a healthy weight. The sphincter at the bottom of the esophagus becomes relaxed when the weight of extra fat presses down on your stomach. Not only will you feel healthier as you lose weight, you will be less likely to suffer from acid reflux symptoms.
Fatty Foods
Try to limit the fatty foods that you eat during the day. Fatty foods encourage acids to flow in the wrong direction. Also, they cause weight gain; thus, the reason people who are overweight suffer from acid reflux. Live a healthy lifestyle and eat right!
Pregnant women are also subject to acid reflux as well. Growing babies crowd a pregnant woman’s stomach, which makes acid reside in the esophagus. A diet consisting of healthy low-fat, low-acid foods is perfect for controlling acid reflux. If this isn’t helping, you can drink some teas that are safe for the baby and that can neutralize stomach acid.
Stress serves to exacerbate acid reflux. When your stress level is too high, the stomach produces more acid than normal. Relax after you eat. You can watch some television, read a good book or do anything relaxing.
You should avoid drinking alcohol if you suffer from acid reflux. Alcohol is one cause of acid building up in the stomach, and it can also eat away at the stomach’s lining. Refrain from drinking with friends, especially if you have suffered from reflux when drinking in the past.
Esophageal Sphincter
If acid reflux is something that bothers you, try doing most of your drinking between meals. If you drink too much at meals, your stomach will become too full. This can cause excessive pressure on the esophageal sphincter. When you esophageal sphincter is compressed, your food and stomach acid can go into your esophagus.
Being pregnant can cause acid reflux, due to the weight of your baby. Your doctor can advise you on treatments available to keep it at bay.
The pH levels in food are not relative to the alkaline levels it contains. For example, you may think lemons are acidic; however, they are alkaline once digested. If you have acid reflux, this can be extremely confusing. Learn all you can about the different pH of foods.
Steer clear of your most potent trigger foods for reflux. Here are some common acid reflux triggers: carbonated beverages, onions, garlic and other spices, citrus fruits, mint and mint flavoring, caffeine, alcohol, fried and fatty foods. There are different triggers for each person, so find yours and avoid them.
You need to relax. Overeating or eating during stressful periods can lead to production of stomach acid, which then leads to heartburn. When you are finished with your meal, do some relaxation exercises, like meditation or deep breathing. Try to stand upright, to prevent acid from coming back up.
Acid reflux affects millions of people. If you suffer from this problem, learn how to fight back. Everything you’ve learned here should serve you well.
