Do you get chest pain? Is the pain more severe after resting? Does it occur post-meal? Do you find your mouth filled with a bitter taste? Do you find that you are hoarse constantly? Affirmative answers to these questions point to acid reflux. Read on for great tips on how to get rid of it.
You should drink your beverages before or after your meals rather than during them. This can significantly help you manage hunger pains, because you are likely thirsty rather than hungry. Also, drinking outside of meal time will prevent your stomach from becoming too distended as you eat, stopping acid from leaking into your esophagus.
The more fat there is in the food, the worse it becomes for anyone suffering with acid reflux. Relaxing of the esophageal sphincter happens when you eat high-fat products. Fatty foods also cause weight gain, which increases your susceptibility to reflux. Eat healthy to remain healthy!
If you smoke, the time to quit is now. Smoking may actually be the root cause of your acid reflux. Smoking reduces the production of saliva and slows down digestion, causing stomach acids to increase. This can also have a negative effect on the esophagus. Therefore, stop smoking immediately to help your condition.
Acid Reflux
Acid reflux can also be caused by stress. Excessive stress often causes excessive stomach acid, which causes acid reflux. Follow each meal with a period of relaxation. This could be yoga or meditation or something even simpler, like reading a book or watching TV.
You can get acid reflux from a variety of foods. These foods include alcohol, caffeine, fried foods and chocolate. Other big contributors include acidic foods, including citrus fruits and tomatoes. Keep a log of what foods seem to cause your acid reflux. You may find some common problem foods are fine for you, while other foods that are not listed upset your stomach. Avoid all of this, and your chances of suffering from acid reflux decline tenfold.
It may not be wise to exercise immediately after eating. When you exercise, the abdominal muscles can push food that’s in the stomach up through the esophagus. This can result in acid reflux. Therefore, it is important to refrain from exercising for two hours after a meal.
Wearing Clothes
Avoid wearing clothes that are too tight. Belts, pantyhose or waistbands that are too tight can cause problems. This can cause a lot of pressure in the stomach area. Acid reflux signs and symptoms often result. Try wearing clothes that are comfortable and allow your stomach to breathe.
Try to eliminate stress caused by work, school or relationship issues. Acid forms in the stomach when you are under too much stress, causing both inflammation and heartburn. Find out what is causing your anxiety and eliminate it from your life immediately.
Try to eat slowly. Don’t gorge, take your time. Sit and take the time to chew and taste the meal. Eating quickly or eating too much can make acid reflux worse. Putting your silverware down between bites can really help you to eat slower.
Consume smaller meals more frequently throughout your day. If you tend to eat two or three larger meals daily, you may be boosting your chances of acid reflux flares. If your stomach is too full, it will exert pressure on the sphincter that separates the esophagus and the stomach. This will cause acid reflux. The stomach acid can then get into the esophagus and cause heartburn. Try eating smaller meals frequently during the day instead.
Shed pounds. Extra weight, particularly around the belly, boosts your chances of having problems with acid reflux. The fat around your stomach and esophagus puts pressure on them, causing them to malfunction and give you heartburn. The more you lose, the less you will suffer.
Slippery Elm
If you suffer from acid reflux, you might want to give slippery elm lozenges a try. These are derived from the bark of the slippery elm tree. They are natural and work to provide a soothing coating for your throat and internal organs. It helps to lessen the discomfort of a sore throat and reduces coughing when taken in the lozenge form. Health food stores generally carry this product.
Do you realize that a food’s pH level has no impact on its ability to form acid in your stomach? Acidic foods like lemons have higher alkaline properties after they’ve been digested. If you are afflicted with acid reflux, this might seem counter-intuitive to you. Learn about what foods do once digested.
What are your trigger foods? These may include caffeine, citrus, onions and fried foods. There are different triggers for each person, so find your trouble spots and stay away from them.
Be sure to stop eating three hours before bedtime. For instance, if you hit the sack at 11, you should be eating your last meal before 8. When lying down on a full stomach, more pressure is applied to the LES muscle. Consequently, the acid reflux will emerge.
You should not eat within the few hours before you hit the sack. This will give your stomach enough time to digest while you are awake. Heartburn is quite common when the stomach has not had time to properly digest a meal before sleep.
Slim down if you are overweight. Being overweight can worsen acid reflux symptoms. Excess weight can compress the stomach, resulting in acid reflux. You can get relief by losing a relatively small amount of weight.
It’s not a heart attack. Your nutritional choices might not be the only reason behind your acid reflux. However, acid reflux is bothering you, and you now know what to do about it. Go slow and take the necessary steps to make positive changes in your life so you can feel good again.