If you’ve ever experienced acid reflux, then you know how painful it can be. Rather than continuing to suffer from your condition, take the time to learn valuable tips on how to relieve your symptoms so that you can live a better life. Continue reading for that great advice you seek to help you out.
Instead of drinking with your food, drink between meals. Many times your body tricks you into thinking you are hungry when you are actually thirsty. Acid will stay out of your esophagus more often if you do most of your beverage drinking outside of your meal time frames.
If you stay at a weight that is healthy you will be unlikely to suffer from GERD. Excess fat pushing on your stomach could cause the esophageal sphincter to relax. Not only will you feel healthier as you lose weight, you will be less likely to suffer from acid reflux symptoms.
Keep your head up by raising the top half of your mattress while you’re sleeping. If you do not have a wedge, place a block of wood or a few books under your mattress to raise your head. You can also get a bed that is raised electronically.
Acid Reflux
Acid reflux can be triggered with some foods. Caffeine based foods, chocolate, and even fried foods are common culprits. Acidic items like citrus fruit and tomatoes also exacerbate acid reflux. You will have to find out what makes your acid reflux bad in particular. Avoid all these if you want to be on the safe side.
You might realize that a very active lifestyle could be part of the problem. One way to help is to drink plenty of water. When you drink more water, your body is hydrated sufficiently. It may also help food digest better. You decrease and dilute your stomach acid by increasing your water intake.
Drop pounds. Extra weight, particularly if it’s parked on your midsection, can actually cause acid reflux to occur. The extra fat around your belly increases the pressure that is put on your stomach, making it far more likely to reflux. Losing a little bit of weight can significantly improve your acid reflux.
Try doing some simple exercises to alleviate your acid reflux. Moderation is key. High impact exercise can make it worse, but low impact exercise can make it much better. These types of exercises ensure you provide the gravity you need for digestion. Also, you can lose weight when you exercise, which will help diminish acid reflux.
It is common for pregnant women to experience acid reflux because their baby is pressing down on their stomach. Ask your doctor for ways to treat this. This is especially important for those near the end of pregnancy.
The acidity of the food you eat really doesn’t affect the pH level. Acidic foods like lemons have higher alkaline properties after they’ve been digested. If you have acid reflux, this makes it harder to know what is safe to eat. You must know more about pH when dealing with your acid reflux.
The last meal of each day should be consumed three hours prior to bedtime. Thus, if you plan to retire at 10:00, have your dinner by 7:00. Laying down puts pressure on your abdominal muscles and stomach, and it is best that your food is fully digested. This pushes acid up into your throat.
Gluten is a potent acid reflux trigger food for many folks. Barley, oats, and wheat are high in gluten and should be avoided by those who struggle with reflux. To satisfy your body’s need for grains, try millet and quinoa instead.
You may understand how frustrating it is to not eat comfort foods that contain acidic tomatoes, such as pizza or your favorite pasta sauce. Adding sugar to tomato sauces may help mitigate the negative affects. This may make your sauce sweet, but will help prevent acid reflux.
If you are with child and you have developed acid reflux, find out what is causing it. Something as silly or simple as drinking water after 7 in the evening could be the trigger. If you can find what is the common cause, you can help keep it at bay.
Spicy Foods
Limit your intake of spicy foods, particularly later in the day. Jalapenos, other peppers, chili and Mexican food are good examples of these. Spicy foods not only trigger acid reflux, they can also cause indigestion and dry skin, making you even more uncomfortable.
Avoid consuming a large meal immediately before turning in for the night. Do not eat anything for three hours prior to hitting the sack. Laying down could cause the acid that is breaking up your food to rise into your chest.
Do not smoke. Quitting smoking can help reduce the symptoms of acid reflux. Smoking hampers digestion and causes excessive stomach acid. Saliva production is decreased if you smoke, which further slows digestion. Begin your smoking cessation program by putting off smoking for a couple of hours after you eat.
You need to use these tips to eliminate your acid reflux for good. Don’t allow acid reflux to control your life. Take action now and get rid of acid reflux for good.