Acid reflux can cause a lot of suffering. Education is one of the keys to getting it under control. Learning as much as possible about the condition is the most effective way to find relief.
Pregnancy often causes acid reflux. As the belly gets crowded by the baby, the acid could be pushed into the esophagus. A diet consisting of healthy low-fat, low-acid foods is perfect for controlling acid reflux. Many women safely use teas during their pregnancies that soothe and heal the stomach and esophagus.
When you suffer from acid reflux, it is a smart idea to lay off the spicy foods. These products build acid in your digestive system, leading to pain. You can easily avoid acid reflux if you do not eat spicy foods.
Don’t exercise right after a meal. Food from your stomach will move into your esophagus if you work out low abdominal muscles. Wait at least one to two hours after a meal before exercising.
Elevate your head above the bed. Lift the head of your bed by placing risers, bricks or wooden blocks beneath the legs. The head of your bed should be elevated six to eight inches above the foot. You can prevent stomach acid from staying in your esophagus by elevating your chest and head.
To reduce the risk of acid reflux, lose those extra pounds. Obesity can put excess pressure on your stomach. Just losing a small amount of weight can help. Try to eat healthier rather than following a fad diet.
Acid Reflux
There are specific foods that are very likely to cause acid reflux for virtually anyone who suffers from this condition. You should avoid these types of foods to prevent bouts of acid reflux. Try to avoid coffee, milk, foods that are spicy or hot, tomatoes, beverages that are carbonated, alcohol, fatty fast food, and acidic fruit juices.
Try not to lay down after eating to avoid reflux. When you lay down, your digestive tract can sometimes have difficulty with the food you have consumed. Maintaining an upright position will help you reduce problems that come with acid reflux.
Try eating slowly. Rather than clearing your plate, eat slowly until you are just about satiated. Relax, sit upright at a table and chew your food thoroughly. The faster you eat, the worse you’ll feel when done. If you find this difficult, place your fork back on the table between bites.
Eat frequent, small meals. If you eat one to two larger meals daily, this may boost your chances of developing acid reflux. When your stomach is overly full, it applies excess pressure to your esophageal sphincter, forcing it open. When this occurs, acid from your stomach travels to the esophagus, creating heartburn. This is why eating small meals is better for you.
When you weigh too much, you must lose weight. If you carry a great deal of excess weight in your middle, you are more prone to suffering from reflux. This forces stomach acid upward and into the esophagus. This could damage your esophageal liner and cause you a great deal of discomfort. Maintain a good weight, eat healthily and well and get good sleep and exercise to enhance your health and banish acid reflux.
A food’s relative pH doesn’t really influence whether it will produce acid when you eat it. Foods you may think of as acidic may actually be quite alkaline once digested. If you have acid reflux, this can be extremely confusing. Learn more about food pH if acid reflux afflicts you.
Avoid Foods
If you suffer from acid reflux, avoid foods that may trigger it. Avoid foods such as garlic, onions, fried foods or spicy foods. Triggers vary from person to person, so continue to enjoy items that don’t cause you problems.
The tendency of a particular food to form acid when digested has little correlation with the initial pH of that food. Foods that seem acidic, such as lemons, become alkaline after digesting them. This is confusing if you suffer from acid reflux. If you are an acid reflux sufferer, understand the pH of your food.
Always consult with a physician if you think you might be suffering from acid reflux. If you are having symptoms associated with it, like cramps and regurgitation, you should go see the doctor. Other, more serious, conditions share the same symptoms. Your doctor can verify if you do have acid reflux.
For those who are bothered by acid reflux, chewing cinnamon gum after a meal may help. Chewing the gum can help to neutralize the acidity of your stomach acids. Chewing your gum also causes you to swallow more. The acid will then settle back down toward your stomach.
Avoid drinking fluids during your meals. When you drink anything while eating, you are adding to the stress that your stomach is under. The liquids can create added pressure on your stomach. Regulate the amount you drink during a meal, and fill up your glass at other times throughout the day.
Don’t eat meals around three hours prior to bed. Your body has a harder time trying to process food in a sleep state. Heartburn is often the result of eating directly before turning in for the night.
Rather than waiting for the discomfort to become unbearable, consider starting today to find relief. Begin right now with the information presented here. Eat well, get plenty of exercise and use the other tips here and you will feel better right away.