Do you (or does a family member) suffer from acid reflux? Those that do know how uncomfortable the disorder can be. Acid reflux is not fun. You can alleviate the symptoms you feel concerning acid reflux with the following helpful tips.
Our acid reflux can be triggered by specific foods. Among them are chocolate, caffeine, alcohol and fried foods. Additionally, citrus fruit, tomatoes and other foods with a high level of acidity can cause problems. Everyone has different triggers for acid reflux and you need to figure out which foods you should stay away from. Try to steer clear of all of these foods to be safe.
Slippery Elm
Mucous in the stomach can increase by using a supplement called slippery elm. By coating your stomach, the acid is less likely to cause damage to the esophagus. To obtain the maximum relief, many people mix one or two tablespoons of slippery elm into their glass of water right before bed.
Get in shape to reduce acid reflux. Obesity is a major cause of acid reflux. Losing even one-tenth of body weight can reduce acid reflux. Lose weight by eating several smaller meals. Avoid crash dieting.
Slow down your eating. Stop eating before you feel stuffed. Instead, take the time to chew and enjoy your food as well. Eating fast or eating when overly stuffed can make your acid reflux symptoms worse. A trick that may help you is to set down your fork between bites.
Eat small meals more frequently than large ones. Having a couple of large meals a day will put you at risk for acid reflux. You can experience acid reflux when you overeat because the food can come back up in your esophagus. This gives stomach acid a way to enter the esophagus, and this causes heartburn. This is why eating small meals is better for you.
Acid Reflux
Shed pounds. If you are heavier than you should be, you may have more frequent bouts with acid reflux. The fat that is stored in your stomach can lead to more acid, which causes acid reflux. Even a few pounds lost can bring relief.
Are you aware that a food’s tendency to be acidic or alkaline actually has no bearing on its relative pH? While lemons are acidic, they become alkaline once digestion has occurred. If you are afflicted with acid reflux, this might seem counter-intuitive to you. It’s important to know the pH level of foods when you have problems with acid reflux.
If you suffer from acid reflux, avoid foods that may trigger it. Some specific foods have been linked to reflux, such as fatty and fried foods, alcohol, caffeine, mint or min-flavored items, citrus, tomatoes, spicy foods, garlic, onions, and carbonated drinks. Each person with acid reflux is unique, so it is important to pay attention to what affects you and then go from there.
Stay away from high-fat foods. Don’t eat foods that are fried or from fast-food restaurants. You should check the labels to find out how much fat your favorite foods contain.
Do not eat within three hours of sleeping. For example, if your bedtime is 10 PM., you should eat the last meal by no later than 7 PM. Do this because if you lie down with your stomach filled with food it puts added pressure on the LES muscle. The result is more intense acid reflux.
Ingesting gluten can lead to acid reflux for many people. Cutting back on how much oats, barley and wheat is in your diet is a good thing to try if heartburn and acid reflux hit you often. There are some grains, such as millet and quinoa that can actually aid digestion.
Avoid lying down after you eat. The reason for this is that gravity is the easiest and most obvious way to combat acid reflux. The time it takes until you should lie down varies by the person and it will also depend on what items were consumed.
Are you suffering from acid reflux due to being pregnant? If so, then you need to determine the cause as soon as possible. Something normally innocuous, like drinking water late at night, could cause acid reflux in a pregnant woman. By determining the cause, you can prevent it from occurring in the future.
The next time you or a loved one has to deal with acid reflux, you will be prepared. Prior to this, you simply had to wish that it would disappear as soon as possible. Nowadays, there are actually treatments that work. With this arsenal of advice at hand, you’re ready to conquer your suffering!