Acid reflux can cause a lot of suffering. You can get on the road to relief by educating yourself. The article below will explain what you need to know to overcome acid reflux.
The last meal of the day should be eaten around three hours before you get in bed. The upright position will force acids to make their way to your stomach. If you lie down, your stomach acids can rise into your esophagus. Because of this, you should not go to bed less than three hours after your last meal.
Acid Reflux
Your acid reflux symptoms worsen whenever you eat a lot. Eating too quickly or too much can directly cause acid reflux. Eating this way is just going to worsen your symptoms. Eat until your satisfied, not full. Additionally, do not eat as quickly at meal time. Chew deliberately and put the fork down in between bites.
Sometimes women develop a problem with acid reflux when they become pregnant. The developing baby can push acid back into the esophagus. Refrain from eating foods that have a high acid content. If this is not helping, look for teas that are available which help calm the esophagus while keeping the stomach acids at bay. This will not hurt the baby.
To reduce acid reflux symptoms, try avoiding spicy foods like peppers and hot sauce. These foods only escalate the buildup of acid in the digestive tract and can worsen your condition. Avoid these items and you will feel better right away.
You must watch the type of foods you eat when it comes to your acid reflux. Trigger foods vary from person to person. When you know what they are, you can try to avoid them, especially at night.
Smoking and acid reflux are not things that go well together. Your stomach acid is increased by nicotine and this will make acid reflux worse. Don’t stress your system by quitting abruptly, but rather cut down gradually. Instead, quitting should be a gradual effort.
Chew a stick of gum, preferrably cinnamon, after your meal. Chewing promotes saliva production. Saliva helps to neutralize the acid of the stomach. Plus, quite often you swallow more when you chew gun, so it clears out any acid that could be in your esophagus. Fruit-flavored gum will accomplish this too. Gum containing mint is not a smart idea. Mint relaxes the esophageal sphincter and worsens acid reflux.
Try to eliminate stress caused by work, school or relationship issues. Stress is a leading cause of excessive stomach acid production, which can cause acid reflux. Identify the cause of your stress and get it under control ASAP.
Consume small meals, and do so frequently. 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. As a result, stomach acid rises into the esophagus, causing acid reflux. Eat a few small meals at intervals during each day.
Take off the extra weight. Excess weight, especially when it is located around your middle, can increase the frequency with which you suffer from acid reflux. Excess belly fat puts added pressure on the stomach, increasing the chances of reflux. Losing even a couple of pounds can make things a lot better.
Slippery Elm
Elm lozenges are a good treatment against acid reflux. You coat your digestive tract with a protective layer by sucking on slippery elm bark lozenges. This type of lozenge soothes the throat and relieves hoarseness and coughing that often accompany acid reflux. Look for slippery elm products at health and natural food stores.
Make an effort to relax. Eating when stressed out can actually increase heartburn. When your meal is finished, relax by doing some deep breathing or meditation. Try to stand upright, to prevent acid from coming back up.
Don’t self diagnose! If you have acid reflux signs, like discomfort in the stomach or regurgitation, go to your doctor. A lot of other conditions, such as ulcers and types of heart disorders, resemble the effects of acid reflux. Your doctor can verify if you do have acid reflux.
Acid reflux is often triggered by gluten. To see if gluten is triggering your acid reflux, avoid foods containing wheat, oats and barley. You may think you have to eliminate all grain from your diet, but this isn’t true. Some great grains that provide your body with necessary fiber and nutrition include millet and quinoa.
If you have acid reflux, then consuming foods with tomato sauces, including pizza and spaghetti, can be difficult. Use sugar in your meals to reduce the acid percentage. The sauce will be sweeter and more easily digested.
Slow down when you’re eating in order to keep acid reflux at bay. Savor your food. Avoid overeating by stopping once you are full.
Don’t smoke if you suffer from acid reflux. Smoking can contribute to acid reflux. That’s because smoking increases stomach acid production; in addition, it slows your digestion. It also decreases saliva, which is needed in the digestion process. If you absolutely have to smoke, don’t smoke for a couple hours after you eat.
Whatever the reason for your decision, you are now better prepared to battle your acid reflex. With the ideas you’ve found here, you’re ready to go. Start making changes in your diet and exercise, along with the other advice you learned here, and you will start feeling better soon.
