Acid reflux can really make you feel bad. Acid reflux makes you feel like your chest is hurting and your throat is on fire. If you experience acid reflux, you certainly aren’t the only one. Happily, you don’t need to just put up with it. Follow these tips to control acid reflux.
Food can make your acid reflux problems worse. Lots of people eat too much food, and they eat it really fast. Make good nutritional choices and always take the time to eat. You should stop when you feel full. Take all the time you need to eat. Carefully chew your food and lay your fork down between a few bites.
You can get acid reflux from a variety of foods. Alcohol, chocolate, caffeine and fried foods are a few of the different items that can cause acid reflux. You should also use caution with foods that are acidic, such as citrus and tomatoes, as they can also trigger acid reflux. Specific triggers can vary for each person, so you will have to experiment to figure out which particular foods trigger your acid reflux. Just avoid all these foods to be safe.
The herbal supplement slippery elm is effective in fighting effects of acid reflux on your stomach lining. This helps protect your stomach from the acid within. Two tablespoons mixed with water taken post-meal and at bedtime will be a huge help.
When you notice reflux symptoms, think back to identify the foods you have eaten most recently. Acid reflux is usually brought on by eating specific types of food. After figuring out your triggers, you can avoid these foods.
If you live an active lifestyle and notice it after taking part in strenuous activities or exercises, there could be a simple fix. One way to help is to drink plenty of water. Water can help keep you hydrated. It also enables your system to digest food more efficiently. Using water to assist in digestion will reduce stomach acids.
If you are suffering from extreme stress, you need to figure out how to control it. Stress is one of the catalysts of acid in your stomach, which is directly related to heartburn and inflammation. Figure out what is stressing you out and get it out of your life.
Acid Reflux
Take your time during your meal to prevent acid reflux. Rather than trying to eat everything on the plate in one meal, focus on simply eating just until you start to feel full. Make sure to savor the food and take as much time as you need. Eating too fast or when you’re really stuffed can worsen acid reflux symptoms. An excellent method of slowing down your eating is putting down your fork or spoon after you have taken each bite.
Eat small meals throughout the day. You may be at higher risk for acid reflux if you eat very large meals during the day. An overly full stomach puts too much pressure on the muscle that closes the stomach. This can result in excess stomach acid, and it can cause heartburn. Eating smaller meals on a more frequent basis will help to reduce your symptoms.
Slippery Elm Bark
Slippery elm lozenges can be helpful. The main ingredient, slippery elm bark, will coat your digestive system with a protective layer. Slippery elm bark can also help with your coughing. These are very easy to find, as you can pick them up at your local health store.
Try to lose a few pounds each week. The more you have around your middle, the worse your acid reflux will be. Being overweight can put your stomach under a lot of pressure. This causes pain and damages the lining of the esophagus. Maintain a good weight, eat healthily and well and get good sleep and exercise to enhance your health and banish acid reflux.
What are your trigger foods? These may include caffeine, citrus, onions and fried foods. Of course, different people have different trigger foods, so if these do not cause problems, you can certainly still have them.
Do not eat foods that have a very high fat content. Eat fast food, fried foods and red meat in very small quantities. Read the nutrition labels on your food to see the amount of fat they have.
Alkaline levels and acid forming tendencies in food have little to do with pH levels. Foods that seem to be acidic, like lemons, are actually highly alkaline after digestion. This can seem rather confusing when you’re prone to acid reflux. Learning about the pH of different foods can make it easier to avoid reflux symptoms.
Exercise is key to acid reduction. Low-impact exercises will help to relieve your acid reflux. Keep your body upright, so that you can digest properly.
One easy way to combat the symptoms of acid reflux is by chewing gum, especially after meals. Chewing increases saliva, which in turn starts neutralizing stomach acid. In addition, gum makes a person swallow more often. The acid will then settle back down toward your stomach.
Acid reflux can be very painful and it’s something you don’t want to take lightly. The pain can be debilitating and will only get worse if the condition goes untreated. You have the tools to stop it. Use the advice in this piece and keep reflux from causing further harm.