Have Questions About Acid Reflux? We'll Answer Them

Have Questions About Acid Reflux? We'll Answer Them

It seems like acid reflux is a constant threat regardless of your choices in foods. Learn more about it, including how to treat the nasty symptoms in the following article. When you know more about it, it can be better controlled so that you can take back your life. Do not eat your dinner less than three hours before you go to bed. In a seated position, food and secreted stomach acid is forced downward to your stomach. The acid could easily rise if you lay down. So, you should allow a few hours to pass prior to going to sleep. To help alleviate acid reflux symptoms, try eating less spicy food. These foods only escalate the buildup of acid in the digestive tract and can worsen your condition. Kicking spicy foods out of your diet can often promote instant relief. The manner in which you eat can aggravate acid reflux symptoms. The speed that you eat and the amount will both contribute to acid reflux problems. However, you should not do this because this will only worsen your acid reflux. Don't gorge until you feel as if you could pop. Instead, eat only until you feel somewhat full. Take all the time you need to eat. Chew your food carefully and between each bite, lay down your fork.

Acid Reflux

Fatty food and acid reflux go hand in hand. Foods high in fat signal the lower esophageal sphincter to cease function for a bit, causing acids to go in the wrong direction. Fatty foods cause weight gain, which also adds to acid reflux problems. The healthier you eat, the healthier you are! Smokers need to quit if they suffer from acid reflux. Nicotine sparks stomach acid production, causing a rise in acid reflux flares. However, quitting cold turkey can also worsen acid reflux. Take your time when quitting. One herbal supplement that serves to thicken your stomach's mucous lining is slippery elm. This makes sure you're protecting the stomach from the inside. Two tablespoons mixed with water taken post-meal and at bedtime will be a huge help. It may not be wise to exercise immediately after eating. Contractions of the lower stomach during exercise can cause undigested food to be forced upwards in the esophagus. You should wait a minimum of an hour or two after eating before engaging in exercise activities. Reflux can be quite painful, sometimes mimicking a heart attack. Don't ever make the mistake of ignoring serious pain in your chest. You may be experiencing a heart attack. Call your doctor immediately to find out what to do. You don't need serious health issues because of a wrong self-diagnosis. Chew cinnamon flavored gum after you eat. Chewing gum causes an increase in your saliva production. This will help neutralize acids in your stomach. Also, people swallow much more often when they are chewing gum, and this will clear out any acid that is in the esophagus. You can also try fruity flavored gum. Do not, however, chew gum with mint in it. Mint can actually cause acid reflux, so you may just be making things worse. Losing weight can decrease your acid reflux symptoms. Acid reflux is very common among obese and overweight people. Just losing ten percent of your weight can cause acid reflux symptoms to diminish noticeably. Losing weight is best when consuming smaller amounts of food, not by a crash diet. If you work out on a regular basis, and find that you have acid reflux, it is possible to help your condition. Remember when you are exercising to drink plenty of water. Water keeps you hydrated. It also enables your system to digest food more efficiently. Water can help balance out the actions of acid in your stomach. Just don't drink too much water at the time. Stay upright after eating. It is harder to process food when your body is not upright. If you remain upright, you will feel much better.

Acid Reflux

Slippery elm lozenge could be tried. The active ingredient, slippery elm bark, protects the lining of your digestive tract. In lozenge form, it will also relieve the coughing that often accompanies a bout of reflux and will soothe an irritated throat. These are very easy to find, as you can pick them up at your local health store. Lose weight to help prevent and lessen the effects of acid reflux. Obesity is a leading cause of this condition. Just losing ten percent of your weight can cause acid reflux symptoms to diminish noticeably. Weight loss should be done by eating smaller meals, not by crash dieting. If you suffer from acid reflux, avoid trigger foods. Some of the foods known to trigger reflux include mint, citrus, garlic, tomatoes, onions, fizzy drinks and caffeinated beverages. There are different triggers for each person, so find yours and avoid them. Participate in gentle, upright exercise such as cycling or walking. Walking is ideal for improving acid reflux symptoms. First of all, you aid your stomach in digestion when you are upright. Next, you lose weight and reduce pressure on the stomach. While exercise can help to contain your acid reflux, ensure that it is low impact, as high impact will simply make matters worse. Do not eat foods that have a very high fat content. Eliminate or reduce fried foods, red meats and other unhealthy items. You can read the ingredient labels of foods that you are interested in to check the fat level. Learn about the pH of food. For example, during digestion, an acidic food like a lemon actually becomes highly alkaline. This sounds confusing if you are an acid reflux sufferer. Learn all you can about food pH if acid reflux is an issue. Are you aware that a food's alkaline is not related to its relative pH level? Certain foods like lemons actually are alkaline post-digestion. This may cause some confusion where reflux is concerned. Learn about the pH levels of different foods if you live with acid reflux.

Acid Reflux

Lose some weight if you have extra pounds. Being overweight contributes to worse acid reflux symptoms. There will be added pressure on the stomach and you could get bad heartburn. By losing that extra weight, you can enjoy a higher quality of life. Acid reflux can put a damper on your day to day activities and sleep at night. Take charge and stop suffering now. Take this article's information and use it well to prevent and treat acid reflux. Your life will be more enjoyable, and you won't feel pain. After you eat, try your best to stay upright. The thinking here is that gravity's your best bet in avoiding acid reflux. Wait at least a few hours before reclining your body.