If you are pondering on “how can I get rid of acid reflux”, this posting is for you. Acid reflux occurs when the LES muscles cannot close. Stomach acid is no longer blocked and makes its way past the LES and into your throat. This can do severe damage.
Heartburn is not an illness that simply goes away, but it is something that you will need to be able to recognize so you can better treat the symptoms and get to the root cause. Using acid reflux information is the first step of many you will have to take.
Try to avoid alcohol, carbonated drinks and coffee until your reflux goes away. Water should be your main beverage and you should try to drink at least 12 glasses a day. Make sure to drink 1 cup after each meal or snack. Water allows the sphincter to create a tight seal over the stomach.
The other big problem is not just the types of food that you eat, but how much food you eat at one sitting. Your stomach will have to produce more acid if you have large amounts of food in the stomach. So eating smaller meals can be really helpful is preventing any heartburn attack.
Try not to eat too close to bedtime. Sleeping right after a meal can cause the acid in the stomach to back up into the esophagus. If you suffer acid reflux when you are in bed, you may try sleeping on your left side, or to elevate your upper body a few inches. Use gravity to your advantage to keep the acid where it belongs, in the stomach. It is still best, however, to make sure there is plenty of time between your last meal of the day and bedtime.
Another great tip most people do not know about for treating heartburn is apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar can give the stomach more acid to speed up the digestion process (often a problem with reflux sufferers). Take a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar daily to aid with digestion. Chase with honey for a taste!
Aloe Vera juice may be just the natural remedy for heartburn you have been looking for. You can purchase Aloe Vera juice in any health food store or the organic section of your local supermarket. When you drink just a few ounces, your heartburn will quickly ease. Not only that, but Aloe Vera juice is good for you in so many other ways as well.
Also, to treat or prevent heartburn you should turn to fiber. Eating a bowl of oatmeal that is rich in fiber and calcium can treat and prevent heartburn. So eat oatmeal regularly as it offers everything you need to prevent and treat heartburn: oatmeal is high in fiber, low in cholesterol and low in fat.
A common myth is that that milk can ease that burning sensation. This was something that I believed to be true when I suffered from heartburn, and I drank a lot of it. But I know now that milk and other dairy products actually tend to increase the production of acid in your stomach after the initial relief has worn off.
Treating acid reflux naturally will work by healing and re-strengthening both the LES and the esophagus. Antacids work for a short time by neutralizing the refluxed stomach acid. But over time, antacids can actually do more harm than good!
Most of these causes of acid reflux can be avoided. Take care of it now using the above heartburn tips, and don’t let acid reflux control your life.