For someone who has acid reflux, there is no denying just how painful and even frightening the condition can be. To find a way to get relief, it means needing to learn what steps can be taken. The article below will explain what you need to know to overcome acid reflux.
Be sure to have dinner no less than three hours prior to bedtime. The acid and foods you’ve eaten stay in your stomach when you are awake and upright. If you lie down, the acid may migrate up your esophagus. You give the food in your stomach a chance to digest if you stop eating well before bed.
Some trigger foods cause acid reflux. You should avoid fat and greasy foods, tomatoes, chocolate, coffee, and alcohol. Citrus fruits, tomatoes, and other acidic foods are also big contributors. Every person has their own list, so you have to determine what most bothers you at mealtime. Just avoid all these foods to be safe.
The acidity of the food you eat really doesn’t affect the pH level. Acidic foods like lemons become quite alkaline after they are digested. If you have an issue with acid reflux, this may not be what you were expecting to read. However, by learning about your food’s natural pH, you can help alleviate acid reflux.
Drink fewer liquids during meals. Beverages are absorbed into your food causing your stomach to be overly full. Having a full stomach can add more pressure to your esophageal sphincter. Your esophagus has a harder time closing up and keeping the acids down when you are too full. So, you have to watch the kind of beverages you drink and watch the amounts as well. Consuming large quantities of liquid at mealtimes can cause symptoms. While you may not go this far, controlling what you drink is key to controlling acid reflux.
Chew a stick of cinnamon gum after meals. The act of chewing causes increased saliva production. And that saliva really neutralizes the acids in your stomach. Also, when chewing gum, more swallowing occurs, making acid go back down from the stomach to the esophagus. Fruit gum is okay if it isn’t based on citrus. Gums with a mint flavor actually cause your esophagus sphincter to relax, worsening your acid reflux.
Weight loss can help to lessen or prevent acid reflux. 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. Eat smaller portioned meals during the day to help your acid reflux.
Avoid the harmful stress triggers in life that arise from personal problems, relationships, or job issues. Stress can increase the amount of acid you produce and cause you to overeat, making your condition much worse. After eating, practice a little meditation, deep breathing, and light relaxation exercise. Never lay down or recline immediately after a meal.
Stop smoking if you want to get rid of acid reflux. Smoking is very aggravating to acid reflux. It slows down the amount of saliva you produce, increases stomach acid, and slows down digestion. This can cause the esophageal sphincter to weaken. This is the reason you should quit today.
Do you suffer from heartburn at night? If so, then you should probably reconsider your sleeping position. Try sleeping on your left side. If you choose this course of action, stomach acids stay in their rightful location.
If your clothes are far too snug, you are at greater risk of experiencing reflux symptoms. If heartburn bothers you, wear loose clothing that doesn’t put too much pressure on your mid-section. Wearing clothing that is tight around your stomach interferes with the digestive process, which causes acid reflux.
Take action now to get rid of your acid reflux problem. Now that you have been properly educated you can make the lifestyle changes necessary. Therefore, begin utilizing the excellent advice provided in this article, and you can relieve your acid reflux.