Are you familiar with acid reflux? Have you had the misfortune of being a victim to the pain and burning sensation caused by something as simple as stomach acid? Acid reflux is a severe health risk that you can stop. Read this article for advice that will put and end to acid reflux.
If you suffer from acid reflux symptoms at night time, you may need to change the way you sleep. You should be laying on your back, with the upper half of your body propped up by a few pillows. When you lay flat, whether on your back, stomach or side, you are allowing acid to come up through the esophagus.
Maintaining a healthy body weight reduces your acid reflux symptoms. Your esophagus sphincter relaxes when fat in your stomach presses downward. By losing weight and trimming your midsection, your sphincter will tighten up as well, which will help to prevent acid reflux.
Stop smoking if you are trying to rid yourself of issues with acid reflux. Many people do not know this, but smoking causes the muscles in the esophagus to relax. This can create some of the symptoms associated with acid reflux, so quit if you are trying to make things better.
When you want to reach for a natural treatment for heartburn, consider licorice. You need to choose DGL licorice which doesn’t contain glycyrrhizic acid and therefore will not cause hypertension. Chewable tablets are your best bet before meals, and they can be found affordably at natural food retailers and health supplement shops.
Smoking can cause serious problems if you suffer from reflux. Nicotine facilitates the production of stomach acid, increasing occurrences of acid reflux. You don’t necessarily have to go cold turkey to quit; that may actually worsen your acid reflux. Gradually quit smoking instead.
The food you consume each day will make a difference in your reflux. Avoiding acidic foods, peppers, greasy foods and alcoholic beverages could help. These foods and drinks could be causing the problem. Also, avoid eating less than three hours before you bed time. Going to bed with a full stomach could make for a rough night and morning.
Drinking a large amount of liquid while eating can lead to acid reflux. You may not think about it, but liquids also add to the volume of food in your stomach. When the volume of food is too great, it overpowers your body’s resources to keep food in your stomach. Limit the amount of liquid you drink while eating, or only drink between meals.
Consume smaller meals to help control your acid reflux problems. When you over stuff yourself during a meal, it can often lead to uncomfortable digestive upset, including acid reflux. Instead, consider eating several small meals a day, and always stop eating as soon as you begin to feel satisfied.
Losing some weight can help with your acid reflux. Being overweight can contribute to heartburn. The extra pounds can cause excess pressure on the stomach making the LES or lower esophageal sphincter relax causing backflow. Extra body fat can also release some chemicals that interfere with normal digestion. Losing a few pounds can relieve many of these symptoms and keep heartburn to a minimum.
Skip the antacid. An antacid is fine if you only suffer from acid reflux occasionally, however more frequent sufferers should look for better treatment options. An antacid is only a temporary fix, working to mask the pain. It does nothing to treat the underlying cause of the problem. Using antacids too frequently can even cause your stomach to start producing more acid in response.
Gluten is a potent acid reflux trigger food for many folks. You should watch your consumption of barley, wheat and any oats. Eat some quinoa or millet to get the whole grains and fiber you need.
Eat smaller portions throughout the day instead of larger meals. A big meal takes longer for your body to digest it and usually puts added pressure on your stomach, causing not only irritation, but damage, too. Instead of eating three large meals, break them up into five or six smaller ones.
If you are not too keen on the idea of taking medication to control your acid reflux, there is still something you can do to. Many foods can naturally help you combat your acid reflux. Herbal licorice has the ability to naturally coat your stomach with a protective gel when it is taken in tincture or tea form.
You know what acid reflux feels like. You know how bad it can get and how much it can ruin your day. Now it’s time to take matters into your own hands. You have all that is necessary to prevent acid reflux from reoccurring. The sooner you use the advice you’ve acquired, the better.
