Many people do not realize exactly how painful and annoying untreated acid reflux can become. Whether you want to take preventative measures or need advice on medicines you can take, researching is the right thing to do. Read this article for helpful tips so you can reduce the suffering you experience!

Avoid certain foods. Certain foods can trigger acid reflux, so it’s important to avoid them. Stay away from spicy, greasy or acidic foods, and try to avoid caffeine and alcohol. This is especially important if you are eating a late meal; whenever possible eat dinner at least three hours before bedtime.

Always keep gravity in mind. Remember that acid is being held down, so when you position your body in a way where down isn’t towards your feet, problems will ensue. Keep your head up and your stomach uncompressed, then you should be able to find relief from acid reflux all day long.

If you suffer with acid reflux, understand how gravity can work in your favor. Sitting upright will help keep food and fluids down after meals, so keep yourself straight. Avoid lying down or even slightly reclining in your favorite chair as this will exacerbate reflux symptoms quickly. Try going for a short and healthy walk instead!

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.

Wait to exercise after you eat. If you put off your exercise by at least an hour, the food will have a better chance to digest. Physical exertion right after you eat could cause the food to move back up toward the esophagus. This could be very uncomfortable and hard to fight.

Take over the counter antacids or acid relievers. These are very helpful in relieving acid reflux for a lot of people. If they do not offer you relief, talk to your doctor about a prescription for your reflux. They can also help relieve symptoms and work to heal your esophageal lining

Avoid eating fatty foods such as french fries, pizza and other fried foods. Fatty foods relax the stomach muscles allowing acids to rise into the esophagus resulting in increase acid reflux. Instead of fatty foods, opt for lean proteins such as baked chicken breasts along with fruits and vegetables.

Reduce the fat in your diet. Excess fat causes your LES muscle to relax, which delays stomach emptying. As a result, acid reflux is more likely to occur. Therefore, if you consume lots of fried foods, substitute them for leaner, grilled options. This is not only good for your acid reflux, but also for your overall health.

One of the worst things you can do if you suffer from acid reflux is to lie down after a meal. It is very important that for at least two hours after you eat, you do not lie flat on your back or stomach. It is best if you stand up and walk a little bit. This will help get your stomach juices flowing in the right direction.

If there are not enough reasons to quit smoking, here is one more. Quitting smoking will greatly reduce the likelihood of contracting GERD. The digestion process is slowed down by smoking and it also increases production of stomach acid. Smoking reduces the production of saliva which is the body’s defense against stomach acid.

If your acid reflux is severe, then the importance of not lying flat on your back cannot be stressed enough. Therefore, whenever you sleep, you need to keep your entire upper body slightly elevated. You cannot just add more pillows to lay your head on because this just elevates your head, which is not enough. Place wooden blocks or bricks underneath your mattress can significantly help in relieving your acid reflux symptoms.

You may find spicy foods to be tasty, but if you have acid reflux disease, you need to stay far away from them. The spiciness causes the stomach to produce too much acid, which of course, triggers acid reflux. If you refuse to give up spicy food, at least limit your intake.

Knowing the symptoms of acid reflux is the most important knowledge to have. If you find you have chest pain combined with discomfort after eating, burping, nausea, sore throat, bitter taste in your mouth and/or a chronic cough, you likely have acid reflux. Talk to your doctor for a true diagnosis.

As stated in the beginning of the article, you do not have to deal with the problems of acid reflux without help. Besides using preventative measures, there are other avenues to explore. By remembering that as well as the tips in this article, you can take your life back and enjoy it again.