You are feeling fine and then all of a sudden you start feeling that familiar dull ache. You know that in a short while you will be in intolerable pain and most likely it will mean a sleepless night. If you are one of the millions who suffer from acid reflux, then take the time to read the following tips.
If you have acid reflux disease, you may want to consider using Proton Pump Inhibitors, or PPIs. This is a medication is prescribed your doctor and is used to stop stomach acid from getting into your intestines and stomach. Obviously, if there is no acid in your stomach, it cannot come up through the esophagus either.
Acid reflux can be caused by a number of different things, not just the types of food you are eating. Look into your lifestyle too and see if you’re not pushing yourself too hard, under excessive stress or otherwise need to take better care of yourself. Learn to relax, improve your diet and see if that doesn’t help.
Exercise is an important habit for those who have GERD, but your timing is key. Wait for two hours after eating before you become active, and don’t follow your activity with a sports drink as they are acidic and can make your GERD flare up. Instead, drink water or milk to refuel.
To help avoid acid reflux, take your time and chew your food slowly. This technique helps you to avoid overeating. When you overeat, food is pressed in the top of your stomach; thus, it allows stomach acids to build up in you esophagus. For best results, eat small meals often.
A great way to minimize your acid reflux at night is to eat your largest meal of the day at lunch. You want as much of your food to be digested prior to lying down for the night. Rearrange your eating habits to include a big lunch and very small dinner.
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.
Immediately after you have consumed a meal, do not lie flat. This can cause the food you have eaten to remain trapped in your esophagus, worsening acid reflux. Instead, walk around and remain upright for at least two hours. Doing this will assist in digestion, which will relieve your acid reflux.
Steer clear of your most potent trigger foods for reflux. Examples of problematic foods include those that are fried, spicy, and high in fat. Liquid culprits include those that are caffeinated, carbonated or alcoholic. Each person with acid reflux is unique, so it is important to pay attention to what affects you and then go from there.
Were you aware that the acid in food really does not affect the pH balance of the food? Acidic foods such as lemons actually become alkaline upon digestion. This can seem rather confusing when you’re prone to acid reflux. By learning how food’s pH levels affect your acid reflux, you can find relief.
A great way to eliminate your acid reflux is to switch your diet over to a plant based diet. Meat is a huge contributor to acid reflux. This seems to be contradictory because meats seem to be very alkaline when tested prior to consumption. The problem is that after meat is digested, it will leave a highly acidic residue within the body.
Avoid drinking beverages when you eat in order to decrease the acid reflux risk. Drinking at mealtime increases your stomach volume. This increases pressure on your lower esophagus sphincter and causes an increased risk of reflux. Avoid drinking while you eat your meals.
The less animal products you eat, the better. Everything from meat to dairy to eggs to fish is very hard for your body to digest, leading to increased acid production. These items also produce acid when broken down, leading to a damaging situation within your stomach. Go vegan and feel better!
If you get heartburn after eating spicy foods, try eating a few ounces of natural yogurt afterward. The yogurt acts by calming down the gastric acid production that is responsible for your discomfort. You may get ahead of the game by eating the yogurt before consuming foods that give you heartburn.
Don’t overeat. The more pressure you put on your stomach, the more contents will slip by your underactive sphincter and up into your esophagus. Eat smaller meals more frequently to allow your stomach to inflate only a little bit and to ensure your stomach acid remains in your stomach comfortably.
As you can see after reading this article, there are things that you can do that will allow you get control of your life back. You do not have to be a slave to your acid reflux. Just try out the information that was provided and see which of these things work for you.
