Is acid reflux a burden that you bear? If you do not know whether or not you have this condition, then the ways that acid reflux shows itself may surprise you. Acid reflux may make you feel like you have a lump in your throat, you may feel bloated or nauseous in addition to feeling pain and burning in your chest. In order to prevent your acid reflux symptoms, read this article.
If you notice that spicy foods cause you problems, do not eat anything with peppers or chilies in them. This will help to prevent heartburn. At the very least, reduce the frequency with which you eat these items. You should notice an immediate difference in the way that you feel.
To stop acid reflux disease, increase your intake of Vitamin D. This vitamin increases peptide production, which destroys the production of acid in the stomach. Your body gets Vitamin D from the sun. If you do not get enough sun exposure, you can always take Vitamin D in pill form.
Eat your last meal three hours ahead of bedtime. When you remain upright, your stomach acid and food is pulled down into the stomach. If you lie down, the acid is able to creep back up. Allow for a couple of hours before you lay down after eating.
Keep chewing gum handy. When you chew gum, it not only freshens your breath, but it causes you to salivate. This helps wash acid down your esophagus and back into your stomach, where it belongs. When choosing a flavor, avoid citrus and mint. Mint can cause your esophageal sphincter to relax, and citrus is high in acid.
When your symptoms are at their worst, mix 1 teaspoon of regular baking soda with eight ounces of water. Drink this slowly, one sip at a time, until your symptoms subside. Do NOT do this every day as baking soda contains a great deal of sodium which can lead to a myriad of other health problems.
Turn to aloe vera juice for a soothing way to heal the damage acid reflux can cause. It reduces inflammation in the esophagus and the lining of the stomach itself. All you need is a half a cup before a meal to aid in your digestive regeneration, but remember that it is also a laxative!
Learn your trigger foods. When you know what foods or beverages cause you acid reflux, you can avoid them to keep your symptoms to a minimum. Some foods that often cause symptoms are foods that are fried, fatty, spicy and carbonated drinks. These are just some examples and what bothers someone else, might not bother you.
Try to avoid eating chocolate if you have issues with acid reflux. The caffeine and alkaloids that are contained in chocolate tend to disagree with people that have this problem. If you must have chocolate, each it in small quantities and opt for a darker chocolate since it has antioxidants.
While eating your meals, limit your beverage consumption. Although this may sound silly, drinking lots of beverages during your meals can actually cause acid reflux. This is because liquids increase the volume of food in your stomach. When your stomach is full, the lower esophageal sphincter has more pressure placed upon it. This muscle prevents food from coming up through your esophagus, which prevents acid reflux. You need to protect your lower esophageal sphincter as much as possible.
There are specific foods that are very likely to cause acid reflux for virtually anyone who suffers from this condition. You should try and avoid these foods as much as possible. Spicy and hot foods are two kinds that you want to avoid.
Changing the time you exercise can help decrease the amount of acid reflux symptoms you get. Contracting your abdominal muscles can force any food in your stomach to go back into your esophagus. It is best to wait about an hour after you exercise to take part in any sort of exercise.
Learn stress coping techniques. Being stressed out can cause you to tense up your body and this causes you to contract some, or all, of your stomach muscles, causing acid reflux symptoms. Learn how to better handle stressful situations and you’ll find out you may have much less stomach troubles.
Try wearing loose clothes if you have acid reflux. Do what you can to avoid having anything that fits tightly near your middle area. This can cause unnecessary pressure on the stomach and worsen your acid reflux symptoms. You may resume wearing tight clothes after your symptoms are dealt with. In the mean time, try sticking with comfortable and stretchy clothes.
Eat any meal three hours prior to sleeping. So eating at 8 if you go to bed at 11 can help you avoid acid reflux. If you lay down and your stomach is full, your LES muscle will have more pressure on it. If it isn’t, your symptoms of acid reflux may flare up.
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.
Carefully consider the types of foods you are eating if acid reflux is a problem. Fatty, grease filled foods like chicken wings, pizza and french fries can sit in your stomach for a longer period of time, increasing the likelihood of reflux. Instead, choose high quality proteins, vegetables and whole grains for the majority of your meals.
You might consider surgery with your doctor if the acid reflux symptoms are getting worse. Your surgeon creates a new stomach valve to eliminate acid from going into your esophagus. This procedure is a tool used to permanently get rid of acid reflux.
There are millions of people afflicted with acid reflux. Older adults experience acid reflux more often than young people. If you are one of them, use the tips here to reduce your symptoms in the future.