Almost nothing is as bad as the feeling of acid reflux. It's unnerving dealing with the pain and burning day in and day out. If you deal with acid reflux, you have lots of company. Happily, you don't need to just put up with it. Follow these tips to control acid reflux.
Stay away from acidic foods. They can both cause and exacerbate acid reflux. While this is by no means a comprehensive list, try to avoid oranges, tomatoes, grapefruit and vinegar. If you can't cut them out of your diet completely, at least try to avoid eating them in the evenings, so acid reflux doesn't strike when it is time for bed.
The last meal of the day should be eaten around three hours before you get in bed. When you are upright, any food in your stomach and the gastric acid settles down in your stomach. By lying down after eating, acid can rise to your esophagus, causing acid reflux. Thus, stick to a plan that allows you three hours of digestion before bed.
Fatty foods no more! Fried chicken, pizza, chicken wings and potato chips are the enemy of the GERD sufferer. These foods cause your sphincter to relax, allowing the contents of your stomach, acid and all, to rise back up into your esophagus. Go for meals full of vegetables and lean protein instead.
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!
It is a good idea to raise the head of your bed if you have been experiencing acid reflux issues frequently. When you are lying flat, it gives the stomach contents an easier way of refluxing. You should raise the mattress about 6-8 inches in order to get the best results.
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.
What you drink will affect your acid reflux just as much as what you eat. Anything with caffeine should be avoided. In addition, carbonated beverages will cause you to have issues, as will alcohol. Be mindful of what you consume, and try to stick with water whenever possible if you want to be on the safe side.
You want to avoid foods that contain a high amount of acid in order to reduce acid reflux attacks. Examples of foods that are known to have a high acidic content are grapefruit, tomatoes, and pineapple. If you do have a history of issues after eating these foods, it may be best to avoid eating them late at night, or entirely.
Consider eliminating alcohol from your diet. Alcohol can cause havoc on your stomach, which can hurt your digestive capabilities. If you are planning an evening out, commit yourself to having just one drink.
If you often have acid reflux, avoid drinking during your meals. A glass of water will add to the volume of food in your stomach and make digestion harder. You should wait until you are done digesting to drink and avoid drinking just before having a meal or a snack.
It is known that smoking is bad for your health, but did you also know that smoking can have an affect on acid reflux? When you smoke, more stomach acid is produced, digestion is slowed down, and less saliva is produced. Smoking also causes the sphincter of the esophagus to weaken, making acid reflux occur.
Avoid all the foods that may be causing your acid reflux. Fried and fat filled foods, alcohol, citrus, and other foods can cause acid reflux. Keep a food journal to find your triggers and avoid them.
Don't eat too many fatty foods. You will need to cut out high-fat processed foods, fast foods and red meat that is high in fat. You can read the ingredient labels of foods that you are interested in to check the fat level.
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.
Acid reflux can be difficult to deal with. If you watch what you eat you can alleviate many of the symptoms. Avoiding fatty foods is very important. Fatty steaks, chicken wings, deep fried foods and pizza are all high in fat. These fats make your stomach work harder and increase the likelihood of acid reflux symptoms.
After eating, wait two hours before reclining to prevent acid reflux. Gravity works as an effective acid reflux combat tool. What you ate and how your system works determines how long you need to wait before you can recline.
The most important step to controlling your acid reflux is quitting smoking. Yes, butt out that terrible habit! Smoking reduces saliva output, relaxes the esophageal sphincter, irritates the lining of the throat and causes a myriad of other problems. The first step to good health is ending your unhealthy habits like smoking.
Avoid constricting clothes if you suffer from heartburn. You can suffer heartburn problems wearing clothes that fit too tight. These clothes can put pressure on your abdominal area and stomach, pushing acids up to your throat, leading to uncomfortable heartburn. Your clothes should be comfortable and loose, and avoid tightening your belt excessively.
Acid reflux can be a serious condition. It worsens if left untreated. There are different things you can try to stop acid reflux. Take the advice here to prevent acid reflux from taking control of you anymore.
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