A miserable life seems to go hand in hand with acid reflux. When you learn as much as you can, you can ease the symptoms. Whenever you become more knowledgeable on the topic, you can manage your acid reflux and end the pain and discomfort.
The last meal of the day should be eaten around three hours before you get in bed. This can help you to process your food and digest it better. When you lay down, the acid can rise back up. Thus, you need to delay going to bed.
Acid reflux can be exacerbated by the way you eat. Many people eat lots of food very quickly. This is not the right way to eat, and it is likely to cause acid reflux problems. Don’t gorge until you feel as if you could pop. Instead, eat only until you feel somewhat full. Also, slow down your eating speed at the table. Chew deliberately and put the fork down in between bites.
Fatty food should be avoided. When you eat fatty foods, the esophageal sphincter is signaled to relax. This causes acid reflux problems. They can also cause weight gain, and acid reflux is more prevalent in overweight people. Eat healthy to stay healthy.
Stress can trigger an attack of acid reflux. Excessive stress often causes excessive stomach acid, which causes acid reflux. After each meal, do something you find relaxing. Yoga or meditation are excellent ways to reduce stress; however, you can do simpler things, such as watching your favorite television shows or reading a good book.
Our acid reflux can be triggered by specific foods. Caffeine beverages, chocolate, fried items and alcohol can all be acid reflux triggers. Citrus, tomatoes, onions and garlic are other common triggers. The triggers can vary from person to person, meaning that you’ll have to learn from experience which ones cause discomfort and which do not. In order to be safe, you should stay away from these foods.
Elevate the head portion of your bed. You can lift this up by using bricks or a piece of wood. The head of your bed should be elevated six to eight inches above the foot. If the chest and head are elevated, then you may be able to keep the stomach acid from rising.
Do not drink alcohol if you want to live free of acid reflux. Consuming alcohol can end up making your acid reflux symptoms much worse. If you are headed out for a night on the town, limit the alcoholic drinks you ingest to minimize the potential for reflux later.
Do not lie down after a large meal, especially if you have reflux problems. Lying down contraindicates the downward motion food should take when being digested. Maintaining an upright position will help you reduce problems that come with acid reflux.
Take your time during your meal to prevent acid reflux. Stop eating before you feel stuffed. Sit down while you eat and take time to actually enjoy your meal. If you eat too quickly or eat more food than you need, you will experience acid reflux. An excellent method of slowing down your eating is putting down your fork or spoon after you have taken each bite.
A little bit of physical activity can go a long way. The key to this is moderate. While vigorous exercise can aggravate acid reflux, more moderate activity can provide significant relief. Exercises like this keep you upright, allowing gravity to aid in digestion. Exercise also causes you to lose weight, which reduces reflux.
Are you aware that the tendency of food to form acid is unrelated to the pH level in food? Acidic foods such as lemons actually become alkaline upon digestion. For those who have acid reflux, this can cause some confusion. Learn the pH of foods if you have acid reflux.
You should exercise on a regular basis if acid reflux is a frequent problem. Going for a walk or doing some water aerobics are excellent ways to help address symptoms. When your body is upright, the gravity can help digestion and retain the food in the stomach where it should be.
For those who are bothered by acid reflux, chewing cinnamon gum after a meal may help. Chewing gum promotes salivation, which neutralizes acid in your stomach. In addition, chewing gum makes people swallow more. Swallowing assists in keeping stomach acids in the stomach.
You can’t enjoy sleep, food, work or life in general when you are bothered by acid reflux. Not taking charge and fighting your acid reflux can lead to more discomfort and problems. Use the tips you just read and you will soon be able to enjoy your meals without having to worry about acid reflux. Your life will be more enjoyable, and you won’t feel pain.