If you suffer from acid reflux, you are one in literally tens of millions in this country. Acid reflux affect most adults at one point or another. Instead of just suffering through the pain, take the steps necessary to prevent these symptoms from occurring in the first place. The article below will show you how.
Stay in an upright position for at least two hours after eating to help prevent acid reflux. When you recline, you are more prone to acid reflux flareups. Your esophagus may feel better when you stand or sit up.
Believe it or not, your clothing can affect how often you get acid reflux. Clothing that fits too tightly around the midsection will put excess pressure on the stomach, making reflux occur more often and with more pain. Opt for clothing with a loose fit. Only wear pants and belts that are tight enough to stay up without pressing too hard on the midsection.
Did you know that smoking cigarettes could be contributing to your problem with acid reflux? Nicotine causes the esophageal sphincter to relax. When it relaxes, it can allow acid to come up and cause you pain. Kick the habit and you might just kick the acid reflux problem at the same time.
Keep a journal. If you can track when and what you are doing when you have an acid attack, you might be able to alter your life to eliminate those attacks. Write down what you eat, what you have done that day and if you have had any discomforts. You may be surprised at what you find and how easy it is to eliminate some of your problems.
After you make a meal, wait at least 30 minutes for it to cool down before consumption. When you eat food that is too high in temperature, your body can react with heartburn and acid reflux. Make a side platter with your meal so you can consume that while you are waiting for your main dish to cool.
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.
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.
Try to drink mostly in between meals if you suffer from acid reflux. When moz is full of food an liquid, the lower esophageal sphincter is under constant pressure. This can cause it to allow the food and acid in your stomach to come back up into your esophagus and destroy the lining within.
Consult with your doctor for advice about surgery for intense acid reflux. Fundoplication is a very effective surgical procedure for acid reflux. This is a procedure that creates a new valve for reducing stomach acid from entering your esophagus. This procedure is a tool used to permanently get rid of acid reflux.
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.
If you have acid reflux disease, avoid exercising right after a meal. When your stomach is trying to digest food, it is not smart to work out and have the food moving all around in your stomach; this can lead to acid reflux. It is wise to weight at least an hour after a meal to exercise.
Increasing your vitamin D exposure can be a great way to help reduce your acid reflux. Vitamin D can be naturally found outside in the sun's rays. Getting enough of it is important to ensure that your body is producing enough antimicrobial peptides that can help eliminate infections in the esophagus.
Try following a gluten-free diet. Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, barley, and rye. For some people, gluten can actually cause acid reflux. If your acid reflux is severe, you could even have a life-threatening condition called celiac disease. This is a condition where your acid reflux is so bad that it is literally eating away your insides. Have yourself tested for this condition if you have extreme acid reflux, and if you do, you can eliminate your acid reflux by going gluten free.
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.
Watch your intake of acidic foods, including oranges, grapefruits and tomatoes, if you experience acid reflux discomfort on a regular basis. These foods can promote an acidic environment in your digestive tract, and they are often triggers for reflux. By limiting your intake of them, you just might find the relief you are looking for.
As was mentioned at earlier in this article, millions of Americans have the unfortunate experience of having to deal with acid reflux. If you are one of them, make sure that you implement the tips mentioned above. Not only will you alleviate your symptoms now, but you'll prevent them from occurring int he future.