Many people suffer from acid reflux and do not even realize that they have a treatable health problem. If you are constantly noticing heartburn throughout the day or even at night, you may have a reflux problem. You can learn more about this common problem in the article that follows.
Try to lose some weight. If you are overweight, especially around your abdomen, it will put increased pressure on your stomach. This can contribute to an increase in acid reflux symptoms. Simply losing a couple of pounds will reduce the pressure on your stomach, which in turn will reduce acid reflux.
The way you sit after eating can affect acid reflux and can keep it from traveling up your esophagus. After eating, try to remain sitting upright for around two to three hours before lying down. If you’re having problems when you lay down later, prop your head up about six inches.
When you eat high fat foods like fried chicken, your stomach empties very slowly. This allows it to become distended and your esophagus may fill up with acid. Choose healthier foods like lean proteins or beans to avoid this situation and you should be able to control your acid reflux like a pro.
We truly are what we eat. If we eat high-fat foods, we will become obese and be at risk for acid reflux. It is important that we instead focus on low-acid foods, which are lean and healthy. Choose vegetables and whole-grain carbohydrates along with lean protein for your meals to curb your suffering.
Stress can cause acid reflux. Stress produces more acid inside your stomach. Relax after you eat. This could range from meditation to something as simple as watching TV.
Certain foods cause acid reflex more than other foods. Keeping a diary of your eating habits can help you understand when acid reflux is at its worst. After you’ve eaten, if you begin to feel acid reflux symptoms, write down what you ate, what the symptoms are, and how they are affecting you.
Reflux may be so painful that it may seem like a heart attack. Be sure to attend to chest pain right away. It is possible that a heart attack is occurring or is close. Talk to a doctor to learn about what to do. Do not take chances when it comes to chest pain. The results can be life threatening.
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.
If you are pregnant and experiencing acid reflux, try to relax. This problem is often no longer an issue after you have the baby. It is a symptom of the baby pushing on all of your innards causing the acid in your belly to rise. Watch what you eat and avoid laying down until an hour has passed after you eat.
There are certain foods that trigger acid reflux. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to avoid these if possible. One example is chocolate. While dark chocolate doesn’t appear to be as bad as high-fat milk chocolate, they both contain caffeine and cocoa, which are both known to cause acid reflux.
If you have acid reflux and you are overweight, shed some pounds. Acid reflux is very common among obese and overweight people. Even just losing a very small percentage of weight can make dramatic improvements in your acid reflux symptoms. Weight loss can be achieved through smaller portion sizes, not crash diets.
Make exercise a part of your healthy eating plan. Moderate exercise can facilitate the process involved in digesting your food properly, and it can also help you to lose excess pounds. Both of these things can have a positive effect on acid reflux problems. Make a point to work out at a moderate level at least three times a week for best results.
Reduce the amount of caffeine that you consume during the day to help with your acid reflux. Caffeine can cause gas to build up in your stomach, which can lead to inflammation. Try not to drink a lot of coffee or soda during the day to limit the extremity of your condition.
One way to help your body combat acid reflux is by increasing your intake of certain amino acids, one of which is called glutamine. Glutamine can be found in certain foods such as eggs, fish, spinach, milk and a variety of different foods. Increasing your intake of these types of foods will help you combat your acid reflux.
The information provided to you in the above article should help you determine if you are one of the many people that have acid reflux problems. If you are, use what you have learned to assist in decreasing the negative effects it has on your life. Soon you will be enjoying life as you did before.
