If you have acid reflux, you’re aware of how bad the pain can be. There are times it’s bad enough to keep you from doing the things you enjoy. The good side is that there are plenty of things that can ease your pain. Read on to learn more about tackling acid reflux successfully.
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.
You need to exercise if you have GERD, but don’t overdo it. Losing weight is a huge factor in controlling acid reflux, so go out for a run, play some soccer or go for a swim. That said, don’t push your body too hard or you may find your GERD becomes active.
Exercise is an important habit for those who have GERD, but your timing is key. Wait for two hours after eating before you become active, and don’t follow your activity with a sports drink as they are acidic and can make your GERD flare up. Instead, drink water or milk to refuel.
Always keep gravity in mind. Remember that acid is being held down, so when you position your body in a way where down isn’t towards your feet, problems will ensue. Keep your head up and your stomach uncompressed, then you should be able to find relief from acid reflux all day long.
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!
Smokers need to quit if they suffer from acid reflux. Nicotine facilitates the production of stomach acid, increasing occurrences of acid reflux. However, quitting cold turkey can also worsen acid reflux. Quit slowly instead.
Try a spoonful of honey. While there is no hard evidence that honey treats acid reflux, it is very useful to soothe and relieve the painful burning associated with it. Honey will coat your esophagus in a protective and soothing layer, and help neutralize some of the acid. If you are looking for some relief until you can identify and treat the cause of your heartburn, a little honey can be just what you need to get back to sleep.
If you smoke, you need to quit. Obviously, there are many reasons why you should quit, but if you suffer from acid reflux, this is yet another reason. Smoking slows down your digestion and reduces your saliva production, which worsens acid reflux symptoms. In addition, smoking harms your LES muscle, further worsening your acid reflux. Quitting this terrible habit can significantly improve your acid reflux, not to mention all the other benefits.
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.
Are you overweight? Being too heavy could cause your stomach acid to go back up into your esophagus. Therefore, making an effort to eat right and exercise daily will help you with your symptoms. If necessary, speak with your doctor to see if they have any advice or suggestions for you.
Consider keeping a food diary if you suffer from reflux. There are several foods that are often found to be acid reflux triggers for some individuals. They include things like tomatoes, onions, coffee, tea and even chocolate. If you keep a food diary, you can easily spot when your reflux problems are taking place and which foods appear to be causing the problems.
Knowing your triggers is truly the only way to totally conquer your acid reflux. If you eat tomatoes and experience discomfort, stop eating tomatoes. Keep a meal diary tracking everything you eat and drink and a mood diary which logs how you feel, then compare them to see what your problem areas are.
If you have acid reflux, there are some natural solutions that will help reduce some of your heartburn. If you begin using calcium supplements, you can start alleviating heartburn. The reason why calcium can reduce, or even prevent, heartburn is because it strengthens the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Since calcium isn’t an anti-acid, it won’t provide fast relief. However, over time, it will provide long-term relief.
Don’t allow acid reflux to consume your life. You just have to put what you’ve read into action. You need to make an effort to take back your life.
