Stomach acid reflux is a pain, plain and simple. Yes, there are worse things that can happen but there is ultimately little that offers greater distaste than having a negative reaction from your body simply because you eat or drink. It seems unfair, to say the very least. You have to eat to live. That you learn in Life 101. Food is essential. So, how is it that something so essential can send the body into such a burning rage that it turns you off from eating altogether? It just doesn’t make any sense. It appears that you’ve stumbled upon a situation where winning is impossible. You have acid reflux.

Stomach acid reflux disease is a condition that arises when the enzymes and acids of the stomach become hyperactivity, leave the stomach and make their way into the esophagus. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a round muscular valve that is located in the lower portion of the esophagus, upper portion of the stomach. The main purpose of this valve is to allow food and drink access from the esophagus to the stomach while protecting the esophagus. The valve does this by opening to allow food and drink to pass through to the stomach then closing immediately after so that the acids which grow active when food hits the stomach don’t escape to the esophagus.

Often time there is a stomach abnormality that is known as a hiatal hernia. This abnormality occurs when the LES and the upper part of the stomach find its way above the diaphragm which is suppose to separate the stomach from the chest. The diaphragm usually does an excellent job at keeping stomach acids in the stomach but if there is irritation the diaphragm neglects to properly do its job resulting in stomach acid reflux.

There are triggers that can cause the irritation that would facilitate stomach acid reflux. Avoiding these triggers could mean eliminating acid reflux and enjoying eating all over again. Here are a few things that could possibly be triggering your acid reflux:

• If you are eating larger meals or you are lying down right after you eat, this could certainly be a trigger. Try eating smaller meals several times a day. Smaller meals are easier on the digestive system. The energy it takes for your acids to break down smaller meals is far less than it would take to break down meals that are larger. Also, try eating 2 hours before bedtime.
• If you are one that loves a good carbonated drink or an alcoholic beverage, you may want to consider switching up and trying water. Water is great as it aids in the digestive process and soothes the esophagus. Water has also been known to stabilize stomach acids.
• Eliminate citrus, garlic and spicy foods from your diet. There are ways to enjoy flavorful foods that aren’t a strain on your digestive system. Opt for alternatives. Try hearty fruits, vegetables and salads. Not only will your acid reflux be at ease, your overall health will benefit.

You don’t have to suffer from stomach acid reflux forever. Try altering your lifestyle–the benefits will be well worth it.

Sufferers from acid reflux disease will be the first to tell you that this condition is no piece of cake. Acid reflux can have a great effect on your social life, your work life and ultimately your livelihood. How inconvenient is it for food (an imperative source for life) to be seen as something to be feared. Many sufferers of acid reflux feel cursed at the very heart of the condition. Eating can cause pain and discomfort, but not eating can cause sufferers their lives. At first glance it appears to be a lose/lose situation. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be.

A little background on acid reflux: acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a disease that allows the acids and enzymes in your stomach which are used to break down foods to escape the stomach making way to the esophagus where it causes a burn known as heartburn. The acids making way to the esophagus is an indicator that the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is a ring of muscle at the entrance of the stomach isn’t closing all the way or is opening too often allowing the acid to escape. If this happens two or more times a week you are likely suffering from acid reflux disease.

Though it is a great inconvenience, to say the very least, acid reflux doesn’t have to be the end of the world. In fact, you can be a sufferer of acid reflux disease yet still live a healthy and happy life.

First you want to start by eliminate those things that may be acid reflux triggers. A huge trigger for acid reflux as well as other diseases is stress. Try to eliminate the stresses in your life as much as you can. Also, you may want to monitor your eating habits. Try eating smaller meals several times a day as opposed to taking on large meals. Large meals send the body into overdrive as the acids in the stomach attempt to break these meals down for proper digestion. Drink less carbonated drinks and opt instead for water. Water does an awesome job at aiding with digestion while stabilizing stomach acids.

Once you eliminate your acid reflux triggers you should experience a noticeable improvement in the condition. If there are lingering symptoms here are a few home remedies you may want to consider trying:

• Baking Soda: Baking soda is a great natural antacid. Add a tablespoon of baking soda to a glass of water. The water should begin to fizzle. Drink that water down as it fizzles for instant relief.
• Fennel seed: Take half a teaspoon of Fennel seeds and slowly chew the seeds after your meals. Fennel seeds contain Anethole which is known to suppress spasms of the stomach.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple Cider Vinegar is a good acid that helps to suppress the acid buildup in the stomach. Simply add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water and drink the concoction while eating your dinner.

Looking for a few more home remedies? Visit refluxremedy.com today!

Though acid reflux is prevalent in thousands of people the causes for the disease tend to vary from person to person. What may send your insides blazing may be a walk in the park for another sufferer of acid reflux and vice versa. The key to determining and tackling the causes for acid reflux would be to determine your specific triggers and take the necessary precautions to eliminate the triggers from your lifestyle thus improving (or eliminating) acid reflux altogether.

If you are unfamiliar with what is happening to your body before and during acid reflux here’s a little bit about what you should know–Acid reflux occurs when the acids in your stomach make way to your esophagus causing a burn that is referred to as heartburn. This heartburn can be felt in the throat (esophagus area), the chest and often times reaches down into the abdomen.

There is a small circular ring known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) that is located at the top of your stomach and at the bottom of the esophagus. The key to avoiding acid reflux all relies on the efficiency and functionality of this ring. The ring is a muscle. The job of this muscle is to close immediately after food or drink passes through, leaving the esophagus and making way to the stomach. If this muscle neglects to close or if this muscle opens too often the acids in the stomach have room to escape the stomach area making way to the esophagus causing acid reflux.

There is another way for stomach acids to reach the esophagus. This is by way of a stomach abnormality knows as a hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia occurs when the LES and the upper part of the stomach moves above the diaphragm. One job of the diaphragm is to serve as a muscle that separates the stomach from the chest thus keeping stomach acids in the stomach. If you are suffering from a hiatal hernia, stomach acids can move into your esophagus causing a burning sensation and other acid reflux symptoms including regurgitation, nausea, bloating, burping, dysphagia (a narrowing of the esophagus), hiccups and weight loss.

You may be unaware but there is a possibility that there is something that you are doing that is causing acid reflux to take place. Here are a few tips on things that may need to be altered to eliminate the disorder:

• Try eating smaller meals instead of larger meals. Smaller meals are more easily broken down by the acids in the stomach.
• Drink lots of water. Eliminate drinks that are alcoholic or carbonated. Water does an excellent job at stabilizing the stomach acids and aiding in digestion. If you are already experiencing acid reflux symptoms, water may be used to soothe the burn in the esophagus.
• Don’t eat too close to bed time. Eat at least two hours prior to bed time. This allows sufficient time for your body to digest foods.

Diet can directly affect acid reflux. Alter your diet, alter your life. For more information on acid reflux causes visit refluxremedy.com.

Foods that cause acid reflux don’t necessarily cause acid reflux for the reasons you might first think . . .

Most people are under the assumption that eating pizza or hero sandwiches trigger acid reflux and that’s simply not the case.

The hidden ingredients in food and the lack of nutrients are more responsible for triggering acid reflux symptoms than any one food.

Certainly eating bad food can make acid reflux symptoms worse, yet it’s not the food that did it, rather it may be the type of oil used to fry the fry that triggered your acid reflux.

Also eating bad foods at the worst times can be a acid reflux factor as well. A food eaten earlier in the day may not trigger your acid reflux, yet when that same food is consumed late at night you can almost guarantee an acid reflux reaction.

In other words it’s not what kind of foods that cause acid reflux, rather it’s when you eat food, how much you eat and what toxic ingredients are in the food.

Canola oil is rapeseed oil and has been shown to cause liver cancer in rats, plus what’s worse is now chemical companies like Monsanto make Genetically Manufactured Organisms (GMO) that can help cause acid reflux and other digestive problems in animals and humans.

Always avoid excitotoxins like monosodium glutamate and aspartame, even the new one called Neotame. Basically any artificial flavor, natural flavor or food additive is suspect of causing foods to trigger acid reflux symptoms.

Try using natural unprocessed items like RAW Celtic sea salt on your raw vegetables. This kind of sea salt is good for you, whereas table salt is bad for your acid reflux symptoms.

If you eat foods that cure acid reflux instead of foods that trigger acid reflux your digestive system will function better and the better your digestive system works the less acid reflux you?ll have.

Foods can hurt and some so-called foods can harm, but natural raw unprocessed foods always help, plus processed, denatured or cooked foods never help cure acid reflux, but usually cause it.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass

Health Advocate