July 5, 2011
Acid Reflux and Sore Throat
Millions of adults and children suffer from sore throat caused by acid reflux. Acid reflux, also called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is caused by certain foods and drink that tend to stimulate excess stomach acids. Most sufferers reach for over-the-counter or prescription medications that offer temporary relief that only mask the symptoms rather than cure the condition. There are natural, holistic cures that offer permanent relief from acid reflux disease that we will discuss in this article.
What is acid reflux?
The digestive system is a complex combination of processes that is used every day to break down food to be used by the body for nourishment. Food and drink enters the mouth, passes through the esophagus to the stomach where food is broken down to nourish the body with the help of stomach acids and pepsin.
How does acid reflux cause sore throat?
Some spicy or acidic foods can cause excess gas in the stomach to the point that the esophageal sphincter, the valve that keeps food from traveling back up the esophagus, is opened and stomach acid is allowed back into the esophagus. These acids may reach the throat causing a sour taste and a sore throat. There is also a burning sensation in the chest area that has been mistaken for a heart attack.
Natural remedies for acid reflux
Certain foods should be avoided to reduce the occurrence or eliminate acid reflux. Spicy foods, fried foods, fatty foods, tomatoes, citrus fruits and their juices, caffeine, garlic, onions, peppermint, chocolate and alcoholic beverages are known to cause acid reflux. Even vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts can trigger acid reflux.
Drinking the right amount of water daily keeps the body hydrated and aids the digestive system. Adequate water intake maintains stomach acids at the proper level. The correct amount of water is half of the body weight in ounces. For instance, if a person weighs 200 pounds then the correct amount of water to drink is 100 ounces per day.
Avoid late evening or night eating so that food is digested before going to bed. Use gravity by elevating the head so that stomach acids will not enter the esophagus. When food portions are reduced the stomach is allowed to empty quicker and the amount of stomach acids is kept at normal levels.
Milk helps reduce the symptoms of acid reflux as do apple cider vinegar. Ginger has been found to reduce acid reflux.
Relief for sore throat
Sore throat is a common symptom of acid reflux. Gargling with warm salt water 3 to 4 times a day is one of the most common natural cures for sore throat pain. Decaffeinated tea with honey works well to alleviate a sore throat. Sucking candy or taking natural lozenges can also relieve a sore throat.
There are many natural ways to beat acid reflux and sore throat that are better than expensive medications or surgery. These suggestions and others found in the ?Reflux Remedy Report? can take you to a life free from acid reflux. Feel free to download this report at refluxremedy.com today.
Filed under Acid Reflux by admin
July 1, 2011
Acid Reflux and Chest Pain
The first time that acid reflux causes chest pain, you may feel as though you are having a heart attack. Acid reflux and chest pain affects thousands, with the burning pain even causing some to rush to their local emergency physicians. Learning how to control acid reflux and chest pain through natural ways, such as diet, allows you to be more comfortable while improving your health.
Symptoms and Facts
If you have undiagnosed GERD, and experience chest pain, the best thing that you can do is seek medical help immediately. While up to sixty percent of chest pain is caused by acid reflux, it is best to be sure that your symptoms aren’t caused by a more serious condition. A diagnosis from a medical professional can be very helpful in combating acid reflux and chest pain. The most common symptoms of reflux, also called GERD, include chest pain, bitter taste in the mouth, and burning along the esophagus.
Reflux can happen anytime, but for most chest pain and burning occur after lying down, but the symptoms can occur anytime. Often, the remedy can be as simple as sitting up and sipping water. For those with more serious acid reflux, however, more dramatic changes in the diet and lifestyle need to be made to experience long term relief. Occasional reflux can also be avoided by making changes in the diet.
Natural Remedies
The longest lasting and most effective ways to reduce acid reflux and chest pain caused by GERD is to ensure you live a healthy lifestyle. Maintaining a good weight and exercise are both helpful in combating the condition, but there are also some short term remedies that you can use. For instance, drinking fat free milk lines the stomach and protects against acid. Drinking water is also a good way to dilute the acid in the stomach, and to reduce the burning sensation experienced.
Caffeine, alcohol and smoking can increase the symptoms of acid reflux, and chest pain can occur when using these products in large amounts. Limit alcohol and caffeinated drinks to reduce symptoms, and stop smoking as soon as possible to improve your overall health, and to help eliminate GERD. Spicy foods, and fatty foods, also increase the symptoms of acid reflux.
Dietary Changes
Milder flavors, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grain products are an ideal diet for everyone, but these types of foods are even more important when experiencing acid reflux and chest pain. A healthy diet that is low in fat can help you reach your ideal weight, as well, which will further reduce the symptoms of acid reflux. If you experience chest pain when lying down at night, you may want to try eating an hour earlier and walking or drinking milk before bed.
With some simple changes and dedication to living a healthier lifestyle, you can eliminate acid reflux and chest pain associated with GERD. Getting a diagnosis from a medical professional is the first step in finding relief from your symptoms.
For more information on acid reflux and chest pain download the Reflux Remedy Report at refluxremedy.com today!
Filed under Acid Reflux by admin
June 30, 2011
Diet for Heartburn
Heartburn is something that strikes almost everyone at some point. It’s that terrible fiery feeling in the chest that’s too often followed by an acidic taste in the mouth and throat that can last for hours. Heartburn is a painful condition that occurs when stomach acid backs up to the esophagus. Fortunately, heartburn can be avoided by removing a few key foods from your diet that are known heartburn triggers. Incorporating other key foods like bananas and milk can also create a diet that is effective at combating heartburn.
Many fruits are the culprit in severe cases of heartburn. Strong citrus fruits are a classic cause of this painful condition. These foods include grapefruit, oranges and even orange juice and create a problem because they’re very acidic. When eaten on an empty stomach the problem is magnified. Many people also find the tomato fruit to be a major cause of their heartburn. Although tomatoes are nutritious and full of lycopene they’re also full of acid that can trigger painful heartburn.
Spicy foods are another culprit. If you want to avoid that fiery feeling in your chest it might help to skip Mexican food, as well as anything with hot peppers or chili in it. While heartburn triggers differ with everyone, spicy foods are a major cause and can be eliminated fairly easily. Introducing milder versions of favorite foods is an easy way to cut back on heartburn symptoms.
Garlic and onion also seem to trigger discomfort in many people. If you eat many meals with onion and garlic try balancing them with sweet potatoes, toast and broiled chicken, all of which can reduce the risk of heartburn after a meal.
Fortunately, there are many ways to change your diet to reduce heartburn completely. Many spices like mint, ginger and fennel can be added to tea or a meal to prevent heartburn after eating. A number of fruits can also relieve the condition by aiding in digestion and preventing the stomach from producing too much acid. Fruits like bananas, apples and papayas are very beneficial. Many vegetables can help as well, like cabbage, carrots and broccoli.
Even certain meats can help eliminate heartburn or prevent it completely. Because excess fat can worsen heartburn, all meat should be drained well before eating. Meats like lean ground beef and chicken breast with the skin removed are excellent at preventing heartburn.
Dairy is perhaps the best thing in a diet for heartburn prevention. Calcium can actually push acid into the stomach when consumed, eliminating it from the esophagus and relieving the pain. Calcium found in cream cheese, low-fat milks and yogurt is the best. Of course, individuals that are lactose-intolerant will need to find something that works for them.
Lastly, fiber can help alleviate heartburn because it prevents indigestion. Whole grain foods will give the acid in your stomach something to break down, preventing it from entering the esophagus completely.
The best way to learn how to eliminate heartburn from your life is to download the Reflux Remedy Report. This report details how to avoid this painful condition without the use of medication or antacids and has an excellent success rate. Visit refluxremedy.com for your report today!
Filed under Acid Reflux by admin
June 21, 2011
Heartburn Natural Remedies
Millions of people worldwide have experienced heartburn at one time or another. It?s when you have persistent heartburn that lasts for two weeks or more that you are diagnosed with acid reflux disease. Happily, there are lifestyle changes you can make and home remedies that you can take to relieve the symptoms of acid reflux disease.
1. Change Your Diet
Foods that are high in acid content, like tomatoes and other tomato products, should be avoided if you suffer from acid reflux disease or chronic heartburn. Red meats and dairy products can also exacerbate symptoms as can products containing caffeine (including chocolate). Avoiding these foods, or only consuming them in small quantities, will help in preventing heartburn from starting. Introduce fruits and vegetables to your diet, try to drink more water and decaffeinated drinks and don?t eat right before bed if you want to find some relief to your symptoms.
2. Increase Your Exercise
Exercise promotes overall body health and can help to aid in digestion. Many people have found that a proper diet, coupled with a regular exercise program have reduced the occurrence of acid reflux.
3. Elevate Your Head
Your insides are ruled by gravity just like your outsides. Stomach acids find it much easier to creep up your esophagus when your head is even with or lower than your stomach. If you don?t have an adjustable bed, try putting some phone books under the legs of the head of your bed or prop yourself up on several pillows. If all else fails, try sleeping in a reclining chair rather than flat on your back. It?s because of the way our bodies are normally positioned that sufferers of heartburn find that their symptoms are often worse at night.
4. Almonds and Apples
A handful of almonds, eaten after meals and chewed completely, alleviate the symptoms for some sufferers. Apples have the same effect but try to choose organic so they aren?t coated with pesticides or wax.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar
If you swallow a few tablespoons of undiluted vinegar during an attack, your symptoms will abate. If you feel an attack coming on, put the same amount in a glass of warm water and drink it; you can do the same to prevent an attack from occurring at all if you?ve eaten something you know you are sensitive to.
6. Aloe Juice
Not many people can take the consistency of aloe juice but, if you can, many sufferers tout this as the #1 home remedy.
7. Chew Gum
Chewing sugarless gum for 30 minutes after a meal will produce enough saliva to dilute the contents of your stomach. It will also help to wash any acid already in your esophagus back down.
8. Keep a Heartburn Journal
Often times, prevention is the best cure. Keeping a journal of what you eat and drink and when you eat, sleep and exercise may help you create a list of foods that you are sensitive to.
For more home remedies and to learn more about acid reflux, feel free to download your copy of the Reflux Remedy Report at refluxremedy.com today!
Filed under Acid Reflux by admin