Acid Reflux

October 20, 2011

Diet for Reflux

A diet for reflux can help you avoid the consequences of consuming foods and beverages that are harmful to your stomach. Acid reflux is not just an uncomfortable inconvenience. When acids back up through the top of the stomach into the esophagus, it can cause inflammation and result in serious harm to the lining. An acid reflux diet involves abstaining from foods and beverages that cause heartburn and eating healthy foods that have a calming effect on your digestion.

Those who suffer from acid reflux often find themselves chewing antacids after meals or downing pills to prevent the reflux from occurring. The problem with chewing antacids after meals is that by the time you chew them, you are already in pain and chewable antacids may contain unwanted, or even harmful ingredients. The problem with pills to prevent acid reflux is that there are often many unwanted side-effects and problems that may occur as a result of long term use. A diet for reflux can help heal your problem and keep you feeling well without all the worry over whether you have your medication on hand, or what your medication will do to you.

When you have problems with frequent heartburn, the first foods you should cut out of your diet are acidic foods. Citrus fruits and tomatoes are often triggers for an episode of reflux, but so are some starches, sugars, dairy products, and meat. The foods that trigger your heartburn may be different than the foods that cause others trouble. For instance, some people find that chocolate gives them heartburn, while others who suffer from acid reflux can handle chocolate just fine, but end up in pain over something as simple as a few french fries.

The first step of an acid reflux diet involves figuring out what your particular triggers happen to be. You can do this by keeping a food journal over the course of one or two weeks. For the best results, record everything you put in your mouth as well as your reactions to each item. Once you have pinpointed your trigger foods, the next step is to remove them from your menu and test different ones. In this way, you will discover the foods that cause flare-ups of reflux and will be able to structure a diet plan around your particular needs. Your diet should include grains, such as oats and bran; fresh vegetables, low-acid fruit, such as bananas and apples; and lean meats, including poultry and fish.

Eating is not the only action that can cause acid reflux. If you have heartburn problems, try abstaining from drinking beverages that contain alcohol, carbonation, caffeine, sugar, or citric acid. Smoking and certain types of drugs can exacerbate the condition.

Another way to decrease attacks of reflux is to eat several small meals throughout the day rather than eat two or three large meals. Large meals result in more acid production and empty stomachs can also bring on heartburn. A diet for reflux should leave you feeling energized and healthy rather than feeling hungry or too full. Contact Reflux Remedy at refluxremedy.com to learn more about diets for acid reflux today!

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October 18, 2011

Do I Have Acid Reflux

The pain and burning of acid reflux are hard to ignore. If you have a fiery sensation in your chest after consuming certain foods or drinks, you may have acid reflux. Acid reflux occurs when the acids in your stomach that break down the foods you eat rise up into your esophagus, the tube that carries food to your stomach. Also known as heartburn or acid indigestion, acid reflux can make the simple act of digesting a meal difficult and painful. If left untreated, acid reflux may damage the tissues that line your esophagus. Seek medical attention immediately for unexplained pain in your chest or abdomen.

Why Do I Have Acid Reflux?

A ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES, controls the opening between your stomach and esophagus. When you swallow foods or beverages, the LES opens to allow the food to enter your stomach. In the stomach, digestive acids break down food into small particles. When the LES closes properly, undigested food and acid remain in your stomach. When the LES opens at the wrong times or doesn’t close all the way, acidic digestive materials can rise up into your esophagus – a condition called acid reflux.

Many factors can contribute to acid reflux. During pregnancy, some women have reflux when the growing fetus pushes against the stomach, causing the LES to open at the wrong times. Being overweight can lead to acid reflux, especially if weight is concentrated around your waist. A hiatal hernia, a condition in which your upper stomach pushes above your diaphragm, is a common cause of acid reflux.

Along with physical changes that can cause heartburn, certain foods, drinks and habits often trigger acid reflux. You may notice that you have a painful, burning sensation in your chest after drinking coffee or eating chili, salsa or pizza with spicy sauce. Citrus fruits or juices, garlic, onions, fried or fatty foods, chocolate and mint are common triggers for acid reflux. Lying down immediately after you eat or wearing clothes that fit tightly around your waist can also cause acid reflux.

Is Acid Reflux Serious?

Occasional acid reflux is not uncommon; in fact, many people will experience heartburn at certain times. You may find that if you avoid specific foods that increase the acid content in your stomach, like spicy tomato sauce, black coffee or chili with raw onions, you can avoid flare-ups of acid reflux. However, if you have persistent heartburn more than twice a week, you may have a more serious condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.

The frequent exposure of your esophagus to digestive acid can harm the tissues that line your esophagus. In addition to chronic acid reflux, people with GERD may develop throat pain when they swallow, hoarseness or a painful cough. Scar tissue on the esophagus can lead to narrowing of the passageway, which makes swallowing difficult. Fortunately, acid reflux can be treated with changes in your diet, modifications in your lifestyle and an effective reflux remedy. For more information on acid reflux be sure to visit Reflux Remedy at refluxremedy.com today!

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October 11, 2011

Healing Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is a condition that many people suffer with every day. It’s the result of gastric acids traveling up the esophagus from the stomach. There are many causes of acid reflux, and the symptoms vary in severity from person to person. Once an individual is diagnosed with acid reflux disease, there are various ways it can be treated. Healing the condition is possible, but it may take some trial and error.

If you have symptoms of acid reflux disease, there are several steps you can take to find relief.

Common Acid Reflux symptoms include:

  • heartburn
  • excessive burping
  • unrelenting hiccups
  • nausea
  • regurgitation
  • difficulty swallowing.

When these issues become severe, it may be the sign of a more serious disease. It’s a good idea to speak with your physician about your symptoms.

For mild cases of acid reflux, basic lifestyle changes may alleviate the pain. If you are overweight, it may be causing your acid reflux. Changing your diet and eating nutritious, balanced meals may combat the problem. Alcohol, caffeine and nicotine can also contribute to acid reflux. Limiting your intake of these substances may greatly reduce your symptoms. Stress produces stomach acid, so practicing relaxation techniques after meals may also help.

Some foods may cause acid reflux. To decrease the likelihood of getting acid reflux after a meal, avoid spicy foods like garlic, hot peppers or onions. Fatty foods, chocolate and citrus fruits should be avoided as well. Vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli may also increase the amount of acid in your stomach. Lowering the acidity in your digestive tract can lessen the chance of reflux.

There are certain foods you can consume to heal your acid reflux. To improve your digestion and soothe your heartburn, drink cold milk or apple cider with each meal. You can also drink herbal tea with lavender to control indigestion. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day will help regulate the acidity in your stomach. You can add ginger root to your meal as well. Ginger absorbs acid, so some excess in your stomach will be soaked up.

Eating small meals frequently throughout the day will keep your stomach active and emptying regularly. Chew gum after each meal to produce saliva. The alkaline in it stabilizes stomach acid. Do not lay down within two hours of eating, and sleep with your head raised several inches. Certain medications can also heal acid reflux disease. Antacids containing aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide neutralize stomach acid. Histamine-2 blockers suppress acid, and foaming agents coat the stomach to stop reflux.

Acid reflux disease is painful and frustrating, and it can affect your everyday life. The problem can be treated if you understand the causes of your condition. In addition to healing acid reflux, you can take preventative measures to ensure the problems do not return. It is a good idea to seek the advice of health care professional before beginning any treatment. Acid reflux disease can be healed, and it does not have to rule your life. For more information and ways to heal acid reflux, be sure to visit Reflux Remedy at www.refluxremedy.com today!

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September 19, 2011

Acid Reflux Vomiting

People sometimes hear about acid reflux vomiting and dismiss it as a minor irritation. This is because they do not suffer from acid reflux. They do not know about the burning sensation others suffer in their chests or the sudden bouts of vomiting. They have not gone through life with the taste of acid and bile in the back of their throat. They probably do not know anyone who has had a hole eaten through the lining of their esophagus because of the constant presence of regurgitated stomach acid in their throat.

Acid reflux is a recurring physical phenomenon that involves the involuntary ascent of acid from the stomach into the esophagus. At the very least, this phenomenon causes a painful, hot sensation in the chest that some people will identify as heartburn. Sometimes the acid will rise higher and bring the taste of bile and stomach acid into the back of the palate. In very severe cases, people who suffer from acid reflux will need to periodically vomit the acid and the bile because the pressure of these fluids is so high.

Why this happens to some people and not to others is still mysterious to doctors. There appears to be a hereditary link. Certain foods also seem to trigger severe outbreaks of acid reflux. Many suggest that stress is a factor.

What physicians do know about acid reflux vomiting are the terrible effects of this syndrome. Even in so-called minor cases, which only cause occasionally disturbing heartburn in patients, the recurring presence of acid in the esophagus causes lasting damage. The acid from a person’s stomach is so strong that it can, over time, eat completely through the lining of the esophagus. Once it has done that, a victim of this condition will also begin vomiting blood. The acid will not stop there. It will now begin to eat away at any organ in the chest that it contacts, such as the lungs or the heart.

There have been a number of medical attempts at treating acid reflux vomiting. None have met with unqualified success. Nexium is a popular drug for treating this condition, but its success is limited.

Proponents of natural remedies point out that using Nexium or some other drug only adds more chemicals to a situation that is already overloaded with chemicals. Some homeopathic cures recommend the inclusion or elimination of certain foods in a person’s diet. Examples of foods that allegedly suppress acid reflux vomiting are an old combination of milk and the soft drink 7-up or the regular eating of fruits that will absorb the acid, such as apples. Some suggest that many cases of acid reflux are actually misdiagnosed hiatal hernias and recommend treatment for that condition to remove the symptoms of acid reflux.

As time goes by, more people and more physicians are taking acid reflux vomiting seriously. This condition affects millions of Americans. Each day researchers learn more about its destructive effects on human organs and quality of life. Hopefully, the days of quickly dismissing this serious malady as nothing more than a bothersome trait are long past. For ways to eliminate acid reflux from your life be sure to visit Reflux Remedy at refluxremedy.com today!

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