Acid reflux disease is very much connected to what you eat. Food is one of the major contributors to acid reflux disease. Acid reflux disease has the ability to cause long-term harmful effects. If you have acid reflux you may be experiencing heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, nausea and hoarseness. The term ‘You are what you eat‘ couldn’t be more true when it comes to acid reflux. Your diet has a lot to do with how you feel. There are foods that are great for preventing and treating acid reflux. There are also eating habits that are known to decrease the chances of developing acid reflux disease.

Finding the Right Balance

The body needs the right balance of foods in order to perform properly. Many people think that foods that have an acidic taste are foods that cause acid reflux. This isn’t always the case. Citrus fruits have an acidic taste but are more neutral when they are digested. You need a balance of acid forming and alkaline forming foods to have good nutrition. A diet that is heavy in either acidic or alkaline foods can cause an imbalance. Too much acid forming foods in the body causes an increase in hydrogen levels. An abundance of hydrogen can increase your chances of developing acid reflux.

Types of Foods

The kind of food you eat is directly related to acid reflux disease. You should be eating a wide variety of healthy foods. Fatty foods are not good for acid reflux. The higher the fat content of the foods you eat, the more your body will need to produce stomach acid to break it down. Fat molecules are more difficult to digest and therefore cause the stomach to create more acid. If you have a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the presence of more acid can be dangerous because the acid may seep into the esophagus. You should focus on eating low fat protein, fruits and vegetables. Drinking water, aloe juice and eating ginger and papaya are great for acid reflux prevention and treatment. You should avoid alcohol, caffeine, sodas, onions and garlic.

Eating Habits and Lifestyle

Acid reflux may be triggered by a variety of foods. The food that triggers your acid reflux may not be what triggers someone else’s. To find out what is causing you to reflux you should keep a daily food journal. When you feel acid reflux, look to see what may have caused it to occur. Try to remove that item from your diet, but be sure to find an equally nutritious replacement. Your eating habits can contribute to acid reflux disease. You should avoid eating right before bed as this can cause the production of excess stomach acid at a time when you are in a laying down. This may permit stomach acid to enter the esophagus.

If you would like to find out more information about the types of food and eating habits that can help you to prevent acid reflux, review The Reflux Remedy Report today.

There is a muscle that is located above the stomach and just below the esophagus. It is called the lower esophageal sphincter or LES. This muscle acts as a link between the esophagus and stomach, allowing food to pass from one to the other during the process of digestion. Some people have or develop a weak LES, which can be harmful. A dysfunctional LES sometimes allows stomach acid to leave the stomach and travel up the esophagus and even to your throat. This is harmful because stomach acid is corrosive and irritating to areas that are not naturally protected against it. When stomach acid and food is regurgitated or brought up to the esophagus, this is called acid reflux. Frequent acid reflux— acid reflux that occurs more than a few times per week is commonly classified as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Stomach acid in the esophagus can cause a burning sensation, commonly known as heartburn.

Causes

• Unhealthy behaviors can promote acid reflux and GERD. Habits like smoking and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can encourage the development of GERD. You should also practice eating lighter meals. Don’t eat a meal right before going to bed because this promotes gastric acid production.
• Some foods can cause acid reflux. Try to avoid foods that have a lot of caffeine, garlic and onions. You should also eat meals that are low in fat, because this is easier for the stomach to break down. Fatty foods require more gastric acid to digest.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause acid reflux. These over the counter drugs include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, all found in many readily available pain killers. Vitamin supplements that have too much potassium, calcium and iron can contribute to GERD.
• Medical conditions can also increase your chances of developing GERD. People that are pregnant, have diabetes, obese or have respiratory problems are more likely to develop GERD.

Symptoms

• The main symptom of GERD and acid reflux is heartburn. Heartburn is experienced by about 40 percent of the population. The occurrence of heartburn doesn’t necessarily mean that GERD is present. If you have persistent heartburn, then you may be suffering from GERD.
• Regurgitation is another symptom of GERD. When acid and/or food back up into the throat, this is called regurgitation. This may be joined with burping and a bitter taste. Regurgitation causes painful irritation in the esophagus and throat.
• Other less common symptoms of acid reflex and GERD include nausea, chest pain and abdominal pain. Atypical symptoms include having asthma, laryngitis, a persistent cough and sinusitis.

Management and Treatment

• Diet is a contributing factor for acid reflux and GERD. Eliminate fattening foods and alcohol from your diet. You should eat a balance of acid and alkaline forming foods. Meals should not be eaten right before bed. Make sure that you drink a lot of water along with aloe juice, papaya and ginger. For more treatment methods and information visit www.refluxremedy.com today.