Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease ? or GERD ? happens when acid in your stomach chronically backs up into your esophagus. This acid doesn?t belong there and irritates the lining, causing heart burn. If this happens to you more than twice a week, doctors label it as GERD.

It all starts with the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). It?s a muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, which should open and close to manage the flow of stomach contents. A normal LES prevents food and acid from backing up into the esophagus. An LES that isn?t functioning properly leads to GERD.

So, what causes the LES to act up repeatedly and essentially cause GERD? Medications, foods, certain health conditions, and various habits are among the many things doctors are pointing at.

Medications

Certain medicines, such as NSAIDS ? like aspirin and ibuprofen? have been linked to GERD. Research has shown them to commonly cause this problem, or increase the severity of symptoms in GERD sufferers. Other medications known to aggravate GERD include iron supplements, antibiotics, potassium and sedatives. If you?re having trouble with any of these medications, talk to your doctor for a possible solution.

Foods

There isn?t any one food that causes heartburn in all GERD sufferers. Everyone has their own specific triggers. Generally fried food, anything containing caffeine, alcohol, garlic, mint and onion are a few common ones. Keeping a food journal that documents what you ate and your reaction can help pinpoint your specific triggers.

Health Conditions

Hormones are thought to regulate the LES, so GERD and the associated heartburn often occurs during pregnancy, when hormones are out of whack.

Additionally, approximately 20 percent of people with Type 1 Diabetes have something called gastroparesis. The condition causes a delay in emptying stomach contents, which in turn can cause pressure build up, resulting in reflux.

When it comes to Asthma and GERD, there is some argument as to which came first for those that suffer from both. Some argue the constant coughing and constriction of the chest that occurs during an asthma attack puts pressure on the chest, resulting in reflux and essentially leading to GERD. Others say GERD sufferers may inhale acid from the esophagus causing irritation of the lungs. Doctors often point to GERD as a cause of asthma in adult asthma sufferers or if asthma gets worse at night or when lying down. Nevertheless, there appears to be a link between the two.

Obesity can also cause reflux. The additional weight causes pressure on the abdomen, resulting in acid build up.

Hiatal Hernia, a condition that occurs when the stomach is pushed above the diaphragm, has also been linked to GERD. The problem has been shown to worsen symptoms, although has not yet been proven to be a direct cause of GERD.

Habits

Even simple things like smoking and wearing tight fitting clothing are sometimes attributed to GERD. Smoking slows the function of the LES, causing acid to back up into the esophagus. Tight fitting clothing places constrictions on the chest and abdomen with the same results. Even snacking before bed can lead to GERD, as eating less than 2 hours before lying down can result in reflux.

For more information on GERD and natural remedies, please check out our book Reflux Remedy Report.

If you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for an extended period of time, perhaps you should try some simple few natural acid reflux remedies. Most chronic GERD sufferers have not even considered the possibility that alternative treatments can permanently cure them. Because of this, they have become addicted to antacids that slowly lose their effectiveness over time.

If you have struggled with GERD symptoms for several months or years, this article was written with you in mind. The next few paragraphs will teach you five simple ways to cure acid reflux once and for all.

Secrets of an Acid Reflux Treatment

Everyone suffers from acid reflux and heartburn occasionally, but it is a daily fact of life for many people. Chronic GERD is the result of a damaged and weakened lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which acts as a valve over the stomach. Natural cures for acid reflux are a safe and effective way to deal with this issue.

The LES becomes weakened over time through unhealthy eating habits. However, by learning how to properly care for your LES, you can eliminate GERD from your life and never have to deal with acid reflux symptoms again.

Here are a few tips to help you get started with your acid reflux treatment tonight!

Natural GERD Remedy Secrets

1. Your LES needs to have time to heal. As a result, you should avoid certain foods and drinks for about a week when you begin your acid reflux treatment. Avoid coffee, alcoholic beverages, carbonated drinks, acidic foods, spicy foods, and crunchy items like toast, crackers, and cereals.

2. You should drink plenty of water to help your LES heal. Drinking water after a meal or snack will wash food particles away from the LES and help it to form a tight seal over the stomach.

3. You should protect your LES from further damage and infection by eating three tablespoons of honey a day. Honey is one of the oldest healing agents known to man. It will coat the affected areas, preventing infection and speeding healing.

4. Because of its healing properties, aloe vera juice is another one of our effective active reflux remedies. You can pick some up at your local health food store.

5. Whenever you feel an attack coming on, eat an apple. Apples work as a natural antacid and many of our customers have had great success with them. In fact, many people carry a plastic bag with sliced apples around with them?just in case. Red apples work best.

Never Deal with Acid Reflux Symptoms Again

If you can heal your LES, you will never have to deal with the pain and misery of acid reflux again. If this sounds good to you (and why wouldn?t it!), please download our Acid Reflux Treatment Report today. There you will find research-based acid reflux remedies that will cure you in less than a day.

Joe Barton makes a 100% guaranteed promise to teach you a complete acid reflux treatment. Learn Barton Publishing?s 7 step acid reflux remedies to cure your acid reflux from home.