Adopt Healthy Eating Habits As Home Remedies For Acid Reflux

Here are some healthy eating habits that you can adopt as home remedies for acid reflux.

Many of them may sound rather familiar, but are actually often neglected or ignored in our modern day lives. Do take them seriously, as these healthy habits could go a long way in helping you cope with your acid reflux problems.

Limit your food intake per meal

One of the important healthy eating habits to prevent against acid reflux is not to overeat.

When you overeat, your esophageal sphincter cannot close properly, and this can cause your stomach acids to back flow into the esophagus, resulting in frequent heartburn.

Eating a lot of food at a time also causes your body to produce a lot of stomach acid in order to ensure proper digestion of all the food. Some of these excessive stomach acids may back flow into the esophagus, leading to feelings of heartburn.

Also, the large bulk of food in your stomach after a heavy meal can increase the pressure within, increasing the chance (especially when you have a smaller stomach) of acidic stomach contents being pushed out of the stomach into the esophagus.

Eat smaller, more frequent meals

Not only is it important not to overeat, it is also important to eat your daily meals in small but frequent portions. It is in fact one of the important natural remedies for acid reflux.

For example, eat small frequent meals, 4 to 6 times throughout the day, instead of 2 to 3 big meals for the entire day.

Eating smaller meals more frequently ensures that you get the daily nutrition you need, yet keeps the load on your digestive system light. When less food enters the digestive system each time, it is much easier for the body to deal with them, and because of that, you'll find you experience reflux distress far less frequently.

It may take a bit of adjustment getting used to this dietary practice, but once you do, you'll find you enjoy it much more, because your energy levels will be more stable.

Chew Peppermint Gum After The Meal

Researchers believe that chewing gum after meals can help relief acid reflux by stimulating saliva in the mouth, which in turn helps move stomach fluids back into the stomach where it belongs.

You can start chewing about 30 minutes after each meal.

When your last meal for the day should be

One of the important remedy for acid reflux is to avoid eating your last meal of the day less than 3 hours before going to bed. [1, 2]

This will reduce the chances that you will go to bed with a full stomach. Doing so could increase the chances of acid reflux because when you lie down, the contents in your stomach could back flow into the esophagus more easily.

In this way, you can minimize the occasions you have to go to bed (and lie down) with a full stomach.

Chew your food thoroughly

Since digestion begins in the mouth, it is important to chew your food slowly and thoroughly.

Amylase, a digestive enzyme produced in the mouth, targets starches immediately. It in turn signals to the stomach to get its enzyme cycle going and begin the production of the pancreatic enzymes.

Stress and digestion

Stress before, during and after eating can hinder the digestion process.

As such, it is advised that you try to relax just before and during a meal.

Also, try to keep yourself relaxed after a meal and refrain from jumping into anything that might interfere with normal digestion right after a meal.

Beyond healthy eating habits

Besides the above healthy eating habits, changing your diet to increase beneficial foods and to avoid possible trigger foods can also help in addressing your acid reflux symptoms.

So don't rush out to buy an anti-acid reflux drug without giving some of these tips and home remedies for acid reflux a try. When you take control over your lifestyle and the types of foods you're eating, it's very possible to get good control over this problem.

If however, your condition is more serious, you may have to consider taking herbs or natural supplements to deal with your acid reflux.

Usually such gastroesophageal reflux problems respond well to the self-help remedies mentioned above. This means that your symptoms should clear up relatively quickly. However, if they don't, your condition might be rather serious and you might need to seek the help of a qualified practitioner in the holistic and natural healing fields to deal with your problem.

Do not ignore your GERD symptoms. Beside the discomfort and pain it may bring, acid reflux issues can also cause serious health problems in the long run.

If your heartburn symptoms are accompanied by chest pain (especially pain that radiates to the jaw, neck or arm) as well as symptoms like cold sweat, nausea, you should see your doctor immediately, to eliminate the possibility that you might just had or are going to have a heart attack. [1]

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Need relief from acid reflux? Read the Reflux Remedy Report, where you can learn to overcome reflux using 3 common grocery items, or get a free acid reflux analysis by a medical doctor. You could also learn about a holistic system for helping you overcome acid reflux, heartburn, chest pain and discomfort, as well as other digestive disorders. You could also use natural, herbal and homeopathic remedies for acid reflux.

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References

[1] Gottlieb, Bill. Alternative Cures: The Most Effective Natural Home Remedies for 160 Health Problems. Rodale, 2000. Print.

[2] Gaby, Alan R., MD. The Natural Pharmacy: Complete A-Z Reference to Natural Treatments for Common Health Conditions. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Three Rivers Press, 2006. Print.

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