Acid Reflux – Drug Free Treatments
If you experience heartburn, you know without a doubt that it is aptly named. The burning can be very painful. Many people who are forced to deal with heartburn choose to get a prescription that will get rid of the symptoms right away. Although this is understandable, it is always advisable to use more natural methods in treating heartburn to limit the possible occurrence of side effects. If you take steps to make your lifestyle healthier, you and heartburn will gradually become less common bedfellows. In fact, you may be able to get rid of the attacks for good.
Acid buildup due to an overfull stomach is the primary cause of heartburn. To lower your chances of getting heartburn, take care not to overeat, especially at dinner. You should limit or eliminate your intake of carbonated drinks that add to the fullness in your stomach.
It would be better for you to eat smaller meals several times during the day instead of just three times a day. Small-portion meals during the day will curb you from overindulging yourself. It is also recommended that you do not go to bed right after eating. Give your stomach a couple of hours to digest the food. This will give your body enough time to digest the food that you have eaten, allowing you to sleep better without the digestive acids bubbling upward. Moreover, you should elevate your chest by sleeping on several pillows placed under your shoulders.
There are some foodstuffs that you need to avoid if you suffer from chronic heartburn. Avoid drinking and eating foods that contain high quantities of acid. If you must eat fatty or spicy foods, make sure you do so in small amounts. Soda, coffee, and citrus juice are highly acidic in content and thus are major causes of GERD. Track the foodstuffs that generally result in your acid reflux attacks and eliminate them from your menu.
Other items sooth acid overproduction or, at the very least, do not lead to the painful condition. Papayas and pears, mangoes, and guavas are perfect examples of GERD-combating fruits. Blanched almonds and buttermilk also help in digestion and balancing pH. These foods are neutral and can reverse the effects of heartburn.
The next step in your fight against heartburn is to eliminate bad habits. If you drink or smoke, that may be part of the problem. Both habits cause the muscles to relax, muscles that are needed to control stomach acid and keep it in its place. When you quit these habits, your body will feel better and you’ll save money.
Losing abdominal fat could also help your heartburn. Losing the old spare tire will remove a lot of the pressure on your midsection. The acid that is being squeezed back up into your esophagus may be caused by that extra pressure. Every pound that you lose will aid in the reduction of acid reflux in the body.
While you’re improving your health, stop wearing tight clothes. The results of wearing tight clothing are similar to those of having extra pounds around your waistline.
In addition to making lifestyle changes, you can also take one of many different supplements that claim to get rid of heartburn. Among them are deglycyrrhizinated licorice, B-vitamins, and melatonin. Health food stores sell capsules containing combinations of several supplements that help fight acid reflux.
You don’t need to go far to find supplements that can help. You can use honey, turmeric, cardamom, apple cider vinegar, or ginger to alleviate your heartburn. You can cook with them, swallow them alone or mixed in a liquid, or take them as capsules.
With a few adjustments to your lifestyle habits, it is possible for you to rid yourself of heartburn symptoms completely. It is important to give these changes a chance to work. Healthy steps in your life don’t begin to show themselves overnight.
Heartburn is an unpleasant condition that no one has to experience. You can start turning your life around by making the right decisions today.
