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Acid Reflux Home Remedies That Work!

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When dealing with acid reflux, there are many ways to go about it. Here, we are going to look at acid reflux home remedies. Before we dive into what types of home remedies are out there for dealing with acid reflux, let’s first take a look at what exactly acid reflux is.

Acid reflux can present itself as a slight occasional discomfort to a painful and frequent occurrence. What exactly is this medical condition? Acid reflux is a malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

In a fully functioning stomach, this muscle should close after food passes through the area on its way to the stomach. If the LES muscle does not close or opens too often, the acid generated in the stomach moves up through the esophagus. This causes pain and discomfort that is often referred to as heartburn. If the acid reflux is frequent, you may have what’s known as GERD, or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

  • Signs that indicate you may suffer from acid reflux

People that suffer from acid reflux often accept it as a fact of life and do not seek treatment. However, a solution could be within their grasp. Before deciding on a treatment, you will want to visit a doctor for an evaluation and recommended next steps.

There are a number of signs and signals to look out for that may indicate you are suffering from acid reflux. Bloating, bloody or black stools, bloody vomiting, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, excessive burping, dysphagia (feels like food is stuck in your throat), frequent hiccups that do not stop, nausea, weight loss for unknown reasons, a taste in your mouth, and wheezing, dry cough, chronic dry throat, and hoarseness.

Everyday Home Remedies for Acid Reflux

Exercise/Diet

Weight loss helps alleviate acid reflux. Increased weight can prohibit the sphincter from closing. While a workout regimen and acid reflux-friendly diet can be fantastic for acid reflux patients, it is important to consult your doctor before making changes.

One important fact to remember is that certain exercises could even increase the frequency and intensity of your acid reflux. While high impact exercises may be ideal for weight loss for some individuals, for those suffering from acid reflux these exercises could make their symptoms even worse.

Such high impact exercises can include running, jumping rope, cycling, stair-climbing, weightlifting, and more. Walking is most likely a safe route, but a doctor can give you the appropriate direction that will be ideal for you.

Remember, just because you’re walking, doesn’t mean you can’t put a little “giddy-up” in your step. Pick up the speed a bit!

Modified Behavior After Eating

After you have eaten a meal, lying down might sound like a relaxing activity. However, this can make acid reflux symptoms worse for sufferers. For this reason, avoid eating before bed. Hanging upside down or bending over after eating can also bring on acid reflux. Sitting up after a meal is the best strategy to avoid acid reflux symptoms.

Foods to Avoid

When considering what foods to avoid if you suffer from acid reflux, an excellent rule of thumb is acidic foods. Some of these are citrus foods like tomatoes and tomato-based recipes, oranges and citrus juices. Also avoid food and drinks like alcohol, fried foods, sodas, and other sweetened beverages, sugar, processed foods, fish, and many other foods. Cheese and chocolate can also be trigger foods for acid reflux sufferers.

Eat Smaller Meals

A very full stomach can cause the LES valve to relax, which increases the likelihood of acid reflux. Rather than the standard breakfast, lunch, and dinner try several acid reflux-friendly small meals throughout the day.

Acid Reflux Friendly Foods

Try to avoid acidic foods. This leaves many foods that are safe to eat. If you are carnivorous, you will want to stick with white meats and/or lean cuts of meat. Stay away from frying your meats and other foods as this could trigger acid reflux.

`1Stick with broth-based soups rather than creams. Green vegetables like broccoli, green beans, leafy greens, and asparagus are brilliant choices as well as cauliflower, cucumbers, and potatoes.

A great plant to use in teas, smoothies, or foods is ginger. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help treat symptoms of heartburn.

Grains are also a great choice. Oatmeal is always a great way to start the day!

Drinks to Help with Heartburn

Herbal Teas

Herbal teas can help soothe your stomach to ease digestive problems like acid reflux. Some recommendations for types of teas include chamomile, slippery elm, marshmallow, and licorice. A couple of teas that you will want to avoid are spearmint and peppermint. The licorice tea specifically produces additional mucus that coats the esophageal lining and decreases the impact of stomach acids on the esophagus.

Cow’s Milk

It is worth noting that cow’s milk can be hard on some people’s stomachs. If you want to try soothing your stomach with cow’s milk you will want to go for the low-fat to no-fat milk. The fats, whether they come from foods or drinks, will relax the LES and may worsen or even cause acid reflux.

Plant-Based Milk

The safest milk option for you if you are susceptible to acid reflux is plant-based milk. This can be almond milk, soy, flax, cashew, or coconut. One warning for these products is that Carrageenan is in some of them. It is key to look for this in the list of ingredients so you can avoid that product. It could worsen your acid reflux.

Fruit Juice

There are some fruit juices safe for consumption in avoiding acid reflux. Avoid citrus drinks like orange juice, pineapple, and others. Some great non-acidic juices include carrot, aloe vera, cabbage, pear, and cucumber to name a few.

Smoothies

Much like the fruit juices, you will want to avoid acidic fruits and veggies in your smoothie. Some examples are like those used in juice: watermelon, pear, green veggies, and grapes.


 Heartburn: Acid Reflux Home Remedies (3 Things to consider)

1.Quit Smoking and/or Chewing Tobacco

Besides the other health risks of tobacco, it can also negatively impact acid reflux. The nicotine relaxes the LES inviting the acids from the stomach to come back up through the esophagus.

 2.Chew Gum

A common alternative to tobacco use is chewing gum. Conveniently, this is also a remedy for acid reflux. The saliva that you generate when you chew gum helps to neutralize the acid in your stomach, helping to ease acid reflux.

3. Sleeping Position

As mentioned previously, lying down after eating is not a good idea. Therefore, sleep on an incline rather than a flat surface. Ideally, your head should be about 6-8 inches higher than your feet. There are foam wedges that can lift your head to the recommended level. There are full mattress wedges that go under the mattress or a wedge for just your head that may work for you. Another option is a bed that can lift your head much like a hospital bed.


Things to know about Medications for Treating Acid Reflux

Prescription Medications and Acid Reflux

Check your current medications, because some of them might relax the LES which allows it to open more freely and let stomach acids move up to the esophagus. Some of these medications are estrogen, tricyclic, and some anti-inflammatory painkillers.

There are other medications that may irritate the esophagus. There are some bone density medications that can cause irritation to the esophagus. A few of those are alendronate, ibandronate, and risedronate. It is important that you consult your doctor to find out if medications can affect acid reflux.

Over the Counter (OTC) Remedies for Acid Reflux

OTC medications are great for temporary relief of acid reflux. Some familiar names you may recognize for this are Maalox, Rolaids, and Tums. There are many! If you are suffering from acid reflux two or more times per week, see your doctor to discuss long-term remedies for the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease you might suffer from.

Homeopathic Remedies for Acid Reflux

Homeopathic remedies are in plants, minerals, or animals. The elements are put in gels, drops, creams, ointments, and tablets form.

Using homeopathic remedies can be a somewhat risky resolution to acid reflux. It is an industry unregulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If you go the homeopathic route, communicate this with your doctor so he is aware when he/she prescribes other meds.

A challenge with homeopathic remedies (as with prescribed medicines) is that different remedies may or may not work for unique individuals. There could be some trial and error when deciding if a specific homeopathic remedy will work for you.

People commonly try to treat themselves with their own research on homeopathic remedies. While this can be effective occasionally it is highly recommended to go to a professional homeopath if you are interested in exploring this as an optional remedy for your acid reflux.

What if acid reflux goes untreated?

Many people think acid reflux is just a part of their life that they have to get used to. Going without treatment can lead to Barrett’s esophagus. As acid comes up through the esophagus regularly, the esophagus lining becomes thicker and reddens. This can cause pain and permanent damage to the esophagus. While untreated acid reflux will not lead to death, you are at an increased risk for esophageal cancer when Barrett’s esophagus develops. And cancer is something that can lead to death.

Now What?

If you are experiencing acid reflux regularly, your doctor should be your first resource for treatment whether it be with medications, lifestyle changes, or homeopathic remedies or some combination of the three. It can be an uncomfortable and sometimes painful experience that you probably do not have to suffer with.

For further information, speak to your doctor directly. I also recommend looking into the American Gastroenterological Association.

In conclusion, there are many avenues you could take when looking for acid reflux home remedies. Start with switching up your foods and drinks. Then gradually add other steps every few days, or once a week, like sleep position, gum chewing, and exercise.

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What Causes Acid Reflux In Women?

There are really a lot of reasons people can suffer from acid reflux. In this post, we’ll dive into what causes acid reflux in women, because there can be some differences that women can experience and reasons why men won’t.

Acid reflux, also known as GERD or heartburn, is when the regurgitation of gastric contents flows into the esophagus and oral cavity from too much or not enough acid, being produced in the stomach.

If you’re suffering from acid reflux more than once a week, you’ll want to consider a cure for GERD and not just cover it up with antacid pills each time it shows up.

Symptoms Of Acid Reflux In Women

Symptoms of acid reflux in women are similar to those in men. Before we take a look at what causes acid reflux in women, let’s first look at the most common symptoms:

  • Burning sensation in the stomach which may move up to the throat
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Caugh and/or hoarseness
  • Nausea
  • Excessive Burping

Studies tend to show, women have a higher frequency of heartburn and slightly more severe symptoms. With that said, men are more likely to have Barrett’s esophagus, than women.

Women, on the other hand, were more likely to suffer from what’s known as a hiatal hernia, where the stomach pokes upward through a hole in the diaphragm. This can be attributed to heartburn.

Women were also more likely to be obese than their male counterparts when it came to having reflux surgery.

One study showed that when it comes to nocturnal symptoms, regurgitation, and heartburn, which had been analyzed by endoscopy, women scored significantly higher than did men. Women have also reported higher symptom scores when it comes to the lower portion of the stomach, which includes but is not limited to, abdominal pain, as well as constipation and/or diarrhea.

This would suggest that gender differences might exist when it comes to acid reflux. Estrogen, as well, is showing signs of playing a role as an anti-inflammatory agent.

There are only a few studies that focus on the differences between acid reflux in women and men.  More study’s, for sure, need to be done.

what causes acid reflux in women

What Causes Acid Reflux In Women

Here is a list of some common and not-so-common causes of acid reflux that women may experience.

– Eating or Drinking Acidic-based Fruits. (Lemons, Oranges)
– Smoking
– Milk or Milk-Based Products (Cheese, Yogurt, Ice Cream)
– Fried Foods
– Hot or Spicy Foods (Buffalo Wings, Jalapenos, Cajun)
– Stress (Women deal with stress differently than men)
– Pregnancy (Something only women can experience)

Women may experience anything from mild to major heartburn during pregnancy. It can also be different with the same mom and separate pregnancies.

In other words, you may have no signs of heartburn or acid reflux with your first pregnancy but then when your second comes along, you could suffer for the full 9 months.

If this is the case, you’ll really want to watch what you eat. A plant-based, grilled chicken-type diet is best to follow. I wrote another post showing a diet plan to follow if you suffer from acid reflux. You can find that acid reflux diet plan, here

Women and Heartburn, A Conclusion

When it comes to reflux symptoms, it affects women more than men. However, men will endure more changes, more frequently.

It is likely that estrogen plays a role in anti-inflammatory action.

Women are more likely to experience heartburn, belching, and regurgitation than men. This could imply that sex and gender play a role in the way symptoms are signaled in our nervous system.

Causes of acid reflux in women, for the most part, are in line with men. Yet, there are still some defining differences. As more studies are attempted, we may finally come to some hard evidence of specific characteristics as well as treatments, for both men and women.

 

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gerd symtoms treatment

Gerd Symptoms And Treatment

If you suffer from GERD (Heartburn, acid reflux, indigestion, gastroesophageal reflux) you know the toll it takes on your life. GERD stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Below are some GERD symptoms and treatment regimens you can begin, to ease the suffering. Treating acid reflux naturally, before having to see a doctor, is super important.

GERD Symptoms and Treatment

GERD Symptoms:

  • A burning sensation, like a fire, in the pit of your stomach and/or chest, often spreading to your throat along with a sour acidic taste left behind
  • Having difficulty swallowing
  • Soare throat after that burning reaches it
  • Chest pain
  • Regurgitation of food or sour liquid
  • Cough
  • More saliva than usual
  • Trouble breathing
  • A sensation of a lump in your throat
  • Vomiting often

Acid reflux and heartburn are usually common digestive conditions that plenty of people encounter every once in a while. Not something to worry too much about.

This becomes an issue when you are experiencing these signs and symptoms at least twice each week or if they interfere with your daily life. This is the time you should seek out a doctor and get medical advice.

If you’d rather tackle the problem yourself, without seeing a DR. there are steps you can take to completely eliminate your GERD condition permanently and get your life back to normal.

The majority of people can manage the discomfort of occasional acid reflux with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications but the group of people with GERD may need stronger prescription medications, or even surgery, to reduce symptoms if they don’t take care of it themselves soon enough. I highly recommend you cure and not just cover your symptoms, by clicking the link in the above paragraph.health for acid reflux treatment

What Is The Treatment For GERD

There are several steps you can take to help ease the discomfort of GERD. By far, your overall health is most important. So, the first and most significant thing you’ll need to do is change your diet. This seems to be the most difficult part for people but be assured, after a week or 2, you won’t be missing the foods you thought you couldn’t live without.

Start incorporating more foods like grilled chicken and fish. Replace white starchy bread with whole wheat/grain bread instead.

Stay away from fried foods. The only fats you should be consuming right now, are good fats. Olive oil, nut oils, etc. Once you get your acid reflux under control, you can start to slowly add fried food back into your diet.

Veggies and fruits are helpful as well. Just be sure to stay clear from citrus fruits.

Choosing 1 or 2 of the following GERD treatments will help settle some of your symptoms. If you’re looking to actually cure your reflux, you should follow all the advice below. For the best results, I highly recommend putting a plan together with all the information laid out for you step by step. Click the book on the top right of this page for more info on how you can do that.

Natural Treatments For GERD

  • Sit Up
    After you eat a meal, be sure to sit upright. Don’t lie down for at least 60 minutes after you finish eating. Acid from your stomach will rise to your throat when in a lying position. Try to eat 3 hours before bedtime.
  • Smaller Meals
    Eat smaller meals throughout the day instead of 3 large meals. Give your gut a chance to digest your food. Overfilling your stomach puts too much stress and will cause more problems.
  • Baking Soda
    A teaspoonful of baking soda with 6 – 8oz of water will calm the reflux in your gut. Use this only a few times a day and don’t do this for more than a week at a time. Too much baking soda can lead to unpleasant side effects.
  • Chew Gum
    Chewing gum after you eat will create more saliva and its saliva which reduces the acid and cleanses it away.
  • Ginger
    Ginger tea or root can be used to calm the stomach both before and after a meal. Drink a ginger tea 20 – 30 minutes before a meal and it will further assist in soothing your belly before the acid has time to push you around.
  • Lose Weight
    If you’re overweight, try losing some pounds. Heavier people tend to suffer more than people who keep a healthy weight.

gerd symptoms and treatment

Foods To Avoid If You Have Gerd

  • High Fat Foods (French Fries, Ice Cream, Butter, Etc)
  • Citrus Fruits (Oranges, Lemmons, Grapefruit)
  • Tomatoes, Pasta Sauce
  • Caffeine (Coffee, Soda)
  • Chocolate, Milk, Banana’s
  • Spicey Foods (Buffalo Wings, Chili, Tacos)
  • Alcohol

If you follow the natural treatment steps above, while avoiding the foods just mentioned, you should be well on your way to naturally treating your GERD.

If you have any questions or you’d like me to add something to these lists that have helped you with your GERD, please leave them below in the comment section. I answer all comments!

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Acid Reflux Diet Plan and Food List

You’re here because you suffer from acid reflux. I too used to suffer as well, until I changed everything I thought about acid reflux. Yes, it started with an acid reflux diet plan and food list that I followed every day, which then led me to other changes in my life.

What We’ll Discuss In This Post:

  • Who Is This Diet For?
  • The Downside Of The Diet
  • Taking Action With A Plan
  • Tips
  • Food List

acid reflux diet with kermitWhen you finally relieve that burning sensation, you feel like a muppet rolling around in a field of flowers. It’s that good. And I want to help you achieve that.

Below I will show you the diet to follow and list foods that will help relieve some of the pain you’re experiencing. I do not and can not claim this is a cure. It is simply a relief from symptoms.

I realized it wasn’t just my diet. It wasn’t just my stress. It was a combination of those and other factors that contributed to my acid reflux. I’m not a lone statistic either. All acid reflux sufferers need to follow a certain plan in order to completely cure their acid reflux.

A diet or a stress-free vacation will only help suppress some of the symptoms, like that burning sensation. What these things won’t do is cure the disease forever.

Today we’re here to do just that, suppress the symptoms, with an acid reflux diet plan.

The Downside Of Using An Acid Reflux Diet Plan and food list

acid reflux diet thumbs down

You would think that eliminating a fire in your stomach and/or throat that there couldn’t possibly be a downside. Well, unless you don’t like food, there is.

You’ll need to cut out a lot of foods you eat. This was difficult for me because I love everything that would cause my acid reflux to flare up.

The good news is that later on, you’ll be able to add some of these foods back, on occasion. We’ll talk more about that, below.

Once you get past the initial withdrawal of the foods you love, it actually becomes very easy and you no longer miss them.

This downside just turned into an upside 🙂
Like how I did that?

Take Action First With This Planacid reflux diet list

  1. Clear out your kitchen. That’s right, everything. If it’s processed food, (anything that comes in a box) full of sugar, full of fat, get rid of it. You don’t have to throw it away but you’ll need to give it to your neighbors or something!
  2.  Compile a list of all the foods you like, from the acid reflux diet food list I made toward the bottom of this post.
  3.  Shop for those foods and be sure to have them on hand each week.
  4. Search for recipes which include the list of foods you can eat. Do a Google search for acid reflux recipes. Make sure you have plenty ahead of time. Again, you want to make this as easy as possible for yourself so you’ll want to know what your cooking instead of stressing about it. (Stress adds to acid reflux)
  5. Let friends and family know you’ll be cutting out alcohol and fast foods for a while. Ask them to be supportive.

Tips To Incorporate Into Your Acid Reflux Diet Plan

  1.  Try to eat 3-4 hours before going to bed.
  2.  When in bed, add a pillow under your head/shoulders so you’re not flat on your back.
  3.  After eating, stay upright for 1 – 2 hours.
  4.  Eat more frequently. 5-6 Small meals a day instead of 3 large meals.
  5.  Eat slower. Don’t rush when you eat. Take your time and let your belly do its work!
  6.  Wear loose-fitting clothing around your midsection.
  7.  If you’re overweight, try and lose a few pounds. The heavier you are, the more likely you’ll have acid reflux.
  8.  Exercise. Try to get in 20 mins a day. Take a walk around your neighborhood each night.
  9.  Chew gum between meals. Your saliva has around a P.H. of 7.5. We come with our own antacid!
  10. No more fast food and skip the alcohol for a while!

treatment for severe acid reflux post it note lets do itAcid Reflux Diet Plan and Food List

OK, I’m about to list a bunch of foods you’ll want to avoid. This list is long and it’s going to feel overwhelming at first. I promise you once you find the foods you like that you can eat, you’ll soon forget about the foods you can’t eat, on the list below. Your first week will be the most difficult. It will get easier from there.

Here are foods to avoid on an acid reflux diet:

  • Chocolate
  • Mint/Peppermint/Spearmint
  • Fast Food
  • Coffee
  • Most Tea’s
  • Soda
  • Tomato/Tomato Sauce
  • Sugary Foods Like Candy
  • Hot Spices (Chili, Pepper Flakes. Etc.)
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Bad Fatty Oils (Fried Foods)
  • Citrus Fruits (Lemons, Oranges, Grapefruit, Etc.)
  • Creamed Sauces (Alfredo, Cream Of Broccoli, Etc.)
  • Milk
  • Cheese
  • Dairy, in General, Should Be Avoided Early in the Diet
  • Caffeine Should Also Be Avoided

Foods To Incorporate Into Your Acid Reflux Diet Plan and food list:

Carbohydrates: When it comes to dieting, carbs get a bad name. But when it comes to acid reflux, carbs can be helpful.

Carbohydrates break down fast and the faster you can digest your food, the less likely you are to have acid reflux symptoms.

WARNING!

NOT ALL CARBS ARE THE SAME. HERE ARE SOME YOU CAN EAT.

  • Oats
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Bananas (may be bothersome to some people)
  • Barley
  • Squash
  • Blueberries
  • Corn
  • Black Beans
  • Legumes
  • Quinoa
  • Kamut
  • Broccoli
  • Cherries
  • Spinach

Other Foods To Incorporate:

Keep your diet high on proteins, moderate on carbs, and low on fats. (Healthy fats)
Also, be sure to include foods high in fiber as well. You want to keep things moving throughout your system, making it easier on your stomach to process the food.

  • Fish
  • Chicken
  • Whole Grain Bread
  • Eggs
  • Turkey
  • Grilled Pork Chops

Foods Known To Help Reduce Flair Ups of Acid Reflux:

Fennel:
Fennel is a great food for acid reflux with a pH of 6.9
A crunchy veggie with a mild licorice flavor.
Ginger:
Ginger is known to help calm stomachs.
Use it in moderation.
Salad:
Yes, salad! A salad is great for acid reflux. Just make sure not to add dressing with acidity!
Couscous:
Brown rice, semolina wheat, and bulgur wheat are all exceptional foods for acid reflux.
Parsley:
For thousands of years, parsley has been used to keep acid reflux and upset stomachs, at bay.

Are You Ready For Permanent Relief?

Are you ready to not just control your acid reflux but put an end to it permanently? If so, I highly recommend this acid reflux treatment that I have personally used myself and reviewed.

I hope you have found this post helpful. If you plan to use this acid reflux diet, I’d love to hear from you! If you’ve done one already, let me know as well. Leave your questions and or comments in the comment section below. I read all responses!

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