Heartburn Remedy Tips

from Ryan Moxie


Acid reflux is a medical condition that affects people of all ages. Acid reflux happens when the stomach produces acid to digest food and that acid regurgitates into the esophagus. Heartburn is the most common symptom of acid reflux. Heartburn is typically uncomfortable, but can be very painful as well. No cure has been found for acid reflux, but the symptoms can be controlled with a good acid reflux diet.

The following is a short list of foods that are high risk for causing acid reflux symptoms. These foods may bother some people with acid reflux and not others because everybody’s system is different. These foods are common foods that are avoided in an acid reflux diet.

Fatty meats

Dairy foods high in fat

Coffee and tea (both caffeinated and decaf)

Alcohol (beer is especially bad)

Most citrus or acidic fruits and vegetables

French fried and mashed potatoes

Reducing these high risk foods in your acid reflux diet can potentially reduce acid reflux symptoms.

Some low risk foods that should be included in your acid reflux diet are:

Extra lean beef

Lean chicken or turkey breasts

Fish

Breads and grains

Low citrus fruits such as bananas and apples

Green vegetables, carrots and cabbage

Low or non-fat dairy foods

This is certainly not a complete list of foods considered safe for an acid reflux diet. It is a general compilation that should be enough to get your first menu planned. Even though these are considered low risk for causing acid reflux symptoms, some people may be sensitive to certain foods and have problems from them regardless of which list they are on.

Overeating can cause symptoms of acid reflux. This happens because when you overeat your stomach has to produce more acid in order to digest the extra food. When there is more acid in the stomach, there can be more symptoms as a result. The best acid reflux diet consists of three small meals per day and two healthy snacks to prevent overeating.

Keeping a diary of the foods you eat and when you have symptoms for at least two weeks. Once you have determined which foods are causing your symptoms you can eliminate them from your acid reflux diet.

Acid reflux symptoms can be especially problematic for babies and older adults. Bleeding ulcers, difficulty breathing, gagging, and the feeling of choking are other symptoms of acid reflux. A baby with acid reflux can experience coughing and vomiting. Babies are unable to express their symptoms and they should be discussed with a pediatrician. Older adults should chew and eat slowly to avoid choking and regurgitation from acid reflux.

Acid reflux disease should be taken seriously as it can be dangerous. Some treatments for acid reflux include antacid tablets, foam tablets, and exercise. Surgery is a last resort acid reflux treatment when other treatments fail. A lifestyle change, including the implementation of a good acid reflux diet, is a step in the right direction toward fighting acid reflux.

from Michael Sheridan


Believe it or not heartburn, also called acid reflux, is caused by hydrochloric acid backing up into your esophagus or gullet. If you remember that stuff from your schooldays you’ll understand why it results in a really painful burning sensation in the middle of your chest.

It works like this; at the base of your esophagus, which is the tube your food goes down, there is a circular muscle called a sphincter. Its job is to open up for food to enter the stomach, but then close tightly again to prevent it from coming back up. If it fails to function properly, digestive acids can seep into the esophagus causing discomfort and, sometimes, severe pain.

No-one really knows what causes the sphincter to malfunction in this way. However, there are many things in your diet and lifestyle that can contribute to the problem, causing chronic heartburn issues. The good news is that because diet and lifestyle are involved, modifications to both can bring relief from heartburn symptoms.

Lifestyle Causes of Heartburn

You may be surprised to learn that a major cause of heartburn is smoking. The chemicals found in cigarette smoke are known to weaken the sphincter, making it easier for acids to pass through. If you smoke and you also suffer from heartburn, now is the time to stop.

Another contributing factor to heartburn can be eating large meals. If you suffer from regular or chronic heartburn, try eating less food more frequently to alleviate that full feeling in your stomach. It is often after meals that heartburn will strike, particularly when you lean forward or engage in some other activity that involves stooping.

Wearing tight fitting clothing, especially around the waist, is also not a good idea for known sufferers of heartburn. If you are affected, try wearing looser fitting clothing and see if you notice an improvement.

Another problem for many people, especially those who work long hours, is eating substantial meals shortly before bedtime. This can cause problems while you are sleeping. Whenever possible, try to eat your last meal of the day at least three hours before retiring and take a walk around the block afterwards to help digestion. If you still find you are waking up with heartburn pain, you can raise the head of your bed around 15 centimeters, so that you are not lying completely flat while you sleep. There are also pillows available which raise your head and shoulders and thus help to prevent the back-flow of acid.

Even if these lifestyle changes do seem to help relieve the heartburn you experience, it is also important to consider dietary changes.

Dietary Causes of Heartburn

Fatty and fried foods, caffeine, chocolate and alcohol are all known to be contributing causes of recurring heartburn, mainly because they can cause the esophageal sphincter muscle to relax. Other foods to eliminate until you are certain of the cause are citrus fruits and juices, including tomato products.

If avoiding these foods and beverages don’t help, try keeping a diary of the food you eat on a daily basis to see if you can pinpoint eating which specific food is invariably followed by heartburn.

While recurrent heartburn is rarely serious on its own, it can lead to much more serious conditions such as ulcers and it can be very difficult to cope with the constant pain. You should also be aware at there are times when it may be symptomatic of something else. This is especialy true if you get attacks some time after having eaten or that are associated with being in an upright positon, whether sitting or standing.

In many cases, however, by identifying the cause of your heartburn, you can avoid those things in your diet or lifestyle that are contributing to your pain and discomfort.