If you have a very severe and advanced case of acid reflux and have been prescribed something by your doctor, it’s best if you follow his or her advice and continue to take your medications as directed.  However, many cases of this disease can be treated with acid reflux home remedies before it progresses to the point of needed harsh medications.  These acid reflux home remedies will include some foods that you can take to calm your acid reflux, and avoiding the dietary habits that cause flare-ups.

Keep in mind that many cases of acid reflux are caused by foods that are very high in acid content themselves, spiking the acid production from your stomach.  Part of your acid reflux home remedies will include avoiding these foods, which include red meat of all types, citrus fruits of any variety, berries, coffee and other beverages high in caffeine, red wine, certain dairy products, and (unfortunately) chocolate.  Fried foods, spicy foods, junk foods, and fast foods should also be avoided.  For any acid reflux home remedies to work, you also need to be aware of any foods that seem to react in your own system and which cause acid reflux for you.  If there are certain foods that seem to give you added heartburn or discomfort, then of course you should avoid those as well.

The other part of acid reflux home remedies is eating foods that settle your stomach and that calm its acid production.  Fruits and vegetables (except for citrus fruits mentioned above) are easiest for your stomach to digest and can actually retrain it to function properly.  Fiber helps the digestive process and can calm acid production when you eat; so try some high fiber bread or toast if you feel an attack of acid reflux coming on.  Also, protein may help to strengthen the muscles of the stomach and the small valve that helps to keep acid in its place, so eating lean meats such as turkey, chicken, and fish may help in this regard.

Treating your body well is also part of acid reflux home remedies.  Most patients report having flare-ups at night when they are trying to sleep; this is more common in those who eat right before bed or who have a very large dinner.  Avoid eating at least two hours before bedtime and make sure your evening meals are modest in portion size.  Also, when you’re lying down this can causing the acid to move back up into your esophagus.  Try putting a book or wooden blocks under the feet of your bed at the top or under the top of your mattress; anything to keep your chest a bit elevated is going to help keep acids in your stomach where they belong.  Have some water before going to bed also as this helps to flush out anything that is in your stomach, including those harmful acids.  While these acid reflux home remedies may not work completely in all cases, they can go a long way toward containing flare-ups.

Article Written By J. Foley

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The good news about this connection between acid reflux disease and diet is that this means that you may be able to make certain changes in your life and your dietary habits in order to control and possibly even eliminate acid reflux.  For example, red meat of any variety is one of those foods that are very difficult for your body to break down and digest.  While many people hate to hear they should cut back on their beloved steaks and hamburgers, by at least cutting back some on the number of times you eat red meat you should have fewer flare-ups of acid reflux disease, and diets lower in red meat and typically healthier anyway.  Also, foods that have a high acid content can be harmful to your stomach, so cutting back on citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits and tomatoes may have a good effect on your condition.

One connection between acid reflux disease and diet that many people forget is the amount of food that you eat, not just what type.  When your stomach is overloaded with food it is just naturally going to produce more acid and then because your stomach is so full, it will naturally spill over and back up into your esophagus.  When considering acid reflux disease and diet, you absolutely must be aware of your portion and meal sizes at any one time.  Stuffing yourself at every meal is going to cause more flare-ups, but limiting your portion sizes to something more modest may help as well.  If you’re still hungry throughout the day, having small snacks between meals usually helps to fill you up.  Many doctors report that this type of eating is healthier for you anyway, as your body has a better chance of digesting your food properly if you eat smaller meals.

For some, there may not actually be a connection between acid reflux disease and diet.  They have a genetic defect in the area of the stomach or are just more prone to acid buildup.

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Article WrittenBy J. Foley

Technorati Tags: acid reflux, acid relux and diet