Acid Reflux

Prevention and treatment:

l     Avoid spicy foods and any food that bothers you. Below are a few more things that will help tremendously.

l     Don't lie down until at least three hours after eating.

l     Sleep with your head at least eight inches higher than your stomach to let gravity help keep stomach acids from coming up into your esophagus.

l     Don't bend over or do exercises until long after eating.

l     Eat six small meals instead of three large meals.

l     Don't drink carbonated beverages.

l     Cut out fatty foods (they increase the time food remains in the stomach).

l     Quit smoking. Nicotine relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

l     Cut out chocolate (it relaxes the LES).

l     Don't drink alcoholic beverages (alcohol relaxes the LES).

l     Eliminate caffeine (it relaxes the LES).

l     Eat properly so you don't develop constipation - that pushing will also push food or stomach acids upward.

l     Lying on your left side can help relieve heartburn by keeping the stomach below the esophagus and acid-free.

l     Avoid stress and anger.

l     Mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a tall glass of water, and sip this during your meals.

l     Yogurt contains beneficial digestive bacteria, as do acidophilus capsules. (This also comes in chewable raspberry flavored acidophilus tablets.)

l     Eat dried figs, fresh pineapple*, and dried or fresh papaya. These foods are loaded with digestive enzymes. Or you could take digestive enzymes in capsule form. *Pineapple will help most people, and it bothers some - if it bothers you, eliminate it from your diet.

Note: Peppermint candy, tea, or essential oil will soothe an upset stomach, relax the body and so aid in digestion, and relax muscles to allow the body to get rid of gas. But, peppermint should not be taken if you have acid reflux or GERD because it relaxes and weakens the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). When the LES is relaxed, food and liquid are allowed to come back up.