Sunday, March 16, 2008

What Not To Eat For Acid Reflux

Perhaps you have been taking far too many antacids these days and you are wondering if there is possibly an alternative to popping the fat little white pills to solve your heartburn problem. Indeed, there is a much more sensible solution to acid reflux/heartburn, and it all starts with what you eat.

People are not born with acid reflux; this condition occurs as a result of lifestyle choices including - diet, exercise, and stress levels. So, it does stand to reason that if diet is one of the causes of acid reflux, then it is more than likely that choosing your foods wisely can also alleviate it as well.

In order to reduce or eliminate acid reflux you are going to want to stay clear of fatty and acidic foods in general, as these tend to increase acid secretion for digestion. For example, you?ll want to steer clear of all citrus fruits (and juices) like oranges, lemons, and tomatoes.

In addition, you will want to avoid high fat steaks (where the meat has a marbled appearance), butter, pasta, sour cream, ice cream, mashed potatoes, chicken nuggets, buffalo wings - I think you can see where we are going here. As well, you will need to avoid coffee (decaffeinated or regular), all forms of alcohol (except in very small doses), and all forms of tea. Coffee in particular has been shown to increase activity in the esophagus, with studies showing that it is not caffeine in particular that causes it, but other ingredients found in the beans (no matter which way they are roasted), can be a strong contributor.

Don?t fall victim to the old wives tale of milk calming the stomach down after a big meal. While it may help you in the short term for a bit, over the long haul it is going to cause more damage by causing reflux while you are sleeping.

The list of foods that will reduce the occurrence of acid reflux, are not surprisingly, reflective of every nutritionist?s guide to sensible eating. Suggestions being; apples, bananas, baked potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, fish, eggs (whites only), goat or feta cheese (you want to avoid all other cheeses), rice cakes, and whole wheat bread.

At the end of the day, what you should be aiming for is to reduce an overabundance of acid secretion, steering clear of foods that require more enzymes to aid in digestion.

Food intake is not about what you eat, however, you will also want to change your eating style or habits as well, as this also contributes to either a regular amount of acid secretion, or an abundance of it, which will result in acid reflux. Eating little but often every two-three hours, rather than purging on big meals is the ideal. Eating a lot of food at one time is tough on your digestion system, so it overcompensates by secreting more acid in an attempt to funnel the food through your body.

I realize it can seem a little restrictive at first making changes to your diet. However you can either continue to make unwise diet choices like steak, potato chips, alcohol and coffee and chug antacids to counteract the acid reflux, or you can change your lifestyle just a bit and reduce the occurrence of heartburn, and likely feel a whole lot better overall.

Once you have your acid reflux symptoms under control you will likely find you can reintroduce some items back into your diet, only in moderation, without experiencing any painful side effects. Keeping a food diary and your reaction to what you consume should give you an idea of which foods are the worst triggers for you.


Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Acid Reflux. For further information on Acid Reflux please visit http://www.naturally-stop-acid-reflux.com/acidreflux.html or http://www.naturally-stop-acid-reflux.com/blog/2006/10/17/what-not-to-eat-for-acid-reflux/

Labels: , , , ,

Friday, March 7, 2008

Natural Medicine For Acid Reflux

Natural medicine for acid reflux can be found in the more nutritious foods we should be eating. We have run so fast and hard after the harmful fast foods that relief from reflux literally stares us in the face daily.

Acid reflux disease has a stranglehold on millions of people. It is also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD.

At the very top of your stomach is a muscle. This muscle is called the lower esophageal sphincter. Basically it has two main tasks. First, it opens to allow your food to enter your stomach.

Second, it closes to prevent the powerful acid in your stomach from backing up into your esophagus. With GERD sufferers, the lower esophageal sphincter goes a bit haywire and opens when it shouldn?t.

When this happens the powerful stomach gases reflux, or backup into the esophagus. Leaving a painful burning feeling in your chest just behind the breastbone and a burning sensation in your throat.

The acid can then easily be regurgitated into your lungs. Causing you to cough or wheeze or to suffer with hoarseness. Many people use Prilosec, Nexium and Prevacid for their GERD. The problem with taking these and other prescription drugs is side effects.

The best natural medicine for acid reflux disease is Acidgone. It is a completely natural medicine that leaves you with absolutely no side effects.

The active ingredients in Acidgone are Alfalfa Leaf. It has traditionally been used to reverse digestive problems. Apple Pectin sweeps the intestines clean. Aloe Vera is well-known for its healing properties.

Burdock Root a blood-purifier and Dandelion Root, promotes regularity in digestion. Several other soothing and healing ingredients are also added. These harmless ingredients combine to make a potent mixture that effectively tackles Acid Reflux Disease.

For those who suffer with GERD these few common sense natural remedies can provide some relief immediately.

? Drink a large glass of water. This helps to wash back and dilute those powerful stomach acids.
? Put an unpeeled potato into your juicer and drink the potato juice.
? Don?t lie down. Help gravity to keep those acids in their place.
? Keep the belt around your waist really loose.
? Chew your food well, eat slowly.
? Eat more raw vegetables.

In conclusion, don?t bend over or pick up heavy objects. Don?t compress your stomach. This forces the acid back up. Don?t prop those extra pillows under your head, they still compress your stomach. Eat 2-3 hours before you go to bed.

Stay away from soft drinks, hard drinks and milk. Greasy fried foods and also dairy products. They?re all harmful.

Natural medicine for acid reflux can be found in our cabinets. Acidgone is a very effective natural remedy for GERD. It will relieve the heartburn and the uncomfortable feelings that come with GERD. Grab your Acidgone here! http://www.wyclefinnovations.com/ag

Labels: , , , , ,

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

The Acid Reflux Blues -An Easy Antidote!

The real antidote to acid reflux, gerd, heartburn and indigestion has to do with what we eat, how we eat, where we eat and when we eat. This may sound a little too simple, but it is not. Everyone is different; therefore people have to approach eating in different ways.

There are many foods and beverages which trigger heartburn. Not all of these affect everyone in the same manner. For instance, I have difficulty digesting raw bell peppers, but I know others who cannot eat raw tomatoes, but have no trouble with raw bell peppers. Ironically, I can eat fresh raw tomatoes all day long and not have gerd. So anyone who makes blanket statements regarding this subject has got it all wrong.

Through trial and error, we all discover what we can and cannot digest with ease. There are, however, some foods that cause problems for anyone who is susceptible to acid reflux. Any food or drink that causes the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) to relax should be consumed in strict moderation. The LES is a ring of fibrous muscle which separates the esophagus and the stomach. When this muscle relaxes, acid and pepsin can splash up from the stomach into the esophagus and throat, thereby causing acid reflux.

The hydrochloric acid in the stomach is very powerful. It has been compared to the acid in a car battery, but it is a necessary part of our physical anatomy. It constitutes the initial stage of the digestive process. It not only breaks down the food we eat but keeps potentially dangerous bacteria which live in the digestive tract in check. This is the reason that drugs which stop the acid pumps from functioning are potentially dangerous. These drugs are called proton pump inhibitors (PPI drugs). They interfere with the digestion and assimilation of food and allow the overgrowth of bacteria.

Eating jagged foods like crackers or corn chips can cause little lacerations to develop in the esophagus and LES. Then later consuming acidic foods like spicy over cooked tomato sauce can exacerbate the problem. This scenario is typical of why many people have acid reflux to begin with. It can easily be avoided.

Foods and beverages, like chocolate, caffeine, fried foods, tomato products and alcohol, can cause the LES to relax and should be avoided until the esophagus has had time to heal.

How and where we eat is very important, as well. Chewing food properly is essential to correct digestion. Saliva in the mouth is actually very alkaline in nature. It acts as sort of a lubricant to assist the teeth in grinding food to a fine pulp, making it easier to digest. When I was a little boy, I had an elementary school teacher who constantly reminded me to chew my food twenty-two times before swallowing. She said that if I didn't I would have indigestion. At the time, I thought she was crazy, but she was right on the money.

Eating slowly in a relaxed atmosphere is also crucial to good digestion. When we eat too fast we don't chew properly forcing crude clumps of food into a shocked and traumatized stomach. This is certainly a perfect way to insure a good case of indigestion. People who grab meals on the run are the worst offenders and I think you will find many of them at fast food restaurants. Unfortunately, they are teaching their children to do the same.

Finally, there is the important consideration of when you eat. It's a proven fact that eating several small meals, spaced throughout the day, is far healthier for the digestive system than the traditional "three big meals". Eating too much at one time is one of the biggest causes of acid reflux and also contributes to unwanted weight gain.

Last but not least, I must mention the most relevant antidote to the acid reflux condition; never go to bed with a full stomach. If we want to avoid acid reflux, we must allow at least two hours after eating before lying down. Three hours would be even better. This, of course, means that a late night bowl of ice cream in bed would be strictly taboo.

So you see, the real antidote to the acid reflux blues is not so much about "what to do", but about "what not to do". It is not about drugs, surgery or even doctors. The natural cure for acid reflux is all about common sense.

Wind Publishing

For free recipes, articles and information, visit: http://www.refluxgoneforever.com

Charles Stewart Richey is a self-educated expert on how to cure acid reflux disease by natural means. He has written an extensive report entitled, REFLUX GONE FOREVER, Natural Acid Reflux Remedies.

For free recipes, articles and information, visit: http://www.refluxgoneforever.com

Labels: , , , , ,

Friday, February 29, 2008

Asthma As Related To Acid Reflux

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that is characterized by breathing difficulties. People who suffer from asthma have air passages that are extra sensitive or hyper-responsive. In the course of an asthma attack, the airways become irritated and react by narrowing and constricting, causing increased resistance to airflow, and obstruction of the flow of air through the air passages to and from the lungs.

There is research to indicate that the symptoms of asthma may worsen when stomach acid rises in your throat. This condition is called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. It is commonly referred to as acid reflux. One result of acid reflux is painful heartburn which can be relieved with the administration of antacid medicines. These are special medications which neutralize stomach acids. Acid reflux commonly affects older and overweight people. However, it can also occur in children and people of all types.

There have been studies in which researchers have injected acid into the stomachs of asthma sufferers and it had a significant impact on their asthma resulting in worsened asthma symptoms. Evidence also suggest that asthma sufferers get acid reflux with greater frequency than people who do not suffer from asthma. This is probably due to great pressure changes present in the chest of people with asthma during the course of breathing. This high pressure could cause liquid to travel up the esophagus from the stomach.

In these cases, it would seem that people who have asthma lose out twice: they suffer from asthma and they may suffer from acid reflux more often than people who do not suffer from asthma. However, there is more to this story. If acid reflux was an genuine and important cause of increase in asthma severity, then acid reflux treatments should make the asthma better, however, this is generally not the case.

In the meantime, if you suffer from both asthma and acid reflux, it could just be that careful management of your reflux will ease your breathing. If your asthma is severe and the cause is unknown, some doctors might test to see whether you have or had acid reflux by conducting tests to measure your stomach acidity. If the result showed acid reflux tendencies, then your doctor would most likely attempt to improve your lungs by treating your stomach.

David Brown writes for several popular online magazines, on wellness and diet and health and fitness subjects.

Labels: , , , , ,

Monday, February 11, 2008

Acid Reflux Syndrome Explained In Simple Terms

You are in an important meeting and are just about to close the biggest deal of your career. You should be somewhere up on cloud nine, but you only just manage to present a happy smiling face to your colleagues. It's not that you're not over the moon, and wouldn't like to celebrate with the rest of them, but you've got that burning feeling again that tells you that you shouldn't have had that burrito for lunch. You are suffering from heartburn. Or so you think. In actuality you could be suffering from Acid Reflux Syndrome.

It's not as bad as it sounds, or even looks like in print for that matter, but it is bad enough to keep you from enjoying your life. So, what exactly is acid reflux syndrome? Well, I can tell you what it's not. It's not indigestion, and it's not heartburn, the two main things that acid reflux syndrome get confused with everyday.

Since the simplest answer is always the best, most people will say they've got indigestion. Others will stick to, "it's simple heartburn, that's all I've got" as if their life depended upon it. But very few people realize that what they have might not be either of these two cases, but something else that closely mirrors them, like acid reflux syndrome.

Generally speaking, the guidelines for prevention are the same for all three disorders, as are the simpler treatment methods. Even the initial symptoms are the same, but with a few minor differences that can narrow down the field of diagnosis.

Some of the most common symptoms for acid reflux syndrome include, but are not limited to, intense heartburn, stomach problems, a consistent cough, a roughened voice, a sour or bitter taste in your mouth, and also a problem swallowing.

And that's just a few of the symptoms that sufferers will experience. As you can see however, heartburn is also a symptom, and not necessarily the cause of this syndrome.

If you think you might have acid reflux syndrome, you will need to consult your physician as soon as possible. If left untreated for any length of time, there is good chance that you will suffer from it for the rest of your life.

To give you a slight idea of what exactly this syndrome entails, it occurs when the liquids in your stomach (acids, foods etc.) come back up the esophageal pipe, in a reflux action. This damages the lining of the esophagus, and causes the burning sensation that you feel. That's why it needs to be treated promptly. Any delay on your part could result in the esophagus being damaged badly, thereby impairing it for your lifetime.

If you think you have acid reflux syndrome, then seek medical attention as soon as possible. Remember to never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. In this case it could prove to have serious and long term effects on your health.

Bob Bastian is webmaster of Cure-Heartburn.com. He recently published The Heartburn Cure, a comprehensive guide about how to safely cure your heartburn without expensive medications, risky surgeries, or giving up your favorite foods.

Labels: , , ,

Thursday, December 6, 2007

How To Treat Acid Reflux

Heartburn is a by-product of digestion, specifically affecting the esophagus and the stomach. The esophagus is a tube that delivers food into the stomach, and it has a valve that opens and closes to allow food in and to keep it down during digestion.

Heartburn is a by-product of digestion, specifically affecting the esophagus and the stomach. The esophagus is a tube that delivers food into the stomach, and it has a valve that opens and closes to allow food in and to keep it down during digestion.

Heartburn is a by-product of digestion, specifically affecting the esophagus and the stomach. The esophagus is a tube that delivers food into the stomach, and it has a valve that opens and closes to allow food in and to keep it down during digestion. This valve can become lax or get overwhelmed by too much food or too much acid. This condition causes stomach acids to reflux or spill back up through the valve onto the esophagus, fanning flames of discomfort within the center of the chest.

Is there an acid reflux cure? Yes and no. Yes, because it can be treated effectively and relieved, but also no, because researchers have yet to find a root cause and it can always come back. Acid reflux treatment regimens include medications, lifestyle changes, and stress management. Depending on severity, acid reflux can be curbed with as little as only a few behavioral modifications such as quitting smoking and eating better to powerful acid reflux medication treatments under a physicians supervision.

Acid Reflux Medication
Acid reflux medication strategies vary in how they defend against heartburn. With serious, recurrent heartburn, a physician may recommend acid reflux medications to include histamine antagonists that suppress acid secretions triggered by histamine and gastrin. You could also be prescribed proton pump inhibitors, a newer compound designed to block the last step in acid production. Prokinetic agents make up another group that, unlike the first two, does not block or suppress acid production, but instead aims to increase the pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter, helping to push food through faster.

Acid Reflux Relief
In many cases, lifestyle alterations can provide a great deal of acid reflux relief like changing your diet, quitting smoking, sitting up after meals, and learning to manage stress. Exercise is also highly effective in relieving acid reflux because it aids in speeding digestion and stifles one of the peskiest acid reflux culpritsbeing overweight. Also check out specialized pillows, shaped into wedges that help keep your head higher than your stomach so that acid stays where it should while you sleep.

Others opt for natural herbal remedies found in health food stores. These herbal remedies tout all-natural ingredients that relieve heartburn symptoms and tend to be milder than medical treatments. Prescription medications are the most aggressive acid reflux treatments and are designed to provide relief for those who suffer from serious, chronic heartburn or acid reflux disease.

You may have to try more than one or a combination of relief strategies in order to find out which is the most effective for you. Remember to consult your physician on any medical concern, and always keep educated and proactive when it comes to your health.

Acid Reflux provides comprehensive information on the cause, symptoms, treatment, and diet associated with normal and infant acid reflux. For more information go to Acid Reflux and/or visit its sister site at Pain Relief Web for related information.

Labels: , , , ,