Lifestyle changes can cure heartburn.Acid reflux diets, wedge pillows, adjustable beds all fight the symptoms of GERD.

By Raymond Harper

Acid reflux diets

 Lifestyle changes are imperative if you have acid reflux disease. If you suffer heartburn on a regular basis you should be looking at acid reflux diets as a way of reducing the amount of stomach acid you produce.

If heartburn is an ever present part of you life, it can be very damaging and will make you utterly miserable on  a regular basis, seeing your doctor should be the first thing on  your to do list. He may prescribe medication and send you for tests, but if his diagnosis is that you have gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD for short, then you need a change of lifestyle before this chronic symptom gets any worse. Your doctor will advise you on some lifestyle changes you to take for relief. But there are also many sources of help outside your doctor’s realm of influence.

Heartburn in the Modern World

In today’s modern world the faster pace of living means that the eating habits we have mean digestive problems are on the rise, and one of the causes of GERD through bad eating habits is excess weight. Obesity puts extra pressure on your stomach and diaphragm. It forces open the lower easophageal sphincter; the valve separates the stomach from the esophagus. Allowing gastric acid to enter your esophagus causing heartburn or worse esophagitis. By eating the right food you should not only lose weight but also calm stomach inflammation and aid digestion.

Food you should Eat

Using acid refluc diets and eating foods that promote healthy digestion will help but another lifestyle change is to eat smaller portions but on a more regular basis. You should also look at which foods you eat according to its tendency to create acid, which foods irritate the gastric lining of the stomach and which foods can relax the muscles of the lower easophageal sphincter. Some of the foods to include are :-

Grains: - multigrain breads, brown and white rice, couscous, oatmeal and bran based cereals

Cheese: - Feta, goats cheese, fat free sour cream, Soya cheese.

Meats: - extra lean ground beef, chicken breast without skin, turkey.

Fats/sweets: - baked potato ships, fat free cookies, red liquorice, low fat salad dressings

Also egg whites, fresh fish, baked beans, pasta, and certain fruits and vegetables.

There are a lot of other foods to help in managing GERD, you can try by trial and error which foods work for you, and which do not. Keep a record of the ones that give you heartburn as some folk have less tolerance to certain foods.

Other foods you can eat with caution are:-

Muffins, granola cereal, low fat cottage cheese and cheddar cheese. Also ham, nuts, peanut butter, low fat cookies, ketchup.

Foods you shoul Avoid

There are a lot of people who have intolerance to certain foods such as dairy products that can trigger acid reflux symptoms. Whole milk should be avoided.

Fast foods eaten on the run are a major contributor to the disease. Eating food in a rushed environment means you do not chew properly which makes them harder to digest. They are also loaded with sugar and fats which cause are bad for digestion.

Foods to avoid include:-

Peppermint, spearmint, chocolate, fatty and fried foods, carbonated drinks and alcohol. These foods can relax the LES causing heartburn

Although I have mentioned peppermint as a food that can cause heartburn, peppermint leaves are used as a natural cure for stomach ailment. They can soothe the symptoms associated with irritable bowel and candidiasis.

Other foods to avoid are:-

Tomatoes and tomato based foods, citrus juices, dairy products like butter and whole milk, garlic, onions, flower products, spicy foods, coffee and alcohol.

The above foods stimulate the production of stomach acid and promote heartburn. Substances like coffee can irritate the stomach lining.Changing you eating habits and using acid reflux diet foods may not cure you completely, but avoiding foods that cause digestion problems can have a dramatic effect on your lifestyle.

Acid reflux tips

Some tips to fight against GERD include drinking plenty of water on a regular basis throughout the day but try not to drink much while eating. Drinking water will help to dilute stomach contents. Eating slowly and chewing your food aids digestion.

Chewing gum can also help. Chewing produces saliva. Saliva contains bicarbonate a natural neutraliser of acid. When you swallow it eases irritation of the esophagus, it also makes the stomach less acidic helping prevent the onset of heartburn.

Another lifestyle change is to raise your chest area on an incline when going to bed. By using a wedge pillow or a bed wedge the incline you will be lying at will help to prevent GERD symptoms at night. By the laws of gravity lying on an incline will allow the stomach contents to naturally flow down into the lower stomach instead of refluxing into the esophagus. Another way is to buy an electric adjustable bed which can change your sleeping position at the touch of a button.

Wearing tight fitting clothes also puts pressure on the LES. The increased pressure on the stomach can force contents back into the esophagus.

There are many natural cures in the fight against GERD. Going on an apple cider vinegar diet being one such cure. Finding information on apple cider vinegar is not hard. It is well documented that taking apple cider vinegar can have an advantageous effect on your wellbeing. You can either buy a bottle and take two tablespoons three times a day diluted in water or you can buy apple cider vinegar in capsules from health stores.

It has been said that about 97% of acid reflux heartburn symptoms can be relieved through natural remedies. Acid reflux diets are easy to use and below I have documents some of these resources that can aid you if you take the holistic route to fight GERD. 

Featured resources

Stop Acid Reflux Now! Discover the 100% natural  strategies to banish painful acid reflux once and for all.

Heartburn No More! The Holistic system that will permanently cure your acid reflux. Clinically proven 5 step holistic program.