Most of us enjoy eating as it is a necessity and often a social activity. The fun ends there for people who suffer from acid reflux because they know that they will have pain later on. However, you can follow some straightforward tips to help you avoid acid reflux problems.
You should pay attention to how certain foods affect you. That’s important because you don’t want to end up repeating your mistakes over and over again. For example, if you often cook with garlic, it may be what is causing your acid reflux. Switching to another spice or removing it from your kitchen can make all the difference.
Pay close attention to how much you eat too. Too many of us keep eating just because the food is in front of us. Portions in restaurants have also gotten out of control. Stop eating when you are full, and you will experience less acid reflux. Stop eating at unnecessary times can also help you lose weight, which puts pressure on your stomach. When you lose a few pounds, you will find less stress.
In addition to watching your portions, pay attention to how often you eat. Traditionally, three meals and two snacks were recommended. However, eating six small meals can help the body digest food more quickly for those who suffer from acid reflux. Ensure you don’t eat during the last hours of the night before bed.
Since nighttime is when acid reflux usually strikes a person, you can do things to prevent it. For example, you can set up your bed so that your head and shoulders are several inches higher than the rest of your body. You’ll also want to sleep on your left side, as it will promote digestion. Lying on your right side will increase your risk of acid reflux, so do your best to break the habit.
Taking antacids after every meal can also help reduce the amount of acid in your body. This is a great way to prevent acid reflux. It would be best if you also consumed plenty of water and green tea to flush toxins out of your body naturally. Such liquids will also help digestion to take place more efficiently and with less acid produced.
Chewing quality healthy gum can use as an effective way to avoid triggering acid reflux. It naturally allows your body to produce more saliva, which counteracts the acid in your stomach. There are many flavors of gum that you can chew, so try some new flavors. Try to chew gum for at least 30 minutes after each meal for best results.
If you follow these tips for acid reflux, you will feel better. You will suffer less and have ways to get relief. If nothing seems to help, you may have a medical condition triggering it. Be sure to tell your doctor how acid reflux affects your life. It would be best if you also let them know what efforts you have made on your own to cure it. That way, they can proceed with other methods that may offer you relief.