With life becoming so fast and stress increasing in everyday life, acid reflux (or commonly known as GERD) has become one of the most common health problems. In this condition the liquid content of the stomach backs up into the esophagus. GERD may damage the lining of the esophagus, thereby causing inflammation. It can also cause pain in ears, throat, chest, legs or even back. In some cases people can start getting thick white saliva in mouth every few minutes. The good news is that with a healthy controlled diet and few home remedies this can be cured in most cases. Depending on one’s body one remedy may be more effective than the other.
Common Causes:
- Stress: Root cause of so many diseases. Even a moderate level of stress can cause indigestion. Food should be taken in a restful and calm atmosphere.
- Elevated hormone levels during pregnancy
- Eating before going to bed: Lying down with a full stomach can cause stomach contents to press harder against the LES, increasing the chances of refluxed food.
- Eating large meals: Yes, we all love a big fancy meal however people who have digestion problems, should always take several small meals a day than one large meal. Frequently eating greasy, fried, and fatty foods
- Smoking: The chemicals in cigarette smoke weaken the LES as they pass from the lungs into the blood.
- Alcohol: Alcohol relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. It also increases the production of stomach acid.
- Carbonated Beverages: Drinking lots of bubbly (carbonated) beverages such as soda
- Wearing tight-fitting clothing: Clothing that fits tightly around the abdomen will squeeze the stomach, forcing food up against the LES, and cause food to reflux into the esophagus
- Relaxed LES: The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a group of muscles connected to the stomach and the esophagus. When functioning properly, the LES opens to allow food from the esophagus into the stomach and closes. When the LES malfunctions, due to the weakening of muscles, it relaxes and is no longer able to fully close, allowing some of the stomach contents to back up into the esophagus causing reflux.
Remedies:
Here are some of the home remedies you can try to cure acid reflux.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: This is one of the most common and widely accepted cures for acid reflux.
- Aloe Vera Juice: an anti-inflammatory component in this plant has popularized this extract to be one of the simplest yet most effective remedies. It has been used for thousands of years, dating back to ancient Egypt.
- Slipper Elm Tree Powder: Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva) has been used as an herbal remedy in North America for centuries. Slippery elm also causes reflux stimulation of nerve endings in the gastrointestinal tract leading to increased mucus secretion. The increased mucus production may protect the gastrointestinal tract against ulcers and excess acidity
- Digestive Enzymes/Probiotics: You can buy probiotics from a specialty health food store or even make your own probiotic drinks at home. Fermented foods and drinks can be your best solution to ineffective probiotic supplements! (e.g. Kiefer and Lassi – is something very easy that you can try..) Digestive enzymes help break your food down so that the stomach doesn’t get over burdened. This increases the likelihood that reflux and indigestion symptoms will not manifest. This is more prevention than taking something to calm symptoms, which is always preferred.
- Fruits: Eating Fruits such as apple, banana and water melon may provide immediate relief to reflux symptoms.
- Garlic: One of the reasons why people in Asia have less reflux problems is due to proper intake of garlic. They use garlic on daily basis.
- Clove: Adding a clove in your tea or just keeping it in the mouth can provide relief to acid reflux.
- Water: This is beneficial for your overall health as well. However, increasing your water intake will help to dilute the acids in the stomach, thus minimizing the acid reflux symptoms. You should also try to drink a glass of water after you have eaten, possibly two.
- Fennel and Chamomile Teas: have a soothing effect on the individual drinking it and it has been successfully connected to the relief of acid reflux discomfort.
- Almonds: are another great way to eliminate the effects of acid reflux. In the morning, chew on a few almonds and after each meal
- Reducing Weight sometimes help: If you have gained weight in a quick time then reducing weight can help body adjust and reduce acid reflux.
- Blood test: It is always good to get blood test and make sure there is no infection inside stomach.
- Eat 2-3 hours before lying down. Elevate the head of the bed. If you still have reflux of acid in the nighttime hours, try sleeping on your left side.
- Sodium bicarbonate:Also called baking soda, used to kill odors in refrigerators, this can be used as an antacid to treat heartburn and stomach upset.
- Yoga: Yoga is claimed to help many different disorders including heart disease, IBS and back pain.
- Acupuncture: Studies have proved that acupuncture, acupressure and electrical acupoint stimulation when applied to Pericardium 6 (P6) will reduce the relaxation of lower esophageal spinster (LES).
Foods to avoid:
- Raw Tomato, Raw onion and Lemon
- Fried food like French Fries
- Coffee
- Carbonated drinks
- Eat less meat
- Quit smoking
- Chocolate
- Chilli peppers and pepper
- Ice Creams
- Cheese
- Hot Spices
Picture of GERD.
Lifestyle changes: Please put some effort today and get acid reflux out of your way. Change your habits from today. Please submit your feedback and/or post your comment in the section below if you like my post or if you know of any other natural way to cure acid reflux.
Itsnotimpossible 