A Change In Lifestyle - Overcoming Acid Reflux

When many people think of treating a disease they normally think
of some scientific, surgical or medicinal treatment first. It's
the mentality of "take two aspirin and call me in the morning".
We pop a pill, go asleep and everything should be ok. Is this
the answer? It all depends on what you're suffering from but
there are certain conditions which can be treated with a change
in lifestyle just as easily as they can be treated with medicine
or surgery. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one such
condition.

So why go for lifestyle change before medicine?

It's simply because most medication provides a short term cure
to the problem by either neutralizing or reducing the amount of
stomach acid produced. A change in lifestyle offers a "cure"
over the longer term - possibly even permanently. The lifestyle
change required for acid reflux sufferers is a change in diet.
Different people react to different foods and you are what you
eat after all!

How You Sleep

This is the first area to examine when treating your acid
reflux. When you sleep laying down flat your stomach acid can
work its way back up into your esophagus. So instead of sleeping
perfectly flat try placing an extra pillow or two underneath you
as you sleep. This is so your body is in a more upright position
which in turn keeps your stomach acid where it belongs - in your
stomach.

Big Meals Are Bad

Eating food is one of lifes more simple and more enjoyable
pleasures. The traditional big family meal is something we all
look forward to at the end of each day. Once done we can retire
to another room and relax for the evening. This is the worst
possible move for any acid reflux sufferer. You need to eat
smaller meals and more often - give your digestive system a
chance to catch up and actually digest the food. If not then
expect heartburn at any moment.

Foods To Avoid

Avoid chocolate, cola drinks, peppermints, citrus fruits, too
much dairy and alcohol. These have all been proven to have an
irritating effect on the lower esophageal sphincter and the
stomach itself. Excessively fatty foods and smoking should be
also be moderated or eliminated. Most smokers will be familiar
with the sour taste and feeling in their stomach most days - if
you can feel it imagine what it looks like on the inside. Oddly
enough chewing gum can be one positive "junk" food in your acid
reflux diet. The extra saliva that the body produced during
chewing can prevent attacks of acid reflux as your saliva has an
active antacid in it.

So if you do suffer from acid reflux don't reach for the bottle
of antacids every time you get heartburn. Why not consider
reviewing your diet and making the big change that your body is
telling you that you need?
By: Jill Seimer
About the author:
Jill Seimer writes on health issues at RefluxLife.com reporting
recently on naturalhealing for acid reflux from experience with acid reflux
disorder symptoms.