Treating Acid Reflux Naturally - How It's Done

Have you suffered with acid reflux for most of your adult life? Do you take over the counter antacids or prescription heartburn relief medications that aren’t effective for hours? Are additional symptoms from medications making your acid reflux even more unbearable? Then stop taking prescription medications that aren’t helping your problem. Acid reflux can be treated without additional side effects and long waiting for relief.
Acid reflux causes damage to the esophagus that can cause inflammation, irritation and pain. However, the acid in the stomach is needed to breakdown food to use the nutrients within it. Therefore if you stop the acid production in the stomach through antacids, acid suppression, or increasing the alkaline pH in the stomach you will have more problems than just acid reflux. Your body will be incapable of digesting food and receiving nutrients. So if you don’t want this to happen to you, then making changes in your lifestyle and diet and using natural remedies is your best way to cure your acid reflux.
Damage within the esophagus can be healed, however you need to avoid the foods that caused the damage in the first place. Alcohol, caffeine, soda, tomatoes, fatty foods are just some of the foods that can increase the acid production within the stomach and cause acid reflux. Although it is difficult to try to eliminate as many of these foods from your diet as possible. This will allow the esophagus to heal properly. Eating a diet filled with alkaline foods will also help to heal the esophagus and reduce the overproduction of acid within the stomach. Eating smaller more frequent meals rather than 3 large meals and avoiding eating 2-3 hours before bedtime can decrease the likelihood of an acid reflux attack.
Making changes in your diet is just one of the ways you can reduce your acid reflux symptoms. Excess weight is one of the risk factors that can cause acid reflux. Start a daily exercise program to reduce fat and burn calories. Stop smoking. In addition to all its harmful toxins and diseases that it can cause, smoking is one of the leading indicators for acid reflux. If you can’t stop on your own, try a smoking cessation program, but quit as soon as you can. Increase your water intake. Water dilutes the acid concentration in the stomach therefore eliminating acid reflux. We are supposed to drink 8-8oz glasses of water a day, however most people choose soda or coffee rather than a bottle of water. Switch out your old beverages with water. If water is too bland for you add a slice of lemon or lime to zest it up.
In addition to changes in lifestyle and diet, try some natural remedies to improve your condition. Apple cider vinegar and aloe vera juice drank daily have been used to soothe and heal an inflamed esophagus. Ginger tea with honey is a great aid for digestive problems as well as relaxing the esophageal muscles. Taking a spoonful of honey can coat and line the walls of the esophagus to avoid inflaming the cells. This can be used as preventative, or in acute cases. Licorice has been used to stop heartburn by activating the protective mucus of the digestive tract. Licorice is a strong anti-inflammatory, which can protect the esophagus from acid. Glutamine is an amino acid with anti-inflammatory properties. It heals the tissue in the digestive tract. By eating a few almonds when you wake up in the morning and before meals you can reduce your chances of acid reflux. Almonds are naturally alkaline and can reduce nausea therefore calming the digestive tract. Chew on sugarless gum to dilute stomach acid in between meals.
Remember that one natural remedy may not work for everyone, so what works for one person may not work for you. If one doesn’t work try another, until you find one or several that work for you. If your symptoms worsen, see your doctor.