Board logo

subject: Gerd, a Natural Treatment - Some Natural Treatment Tips [print this page]


Gerd, a Natural Treatment - Some Natural Treatment Tips

Do you suffer from GERD, heartburn, or acid reflux? If you do and you are like me, you take over the counter pills daily or worse you take prescribed medication. Are you aware that there is a GERD natural treatment that will rid you of the painful symptoms of heartburn, acid reflux and GERD?

In this short article we will first look at many of heartburn sufferers eat our food. We will look at why chewing your food correctly is important and list some foods we should avoid, if you suffer from acid reflux. Finally, we will mention some tips about what to do after you have eaten.

Eating On The Run

Busy lives, schedules to meet, getting to work, running the children to soccer and football games take a toll on our eating habits. As a result, we probably do not chew our food properly. It is important to chew our food thoroughly because the saliva in our mouths has enzymes that attach to the food.

Those enzymes help the stomach determine the proteins that need to be broken down by the stomach acid. Chewing helps control the proper hydrochloric acid balance in the stomach.

By not chewing our food properly particles of food that are properly broken down to pass on the nutrients we need, will pass into the intestines. Eventually these particles can damage the intestinal tract and cause even more problems.

We like to drink coffee, tea, soda, or just plain water with our meals. It helps the food go down. You may want to reconsider how much you drink with your meal. The more you drink the more diluted the hydrochloric acid becomes and the less it is able to perform its function of breaking down your food into nutrients. Drinking less allows the stomach acid to do its job and will help in preventing bloating and gas.

Eat Less of These Foods

If you are like me, you like good food. I am sure you know this but it doesn't hurt to remind ourselves. If you continuously suffer from heartburn, acid reflux, or GERD you should avoid spicy foods and fatty foods. Alcohol is another contributor. To my surprise, chocolate and mints fall into the category of foods to avoid.

The Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) is a valve that stops or controls the flow of hydrochloric acid from the stomach into the esophagus. Chocolate and mints relax this valve allowing the acid to flow up into the esophagus resulting in painful and annoying acid reflux. In addition, eating too many chocolates or mints will increase the amount of hydrochloric acid in the stomach adding to the problem.

Being careful about what we eat need not be overly restrictive. We all like good food. There is no lack of good tasting food that will not cause acid reflux, heartburn, or GERD. Those of us that suffer from this malady know very well the painful consequences of overdoing it. Of course, an occasional spicy food in moderation may not cause ill effects. I know I sometimes indulge. Moderation is the key.

Some Additional Tips

Do not eat before going to bed and no late night snacks. Nutritionists and physicians tell us to have our meals at least three hours before we go to sleep at night.

You may have heard of this, and then again, you may not. Sleep on your left side. Your stomach is on the left side of your body and the opening to the stomach from the esophagus sits at the top left side of the stomach. Sleeping on your left side makes it less likely that stomach acid and its contents will reach the opening and cause acid reflux.

Another final tip, raising the head of your bed about six inches does the same job as that of sleeping on your left side. It reduces the possibility of acid entering the esophagus.




welcome to loan (http://www.yloan.com/) Powered by Discuz! 5.5.0