The Foods That Soothe Acid Reflux And Prevent It From Coming Back

Learn some of the foods that helps cure acid reflux and prevent it from coming again. Check out the article we found over at The Science Of Eating.

Many people suffer from it, but do you REALLY know why? Acid reflux happens because at the entrance of the stomach there is a valve, or a ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter or LES. Normally, the LES closes as soon as food passes through it, but if the LES doesn’t close all the way, or if it opens too often, acid produced in the stomach can move up into your esophagus.

This increase in pressure will cause acid reflux, however, other issues such as being overweight, lying down after eating a large meal, pregnancy, alcohol, leaky gut and certain acidic trigger foods can also lead to acid reflux and heartburn. If acid reflux symptoms happen more than twice a week, you have acid reflux disease, that is also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

If you want relief  from acid reflux fast, you must address these root causes. In this article I will summarize some helpful information, symptoms and tips to minimize or cure the pain and discomfort associated with acid reflux or heartburn, and get you feeling normal again.

Symptoms of Acid Reflux Disease

Common symptoms of acid reflux are:

• Heartburn: a burning pain or discomfort that may move from your stomach to your abdomen or chest, or even up into your throat
• Regurgitation: a sour or bitter-tasting acid backing up into your throat or mouth
• Bloating
• Bloody or black stools or bloody vomiting

What Causes Acid Reflux

First of all, too much stomach acid is NOT the cause of acid reflux, the primary cause is that acid enters the esophagus due to a leaky valve. There are a variety of reasons that this happens, but typically the valve that connects the esophagus and stomach is unable to close properly, which allows gastric juices to “sneak back up the pipe”. Some common causes include:

• A Hiatal Hernia – Normally, the diaphragm helps keep acid from rising into the esophagus. However, if the upper part of the gut moves above this muscle that separates the chest from the stomach, acid can leak through.
• Being Overweight or Obese – Extra body weight can cause acid reflux by increasing pressure on the esophageal valve and may also be linked to low stomach acid.
• Too Little Acid – Possibly surprisingly enough, too little stomach acid causes a slew of GI issues (like leaky gut) that contribute to acid reflux.
• Eating Too Much Before Bed -Eating a lot too close to bedtime, then laying down puts your body in a position that is abnormal for digestion.

Foods To Fight Acid Reflux

When looking for acid reflux cures you will want to first change your diet. There are specific foods that are essential to natural treatment of acid reflux including:

• Aloe Vera – Aloe Vera Juice helps with acid/alkaline balance of the digestive system and reduces yeast fermentation. Yeast fermentation occurs when there is an overgrowth of the normal yeast balance in our gut causing a fermentation process that leads to an increase of intra-abdominal pressure.
• Organic Chicken or Turkey – These meats are low in fat and easy to digest, just make sure you chew it well before swallowing in order to activate the proper enzymes, which aid in digestion.

• Fish & Seafood – Seafood is very helpful for reflux, but it should be baked, grilled, or sautéed, never fried. Shrimp, lobster, and other shellfish are also good choices, but be sure to get Wild fish, not the farm-raised variety.

• Oatmeal – Oatmeal is just about the best breakfast and any-time-of-day snack or meal recommended by The Reflux Diet. It’s filling and doesn’t cause reflux.

• Couscous & Brown Rice – Couscous (semolina wheat), bulgur wheat, and brown rice are all outstanding foods for acid reflux. Remember, a complex carbohydrate is a good carbohydrate!

• Apple Cider Vinegar – Mix 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar with one ounce of water about 10-20 minutes before a meal.

Tips to Alleviate Acid Reflux

Chew Food Well & Take Time While You Eat

Most of us just swallow food without really taking time to chew it properly. Thoroughly chewing foods will send messages to the rest of the gastrointestinal system to begin the digestive process. When our food is not properly broken down it becomes prone to bacteria, leading to indigestion.