Have you ever heard of the condition known as acid reflux? There’s a strong chance that you’ve probably experienced acid reflux and didn’t know what was happening. Acid reflux is often described as a burning sensation in the body that usually occurs after eating. If you need help stopping acid reflux, this article can offer some advice.

Never, ever, EVER lie down after you eat! Even if you have only had a few bites, you may find that food comes back to haunt you in short order if you lie down. Eat all meals at least two hours before lying down for a nap or overnight to ensure that acid doesn’t sneak back up your esophagus.

Keep chewing gum handy. When you chew gum, it not only freshens your breath, but it causes you to salivate. This helps wash acid down your esophagus and back into your stomach, where it belongs. When choosing a flavor, avoid citrus and mint. Mint can cause your esophageal sphincter to relax, and citrus is high in acid.

Stress can cause acid reflux. High stress leads to higher acid production. Therefore, you should relax while eating and after each meal. You can watch some television, read a good book or do anything relaxing.

Watch the types of foods you eat before a reflux episode. People who have acid reflux have triggers that make things worse. Once you have identified your trigger foods, you’re able to watch out for them.

Try popping a few pieces of chewing gum into your mouth every time you are feeling the symptoms of acid reflux. This will cause the body to produce a much larger amount of saliva than it does on a regular basis, and this will help neutralize the acid inside of the stomach.

If you have acid reflux avoid lying down right after you eat. Your stomach will have a hard time digesting food in this position. If you remain upright, you will feel much better.

Consume smaller meals to help control your acid reflux problems. When you over stuff yourself during a meal, it can often lead to uncomfortable digestive upset, including acid reflux. Instead, consider eating several small meals a day, and always stop eating as soon as you begin to feel satisfied.

Do not lie down after a meal if you have acid reflux disease. When you lay down, the esophagus opens up more. This lets acid from the stomach come up through the esophagus and ultimately, through your throat and mouth. It is recommended that you wait at least two hours after a meal to lay down.

Skip the antacid. An antacid is fine if you only suffer from acid reflux occasionally, however more frequent sufferers should look for better treatment options. An antacid is only a temporary fix, working to mask the pain. It does nothing to treat the underlying cause of the problem. Using antacids too frequently can even cause your stomach to start producing more acid in response.

Original pH has little to do with acid-forming tendencies when it comes to food. Acidic foods such as lemons actually become alkaline upon digestion. This can be confusing if you are suffering from acid reflux. Learn the pH of foods if you have acid reflux.

Don’t rush your eating. When you eat to fast, you can trigger acid reflux. Instead really take time to enjoy your meal as much as you can. Put your fork down every so often and let your body digest throughout the sitting. Don’t eat to being overly full. You’ll be much less likely to have issues.

Acid reflux can be difficult to deal with. If you watch what you eat you can alleviate many of the symptoms. Avoiding fatty foods is very important. Fatty steaks, chicken wings, deep fried foods and pizza are all high in fat. These fats make your stomach work harder and increase the likelihood of acid reflux symptoms.

If you smoke, you need to quit. Obviously, there are many reasons why you should quit, but if you suffer from acid reflux, this is yet another reason. Smoking slows down your digestion and reduces your saliva production, which worsens acid reflux symptoms. In addition, smoking harms your LES muscle, further worsening your acid reflux. Quitting this terrible habit can significantly improve your acid reflux, not to mention all the other benefits.

The foods you eat play a big role in acid reflux. Discover which foods trigger your symptoms and do your best to avoid these foods. There are main culprits, but what bothers one person will not always bother another. Write down the foods you eat and your body’s response to help you figure out what your trigger foods are.

Without a doubt, acid reflux is more trouble than its worth. The strong painful feelings it creates within the body are discomforting, and if it is allowed to get worse, acid reflux can pose a serious threat to a person’s health. Rather than letting it get to that point, use the advice listed above and eliminate acid reflux.

Advice For Managing Your Acid Reflux Condition was originally published on Spring