~ 1. Changes in Lifestyle

This one intimates and practically demands consuming the correct diet for acid reflux which we have started to discuss in other posts. You should eat foods that are safe for you such as complex carbohydrates, fish, meat, baked foods, low fat dairy products and vegetables like spinach or lettuce.

Always try to avoid fatty foods, especially ones that contain lots of  butter, cream, cheese and oil, tomato products, citrus, caffeine and alcohol. Most of these food groups would be a good idea to avoid also for the prevention of acid reflux.

In addition to changes in diet, some other things you can do are:

a. Avoid those things that will set off your condition such as: sprawling after a meal, wearing clothes that are too tight especially around the waist, consuming large meals, smoking, eating within two to three hours before bedtime and at all costs try to avoid stress.

b. Watch your weight as excess weight will put exorbitant pressure on the stomach, causes the LES to weaken dramatically.

c. Keep a journa of the foods you eat where you can determine what foods and drinks cause acid reflux attacks and then you will know to avoid them.

d. The dreaded word we all hate to hear…… Exercise

~ 2. Acid Reflux Medicines

There are countless acid reflux medications which help to inhibit excessive acid production, which obviously limits the effects and occurrences of acid reflux. Here are the easy non prescription types::

a. Antacids which we have covered in another post were the first that health professionals recommended for acid reflux. What they do is help to neutralize acid the stomach has already produced and promote the defense mechanisms that increase the production of bicarbonate and mucous. These are all over the counter without prescription and really serve only the purpose of instant relief.  A more chronic sufferer of acid reflux will always have thse around  but use them far more sparingly than someone who has just the occasional bout with heartburn and acid reflux.

b. Histamine blockers have been mentioned as well in the past but I have personally found no use or help from these.  I have found little that correlates sneezing with acid reflux.  Of course these things always vary from person to person and a histamine blocker may do very well for you.

c. Prescription medications, of which there are several, will almost always help stem acid reflux as they lessen dramatically the production of acid.  These will be discussed more in other posts dealing specifically with the individual available medicines.  Suffice it to say at this point that Nexium has no equal but Protonix is working extremely well for me right now, even in the generic form.

~ 3. Apple cider

Apple cider vinegar very common remedy used by many acid reflux sufferers. Aside from acid reflux, it has may other medicinal uses for many other conditions.  It is simply a very good and complete all around remedy for many ailments including acid reflux.

To use, simply add two or more tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to  about eight ounces water about three times a day.

~ 4. Acid Reflux Herbs

There are several herbs available that can help ease your condition. Some of these are:

1. Ginger. Some Herbalists suggest you to drink 500mg of ginger with water after a meal. Or, you might add ginger into your food, or even consume it as a capsule. It can be of great assistance to digestion.

2. Peppermint, chamomile, ginger, licorice root and catnip are good as teas  after meals as they soothe the lining of the stomach.

3. Aloe vera and honey are known to neutralize acids in the body as well, and are far safter than those antacids recommended by the doctor.

Surgery is also an option for treatment, but a safer alternative is to practice a healthy lifestyle and use natural remedies.

You can check a couple of the links I have up there also to assist with natural ways to address your  acid reflux problem.

More info on acid reflux treatment from around the web…

Well, read on and find out the very simple ways in which you can approach and cure the symptoms of heartburn.  Acid reflux natural treatments:

~ Use Apple Cider Vinegar

This wonder solution has been used to treat just about anything. Although there have not been that many evidences on why the vinegar works and how it is able to do its job,

but it has been heavily reported that apple cider vinegar does produce soothing effects to the stomach.

~ Choose Your Foods Well

You may or may not know it but one of the things that can increase the occurrence of acid reflux symptoms are certain foods. Try not to eat foods that are known to aggravate

or worsen the symptoms such as spicy foods. The lesser you eat foods such as these, you will less likely experience the symptoms.

~ Use Sodium Bicarbonate

Used for many things, sodium bicarbonate was found out to be very efficient in heartburn as well as in stomach upset. This is because sodium bicarbonate acts as an antacid,

thereby also helping in neutralizing the stomach acid.

~ Avoid Bedtime Snacks

Have you often experienced waking up in the middle of the night just because you are experiencing one of the acid reflux symptoms? If you are one of those who are fond of e

ating right before bedtime, then it’s about time you stop doing so.

When you sleep on a full stomach, you will end up putting pressure on your lower esophageal sphincter- the very sphincter responsible for keeping your stomach contents in place.

When the stomach is putting pressure on this sphincter, there’s a big chance that the contents will back up.

~ Avoid Tight Clothes

Fond of wearing tight clothes especially the ones that require you to wear tight belts and “tinier-than-yours” waistbands? If you want to treat the acid reflux symptoms’ occurrence,

then it’s about time to stop wearing the tight fitting clothes. These clothes put pressure to your sphincter leading to heartburn symptoms while also having great potentials in cutting

off some of your circulation.

~ Don’t Smoke

Aside from being the cause of some forty something diseases, cigarette smoke can weaken the esophageal sphincter. With this, the sphincter will end up either relaxing even at times

when it is not supposed to. It can also cause the sphincter to close incompletely.

~ Increase your Protein Intake

With all the does and don’ts that are connected to heartburn, one of the ways to lessen, if not, treat the acid reflux symptoms is to eat foods that are high in protein. This is especially

helpful if your esophageal sphincter is weak. By having great amounts of protein, the damaged sphincter will become healthier and stronger.

What you should keep in mind is that the natural ways should be done first before any radical methods and should be done with a doctor’s advice. If you doubt on whether the natural

ways of acid reflux symptoms really work, try doing these or simply supplement them with your current method.

More info on acid reflux natural remedies from around the web…