Helpful Ways to prevent acid reflux

Helpful Ways to  prevent acid reflux

What is acid reflux

At the entrance to your stomach is a valve, which is a ring of muscle
called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Normally, the LES closes as
soon as food passes through it. If the LES doesn't close all the way or if
it opens too often, acid produced by your stomach can move up into your
esophagus. This can cause symptoms such as a burning chest pain
called heartburn. If acid reflux symptoms happen more than twice a
week, you have acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal
reflux disease.

The stomach contains a strong acid, hydrochloric acid, to help with the
efficient digestion of food and to protect against undesirable microbes
such as bacteria.

The lining of the stomach is specially adapted to produce this acid, and
also to protect the digestive organ against its own corrosive secretion,
but the higher gut is not protected from this acid.

Need to know about acid reflux

Risk factors

Foods to avoid

Eating large meals or lying down right after a meal. Being over weight or
obese.

Eating a heavy meal and lying on your back or bending over at the waist
Snacking close to bedtime
Eating certain foods, such as citrus, tomato,chocolate, mint, garlic,
onions, or spicy or fatty foodsDrinking certain beverages, such as
alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, or tea.

Smoking
Being pregnant Taking aspirin, ibuprofen, certain muscle relaxers,
or blood pressure medications may cause acid reflux to occur

Natural remedies for acid reflux

Herbs that help

Angelica
herbal tea
Caraway
Clown's mustard plant
German chamomile
Greater celandine
Lemon balm
Licorice
Milk thistle
Peppermint
Slippery elm
Aloe
Melatonin

Some helpful ideas to help acid reflux

Water

Lose weight

Raw almonds

Red Delicious apple
apple cider vinegar.

Chewing gum – Chew a piece of sugar-free gum 30 minutes after eating,
which can help wash away acid.

For people who experience heartburn or indigestion infrequently,
perhaps in association with occasional food and drink triggers,
treatments to reduce the acidity of the stomach contents are available
without prescription from pharmacies (over-the-counter products).

These liquid and tablet formulations are called antacids and there are
dozens of brands available, all with similar effectiveness.
They may not work for everyone, and any need for regular use should be
discussed with a doctor.

Antacids provide rapid but short-term relief by buffering the acidity
through simple chemical reaction with the stomach contents
(they do not act on acid-producing cells of the stomach lining)

They contain chemical compounds such ascalcium carbonate, sodium
bicarbonate, aluminum, and magnesium hydroxide, and can also inhibit
nutrient absorption, leading to deficiencies over time.