5 Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Acid Reflux

If you wake up with a bitter burning taste in your mouth or feel a burning pain that moves from your stomach up through your chest and sometimes throat, you may be experiencing acid reflux symptoms. If you have chronic frequent heartburn or the symptoms include difficulty swallowing, chest pain and wheezing, your condition may have escalated into GERD, gastroesophageal reflux, a more severe form of the disease.

How does acid reflux begin?
Sometimes it simply comes from an abnormality in your stomach called a hiatal hernia. The hiatal hernia occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter muscles, LES muscles, and stomach move up above the diaphragm. The diaphragm keeps the stomach separated from the chest. When this happens, it can't function correctly and instead of preventing the acid from rising; it allows it to go into your esophagus.

However, not everyone with acid reflux disease has a hiatal hernia. Sometimes, pregnant women find the pressure of the ever-growing fetus pushes on their stomach and causes the same reaction. This type normally stops once delivery occurs.

You can control some of the causes of acid reflux.
Because you can control them, they also are not only a safe way to cure the problem; they're improvements in your lifestyle. If you smoke, stop. That, of course is no easy task, but smoking is a main contributor to having reflux. Smoking increases the acid secretion of the stomach, damages the mucus membranes, causes a reduction of the LES muscle functioning, lowers the amount of saliva in your mouth that neutralizes the acid effect and impairs the muscle reflexes of the throat.

Another cause and cure is to eat smaller meals early in the day and avoid consumption of food two hours before you lie down. The prone position is an invitation for the stomach acid to rise in the throat. If you have a faulty valve, lying down with a full stomach offers just enough pressure for acid to seep into your esophagus. Bending at the waist after a heavy meal also can trigger acid reflux. So if you eat lightly and early in the day, you can potentially avoid problems.

Some foods can trigger reflux reactions so avoiding these foods can also help you to stop the problem. The biggest villains in this case are alcoholic and carbonated beverages, citrus fruits, coffee and tea, fried foods, mint, garlic and onions, foods made with tomatoes such as pizza or salsa and spicy foods.

Obesity, just like pregnancy, causes pressure on the stomach and LES. Losing weight can be one healthy way to stop the problem. When you lose weight, you lower your food intake, therefore reducing your chances of an attack, and reduce the pressure on the stomach by losing excess weight.

Other Natural Cures For Acid Reflux.
If the lifestyle changes don't seem to help, other natural cures include mixing two capfuls of natural apple cider vinegar mixed with 4 ounces of water and a tablespoon of honey. You drink the mixture three times a day for relief. While the acidity of the apple cider vinegar would seem counterproductive, some people swear by it.

Some people find that if they eat a few slices of apples before a meal or before bedtime, it helps reduce the symptoms.

Another home remedy is to put a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and drink it three times a day. This is a homemade antacid. Finding the offending food culprit may be difficult but some people find that foods containing bleached flour set off a bout of acid reflux. Simply switching to unbleached flour can be the remedy.

So if you are experiencing acid reflux try these tips and natural remedies. They just might save you a trip to the doctor's office and the expense of over-the-counter medication. While over-the-counter antacids will temporarily relieve your symptoms they won't solve the problem. Natural remedies, such as those described in this article offer better, long-term relief.