Heartburn and acid reflux is a condition that now affects thousands of people around the world; so much so, that it is being considered an epidemic. The pain associated with the condition can become so distressing for some that it is important to seek relief as soon as possible. What most people don’t realize is that there are numerous home remedies to relieve the symptoms of discomfort and pain associated with acid reflux.
Of course, there are tons of medications you can buy, both over the counter and by prescription. Most of these medications are not only expensive, but also have the added benefit of dangerous side effects.
These side effects can actually turn the acid reflux condition into a chronic condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease; also known as GERD. If left unchecked, GERD can progress and require surgery to repair the damage caused. In the worst cases, GERD can turn into cancer. For me it is too high a price to pay.
Natural home remedies are great for acid reflux because there is a wide range of possibilities to choose from that may work for you. They can range from the very simple, which anyone can do at home, to techniques that are more sophisticated and should only be practiced by someone familiar with plants and herbs. The good news is that curing gastric ailments with herbs and natural home remedies has no side effects.
In order to find the best home remedy for your acid reflux symptoms, it is essential to experiment with a variety of different acid reflux home remedies that are known to eliminate acid reflux, heartburn or gastric ailments. This will allow you to discover what works best for your individual needs. We are all different and respond to treatments in different ways. What may work for your best friend Alice may not work for you, and vice versa.
If you want to prevent heartburn and acid reflux even before it starts, you need to get serious and start thinking about the types of foods you put in your mouth. Bad eating habits and diets; too little exercise and stress; and the use of acid reflux medications, such as antacids and inhibitors, are the main culprits in the progression to gastroesophageal reflux disease.
What you are feeding your body to keep it healthy and running efficiently is the main reason you are experiencing heartburn and acid reflux. You are not feeding your body the nutrients it needs. Eat processed foods and fast foods; drink soft drinks and alcohol; and adding too much table salt and sugar to your diet contribute to heartburn and acid reflux.
Carbohydrates that come in the form of processed white flour products like white bread, including hamburger and hot dog buns; donuts and cakes; cookies, cakes and ice cream; sweetened white flour cereals, white rice and corn; and all white flour pastas are big gastric food culprits. All of these processed foods should be eliminated from the diet. Replace these items with whole foods instead. Old fashioned (not instant) oatmeal is a better alternative than Coco-Puffs.
Heartburn, gas, indigestion, and a sore throat are just warning signs your body is using to tell you it’s time to change before you have a big meltdown. Drinking soft drinks (all soft drinks, including diet and non-caffeinated ones) is like pouring kerosene on an open wound. Learn to replace soft drinks by drinking much more water, herbal teas and natural fruit juices (without sugar or sugar substitutes).
With dietary modifications and eliminating foods that trigger your attacks, you can usually reduce the occurrence of acid reflux. Very often you can completely remove it forever. On the other hand, you don’t want to have to give up everything you love to eat. Keeping a diary of what you’ve eaten each time you have an acid reflux attack is the best first step in figuring out what you can and can’t eat. If greasy fries trigger a heartburn attack, just don’t eat them. Pretty simple, right?
If you find that there are several foods that you really enjoy eating, but they aggravate your garlic, just keep in mind that once you have controlled your acid reflux condition with a proper diet, you will be able to eat some of these junk foods. again, only in moderation. You won’t be able to completely go back to your previous bad eating habits, but you will be able to have one of these aggravating foods from time to time.
Eating a nutrient rich diet is the first challenge for someone suffering from heartburn and acid reflux. This diet modification must begin immediately if you want to end the agony of heartburn and acid reflux symptoms. Eating foods packed with nutrients instead of foods that are very scarce will also prevent the condition from becoming much worse. The body is a wonderful machine that was designed to heal itself when cared for properly. Replacing these bad eating habits with good eating habits really isn’t as daunting as you might think. Once you start feeling better because there have been no bouts of acid reflux, you’ll find that you also have more energy, feel better than you have in years, and the big plus is that you’ll also have lost weight, without even trying.