gastroesophageal
- The first thing you should know is whether your body is producing more acid or not. There is an increase in acid production if what we eat are food items that are difficult to digest. In order to prevent this, thoroughly chew your food or eat slowly. Avoid rushing when eating meals as this prevents you from properly grinding the food, resulting in the stomach being overworked. In addition, it is better to eat small portions frequently than to have large meals thrice a day.
- Make a few changes to your diet. Consume food that is easy to digest. Acid reflux diets generally allow you to eat your favorite foods, except those that are too acidic such as citrus fruits; hard-to-digest food such as tripe, marbled sirloin, buffalo wings, and chicken nuggets; and food products that increase stomach acidity such as coffee, milk shakes, cottage cheese, and high-fat desserts. In between your meals, drink a small amount of water in order to avoid the feeling of fullness. In addition, stop eating as soon as you already feel that you are full.
- People suffering from acid reflux generally lack digestive enzymes. In order to replenish digestive enzymes, it would be beneficial to eat raw foods, as they are richer in enzymes than cooked food. Raw vegetables and fruits can be consumed as well. Apart from these, fat-free dairy products may be consumed. Digestive enzymes are needed in the diet of acid reflux patients because they help in breaking down food. It is also good to add apple cider vinegar to your meals, and this is recommended by health experts. One good source of digestive enzymes are blendered vegetables. A cup of this daily will be especially useful in digestion. Try juicing veggies such as potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and celery. Fruits like pineapple, bananas, and papayas can also be consumed daily, sliced or juiced, as these help in breaking down the food by supplying our systems with a lot of helpful digestive enzymes.
- One of the best ways to avoid acid reflux is to eat at least two to three hours before going to bed at night. Eating right before going to bed does not give the stomach ample opportunity to digest the food. Moreover, place your head a bit higher than the level of your stomach to prevent food from being regurgitated.
These are the natural methods and practices which help in curing acid reflux, and following them regularly may help you enough to avoid acid reflux medication.
