Relieve Acid Reflux

Acid reflux, also called acid regurgitation, is a common condition in which the acid from the stomach flows back up the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest (heartburn) or a bitter taste in the mouth. “These symptoms usually last a few hours after a meal and then go away,” Dr. Weil explains.

“Most people experience acid reflux from time to time, usually after eating certain foods.” It can be a very uncomfortable condition to live with. There are steps that can be taken to reverse acid reflux.

Let’s take a look at 7 simple tips to relieve acid reflux, as stated by Dr. Mark Hyman.

1. Avoid common food allergens:

• Do this for a short period of time, about 2 weeks. The most common food allergens are gluten and dairy.

2. Stay away from the culprits:

• Caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine can all trigger acid reflux. Try it for a few weeks to see if that is what is causing your symptoms.

3. Eat early:

• Eating at least 3 hours prior to going to bed helps with digestion.

4. Adopt a healthy diet:

• This is a very simple step.
• Remove spicy foods, processed food, fried foods, and tomato-based foods, as these can trigger acid reflux.
• Eat more greens and fresh foods.

5. Deal with stress:

• When you deal with stress before eating, it relaxes the nervous system and helps the body digest food better.

6. Take supplements:

• There are supplements that can help with acid reflux symptoms. “My favorite is licorice, we call it deglycerized licorice or DGL, which helps to coat the stomach and prevent reflux,” shares  Dr. Mark Hyman
  
• You can chew two or three tablets before you eat.
• Add probiotics to your diet in form of supplements.
• We also  recommend eating fermented foods which are a good source of probiotics.
• Acidophilus and Bifidobacteria work well by optimizing gut flora.
• “Magnesium is also a very powerful relaxation mineral for the digestive system that helps prevent reflux. You can also add zinc carnosine, which has been shown to help reflux,” ends Dr. Hyman.

7. Get tested:

• If these steps don’t work, it is time to get tested by your doctor or health practitioner for the following:
• H. Pylori
• Celiac and gluten sensitivity
• Check for food sensitivies
• Check for bacteria, yeast, and parasites in the gut
• For an acid reflux remedy.
• For a gut health smoothie.

REFERENCES:

• 1. Hyman, Mark, MD “7 Steps To Reverse Acid Reflux.” Dr Mark Hyman. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.
• 2. Weil, Andrew, MD. “Acid Reflux.” WEIL. Dr. Andrew Weil, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.

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