Can Acid Reflux Diet Eliminate Your Heartburn?
Research recently done confirms the hypothesis that certain dietary habits together with a complete acid reflux diet may contribute to ward off chronic diseases and different health conditions, including that of acid reflux.
More and more, evaluations of dietary patterns have been used to chart the complex character inside of our body’s balance and to explore its connection with health in general. Using a special acid reflux diet is the first step towards stopping and blocking acid reflux.
Recently, using broad dietary patterns has increased in popularity as a preliminary measure in acid reflux therapy. Prior research done on the influence of diet on the occurrence of symptoms of acid reflux had only focused on particular nutritional elements to be avoided by acid reflux sufferers.
Doctors and alternative therapists both say that applying non-restrictive dietary principles can significantly diminish acid reflux symptoms. The holistic approach of today emphasizes the diet approach of the person, pointing out complex behaviours and potential effects, either interactive or antagonistic, among dietary elements that may bring on acid reflux.
Eating too much fatty foods is linked to poor digestion and a weakened LES muscle (this muscle needs to be strong for the LES, the Lower Oesophageal Sphincter, to help prevent acid reflux).
Significant fat intake is shown to worsen acid reflux symptoms, especially for saturated fat and high cholesterol foods. As an example, health care professionals who treat acid reflux patients are all in agreement on the need to avoid fatty foods.
High fibre foods give faster elimination, flushing away toxins at the same time as giving softer stools, and reducing transit time through the intestinal tract with increased bulk.
All of these conditions have a relation to a number of consequent health effects, including acid reflux. Significant fibre intake has been linked to the decrease in acid reflux symptoms.
Several clinical researches have demonstrated how a high fibre diet observed over one year can improve gastrointestinal effects. Following this data, researchers recommended a dietary fibre intake of 25 to 40 grams, and the diversification of sources to include whole grains, low-starch vegetables and salads.
As the first step in a general holistic approach to address and resolve internal factors that cause Acid Reflux, these two diet principles are just one part of a complete acid reflux diet methodology.
Heartburns Acid Reflux Symptoms
Alcohol lovers would often love to match their drink with spicy dishes and greasy and fatty foods. The perfect combination makes the drinking perfect to the palate. Unfortunately, though, this is bad for the oesophagus and the stomach. The alcohol, the spicy dishes and the greasy and fatty foods causes acid reflux or also known as Gastro oesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).
Other causes of acid reflux are pregnancy, genetic influences, presence of infection in the gastrointestinal tract, and the Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).
The Gastrointestinal System of the body is composed of the following: the oral cavity, the oesophagus, the stomach, small intestine, large intestine and the anus. The main function of the Gastrointestinal System is to digest food particles, absorb digestive juices and eliminate undigested materials which are of course the faeces.
The acid reflux affects the stomach and the oesophagus. This occurs when the liquid from the stomach which contains pepsin, an irritating substance produced by the chief cells goes up to the oesophagus passing through the cardiac sphincter.
The cardiac sphincter is the opening to the stomach from the oesophagus. Its function is to prevent reflux of the substances in the stomach because these substances cause oesophageal irritation and ulcer. If the cardiac sphincter fails to close after receiving food from the oesophagus, acid reflux occurs.
Acid reflux is a chronic condition. Once a person suffers from it, it becomes a life-long ordeal. Injury in the oesophagus also is a chronic condition. Even if the oesophagus has healed with treatment and it is being stopped, the injury will return in most patients within a few months. Once treatment for said illness is begun, it usually needs to be continued indefinitely.
Normally, liquid reflux in the stomach occurs to a healthy individual. However, people with the acid reflux or GERD, has more acid in the liquid. This may be caused by the genetic influences, specifically, an increased number of parietal cells which produce pepsin in the stomach.
The body has mechanisms to protect itself from the harmful effects of reflux and acid. Most reflux happens during the day when individuals are upright. In said position, the refluxed liquid is more likely to flow back down into the stomach due to gravity. Moreover, while individuals are awake, they continually swallow, regardless if there is reflux or not.
Each time individuals swallow the reflux liquid slide back into the stomach. The last body defence to reflux is the salivary glands in the mouth. These glands produce saliva, which contains bicarbonate. Every time an individual swallows, the bicarbonate-containing saliva slides down the oesophagus. The bicarbonate neutralizes the small amount of acid that remains in the oesophagus.
Basically, acid reflux medicines inhibit the production or release of pepsin produced by the chief cells and hydrochloric acid produced by the parietal cells in the stomach. Other medicines may not totally inhibit the production but they neutralize the acid.
The acid reflux medicines are the Histamine Blockers or the H2 receptor antagonists. Histamine stimulates a pump in the stomach that releases hydrochloric acid. The H2 receptor antagonists prevent the histamine from stimulating this pump. They block the production of the hydrochloric acid thereby reducing secretion and concentration into the stomach.
One of the acid reflux medicines is the Cimetidine which was introduced in 1975. It has a short half-life and short duration of action. The three most popular H2 blockers are Ranitidine, Famotidine and Nizatidine.
They are more potent than Cimetidine because in addition to blocking gastric acid secretions, they also promote healing of the ulcer by eliminating its cause. They also have longer duration of action.
As the cliché goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, you can avoid having an acid reflux or GERD by avoiding too much smoking and alcohol, and by eating less of spicy and greasy food. When taking NSAIDs, be sure you take it after meals. Lastly, avoid stress because it stimulates the release of the deadly acid.
Diet Plan to Treat Heartburn
Certain foods can worsen your heartburn symptoms, and when planning your diet, it’s better to avoid foods and drinks that result in acid reflux. On the other hand, there are a few good foods that do not cause any heartburn problems.
1. Heartburn Safe Foods
There are a lot of foods that do not cause the unwarranted acid production in the stomach. Foods on the safe list included cottage cheese, yogurt, sweet potatoes, fat free cheese, baked chicken, bananas, lean ground beef, and white or multigrain breads. The safe food list is not something that applies to all.
Foods that are known heartburn producers do not cause heartburn in all persons. For instance, orange juice might cause abrupt and intense aches but having spicy Mexican food might just leave you without any symptoms. So keep a note of foods to add to your diet and the foods to avoid.
2. Foods to Shun
A lot of foods are actually triggers of heartburn. Such foods have certain ingredients that are tough to digest. Garlic, citrus fruits, tomatoes, onion and spicy foods can cause heartburn. Junk food high in fat content and grease make you feel overfed, amplifies pressure in oesophageal sphincter and can cause tiny amounts of acid to go back into your oesophagus.
Drinks elevated in caffeine or carbonation are known offenders. Like high fat content junk food, carbonated drinks might cause bloating and increase pressure on the oesophageal sphincter.
3. High Protein Diet and Heart Burn
Picking the right high protein diet may help solve your heartburn problems as long as you choose the foods cautiously and don’t consume high fat foodstuff, which can have the opposite effect. In truth, a healthy high protein diet can play a major role in combating heart burn symptoms.
4. Heart Burn Quick Remedy
Drinking half a cup of skim milk can alleviate heartburn if you don’t have any antacids on hand for fast relief. Skim milk assists in neutralizing acid in stomach. Drink just little; drinking too much might promote secretion of acid and cause acid reflux. And keep yourself straight at least thirty minutes following drinking the skim milk.
Overall, heartburn is something that can be treated naturally. Going for the right diet and mixing it up with natural treatment is often just as excellent as prescription drugs.
How to Avoid Heartburn During Pregnancy?
Heartburn is common symptom of stomach disorder. Many people feel heartburn because of digestion or stomach disorders. However, women also feel heartburn during pregnancy. As during pregnancy, a woman goes through many hormonal changes, this is one of major reasons of heartburn.
Almost all women feel heartburn during pregnancy, it is not perilous though. During pregnancy pressure on lower oesophageal sphincter and intra abdominal pressures are increased that is why pregnant women feel heartburn.
Generally, people suffering from GERD or acid reflux disease often feel heartburn. Doctors prescribe different types of medicines and treatments to different patients according to severity and type of their stomach disorders.
Many patients use antacids, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors and histamine receptor antagonists to neutralize the increased quantity of acid in their stomachs. Being pregnant, you cannot use these medicines without prescription of your doctor.
Heartburn in pregnancy is not to be treated as heartburn in normal patient. You need to be a little more careful and cautious when you are pregnant. Do not risk your health by taking antacids which are not exclusively prescribed to you. A pregnant woman can take antacids, which contain calcium, magnesium and aluminium, but again not without prescription of physician.
Do not take those antacids which contain sodium bicarbonate because sodium bicarbonate usually results in metabolic alkalosis. Different proton pump inhibitors are being used by pregnant women. However, there is no authentic or pen-down research on effects of various proton pump inhibitors on pregnant women. Therefore, it is always suggested to take consultation of doctor before using any proton pump inhibitor.
You can ease heartburn during pregnancy by practicing different good habits. Increase your water intake than usual quantity. But remember do not drink much of fluid or water during meal. If you drink a lot of water during meal, it may affect your stomach adversely and may cause a severe heartburn.
Do not take big meals. If you take big three meals in a day, start taking smaller meals to reduce pressure on your stomach by converting these three big meals into six easy meals.
Avoid heartburn in pregnancy by wearing loose fitting. Avoid cloths with tight fitting around waist. Moreover, you can reduce heartburn during pregnancy by increasing the quantity of yogurt in your diet. Citrus fruits, spicy foods and carbonated beverages can also cause heartburn in pregnant women. Many women have found that chewing a gum can ease heartburn to a great extent.
How To Treat Acid Reflux and Stop Night-time Heartburn
There is little room for debate about the difficulties and discomfort that acid reflux suffers face each and every day. But, with some simple advice, anyone can better manage this condition. Don’t stop reading now, carry on and expand your knowledge base.
Put a wedge beneath your mattress to boost your head and keep acid down. Prop your mattress with a plank or some book to make sure your head is elevated. If money isn’t a problem, you might even invest in a special bed with lumbar controls.
Acid reflux is often made worse by trigger foods. Alcohol, chocolate, caffeine and fried foods are a few of the different items that can cause acid reflux. Additionally, acidic fruits and vegetables such as citrus fruits and tomatoes contribute to acid reflux. The triggers are different with everyone, so make sure you identify your own. To be safe, avoid these items.
Exercise can be difficult after you eat if you have acid reflux. This is because you can force digestive acids upwards as you exercise. Hold off exercising for at least a couple hours after eating.TIP! Avoid drinking during your meals. This can help you cope with hunger as you are going to be thirsty.
Get in shape to reduce acid reflux. Obesity is a leading cause of this condition. Just losing a small amount of weight can help. Losing weight is best when consuming smaller amounts of food, not by a crash diet.
Particular foods can lead to acid reflux. You should stay away from them if you want to minimize your symptoms. A few foods that frequently causes problems are tomatoes, milk, alcohol, acidic juices, coffee or spicy foods.
You should never lie down after a meal. Your digestive tract may not function as well in this position. It’s possible to reduce your acid reflux symptoms by remaining upright after your meal, and of course, eating healthy at all times.TIP! Keep your head up by raising the top half of your mattress while you’re sleeping. If you do not have a wedge, anything that will lift the head of your bed will work.
Try to lose a few pounds each week. Those extra pounds you are carrying around may be the primary reason you are suffering from acid reflux. Acid from the oesophagus can rise back up from the stomach in this situation.
Not only is this extremely painful, it can cause long term damage to your oesophageal lining. You can help prevent these issues by staying active and eating better.TIP! Certain foods trigger acid reflux. Common trigger foods include fried foods, caffeinated beverages, alcohol, and chocolate.
There is nothing as miserable as acid reflux disease. That said a bit of knowledge goes a long way towards healing and prevention. Use this advice to help yourself or help someone you know get their life back on track.