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The human body has been designed in such a way that all the parts are working harmoniously together to ensure good health and prevent disease. What actually happens when a part begins to function in an abnormal way is called an illness.
One perfect example that I would like to particularly point out is the process of digestion. Digestion begins at the mouth, when food enters the oral cavity and the teeth begins to grind and chew the food that is mixed with saliva, into smaller particles so that it would be easier to swallow. As our tongue pushes the bolus of food towards the back of our throat, it will then pass down through the esophagus going to the stomach where it will mix with gastric juices and acids before it eventually proceeds to the large and small intestines to complete the process of digestion and absorption. What prevents food from going back from the stomach to the esophagus is a small band-like sphincter, known as the lower esophageal sphincter, which opens when food is about to the go down to the stomach, and closes when food has passed. It works like a sentry – opening and closing when the need arises.
The problem occurs when the esophageal sphincter fails to do its function well – it becomes relaxed and food from the stomach starts to go back up the esophagus. Remember that the contents of the stomach had already been mixed with acid and gastric juices which, clearly, can cause damage and inflammation.
What Causes Acid Reflux?
For people who regularly experience acid reflux, the diagnosis usually made by medical professionals is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD. The most common causes of acid reflux are pregnancy and obesity which causes an increase in the pressure exerted towards the abdominal area. Other contributing factors include alcohol, caffeine, chocolates, cigarettes and the consumption of fatty foods. But then again, there are some people whose body simply experiences delayed emptying of the stomach for no apparent reason at all.
Symptoms of Acid Reflux
The condition is very painful. It is so uncomfortable that some people seem to think that they are having a heart attack. Hoarseness of the voice, chest pain and difficulty in swallowing are some of the most common symptoms that a person with acid reflux experience.
How to Prevent Acid Reflux
In order to prevent the discomforts that are usually associated with acid reflux, here are some tips for you to follow:
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Eat small meals
A large meal could set your digestive process into overdrive. It stimulates the organs for digestion to work harder. Plus, more stomach acids and gastric juices are produced in order to digest the heavy meal. Eating small meals throughout the day could help lessen the workload of the digestive organs, and it can also lessen the pressure inside the abdomen. Also, lesser gastric juices and acids are needed to digest the small meal.
What could actually work is for you to avoid three large, square meals a day and the better option would be to eat five or six small meals each day, with an interval of not less than 3 hours between each meal.
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Perform Aerobic Exercises
Exercise helps ensure that the blood circulates well inside the body. Thus, exercise does not only give shape and tone to the muscles, but it also helps in the proper functioning of all our other body systems as well. Sufficient blood going to our digestive organs would translate to its optimum performance resulting to an efficient digestive process.
One important point to take note of is not to perform bending exercises, or any other form of strenuous exercise for that matter, right after a meal because this will put more pressure in the abdomen as well as the esophagus and will only worsen acid reflux.
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Eat Alkaline foods
Because of the acidic nature of the condition, it is important that we take necessary measures to neutralize the acidic environment of the stomach. This can be done by eating foods that are alkaline in nature. According to the author of Alkalize or Die, Dr. Theodore Baroody, really ripe bananas, apple cider vinegar, raw honey (organic), and lemon juice (prepared fresh), can actually help those who suffer from acid reflux.
Grains such as quinoa and amaranth help form an alkaline system inside the body. Furthermore, mixing 8 ounces of water with half a teaspoon of baking soda has an instant neutralizing effect on the stomach. However, those with hypertension should be cautious when taking baking soda because it has been known to increase blood pressure levels.
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Go for probiotics
Some forms of acid reflux can be caused by the over-population of the H. pylori bacteria inside the stomach. H. pylori is a microorganism that remain resistant to hydrochloric acid. In the natural order of things, H. pylori is a resident bacteria in the stomach – but when they start to multiply rapidly and invade the organ, then it becomes a problem. As in the case of acid reflux, the bacteria causes the lower esophageal sphincter to weaken. Taking probiotics could help because probiotics attack the bacteria, allowing the lower esophageal sphincter to heal and then resume its normal functions.
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Lose the excess weight
As previously mentioned, excess weight, such as in the case of obesity, is one of the main causative factors of acid reflux because of the pressure inside the abdomen. This is especially true for people who are quite thick around the abdomen. If you are overweight and is experiencing symptoms of acid reflux, the best thing that you can do, aside from the ones mentioned above, is to get rid of the extra weight. Avoid eating fatty foods because these types of foods are difficult to digest, thereby further delaying gastric emptying time.
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Avoid Alcohol
If you are experiencing acid reflux, it is best for you to avoid alcohol. Alcohol is a relaxant, and it causes your lower esophageal sphincter to relax as well. When this happens, there is a very big chance for your stomach contents to go back up the esophagus, thereby exacerbating your condition.
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Use herbs
There are also herbs that help with acid reflux. Examples include twig tea, aloe vera juice and slippery elm. Tablet forms of orange peel extract have also been known to help with acid reflux.
Sources
natural-health-journals.com
patienthealthinternational.com
livestrong.com
livestrong.com
heartburnreliefblog.com
heartburn.about.com
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