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Foods That Trigger Acid Reflux

Submitted by Loring A. Windblad on December 17, 2009

Treat Acid Reflux By Choosing Foods Effectively

Acid reflux is a condition that could possibly be a precursor to the more chronic situation called Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease or GERD. This is a condition in which the stomach acids and gastric juice is regurgitated leading to a persistent cough and a burning sensation in the foodpipe. The condition is termed as a lifestyle disease that is brought upon by irregular eating habits and indulging in activities and a diet that promotes the production of acid. Once GERD sets in, there is no permanent cure for the condition and the symptoms will always exist along with an inability to ever sleep horizontally ever again.

By understanding the basic mechanism and causative forces of GERD, you can understand how to deal with the problem before it ever becomes a chronic problem. The first step is to change those things in your lifestyle that do cause acid buildups.

Eating meals at proper times is the first step in this regard. Set a specific time when you have your three meals in a day. If this is something that you already do, then have more frequent meals instead of three big meals.

Tips For Making Certain Lifestyle Changes

The next step is to avoid things that will increase the acidity in your stomach like smoking and the use of painkillers. Analgesics like acetylsalicylic acid are quite famous for causing acidity and it is therefore a better option to use medication like ibuprofen instead.
The next part of the equation lies in the food that you eat. There are some foods that are acidic by themselves and foods that cause acidity by stimulating the acid-producing parietal cells of the stomach.

One of these is clove.

Eliminate it totally from your diet. Other foods that will cause acidity include spicy food.

Spice, in this context, specifically means chilies and peppers. Ginger and garlic, on the other hand, go a long way in settling the stomach. Other things to avoid include aerated drinks, fatty and rich foods, and caffeine. Fatty foods are the silent killer of the esophageal sphincter and should be had in moderation.

Even if you must have fat, try and ensure that you use vegetable fat instead of animal fat. This is quite useful from the perspective of avoiding a heart attack in the future as well. Eating alkaline food is simple. Just stick to leafy greens and vegetables. Make sure that you do not lie down immediately after eating and if possible go for a short leisurely stroll as this will aid digestion.