Acid reflux affects more than fifty million people in the United States according to a recent survey. At least half of frequent heartburn sufferers believe that it is not possible to live heartburn-free or not experience some sort of acid reflux. More than 90 % say that frequent heartburn negatively impacts their quality of life. So with these figures in mind let’s cover some of the causes of acid reflux to help you get a better understanding of what it is then we’ll cover some of the natural acid reflux remedies available.

First let’s cover what is it?

Acid reflux is known in the medical community as GERD which is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder. The term GERD is used to describe a group of conditions involving reflux. Basically, it’s a digestive disorder in which hydrochloric acid, enzymes and partially digested food backs up into the esophagus. The acid that backs up into the esophagus causes damage because the lining is very delicate and is not designed to withstand the caustic effects of stomach acid.

What are some of the causes?

The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a muscle that connects to the upper portion of the stomach. When the LES functions normally it will open to allow food from the esophagus into the stomach and then close immediately to prevent any food or digestive juices back into the esophagus. Reflux occurs when the LES malfunctions and allows contents of the stomach to flow back into the esophagus. Sometimes it’s so severe that acid reflux in throat can occur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What causes the LES to malfunction?

There are many factors that can cause the LES to weaken and malfunction such as a bad diet and / or lifestyle. Listed below are a few factors that can contribute to a weakened LES:

  • Stress
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • Overeating
  • Eating to quickly
  • Overweight
  • Spicy foods
  • Chocolate
  • Peppermint
  • Smoking
  • Fatty and fried foods

What are the symptoms and signs?

Every individual will have their own degree of symptoms. For instance, one person might have a severe attack of acid reflux after eating a meal while another person might have an attack after lying down at night. The one thing in common that every sufferer will have is some degree of reflux. The following is a list of symptoms and signs to look for that you may or may not experience:

  • Nausea
  • Belching
  • Bloating
  • Gas
  • Regurgitation
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath

Again, not all people with GERD will experience these symptoms and signs. This list is just some of the common symptoms and signs that a lot of GERD sufferers experience.

Natural acid reflux remedies:

Typically the first thing people want to do when they are experiencing it is to treat it with antacids. Unfortunately most people are not aware of the fact that there are some long term adverse effects of continual use of antacids.

For instance, the calcium contained in these products are poorly absorbed by the body thus creating a calcium deficiency. Also, some antacids contain aluminum which some studies have shown to be a possible cause of Alzheimer’s disease.

So, instead of reaching for an antacid let’s look at some optional natural acid reflux remedies:

  • Try ginger or slippery elm tea.
  • Chew deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL)
  • Drink a glass of room temperature water
  • Take probiotics that contain at least 2 to 6 billion cultures per capsule

Try raising your bed at night to elevate your head so when you are lying down you won’t be totally flat. This will help to prevent gastric juices from flowing back into the esophagus. Also, try eating smaller portions during the evening meal so your stomach will have time to digest the food before you go to bed and try skipping those late night snacks.

These are just a few suggestions you should try and hopefully you will find these natural acid reflux remedies helpful. To find more safe and natural ways to prevent your acid reflux / heartburn check out Heartburn No More. I highly recommend it because the natural methods taught in this ebook helped me to eliminate my severe acid reflux after many years of suffering.