Acid reflux also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) is a condition in which the acidified liquid contents of the stomach backs up to the esophagus. Acid reflux can be caused by many factors like hiatal hernia, low or slow emptying of the stomach and symptoms include heartburn, nausea, chronic cough, ear pain and regurgitation.

Acid reflux can be annoying, especially when you regurgitate what you have consumed earlier, start coughing in public, or you have this annoying ear pain which is almost bringing tears to your eyes, don’t forget heartburn and nausea, there are simply not pleasant feelings.

To avoid these unpleasant feelings is why we bring to you 15 ways to treat acid reflux.

1. WATCH YOUR DIET
Do you just consume whatever you see and available? Well, you might want to watch it, certain foods may promote acid reflux. Reducing intake of sugar, caffeine, alcohol, spicy food, fatty food and acidic food is an effective way of curing and reducing acid reflux.

Avoid food that trigger acid reflux, use anti-inflammatory nutrition plan, consume food low in carbohydrates and high in healthy fats

2. AVOID LARGE MEALS
Who doesn’t love eating? Yes we all do, but our body especially the digestive system does not. Avoid eating excessively large meals, instead eat frequent small meals as this aids in digestion and also, eat at least 2-3 hours before going to bed.

3. EAT JUST A SOLID MEAL A DAY
Well, we just want to have a heavy breakfast, lunch and dinner especially after the day’s work, but our body says no. Eat only one solid meal a day, preferably breakfast, let the rest be smoothies, drinks and fruit and other protein shakes, doing this lessen the pressure on the digestive system.

4. HAVE A LEMON DRINK
Lemon, lemon, lemon. Who knew lemon would be this wonderful? Aside having a lightening property and also good for achieving a flat tummy, lemon is also good at producing Hydrochloric(HCL) acid. Cut lemon into water and drink this all day.

5. HAVE A GINGER DRINK
We all don’t appreciate ginger enough, even some of us don’t like it, little do we know our body actually do need it. Ginger is a very good spice used in cooking and at the same time a very good treatment for acid reflux. Boil ginger in a glass of water and make a ginger drink with it. One secret, just like lemon, ginger is also good for achieving flat tummy.

6. USE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
For some of us, avoiding large meals is just impossible, we just can’t do without eating to satisfaction. If you can’t avoid having a large meal, have 1-2 tablespoon of ACV in a glass of water about 10 minutes before each large meal.

7. DIGESTIVE SUPPLEMENT
Supplements are just the best in everything. Taking a digestive enzyme supplement is a good way of aiding the digestive system and reducing stress on it, thereby avoiding acid reflux

8. HYDROCHLORIC ACID SUPPLEMENT
Who knew HCL supplements are these good? Hydrochloric acid helps in maintaining a healthy gastric ph and improving stomach acid production, aiding digestion and reducing the risk for acid reflux.

9. CONSUME FERMENTED DRINKS AND TONICS
Fermented foods are just the best, consumption of fermented drinks such as apple cider, coconut water, daily before meal(s) improves digestions and HCL production

10. LIFESTYLE
Being healthy is life, it’s everything, keep a healthy lifestyle. Quit smoking, smoking cause irritation to the gastric juice in the stomach and this can cause acid reflux. Also, weight loss is advised, especially in an obese individual. These aids in reducing the severity and frequency of symptoms.

11. SLEEPING TECHNIQUES
Your guess is as good as ours, there’s more to sleeping than just lying on bed. Elevating the head of the entire bed with blocks, or using a wedge pillow that elevates the individual’s shoulders and head, may inhibit acid reflux when lying down.

12. AVOID FAST MOVEMENTS
Sometimes we tend to be in a hurry and so move with haste. It is advisable to avoid fast movement, especially after a meal. Fast movements cause a disturbance in the process of digestion, because the stomach and intestines are affected by it.

13. TAKE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY HERBS
Wonder what anti-inflammatory herbs are? Tumeric, Cinnamon, Oregon and garlic are examples of anti-inflammatory herbs. Anti-inflammatory herbs are used to produce provide an abundance of critical trace minerals and reduce the risk for acid reflux.

14. REDUCE STRESS ON THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Those times when you are stressed out and think the best solution is eating a solid meal? No, be sure not to eat a solid meal while under stress. Stress reduces the secretion of digestive juices and enzyme production, instead, only consume raw and liquid foods in small quantities when stressed.

15. MEDICATIONS
The good news, acid reflux can more often than not be treated with the use of over the counter drugs. The use of antacids like Gaviscon, proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole reduces the symptoms of acid reflux.

Thank you for stopping by for some health guide and tips with– Oyebisi Oyelami

IG – @queenitee

See you next time.