Thursday, March 12, 2009

Simple Treatments With Home Remedy For Acid Reflux

By Richal Peyton

One of the common gastro-intestinal conditions suffered by many today is acid reflux. To prevent it from developing into a more serious condition, it is necessary to treat it from its early stages. Since this condition has a lot to do with the acid and enzymes in your stomach, people often look into a home remedy for acid reflux, which can be a special diet or activity. Let's take a look at the three most popular options for natural acid reflux treatments.

Diet For Acid Reflux

One quick home remedy is drinking milk. This is especially good for those who are experiencing acid reflux for the first time. However, this is not a permanent solution, as milk can cause a rebound effect after some time.

Small frequent meals should be taken instead of three big meals. For instance, you can have 3 medium-sized meals throughout the day plus 2 snacks in between. When eating 3 large meals in one day, your stomach tends to build up excess acid during the long hours before those meals.

It's not enough to simply schedule small frequent meals. You need to avoid high-fat foods and instead eat more complex carbohydrates like breads, rice, and pasta. These kinds of foods are able to tie up extra acid and are much gentler on your stomach. On the other hand, high-fat foods tend to stay much longer in the stomach, therefore forcing the stomach to secrete more acid. Finally, limit your alcohol intake, as alcohol like beer can double acid production in your stomach in just 1 hour!

Herbs For Acid Reflux

Taking herbs such as chamomile, gentian and ginger can also help relieve acid reflux. You can couple these herbs with your acid reflux diet to sooth stomach muscles and other unwanted symptoms. The benefit of using herbs is that they tend to have no harsh side effects and can be used for the long term.

Activities For Acid Reflux

Aside from relieving symptoms of acid reflux, but you'll also need to maintain overall health. There's no point in treating acid reflux once and then going back to your old habits. If you'd like to get rid of acid reflux for good, exercise regularly and try some de-stressing techniques.

You'd want to lower down your daily stress as much as possible since it has been found as one of the major factor of the condition. The best thing about physical activity is that it doesn't cause adverse side effects and nor does it cost a thing. When you exercise your body naturally releases endorphins, which aid in digestion and also help you feel mentally and physically better. You may do mild exercises (avoid strenuous exercises) like walking and relaxation techniques such as stretching and yoga.

To sum it all up, a natural home remedy for acid reflux can be your best choice in treating your condition. This is because it often has no side effects, is safer for long-term use, and benefits the whole body as a preventive treatment. Before trying out any of the treatments mentioned, consult your doctor first. - 15437

About the Author: