Start getting a grip on your reflux or GERD problem

Introduction

Acid reflux, GERD and gastro esophageal reflux disease are all different names for the same condition. It is very unpleasant and it can be caused by numerous different factors. One sometimes just needs to follow a few simple rules in order to avoid this very annoying ailment. Different individual cases of GERD involve different causes, and in most cases a specific type of food sets off the GERD several hours after the consumption. When a person regulates and chooses the consumption of different food items, the GERD can be avoided.

Tips

The best thing to do in order to avoid acid reflux is to consume smaller meals in a more frequent manner. Fewer big meals per day should be replaced by a larger number of smaller meals. The more a person eats and gets her or his stomach stuffed, the more the chances are for the acid reflux to occur. The change may be kind of annoying at first, but soon the person grows accustomed to having smaller, more frequent meals. The stomach sometimes needs to work much harder in order to digest certain types of foods and those include fast foods, hydrogenated oils, fried foods and all kinds of deep-fried foods. Excessive amounts of gastric juices usually get associated with the occurrence of acid reflux.

Some people think that heartburn or acid reflex can be alleviated by consuming milk and ice cream because they are supposed to coat the stomach in order to reduce the severity of the symptoms. In reality, this usually is not the case. These and similar other dairy products can actually even worsen the symptoms, especially in those who suffer from lactose intolerance. The general rule is to avoid anything which contains high amounts of saturated fats, and that includes most types of dairy products. There are also certain food items which are considered to be safe for consumption without ever being associated with acid reflux. Those foods usually include most lean meats and chicken. Grains and multigrains are also good examples. On the other hand, citrus fruits and tomatoes need to be avoided because they contain high amounts of acidic substances. Apples, bananas, carrots, potatoes and broccoli are also among those food items which usually do not cause any problems. Seating instead of lying after a meal is strongly suggested as certain body positions may also sometimes be associated with the occurrence of acid reflux.