Acid reflux, more commonly known as heartburn, can be more than just an annoyance. Frequent heartburn can be a sign of a serious disease known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, according to the National Institutes of Health. Treating acid reflux is about more than just getting rid of it after you have it. Many remedies can help you prevent it from ever being a problem in the first place.
Diet
Modifying your diet is an effective way to curb acid reflux. Avoid spicy foods or foods containing acid, such as citrus fruits and juices and foods containing tomatoes or tomato juice, suggests the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The acid from these foods can irritate the lining of your stomach and cause excess acid to be produced, which can reflux back into your esophagus, causing heartburn. Also avoid high-fat foods and overeating, which can also irritate the stomach and cause bloating, triggering heartburn in some people. Large meals can overfill the stomach and push acid back up the esophagus.
Lifestyle Changes
One remedy for dealing with chronic heartburn is to lose weight and exercise regularly, reports the NIH. Being overweight increases the pressure on your stomach, which can trigger acid reflux. Smoking, drinking alcohol and having excess stress in your life are also factors that can contribute to acid reflux.
Milk
If you’ve done everything you can do reduce acid reflux and it keeps coming back, try drinking a glass of milk. Not only will the thick liquid coat the lining of your stomach, but the calcium in milk acts as a buffer to the acid in your esophagus. Calcium also helps slow down the production of stomach acid.
Chewing Gum
Chewing gum produces saliva, which is alkaline, so it can reduce the production of stomach acid, says Dr. Stuart Spechler of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Saliva also helps to clear acid out of the esophagus.
Cranberry
Cranberry has been shown to reduce or eliminate the growth of H. pylori, a strain of bacteria that can cause acid reflux, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Cranberry juice, sauce or even dried cranberries can be an effective remedy for acid reflux if you suffer from H. pylori.
