It is common in today's world that people suffer from heartburn. Acid reflux, gastric reflux or GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) are the many names that heartburn has been given. Acid reflux or acid reflux disease is a disorder of the digestive tract of the body. A lot of people are not aware of why they actually suffer from this disease.
What is going on inside our bodies?
People who are suffering from the acid reflux disease are experiencing a burning sensation in their chests and stomachs. Hydrochloric acid causes this painful inflamation that gives the person a hard time. The hydrochloric acid is used by our bodies to digest food.
The so-called Lower Esophageal Sphincter is a mechanism that usually separates the stomach and the esophagus canal (the tube that lets food travel from the mouth to the stomach). The esophageal sphincter muscle contracts and closes the esophagus area after you have had a meal. This closure prevents the stomach acid from rising up into the esophagus during the digestion process.
If this mechanism doesn't work the stomach acids backup into esophagus and this refluxing motion causes an irritation to the sensitive tissues in the lower esophagus area. This results in the condition that is medically known as gastroesophageal reflux disorder or acid reflux disease.
Why does the LES mechanism not work?
There are different reasons for the occurance of the acid reflux disorder. Very often they occur with other health issues like allergies, enzyme deficiencies, gallbladder problems, hiatal hernia, stress and heartburn ulcers.
Also food and beverage consumption might contribute to the illness. Especially alcohol, chocolate and citrus fruits relax the Lower Esophageal Sphincter or LES which therefore can't work properly any more. The same is true for coffee, tea and colas which you should immediately eliminate from your diet as they containt a substance called theobromine which also has an impact on your LES.
Fried and fatty foods slow down the digestion process and should therefore not be part of your acid reflux diet. The food which is kept in your stomach for a longer period of time for longer than usual increases the pressure on your stomach muscles. This pressure can weaken the LES and thereby increase your acid reflux problems.
As the condition of your LES also depends on the pressure in your stomach you should try to eat small meals throughout the day. If you consume smaller amounts of food the chances are increased that the LES will work and that you won't suffer from acid reflux.
Another no-go are tomatoes and tomato-based products like sauces and tomato juice, as they also cause the LES to relax. Additionally tomato-based products lead to an increase in the production of stomach acid. When they reflux into the esophagus, the acidity levels cause acid reflux disease.
You see that there are several types of food that you should not eat and therefore you should change your eating habits and start to live according to an acid reflux diet plan. This can decrease your acid reflux problems tremendously so that you might not even need acid reflux treatment.
By watching what you eat and taking care of your health, you stand a better chance of avoiding acid disorder reflux from entering your life and causing you pain, and it's always better in the long term to eat healthy anyway.