A Diet to Stop Heartburn: 7 SECRETS
Jeff Martin
June 09, 2008
Before we get into the nature of the new diet habits, it is important to understand that chronic heartburn cannot be treated for a permanent solution without a full holistic solution that clearly targets the fundamental problem. This is because heartburn is only a symptom of a complex medical problem known as GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) or acid reflux.
GERD is provoked when a gatekeeper muscle at the junction of the stomach and the esophagus weakens and fails to block the flow backwards of gastric juices into the esophagus. This muscle is called the lower esophageal sphincter. The result is that acid then corrodes the epithelial cells in the esophagus, which is the reason for the unpleasant burning sensation called acid indigestion or heartburn.
New diet habits must therefore handle both aspects that bring on acid reflux. They must reduce excessive acidity in the stomach but also work in conjunction with the weakened sphincter. We set out seven simple guidelines for diets below as the preliminary step for a holistic, all-natural GERD solution:
1. Eat smaller meals. Big meals stress the digestive system unduly, more stomach acid is manufactured and an existing acid reflux condition can be worsened. Instead of 2-3 big meals per day, eat 5-6 smaller meals.
2. Make your last meal of the day a light one and go for a short walk if you can, to help digestion. This gives your stomach a better chance to function properly in the 2-3 hours for digesting a light meal, compared to 5-6 hours for a heavy one. It also means when you are lying down, the time window for acid to flow back into your esophagus is reduced.
3. Don´t gobble your food. Chew it properly to prevent air being sucked in, which makes the stomach balloon and pushes open the esophageal sphincter, this opening the way for stomach acid to reflux.
4. Don´t eat food that irritates the lining of your digestive system, which in turn can cause your esophageal sphincter to relax when it should not. Choose herbal tea rather than coffee and reduce intake of high-fat and spicy dishes, peppermint, coffee and caffeine, citrus juices, soda and alcohol, chocolate and any food with a large percentage of tomato.
5. High-fiber diets are to be encouraged as they help to eliminate toxins and aid digestion. Studies from Sweden have shown that acid reflux risk can be reduced by as much as half when a high fiber diet is adopted.
6. Reduce intake of dairy produce, in particular milk. Milk encourages acid, allergies and mucus, which in turn encourage Candida overgrowth and further digestive problems leading to GERD.
7. Reduce intake of calories. Obesity and excess weight also act on the lower esophageal sphincter to weaken it.
The right plan based on the diet principles above will reduce the chance of GERD and make you healthier and fitter at the same time.
This is just one part of the treatment. Heartburn is just one piece of the acid heartburn puzzle and the other pieces also need to be treated to really solve this problem. An anti-heartburn diet that is correctly balanced is the first part of a complete natural and holistic program to prevent acid reflux. In this way and only in this way, you will be able to halt this problem permanently.
Jeff Martin is a medical researcher, certified nutritionist, health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, "Heartburn No More- Open The Door To an Acid Reflux Free Life". Jeff has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide.
To Learn More About Jeff Martinīs Unique 5-Step Holistic Acid Reflux Cure System Visit: Heartburn No More.
For further information visit: Best Diet for GERD
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