I thought it would be a good time for a quick recap of the current acid reflux prevention methods that are fast, easy, and not at all life-altering.  They are effective, and will help you to get the condition under control so that you won’t be as concerned with its discomfort and pain anymore.  The majority of acid reflux prevention techniques involve certain changes to your diet, though there are other steps that you can take to make certain that you are keeping your symptoms to a minimum.

Diet is naturally the most important change that you can make as a part of your reflux prevention efforts because it is what causes your stomach to react the way that it does.

Acid reflux symptoms occur when the esophagus comes in contact with stomach acids that have been able to reach that high as a result of a damaged valve between the stomach and the esophagus.  When this valve can’t close properly, it lets stomach acids into unprotected areas of your digestive system, such as your esophagus.  The stomach itself is protected by a special membrane that can resist the strong acids of the stomach. 

The esophagus, however, does not have acid protection, and therefore, when the stomach acids reach that area, you feel it.  It most commonly feels like pain or burning in the chest area, also known as heartburn.  If left untreated, it can worsen, and lead to asthma and other lung-related problems if it reaches that area, as well as issues with the mouth, gums, and teeth.

It is therefore advisable that you try to keep your condition under control as much as you can with the right acid reflux prevention efforts.  The good news is that since dietary changes are your main weapon, you won’t need to be spending much time or money on your acid reflux preventative actions. 

The main goal of your prevention diet is to keep your stomach acids down, and not “excite” them into moving up toward your esophagus. This means that you’ll want to avoid over-filling your stomach so that the acid levels are pushed closer to your esophagus. This means eating smaller meals more often so as not to place a strain on your stomach and digestive system.

Dietary changes you can make for acid reflux prevention include:

• Eating your veggies and cereals.  These food groups bring lots of great nutrients into your system, ensuring that it is being provided with the best possible building blocks for healing, and preventing further damage – as well as other diseases.

• Quitting tobacco habits.  Smoking and other tobacco use damages the walls of the esophagus, weakening them.  When the walls are weakened, they are more susceptible to the damaging effects of stomach acids.

• Keeping away from chewing gum.  When you chew gum, you fool your stomach into thinking its about to receive food. The chewing not only stimulates saliva production, but also stomach acid production.  Since you’re not actually eating you aren’t providing your stomach with anything to do with those acids, so they may then reach the esophagus.

Other techniques for acid reflux prevention include avoiding certain foods that are stomach acid stimulators.  These foods are:

• Gum
• Chocolate
• Whole milk
• Fatty foods
• Alcohol
• Spicy foods
• Coffee and other caffeinated beverages

Remember also to try to achieve a healthy body weight, because studies have shown that people who are overweight can reduce acid reflux symptoms by just losing weight. Also try to avoid tight fitting clothing as it can push on your stomach, forcing the stomach acids to rise higher toward your esophagus.

By practicing these acid reflux prevention techniques regularly, your symptoms can be greatly reduced, if not eliminated altogether.

If you are desperate to lose weight and can’t understand why the diets you’ve tried haven’t worked let me let you into a little secret…. Calorie counting doesn’t work, low fat diets don’t work and low carb diets don’t work. If you want to know what DOES work then take a look at this and lose 9 pounds in 11 days.

Not signed up for Kathryn's Stop Acid Reflux Now newsletter yet? Click here to signup today and learn new methods for overcoming Acid Reflux, heartburn and GERD.

If you're interested in finding out more about Kathryn's Stop Acid Reflux Now range of products, including her popular Acid Reflux Recipe Books and Natural Home Remedy Reports then click here now to see Kathryn's extensive Stop Acid Reflux Now catalog....