Understanding Gerd And Diet

by Louise Bell

You might have experienced GERD or acid reflux without realising exactly what was going on. Was there ever a time when you felt a burning sensation in your upper abdomen which radiated upward and was accompanied by a sour taste in your mouth, alongside the feeling that food is coming back up?

This is GERD or acid reflux and diet is one way of alleviating and minimizing the occurrence of this condition.

The flow of stomach acid back into the mouth causes irritation and inflammation in the esophageal lining. Knowing the causes of acid reflux is essential in order to avoid the occurrence of this irritating and annoying condition.

There are several causes of acid reflux including:

* The Lower Esophageal Sphincter or LES is related to acid reflux because it is the valve that keeps the stomach acid in the stomach. When it is weak or damaged it is not be able to perform its task of keeping the gastric juices in place and acid reflux occurs.

* There are some foods and drinks that can cause weakening of the LES. These include chocolates, tomatoes and tomato based products, coffee, alcohol, sugar and fried and fatty foods.

* Certain conditions like smoking, pregnancy and obesity are contributing factors to GERD as well as lifestyle choices such as meal consumption shortly before bedtime or wearing tight fitting clothes.

One of the most accepted suggestions for treatment, if you frequently experience acid reflux, is to improve your diet. Taking action early on will avoid the acid reflux developing into a chronic condition that may bring about dangerous complications if not acted upon at once. Changes in the diet are a simple solution.

About the Author, Louise Bell:

End your pain and discover more about foods good for GERD and other relief for acid reflux like vitamin u, herbs or proper posture. Glyconutrients.