| Natural stomach acid is in your stomach for a reason. | | | | your body at least two hours to digest your food |
| The actual acid is not the cause of heartburn. It is not | | | | properly. And never ever lie down immediately after |
| like it is a nasty poison that someone put in there | | | | eating a large meal. |
| without approval. The acid breaks down foods and | | | | To avoid overproduction of acid eat smaller portions |
| sorts them out into the right department so to speak. | | | | of food at each meal. It would also help a lot to |
| Proper digestion depends on the presence of | | | | eliminate any fried food or food that contains refined |
| adequate stomach acid while you are eating. | | | | sugar, or caffeine. Obesity can also increase |
| When you eat, food moves from the mouth through | | | | abdominal pressure, and your risk of suffering from |
| the esophagus and into the stomach to be digested. | | | | acid reflux as well. If you are overweight, cutting back |
| At the end of the esophagus there is a band of | | | | on the amounts of food that you eat at each meal, |
| muscles that open and allow foods to go into the | | | | and exercising daily should put you on the right path to |
| stomach. It then closes to prevent the food and acid | | | | helping you shed a few pounds. |
| from coming back up into the esophagus. Many people | | | | Acid reflux is caused in some people when the |
| experience heartburn when foods or digestive juices | | | | sphincter muscle at the end of the esophagus |
| escape the stomach and come back up through the | | | | becomes weak or does not close correctly. |
| esophagus. | | | | Prescription drugs, certain foods, alcohol, and smoking |
| To make sure your stomach has enough acid at | | | | have been known to weaken the sphincter muscles. |
| mealtimes, make sure you chew your food thoroughly. | | | | Try not to use antacids since they cut down the acids |
| Getting saliva mixed into the food as you chew will get | | | | you will need when you eat. Without enough acid, your |
| the digestion process off to a good start. Snacking | | | | stomach is unable to do its job of breaking down the |
| throughout the day causes the stomach to pump out | | | | food into the various nutrient components. Inadequate |
| acid gradually instead of saving it for mealtimes when | | | | digestion of proteins can cause the liver to increase |
| it is needed the most. It is best to not eating closer than | | | | production of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol |
| three hours apart. For example - if you eat breakfast | | | | which is the bad cholesterol that does the most |
| at six a.m. and lunch at twelve p.m. then a snack at | | | | damage to your body. |
| nine a.m. would be fine. | | | | Instead of taking antacids try the following natural |
| Next, make sure you do not drink too much liquid while | | | | approach. If you still have sour stomach in between |
| eating a meal. Too much liquid dilutes the necessary | | | | meals try eating something that will settle it without |
| acid in the stomach. The best policy is to drink a glass | | | | triggering more acid production such as sauerkraut. |
| of water 30 minutes to one hour before or after your | | | | Your stomach should relax after eating sauerkraut in |
| meal, with only a few ounces consumed during the | | | | five to ten minutes. |
| meal. After you've eaten one hour or two feel free to | | | | The benefits of natural solutions are they normally cost |
| guzzle down all the pure natural water you want. | | | | a lot less, but even more important is the fact that |
| Another cause of acid reflux (heartburn)comes from | | | | natural solutions are a healthier alternative. They tend |
| eating large meals. This increases pressure on the | | | | to reduce the possibility of becoming dependant on |
| stomach causing the stomach contents to be forced | | | | addictive chemical drugs. |
| out and up into the esophagus. You will need to give | | | | |