Health Information

After enjoying a full and heavy meal, you decide to spend a little time relaxing in front of the television to watch your favorite TV series. Suddenly, you feel a burning sensation starting to build in the upper section of your abdomen. Your chest feel like it’s on fire and the burning feeling and slight pain starts to travel from your diaphragm, rising through your throat. Combined with a sour taste there is a feeling that food is entering your mouth again.

This condition, where stomach acid travels from the stomach to the esophagus, is what is know as acid reflux and acid reflux and diet are connected to one another.

Acid reflux happens when stomach acids come into contact with the lining of the esophagus causing it to become irritated.

Common causes may include the following:

* A weakened Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) is one of the reasons why acid refluxes into the esophagus. LES is the valve that keeps the stomach acid in the stomach. Once it is relaxed or weakened, it isn’t able to perform this function so well.

* 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 obesity and pregnancy where there is excessive pressure in the abdomen causing a pushing of some of the contents of the stomach back into the esophagus. This can also occur with tight fitting clothing or accessories such as a belt.

Since acid reflux and diet are interrelated, it is essential you watch what you eat in order to prevent frequent re-occurrence. Eat smaller meals at more frequent intervals rather than super heavy meals in just one sitting. Why? Because this act can prevent too much stomach acid production. ALso avoid the foods mentioned that can cause weakening of the LES.

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