Acid reflux is problematic, and it can seriously destroy your quality of life. You should not give up on finding a solution, even if the remedies you tried so far have not been efficient. How can you manage acid reflux successfully? The following information will help you eliminate the phrase "acid reflux" from your vocabulary.

Have beverages in between your meals instead of in the midst of them. This is a good way to manage hunger, since you stand a better chance of being thirsty than you do hungry. In addition, not drinking during meals will prevent your stomach from expanding as much. As a result, acid is not as likely to rise up, so your acid reflux symptoms will decrease.

When you're at your optimal weight there is a less of a chance that you will get GERD. Those extra pounds put pressure on the stomach and cause the bottom of your esophagus to relax and allow reflux. Shedding a few extra pounds could cause the sphincter to tighten and limit acid reflux.

If you smoke, you should quit. Smoking makes acid reflux worse. It can slow down your digestion and also your saliva production as well. The esophageal sphincter is weakened as a result. So stop smoking now.

Some foods will cause you to produce more acid. For example, alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, and fried foods are notorious culprits. Acidic items like citrus fruit and tomatoes also exacerbate acid reflux. However, triggers are an individual thing so you need to read your own body to just what is not working for you. To be perfectly safe, you can avoid all of these items.

Slippery elm, when ingested as a supplement, can help thicken mucous in your stomach and reduce erosion of the stomach lining. It creates a barrier between your stomach and the acid. Adding two tablespoons of the supplement to a glass of drinking water after your meals and before bedtime seems to do the trick.

Watch the types of foods you eat before a reflux episode. Anyone who deals with acid reflux has certain foods that causes the onset of this problem. Once you have identified your trigger foods, you're able to watch out for them.

Smoking and acid reflux are not things that go well together. Nicotine facilitates the production of stomach acid, increasing occurrences of acid reflux. However, it is not wise to quit cold turkey; doing so could put stress on the body and worsen acid reflux. Take a very conservative approach when trying to quit.

Don't exercise right after a meal. Food that is in your stomach can be forced up into your esophagus when your lower abdominal muscles contract while exercising. Allow one to two hours to pass before you partake in exercise activities.

After you eat, try to chew some cinnamon gum. Chewing gum helps to stimulate your saliva glands. The acid in your stomach can be neutralized by your saliva. Since you swallow more when you chew gum, this will also wash down any acid remaining in your throat. If cinnamon is not your thing, try some fruit flavored gum instead. Mint gums can exacerbate the problem.

Alcoholic beverages can make acid reflux worse. Besides causing acid to begin to build up and eat away at your stomach lining, alcohol worsens acid reflux. If you are going out with friends, limit your alcohol intake if you want to feel good when you get home.

Moderate exercise often helps alleviate acid reflux. Moderate is the key here. While vigorous exercise can aggravate acid reflux, more moderate activity can provide significant relief. These exercises allow gravity to aid in your digestion. Moderate exercise helps you lose weight too.

The tendency of a particular food to form acid when digested has little correlation with the initial pH of that food. While you may think citrus fruit is highly acidic, the truth is that some of it ends up rather alkaline once digested. For those who have acid reflux, this can cause some confusion. If you want to manage your acid reflux effectively, learn your food's pH.

Given your new mastery of the tips in this piece, you stand a great chance of handling reflux for good. You don't need to continue suffering needlessly now that you know there are things you can do to help. Refer back to this information from time to time to refresh your memory about these acid reflux tips.