How and Why Acid Reflux Occurs
The main cause of Acid Reflux happening in our bodies is the consumption of large amounts of foods, considered as acidic in nature. It all has to do with the quality of the muscles that participate in your digestion process. Muscles help transport food down your food pipe, into the stomach, and then onwards into the intestines.
Muscles assist food as it travels through the body. Entrance to the food pipe, arrival to the stomach and exit from the stomach is all controlled by valves which function by stimulating the entry, exit, and backflow of food that is being digested. The muscle which principally controls backflow from the stomach back into the esophagus is the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES.
Sometimes, due to weakening of these various muscles, food stays longer in the stomach. Malfunctioning valves, also manage to allow food into areas where it should not go, such as backward from the stomach into the food pipe. Of course, this backflow contains food, digested by stomach acids, and that’s why we get the sour warm sensation in our throats. In addition, sometimes, this acid is harmful to the walls of our food pipe, which end up getting scarred.
This, then, is the cause of getting an “obstructed” feeling, as if food is stuck in your throat. With weak muscles, disobedient muscles, and irregular digestive processing in the chest and stomach area, it affects other systems too. Stress prone people often get breathing problems as a result.
Contrary to popular belief, eating acidic foods does not cause one’s stomach, blood, or entire body to become more acidic. The stomach itself adds hydrochloric acid in the process of digestion. So acid reflux, is all about foods, which after processing in the stomach, have an acidic resultant residue.
Individuals who suffer from acid reflux will want to stay away from spearmint, peppermint, chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol. Fatty or processed foods and unhealthy fast foods should be avoided in an effort to alleviate symptoms of acid reflux. Carbonated drinks can also worsen symptoms and should therefore not be consumed.
The old adage is true; you are indeed what you eat. The key is keeping your body balanced between being overly acidic or alkaline. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, multigrain foods, white meat, and poultry will help you do so. Remember that acidic fruits and vegetables like grapefruit, oranges, and tomatoes still should be avoided. And you will want any meat you eat to be cooked in a way that keeps its fat content low.
Exercising, avoiding obesity, stress, and getting good sleep reduce the probability of suffering from acid reflux disease.
