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. Entering the food pipe, entering the stomach and exiting the stomach, the food encounters valves that control entry,exit and backflow, and the various muscles help push the food along by squeezing and relaxing the pipes alternately.



The LES or Lower Esophageal Sphincter muscle controls food entering and any backflow into the esophagus or food pipe from the stomach.

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.

You may end up feeling like you have something stuck in your throat. With the poor digestive process and the weak muscles, other systems can be affected as well. Breathing problems are associated with excessive stress.

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.

There are many foods that you should avoid if you have Acid Reflex such as caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, peppermint and spearmint. Carbonated beverages should definitely be eliminated. People have had good results by restricting consumption of fatty foods, foods that are processed and fast foods like hot dogs, pizza etc.

You are what you eat. It's all about maintaining the acid-alkaline balance in your body. You may eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, avoiding certain acidic fruits like oranges, tomatoes, grapefruit etc. Add multigrain items to your diet. Increase the proteins (to strengthen your muscles), and if you insist on being carnivorous, restrict your self to white meat and poultry, prepared in a low fat manner --

By exercising, watching what you eat and your stress levels and getting enough sleep, you can reduce your changes of acquiring Acid Reflux.