
Acid Reflux Attacks
You suddenly wake up in the middle of the night with severe burning in your throat, the sensation of choking, and the regurgitation of your last meal in your mouth. Not only that, you feel like your throat is on fire. Some people describe these symptoms as heartburn, burning in the stomach, feelings of fullness, and nausea.
This scenario started happening to me regularly. The last few episodes were frightening because I realized that I could have choked (aspirated) in my sleep if I had not awakened, and it could have been fatal. I knew I needed to do something, and it needed to be quick. What is the best way to solve this acid reflux problem? I have discovered 7 ways to fight acid reflux.
The Science Behind Reflux
The esophagus is the long tube that takes food from your mouth to your stomach. A circular valve at the bottom of this tube relaxes and contracts. When it relaxes, it allows food to flow freely from your mouth to your esophagus and onto your stomach.
When it contracts, it prevents food and acid from backing up into your esophagus. When you have reflux, the valve or sphincter relaxes abnormally, causing acid and food to go back up the esophageal tube into your mouth. The acid causes your throat to burn; this is where we get the familiar term “heartburn.”
What Didn’t Work
The first idea was not a good one. I stayed up at least three hours after eating to ensure some of the food was settled. Sometimes this worked, and sometimes it didn’t. Keeping later night hours was a poor decision because I had to go to bed late, and it didn’t deal with the underlying issue.
I also knew that it wasn’t healthy to go to bed late. My original plan did not address the problem. The following are a few tips to deal with acid reflux. I’ve used most of them.
Home Remedies for Acid Reflux
Don’t eat after 5 or 6 p.m.
I was eating before bedtime became the most natural solution to the problem of reflux during the night. When I ate after 6 p.m., I frequently had acid reflux. I now try to eat no later than 6 p.m., preferably by 5 p.m.
Charcoal Capsules
One thing that helped was Nature’s Way Charcoal. Taking two capsules immediately after waking from a choking attack quickly cuts the acid. I keep them on my bedside table for emergencies, but I don’t need them if I refrain from eating after 5 or 6 p.m. If by chance, I eat after 6, I take two capsules before I go to bed because nine times out of ten, I will get reflux.
Foods to Eliminate
You should eliminate Fried food should be eliminated. You should also omit other foods if you eat caffeine, spicy foods, alcohol, and oily foods. I was surprised when I noticed that tomato sauce seemed to affect me. If I had spaghetti or pizza, I realized I would have reflux that night. Beans gave me the same problems if eaten after 6 p.m.
Eat Almonds
I now try to eat Almonds daily; they are more Alkaline and balance out the acid in the stomach. Side note: I also used Almonds to help lower my cholesterol. It worked!
Eat Apples
Apples help neutralize the acid in the stomach.
Eat a light meal for supper.
I eliminated heavy foods for my last meal of the day and tried to stick with lighter meals.
Take Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar
A tablespoon of Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar can also cut down on stomach acid in a glass of water. You can also get the capsules if you cannot tolerate the taste of the liquid.
I haven’t ever tried apple cider vinegar, but this is the third time I’ve seen it come up as heartburn remedy. I’ll have to give it a try and see if I get the same results thanks! Have you tried aloe water? That’s been my go-to for the last few years and found it to be very effective in the middle of an episode.
Christina, I have not tried the Aloe water but was doing some reading on it. I was thinking about trying it. I’m glad it is working for you. I will have to give it a try.