Is acid reflux putting a damper on your life? Are you losing sleep because of it? If this is the case, then the following article is the answer to your prayers. By taking the time to read it, you will be arming yourself with what you need to get back your life.


Drink before and not during meals. The way to address your hunger is to eat, not to drink. Drinking liquids outside of mealtimes won't bloat your stomach, so acid won't be as easily transported back to your esophagus.


If you suffer from acid reflux symptoms at night time, you may need to change the way you sleep. You should be laying on your back, with the upper half of your body propped up by a few pillows. When you lay flat, whether on your back, stomach or side, you are allowing acid to come up through the esophagus.


Exercise is an important habit for those who have GERD, but your timing is key. Wait for two hours after eating before you become active, and don't follow your activity with a sports drink as they are acidic and can make your GERD flare up. Instead, drink water or milk to refuel.


Never, ever, EVER lie down after you eat! Even if you have only had a few bites, you may find that food comes back to haunt you in short order if you lie down. Eat all meals at least two hours before lying down for a nap or overnight to ensure that acid doesn't sneak back up your esophagus.


Skinny jeans are the enemy of the acid reflux sufferer! Wearing tight clothes can block up your digestive system, causing you a great deal of pain when acid begins to back up. Go for elastic waistbands until you have your acid reflux under control, then you can consider getting back into your tight fitting pants.


We truly are what we eat. If we eat high-fat foods, we will become obese and be at risk for acid reflux. It is important that we instead focus on low-acid foods, which are lean and healthy. Choose vegetables and whole-grain carbohydrates along with lean protein for your meals to curb your suffering.


It's important to remain upright when you are eating as well as up to three hours afterwards. This allows gravity to assist in keeping the acid in your stomach where it belongs. Standing or sitting up can help your esophagus.


Certain foods will cause your acid reflex to act up. Chocolate is one of them, unfortunately. Also try to avoid mint, ketchup, mustard and even mint. If you are able to change your diet even just a little bit, you should feel much better and should have less episodes going forward.


Shed excess pounds to decrease the impact of acid reflux. Obesity often occurs with acid reflux. Just losing a small amount of weight can help. Weight loss should be done by eating smaller meals, not by crash dieting.


Do not wear clothes that are too tight if you want to limit acid reflux. Belts, pantyhose and tight pants can push against your waistline and cause inflammation. Wear clothing that you feel comfortable in when you are in motion and sitting down at work to limit acid reflux from occurring.


There are particular foods that help trigger acid reflux. If you avoid or limit those foods, you will have less or no acid reflux. Avoid spicy foods, acidic foods and fatty foods.


Try to drink mostly in between meals if you suffer from acid reflux. When your stomach is full of food an liquid, the lower esophageal sphincter is under constant pressure. This can cause it to allow the food and acid in your stomach to come back up into your esophagus and destroy the lining within.


Moderate activity can actually help control the acid reflux. Make sure the exercise is moderate. The more vigorously you exercise, the more acid can reflux. Stick to gentle exercise instead. Exercise makes you stay upright most of the time and it can aid in digestion. Exercise also causes you to lose weight, which reduces reflux.


Have an early dinner. Eating too close to bedtime is a prime cause of acid reflux. If your stomach is still digesting your dinner when you retire, the combination of increased stomach activity and a horizontal position is a recipe for disaster. Try to eat dinner a minimum of three hours before bed.


Believe it or not, one of the big causes of acid reflux has nothing to do with what is inside your body. The clothes that you wear can contribute to your acid reflux symptoms. Tight clothing that puts pressure on your midsection can worsen the pain and discomfort. Wear loose or stretchy clothing and you will be much more comfortable.


Avoid foods that trigger acid reflux. These include alcohol, caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea and soda, fatty foods, spicy foods and acidic foods such as tomatoes. When you are suffering from acid reflux, eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins such as broiled fish and chicken and enriched grains.


Lose some weight if you have extra pounds. All those extra pounds are making your reflux worse, even if they are not the root cause. It puts unnecessary pressure on your stomach which, in turn, causes all sorts of heartburn issues. Shedding as little as 10 percent of your weight can ease your symptoms.


Try to follow a diet that is low in fat if you are trying to alleviate the symptoms of acid reflux. Fatty foods have been shown to slow down the digestion process. Following a diet that is lighter will make you feel a lot better in several other ways as well.


As you can see, there are definitely things you can do to help ease your acid reflux. The tips that were provided here were things that were used to help ease acid reflux for others who have suffered from it before you. Now they are out there enjoying their life and so can you.