Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the chronic condition caused by excess acid reflux. It is a condition that takes place when the acid content in the stomach comes back into the tube that connects the mouth with the stomach. This process of acid reflux can cause a sense of irritation on the outer covering of the esophagus. Worry not as acid reflux and GERD can be treated through some effective natural remedies.

Natural Treatments for Acid Reflux and GERD
Listed below are the effective natural remedies for acid reflux and GERD:

• Avoid Overeating
  Overeating is one of the most obvious reasons behind suffering from acid reflux and GERD. In the stomach, there is a ring-shaped muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter. It does not let the acid content in the stomach get inside the esophagus. It opens only when you swallow your food or vomit. Rest of the time, it remains closed. Acid reflux patients generally have weak muscles. And during acid reflux, a lot of pressure is exerted on the muscle, which paves the way for the acid to pass on through the small opening. It is advisable not to overeat as stuffing the stomach with too much food leads to acid reflux.

• Maintain a Healthy Weight
  Losing weight is one of the most effective natural remedies for acid reflux and GERD. The diaphragm is a muscle that is situated above the stomach. It prevents the excessive inflow of stomach acid into the esophagus. If you have too much fat content in your stomach, a lot of pressure shifts towards the abdomen resulting in lower esophageal sphincter being pushed upward. It moves further away from the diaphragm. This condition is referred to as hiatus hernia. Owing to hiatus hernia, obesity patients and pregnant women are at a higher risk of suffering from acid reflux. You must make an effort to lose the extra kilos and maintain a stable body weight.

• Follow a Low-carb Diet
  The kind and the amount of food you consume play an important role in determining whether you will be suffering from GERD or not. Carbohydrate content that remains undigested in your system causes bacterial growth and increases the pressure in the abdomen. It is said to be one of the common factors behind acid reflux. It also makes your body bloated, apart from making you burp again and again while consuming your food. Following a diet, which contains food items low on carbohydrates helps significantly in reducing the chances of acid reflux.

• Limit Caffeine Intake
  Caffeine has proven to make the lower esophageal sphincter weak. This, in turn, makes you more susceptible to suffering from acid reflux. You might give a thought to substituting your regular coffee with decaffeinated coffee, as it does not have the kind of properties, which could cause acid reflux. There are some people whose digestive system gets affected severely by coffee. If you see any such symptoms, take a break from caffeine for some time.