The pit of the stomach burns, and sometimes it feels like something is stuck right there in the esophagus: when dealing with gastroesophageal reflux i symptoms they are simple to recognize.
Often it is about throat symptoms or a little further down, where the esophagus joins the stomach, and may be associated with an unpleasant feeling of nausea after eating.
To these can then be added a little less frequent ailments, including cough, hiccup, difficulty swallowing, regurgitation, hoarseness o changes in tone of voice, sore throat e wheezing.
It can all get worse at night, when leaning forward or lying down, especially if you do so shortly after eating.
For this reason, to combat the disorder it is not enough to rely on drugs: gastroesophageal reflux is defeated with diet and with small tricks in the lifestyle.
Gastroesophageal reflux: what to eat
In fact, food can even contribute to the onset of reflux, a problem closely linked to an imperfect closure of the lower esophageal sphincter - the ring of muscle fibers at the junction between the esophagus and stomach - which normally prevents food from returning to the esophagus.
Such an imperfect closure it favors the ascent of the acidic contents of the stomach, which, coming into contact with the most delicate mucous membrane of the esophagus, irritates it, triggering the typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux.
I foods potentially involved in the appearance of the problem are those salted e high in fat; moreover also the chocolate and sodas have been associated with the development of reflux.
Not only that, the drinks containing caffeine, the citrus fruits and their juices, the alcohol mint, tomato and its derivatives, thegarlic onion and spicy foods they are all potential enemies of reflux sufferers.
For all these reasons it is better to prefer low-fat dairy products, simple baked goods not rich in butter, margarine or oils, e lean meats.
That said, it must be remembered that when you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux food sensitivity is an individual factor; a good way to approach the problem is therefore to take note of the foods that trigger the symptoms to know how to act when you sit down again at the table.
Furthermore, the role played by the overweight, especially when excess fat accumulates in the abdominal area.
For this reason, in some cases, help against gastroesophageal reflux comes from one Slimming diet.
A matter of good habits
As mentioned, however, it is not enough just to pay attention to what you eat, but you also need to learn other eating habits.
It can be useful for example to do more frequent but less abundant meals, and also eat slowly can be of great help.
To prevent the symptoms of reflux from tormenting sleep, it is good avoid going to bed immediately after having dinner, raise your head slightly e sleep preferably on the left side.
Finally, remember that the smoke plays a role in reflux: one more reason to give up this bad habit.