If you have this condition and your physician is any good they will give you some advice on treating this aside from medication. From what I can surmise things work differently for everyone ??? so try it all.

Baking soda is your friend
Ever wake up with the taste of stomach acid all the way up into your mouth? Its not something you can easily forget. The most important thing to do for your teeth, taste buds and esophagus is to neutralize this acid fast. A ?? teaspoon of baking soda in a short glass of water, stirred well until it dissolves. Unlike tablets or pills, you can swish this around in your mouth and slowly sip it to coat and sooth your throat. Next time this happens, you will be thanking me.

Watch your weight
I have actually identified the exact weight in which acid reflux really begins to act up on me. 2Kg below and I am fine, 2kg above and it acts up like crazy.

Late night snacks and water
When your lying down its a lot easier for stomach acid to move out of the stomach. So don't eat or drink for awhile before bed. I've actually had to sleep sitting up. Doctors suggest elevating the head of your bed with blocks. If you try to elevate with pillows remember that your whole torso needs to be raised.

Exercise the abdomen
I think the relationship to weight is how much your gut pulls forward. Getting some exercise into that region tightens everything up and can make a difference with your symptoms.

Foods to avoid (and why)

• Fatty foods - harder to digest, causes more stomach acid to be produced
• Caffine, Peppermint, chocolate, Tobacco, Alcohol -this causes the sphincter to loosen.
• Coffee & Tea - Very acidic and has caffine. If you must have coffee, I've had better luck with the Kava (www.kavacoffee.com) brand (90% of the acid has been removed ??? and I think that makes it taste even better).
• Spicy foods - does not affect me, but its on a lot of lists, so you may have a problem with it.