Is Stomach Acid the Villain in Acid Reflux Disease?
Natural stomach acid is in your stomach for a reason. The actual acid is not the cause of acid reflux disease. It is not like it is a nasty poison that someone put in there without approval. The acid breaks down foods and sorts them out into the right department so to speak. Proper digestion depends on the presence of adequate stomach acid while you are eating. When you eat, food moves from the mouth through the esophagus and into the stomach to be digested. At the end of the esophagus there is a band of muscles that open and allow foods to go into the stomach. It then closes to prevent the food and acid from coming back up into the esophagus. Many people experience acid reflux when foods or digestive juices escape the stomach and come back up through the esophagus. To make sure your stomach has enough acid at mealtimes, make sure you chew your food thoroughly. Getting saliva mixed into the food as you chew will get the digestion process off to a good start. Snacking throughout the day
