Favorite Things for Acid Reflux
Here is a full list of our favorite things for acid reflux! Because when it comes to GERD and acid reflux, you can’t just try one thing. Here at The GERD Chef, we pay close attention to diet by prioritizing healing foods and eliminating trigger foods. But that’s just one area of your life.
We’ve written extensively about how other areas of our lifestyle, like sleep, stress, and exercise, can impact our reflux journey. If you’re serious about managing GERD, then you need to address healing from all angles.
So, here are some of our favorite things that may help you manage acid reflux. These are things that we’ve used and loved or have gotten great feedback from other people. Hopefully, you find something here that will make your life a bit easier and more enjoyable!
Our Favorite Things for Sleep and Acid Reflux:
Okay, we all know that sleep is important, but what’s the connection here? Well, a large percentage of people that have reflux are woken up at night at least a few times a week.
There are a few key reasons why, and we’ve written about them here. The International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders found that “Sleep, especially deep sleep, has been shown in our studies to be suppressive of gastroesophageal reflux.” It’s clear- good sleep equates to less reflux.
Laying on your back can make it easier for acid to reflux into your esophagus, which often causes waking up. These wedge pillows have been shown to decrease that significantly. It takes a bit of adjusting to sleeping at a slight angle, but the results make it worth it!
2. White Noise Machine
Barking dogs, street traffic, and noisy neighbors are just some of the many things that can cause light sleeping. Block all that out with a sound-cancelling noise machine.
3. Sleep mask
Ok, I know this seems like something that only the rich ladies in old movies use, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Sleep masks have been found to contribute to longer and deeper sleep.
Our Favorite Things for Acid Relfux and Stress:
Listen to this: Stress and anxiety are strongly connected with acid reflux and GERD. You can read more about that here. We’ve heard from many people that can link the beginning of their reflux issues to a particularly stressful time in their life. So, proactive management of stress and anxiety could pay big dividends in fewer reflux symptoms.
This unique supplement combines herbs and superfoods to help manage anxiety gently and naturally.
2. Neck and Back Massager
Oh my, this thing is bananas. All the benefits of a great massage any time you want it! Seriously, throw this thing on and start releasing serotonin!
3. Essential Oil Diffuser
If you haven’t paid attention in the last few years, essential oils are kind of a big thing. And for good reason. Research indicates that our olfactory senses help regulate all kinds of nervous system activity. So, plug this diffuser in and smell your way to less stress!
Our Favorite Things for Acid Reflux and Eating
Around here we’re pretty familiar with the way eating connects to our reflux journey. Here are a couple of things we’re loving that help keep us on the straight and narrow.
This simple journal is sooo helpful. It takes just a few minutes a day to register your experiences with foods, activity, energy, and much more. Set goals and figure out trends with this helpful tool.
2. AeroPress
Regular coffee mess you up? We shared about the Aeropress a couple weeks ago in our 5 Coffee Hacks article. We heard back from a reader saying that they had purchased it and were already feeling the difference. Try it for yourself!
3. Airfryer
Yep, this is a no-brainer. High-fat foods are so bad for reflux, but they taste so good! So, what should you do? How about starting to cook in ways that reduce fat but maximize flavor?
Our Favorite Things for Acid Reflux and Posture:
Here’s a simple life hack that can have a huge impact on reflux…sit up straight. The slumping posture that most of us default to has been shown to trigger acid reflux or at least make it worse. So, here are a few things that can help you to improve posture and hopefully suffer less reflux.
If you have a desk job, you are almost forced into a poor posture situation all day long. This chair’s design makes it actually easier to sit up straight. Major bonus: low back issues are common for desk jockeys, this chair shifts the weight off of your lower spine, making it much better for your back.
2. Standing Desk
What’s better than sitting? Standing. Standing desks require you to keep your torso, back, and neck straight, which makes it more difficult for acid to reflux.
3. Posture Trainer
Hunched shoulders cause your chest to roll into your abdomen which puts pressure on your esophagus. This can be hard to retrain without some help. This simple trainer helps align the spine while helping your shoulders and neck stay upright.
Our Favorite Books for Acid Reflux:
Never stop learning! Especially in regard to your own health. Here are three great books that address GERD and acid reflux, each one with a slightly different take on how to manage the condition.
2. Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook and Cure
3. Fast Tract Digestion
We hope this list is helpful! It’s not an encouragement to run out and buy a ton of stuff, but a reminder to take your health journey seriously and try as many things as you can. You never know when you’ll try something that unlocks a habit or change that makes a huge difference. All the best!
Check out our tasty, reflux-friendly recipes!
Learn more about how to manage GERD and acid reflux…
