Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Change your diet
• Method 2 of 3: Changing your lifestyle
• Method 3 of 3: Get medical treatment
• Tips

Bile is a fluid produced by the liver to aid in the digestion of fats in the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. When food passes through the body, it passes through two sphincter muscles that act like valves - one goes into your stomach and the other out. Sometimes bile flows back through these valves, leading to symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, heartburn, nausea, and even vomiting. These symptoms can be reduced by adjusting your diet, changing your lifestyle, and getting treatment from your doctor.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Change your diet

1. Eat foods that contain soluble fiber with every meal. Foods with soluble fiber absorb fluids such as bile as they pass through the stomach and intestines. Include foods such as oat bran, barley, nuts, peas, beans, bananas, peaches or apples with every meal. You can also take vegetables that are more easily digested due to the soluble fiber they contain. Some vegetables to try are:
   • Summer and winter squashes
   • Carrots
   • Sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes, potatoes
   • Turnips
   • Parsnips
   • Kohlrabi
   • Plantains
   • Beets
   • Yuccas
   • Taros
2. Limit the intake of fatty foods. High-fat foods accelerate digestion, which counteracts slow-moving soluble fiber foods that try to absorb excess bile. Do not eat fatty and processed foods such as burgers, hot dogs, fried foods, milkshakes, ice cream, and anything with a rich sauce on top, or otherwise limit your intake of these foods.
   • Stick to lean meats and healthy fats such as avocados, nuts and Greek yogurt.
3. Eat five or six small meals a day. Smaller meals put less pressure on the pyloric valve (sphincter between the bottom of the stomach and the top of the small intestine) than large, heavy meals. Change your eating schedule so that you eat five or six small meals each day instead of three large ones.
   • Try to divide your normal portions in half and save one half for a few hours later.
   • It's also important to chew your food well, to have a non-carbonated drink with your meal, and to go for a walk or sit upright for at least two hours after your meal. Do not lie down immediately after eating.
4. Do not drink alcohol. Alcohol can contribute to bile reflux because it relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing bile and stomach contents to flow backwards into the esophagus. Drink as little alcohol as possible, and replace it with water or fruit juices - other than citrus juices - such as carrot juice, or freshly squeezed cucumber, beet, spinach, watermelon, or pear juice.
5. Drink less coffee and tea with caffeine. Both coffee and some teas (with caffeine) relax the muscles of the lower esophageal sphincter, causing more bile to flow back. If you can't completely cut out coffee or tea, limit your intake to one cup a day.
   • Caffeine can affect the lower esophageal sphincter, so opt for decaffeinated coffee or tea.
   • Some teas that do not relax the sphincter are chamomile, licorice root, slippery elm, and marshmallow. These teas can help relieve the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux.
   • Don't drink peppermint tea as it can relax the lower esophageal sphincter.

Method 2 of 3: Changing your lifestyle

1. Stop smoking. Smoking increases the acid in the stomach, which leads to more discomfort from bile. Research ways to quit smoking, join a support group, and ask your doctor for advice. You can also try nicotine replacement therapies, such as patches, gum, or lozenges.
2. Try to lose weight. Bile reflux is more common when there is extra pressure on your stomach due to, for example, obesity. Use a calculator online to calculate your body mass index (BMI calculator), or consult your doctor to find out what is a healthy weight for you. Then start with diet and exercise to shed those extra pounds.
3. Stand after eating. Don't underestimate the force of gravity - keeping your body upright makes it harder for bile to flow back through your digestive system. After eating, wait two or three hours before lying down or sitting back.
4. Raise the angle of your bed. Sleeping at an angle can help reduce the symptoms of bile reflux. Make sure your upper body is about 10 to 15 cm above your lower body. Raise the head of your bed with blocks or try sleeping on a foam wedge.
5. Meditate and do other stress-reducing activities. Stress can increase the amount of bile acid in your stomach, so look for ways to lower your stress levels every day. Try meditation to help you relax, alone or with others in a meditation class.
   • Other stress-reducing activities include reading for an hour in a quiet room, taking a walk outside, or doing light exercise such as jogging or dancing for 20 to 30 minutes.
6. Keep a food diary. Writing down everything you eat and drink can help you identify what might be causing your problem. Write down everything you eat and drink, along with the time of day and any symptoms you experience after eating or drinking. Then look back in your diary at the end of each week to discover patterns.
   • For example, if you find yourself having problems an hour or two after drinking a glass of orange juice, this could be one of the triggers. Don't drink orange juice for a week and see if that helps.

Method 3 of 3: Get medical treatment

1. If symptoms persist, contact your doctor. Make an appointment with your doctor if you've tried home remedies and nothing has been shown to help. Not only is bile acid a nuisance, it can also damage the skin cells of your esophagus over time, so it's important to seek treatment if you don't notice any improvement.
2. Make a list of questions to ask during the appointment. Write down a list of questions to ask your doctor during the appointment so you don't forget anything. Ask about other diet or lifestyle changes you may not have considered, what treatments he or she recommends, and what the possible side effects of those treatments might be.
3. Write down any medications you are currently taking. List all medications and supplements you are currently taking to notify your doctor. State the dosage and how long you have been using it. Also write down any medications, supplements, or treatments you took to reduce bile production but didn't help.
4. Get tested if your doctor recommends it. Your doctor can do one or more tests to check if your esophagus is inflamed. This can include an endoscope or a probe that goes through your nose or throat.
   • Your doctor can also monitor the pH of the esophagus. In this test, a tube is placed through your nose or mouth down into your stomach. Then the tube is pushed into your esophagus. The tube is connected to a monitor that checks how much acid is in your esophagus. You wear the monitor for 24 hours and record any symptoms you have and your activity during that time. Then the tube is removed and the monitor data is compared with your log of symptoms and activity.
5. Take the medications prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may recommend medications to promote bile flow or a proton pump inhibitor, which can reduce the symptoms of bile reflux but not block bile production. In extreme cases, when the drugs are not effective, surgery may be necessary. Discuss the pros and cons of all these treatment options with your doctor.
   • Although the effect is not great, consider asking your doctor about prokinetics. They can help by increasing gastric motility and speeding up gastric emptying. They can also help reduce bile reflux.
   • You may also want to consider seeking out a functional medicine practitioner who is focused on treating the cause of a disease.
   • While the amount of stomach acid generally decreases with age, the frequency of heartburn and reflux does increase with age. Reduced acidity can lead to gastritis and reduced bowel motility.

Tips

• Keep in mind there is a difference between bile and stomach contents. Bile and stomach contents enter the esophagus at the same time, making it impossible to distinguish between bile reflux and acid reflux.