Your body has three sphincters — muscular valves — that act as barriers against reflux. When one or more of them malfunction, stomach contents can travel upward into the oesophagus and throat, triggering LPR (laryngopharyngeal reflux) or GERD. For most LPR sufferers, the root problem begins at the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) — the valve sitting directly above your stomach — though a second valve higher up, the upper esophageal sphincter (UES), is equally important in determining whether reflux reaches your throat at all.
Understanding how these sphincters work — and what causes them to fail — is essential for understanding why LPR develops and what you can actually do about it. This article covers all three sphincters, the mechanisms behind their dysfunction, which foods and habits directly weaken them, and how to start giving them the conditions to recover.
Key Takeaways
- The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is the primary barrier between your stomach and oesophagus — LES dysfunction is the most common root cause of both GERD and LPR.
- In GERD and LPR patients, the LES doesn’t just sit low in resting pressure — it also experiences more frequent transient relaxations (TLESRs), spontaneous openings that allow reflux to escape upward.
- For LPR to develop, reflux must pass a second barrier — the upper esophageal sphincter (UES), located between the oesophagus and throat. Both sphincters typically fail together in LPR.
- The pyloric sphincter below the stomach also plays a role: if it doesn’t empty the stomach efficiently, pressure builds and the LES takes the strain.
- Chronic overeating, high-fat diets, alcohol, chocolate, mint, and caffeine all directly reduce LES pressure — the research on this is well established.
- Gaseous reflux is harder for the UES to block than liquid reflux, which is one reason LPR symptoms can persist even when food choices seem careful.
- Dietary and lifestyle interventions targeting sphincter function — smaller meals, LES-protective foods, upright posture after eating — give the LES the conditions to recover and strengthen over time.
- The LES can recover function with consistent dietary management; it’s a slow process measured in weeks and months, not days.
- Melatonin — produced in large quantities by the gut itself — has been shown to increase LES pressure and reduce GERD symptoms, and may be a useful adjunct for reflux sufferers, particularly taken at bedtime.
The Three Sphincters Involved in Reflux
Most articles on reflux focus on the LES alone. But to understand LPR specifically, you need to look at all three valves in the system — because LPR doesn’t just require one to fail. It typically requires two.
1. The Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES)
The LES is the most important valve in the reflux picture. It sits at the junction between the bottom of the oesophagus and the top of the stomach, and its job is to stay closed once food enters the stomach — keeping acid, pepsin, and stomach contents where they belong. You can think of it as a one-way door: food goes down through it, but nothing should be able to travel back up.
When the LES is working correctly, it generates enough resting pressure to resist the upward force of stomach contents. When it’s not working correctly, two things can go wrong: its baseline resting pressure drops too low (making it easier for reflux to escape), or it experiences what researchers call transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (TLESRs) — spontaneous episodes where the LES briefly opens without any swallow triggering it. TLESRs are actually the primary driver of reflux events in both GERD patients and healthy individuals, but GERD patients experience them significantly more frequently [Kawamura et al., Journal of Gastroenterology, 2012].
Research confirms that the pathophysiology of LES dysfunction is multifactorial — it involves not just the muscle itself but also the crural diaphragm that surrounds the LES, esophageal motility, and even neural signalling through vagal pathways [Manabe et al., Frontiers in Medicine, 2021]. This is why purely mechanical fixes — like taking a PPI — don’t address the sphincter problem at all. PPIs reduce acid output but do nothing to repair or strengthen the LES itself.
2. The Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES)
The UES sits at the top of the oesophagus, right at the junction with the throat (pharynx). It’s a second line of defence — after the LES. Even when reflux escapes the stomach and enters the oesophagus, a healthy, well-functioning UES can prevent it from travelling further upward into the throat, voice box, and airway.
This distinction is critical for understanding LPR symptoms. In GERD, reflux sits mostly within the oesophagus — the UES holds. In LPR, reflux gets past the UES too. Both sphincters have to fail, at least partially, for LPR to occur. Research from the pathophysiology literature notes that LPR is primarily attributed to failure or dysfunction of the UES, even though the LES is where the reflux originates [Kovacic et al., IntechOpen, 2022].
The UES also responds differently to different types of reflux. When liquid reflux approaches it, the UES tightens — a protective reflex. But when reflux arrives in gaseous or aerosolised form, the UES struggles to block it. Gas is far harder to contain than liquid, which is one of the reasons LPR can persist even in people who are eating carefully. Aerosolised pepsin — pepsin carried in mist rather than liquid — can reach the larynx, nasal passages, sinuses, and even the middle ear through this route.
A cycle also develops in chronic LPR: the UES tightens repeatedly in response to ongoing reflux reaching it. Over time this can cause the UES to become hypertonic or spastic — contributing to symptoms like globus sensation (the feeling of a lump in the throat) and difficulty swallowing, on top of the underlying irritation from pepsin exposure.
3. The Pyloric Sphincter
The pyloric sphincter sits at the bottom of the stomach, controlling the passage of food into the small intestine. It’s much narrower than the LES — even when fully open it’s only a few millimetres wide — and it regulates how quickly the stomach empties.
Its role in reflux is indirect but real. When the pyloric sphincter is slow or sluggish, the stomach takes longer to empty. This delayed gastric emptying means the stomach remains fuller for longer, maintaining higher internal pressure. That pressure pushes upward against the LES. If the LES is already weakened, this additional pressure from below increases the likelihood of reflux. A pyloric sphincter dysfunction or a condition called gastroparesis (severely delayed gastric emptying) can significantly worsen reflux through exactly this mechanism.
This is also partly why eating habits matter so much beyond just food composition. Large meal volumes increase gastric pressure directly and for a sustained period — putting the LES under sustained stress.
What Actually Causes the LES to Malfunction?
There’s no single cause — LES dysfunction is the end result of a combination of mechanical pressure, dietary factors, and lifestyle habits applied consistently over time. The most common contributors are:
Chronic overeating and large meal volumes
The stomach at rest is roughly the size of your fist. It can expand considerably, but consistently filling it beyond comfortable capacity creates sustained upward pressure on the LES. Done regularly over months and years, this gradually reduces the LES’s resting pressure and increases TLESR frequency. The key word is consistency — a single large meal doesn’t cause lasting damage. It’s the pattern over time that degrades sphincter function.
This is why meal size matters as much as meal content. Eating the same total food volume spread across 4–5 smaller meals rather than 2–3 large ones significantly reduces the peak pressure the LES faces at any one time.
Foods that directly reduce LES pressure
A number of foods have well-documented, direct effects on LES muscle tone. These aren’t just anecdotal — the mechanisms are understood:
- Chocolate: Contains methylxanthines and theobromine, both of which cause smooth muscle relaxation. Studies confirm that chocolate consumption produces a significant, measurable drop in LES pressure [Wright & Castell, Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 1975].
- High-fat foods: Trigger release of the hormone cholecystokinin (CCK), which signals the LES to relax while the stomach processes the fat load. Fatty meals also delay gastric emptying, sustaining pressure on the LES for longer.
- Alcohol: Directly reduces LES resting pressure and increases TLESR frequency. It also irritates the oesophageal and gastric mucosa directly.
- Peppermint and spearmint: The menthol component relaxes the LES smooth muscle — the same mechanism that makes mint soothing for upset stomachs also opens the LES, which is the last thing you want with reflux.
- Caffeine: Reduces LES pressure and increases acid output simultaneously — a double hit for reflux sufferers.
- Carbonated drinks: Increase intragastric pressure mechanically through gas volume, triggering TLESRs.
Hiatal hernia
A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper portion of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm into the chest cavity. This disrupts the anatomy at the gastroesophageal junction — the diaphragm normally provides an external support role for the LES, and when a hernia pulls the LES upward and away from this support, both resting pressure and TLESR frequency increase. Research confirms that hiatal hernia significantly amplifies the reflux response to gastric distension [Pandolfino et al., Gastroenterology, 2000].
Obesity and abdominal pressure
Excess weight around the abdomen elevates intra-abdominal pressure chronically, continuously pushing against the LES from below. This is a direct mechanical load on top of any dietary factors. Weight loss in overweight reflux patients frequently produces significant symptom improvement precisely because it removes this sustained pressure.
Smoking
Nicotine reduces LES pressure directly and also impairs the normal peristaltic clearance of the oesophagus, meaning that when reflux does occur it sits in contact with oesophageal tissue for longer.
What Happens When Reflux Passes the UES: The Pepsin Problem
Once reflux gets past both the LES and the UES, the damage mechanism shifts. In the oesophagus, acid is the primary irritant — which is why PPIs work reasonably well for classical GERD. But in the throat, larynx, and airway, the primary culprit is pepsin.
Pepsin is the digestive enzyme produced in the stomach to break down protein. When it’s refluxed into the throat, it binds to the tissue there. At neutral pH it becomes inactive — but it doesn’t disappear. Every time an acidic food or drink reaches that tissue — even at a mildly acidic pH — it reactivates the pepsin sitting there and triggers another round of inflammation and damage. This cycle can continue even if stomach acid is well controlled, which is one of the central reasons PPIs consistently underperform in LPR treatment.
Research confirms that pepsin is detectable in the laryngeal epithelium of LPR patients, and that it is a primary driver of laryngopharyngeal tissue damage — independent of acid exposure alone [Pearson et al., International Journal of Otolaryngology, 2011].
This is also why the pH of what you eat and drink matters so specifically for LPR. Any food or drink with a pH below around 5 can reactivate throat-bound pepsin, even if it never itself causes new reflux. It’s a mechanism that operates locally in the throat — completely separate from what’s happening at the LES. You can read more about this in the complete LPR guide.
How to Support LES Recovery Through Diet and Lifestyle
The good news is that the LES responds to the conditions it’s placed in. Given enough time without the mechanical and dietary insults that caused the dysfunction in the first place, it can recover meaningful function. This is not a quick process — weeks to months, not days — but it’s real and achievable for most people.
Reduce meal volume, not just meal content
Switching to smaller, more frequent meals is one of the most impactful structural changes you can make. Aim for meals roughly the volume of your fist — the stomach’s resting capacity. Eating 4–5 smaller portions through the day rather than 2–3 large ones reduces peak gastric pressure at every meal and gives the LES consistent relief. This alone has helped many people in the comments here notice meaningful improvements within a few weeks.
Eliminate LES-weakening foods
Remove the foods documented to directly reduce LES pressure: chocolate, high-fat meals, alcohol, peppermint and spearmint, coffee, and carbonated drinks. These aren’t just trigger foods for acid — they actively reduce the muscle tone of the sphincter itself. Their elimination gives the LES the best environment to recover.
Don’t eat within 3 hours of lying down
Gravity is a meaningful assist for the LES. When you’re upright, it helps keep stomach contents down. When you lie down shortly after eating — with a full stomach pressing against a weakened LES — reflux is much more likely. Keeping a 3-hour gap between your last meal and lying down significantly reduces nocturnal reflux.
Manage body weight
If excess abdominal weight is contributing to intra-abdominal pressure, reducing it removes a sustained mechanical load from the LES. Even modest weight loss can produce noticeable symptom improvement in people where obesity is a contributing factor.
Address the pyloric side too
If gastric emptying is slow — which some people can sense as prolonged fullness after meals — prokinetic approaches may help. Certain foods like ginger have evidence for supporting gastric motility. Ginger and acid reflux is worth reading if this sounds like your pattern.
Reduce the pH burden on throat tissue
Alongside the LES work, eliminating low-pH foods and drinks (below pH 5) directly reduces pepsin reactivation in the throat. This is a parallel track to the sphincter work — both need to happen together for LPR to resolve. The full list of LPR foods to avoid covers this in detail.
Consider melatonin as a LES-supportive supplement
Most people think of melatonin as a sleep aid, but its relationship with the digestive system runs much deeper than that. The gastrointestinal tract — particularly the enterochromaffin cells of the gut lining — produces around 400 times more melatonin than the pineal gland. This gut-produced melatonin plays an active regulatory role in GI function, including direct effects on LES contractility [Werbach, Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 2008].
The mechanism is straightforward: melatonin inhibits gastric acid secretion while simultaneously stimulating gastrin release. Gastrin is a hormone that directly increases LES contractile pressure — meaning more melatonin supports a tighter, better-functioning sphincter. Research also shows that GERD patients tend to have measurably lower melatonin levels than healthy controls, raising the question of whether a relative deficiency contributes to sphincter dysfunction in some people [Bang et al., Medicine, 2019].
In a clinical study measuring LES pressure directly via manometry, patients treated with melatonin (3mg at bedtime) for 8 weeks showed LES pressure rising from around 10 mmHg pre-treatment to 16.5 mmHg after treatment — a meaningful increase in sphincter tone. The combination of melatonin with omeprazole produced results superior to omeprazole alone for overall GERD symptom relief [Kandil et al., BMC Gastroenterology, 2010]. A more recent 2023 randomised double-blind trial of 78 GERD patients confirmed that adding sublingual melatonin (3mg daily) to standard PPI therapy produced better heartburn and epigastric pain outcomes than PPI therapy alone [Malekpour et al., Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology, 2023].
Beyond its LES effects, melatonin also has antioxidant and mucosal-protective properties — it helps maintain the integrity of the oesophageal lining and reduces oxidative stress in the gut wall. For LPR specifically, this matters because the throat and laryngeal tissues exposed to pepsin are already dealing with ongoing inflammation, and reducing systemic inflammatory burden through the gut is a meaningful secondary benefit.
From a practical standpoint, the dose used in the studies is 3mg taken at bedtime. This timing makes physiological sense — nocturnal reflux events are common, lying down removes gravity’s protective assistance, and melatonin levels naturally peak at night. Taking it at bedtime both supports the body’s natural melatonin rhythm and places the LES-supporting effect when it’s most needed. It’s generally well tolerated with a very low side-effect profile at 3mg, though as always it’s worth checking with your doctor if you’re on other medications.
Final Thoughts
LPR doesn’t arise from a single point of failure. It typically takes both a weakened LES — allowing reflux to escape the stomach — and a compromised UES — allowing that reflux to reach the throat — working against you at the same time. Understanding both of these barriers, and what degrades them, is what makes it possible to address the problem systematically rather than just chasing symptoms.
The LES responds to how you treat it. Consistent smaller meals, removal of the foods that actively weaken it, good posture after eating, and reducing abdominal pressure all give it the conditions to recover. Combine that with a low-acid dietary approach that limits pepsin reactivation in the throat, and most people see meaningful improvement over weeks to months of consistent management.
If you want a structured plan that combines all of these elements — LES protection, pepsin management, and a practical food framework built specifically for LPR — the Wipeout Diet Plan was designed to bring these pieces together in one place. It’s built around the same sphincter and pepsin mechanics covered in this article, and gives you a clear, step-by-step framework to follow. If you’d prefer to work through your specific situation one-to-one, a consultation is available for a more personalised approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)?
The LES is the muscular valve at the junction between the bottom of the oesophagus and the top of the stomach. Its job is to stay closed when food is in the stomach, preventing acid and stomach contents from travelling back up. In people with GERD or LPR, the LES either has reduced resting pressure or experiences too many spontaneous relaxations (TLESRs), allowing reflux to escape.
Why do I have LPR if my LES is the problem?
In LPR, both the LES and the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) are involved. The LES allows reflux to escape the stomach into the oesophagus. The UES — the barrier between the oesophagus and throat — then fails to contain it, allowing reflux (particularly pepsin) to reach the throat, voice box, and airway. LPR requires both barriers to underperform, which is why its symptoms differ from standard GERD.
Can the LES heal and strengthen over time?
Yes. The LES can recover function when the conditions causing its dysfunction are consistently removed. Smaller meal volumes, elimination of LES-weakening foods (chocolate, fat, alcohol, mint, caffeine), weight management, and not lying down after eating all give the sphincter the environment it needs to recover. The process takes weeks to months of consistent application rather than days.
Why does chocolate weaken the LES?
Chocolate contains methylxanthines and theobromine, compounds that cause smooth muscle relaxation throughout the body — including the LES. Studies have directly measured a significant drop in LES pressure following chocolate ingestion. This is a pharmacological effect on the muscle, not just an acid or irritation issue, which is why it matters even for people following otherwise low-acid diets.
What is a transient LES relaxation (TLESR)?
A TLESR is a spontaneous relaxation of the LES that occurs without a swallow triggering it. These episodes are a normal physiological event — they happen in healthy people too — but GERD patients experience them significantly more frequently. During a TLESR the LES opens briefly and stomach contents can reflux upward. They’re the primary mechanism behind most reflux events, not just chronically low resting pressure.
What role does the pyloric sphincter play in reflux?
The pyloric sphincter controls how quickly the stomach empties into the small intestine. If it’s sluggish, the stomach stays fuller for longer, maintaining elevated internal pressure that pushes against the LES. This can worsen reflux indirectly — not by causing it directly, but by sustaining the pressure environment that makes LES failure more likely. Delayed gastric emptying is a relevant factor for some reflux sufferers, particularly those who experience prolonged fullness after meals.
Why do PPIs not fix the LES problem?
PPIs reduce the acid content of stomach secretions — they don’t address the mechanical dysfunction of the LES itself. The LES still relaxes too frequently or generates insufficient resting pressure; the reflux that escapes is just less acidic. For oesophageal GERD this partial reduction in acid can be enough to prevent damage, but for LPR — where pepsin in the throat is the primary damaging agent — reducing acid without fixing the sphincter problem leaves the root cause unaddressed.
Can melatonin help with LES function and reflux?
Yes — and the research here is more compelling than most people realise. The gut produces far more melatonin than the brain does, and gut-produced melatonin directly stimulates gastrin release, which in turn increases LES contractile pressure. Clinical studies have measured meaningful increases in LES pressure following melatonin supplementation (3mg at bedtime), and randomised trials show that adding melatonin to standard PPI therapy improves heartburn and epigastric pain outcomes more than PPI alone. It also has mucosal-protective and antioxidant effects that support the oesophageal lining. As a supplement, 3mg at bedtime is the dose used in the research — it’s well tolerated and works with the body’s natural nocturnal melatonin rhythm when LES support is most needed.
Related Articles
- The Complete Guide to LPR (Silent Reflux)
- LPR Symptoms: The Complete List
- LPR Foods to Avoid for Faster Recovery
- The Ultimate Guide to Acid Reflux & GERD
- LPR Surgery Options: A Complete Overview
- The Stretta Procedure: How It Strengthens the LES
- Ginger and Acid Reflux: Does It Help?
Research Sources
Transient LES relaxations (TLESRs), not just chronically low resting pressure, are the primary driver of gastroesophageal reflux events; GERD patients experience significantly more TLESRs than healthy individuals [Kawamura et al., Journal of Gastroenterology, 2012]. GERD pathogenesis involves multiple factors including LES pressure, TLESR frequency, crural diaphragm function, hiatal hernia, and impaired esophageal clearance, with vagal afferents and brainstem regulation playing key roles in TLESR neural pathways [Manabe et al., Frontiers in Medicine, 2021].
Hiatal hernia significantly amplifies TLESR frequency during gastric distension, with reflux response directly proportional to the degree of anatomical separation at the gastroesophageal junction [Pandolfino et al., Gastroenterology, 2000]. LPR is primarily attributed to UES dysfunction allowing refluxate to reach the laryngopharynx; both LES and UES must underperform for LPR to develop [Kovacic et al., IntechOpen, 2022]. Pepsin detected in the laryngeal epithelium of LPR patients is a primary driver of throat tissue damage, acting independently of acid exposure through reactivation by dietary acid [Pearson et al., International Journal of Otolaryngology, 2011].
Chocolate ingestion produces a measurable, significant drop in LES pressure via methylxanthine-mediated smooth muscle relaxation [Wright & Castell, Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 1975]. High-fat meals, alcohol, and carbonated beverages reduce LES pressure and increase oesophageal acid exposure through direct smooth muscle and hormonal mechanisms [Yılmaz et al., Nutrients, 2023]. Gut-produced melatonin increases LES contractility via gastrin stimulation; GERD patients have measurably lower melatonin levels than healthy controls [Bang et al., Medicine, 2019]. Melatonin supplementation (3mg at bedtime) raised LES pressure from ~10 mmHg to 16.5 mmHg over 8 weeks and improved GERD symptoms alone and combined with omeprazole [Kandil et al., BMC Gastroenterology, 2010]. Adding sublingual melatonin (3mg/day) to PPI therapy produced superior heartburn and epigastric pain outcomes versus PPI alone in a 2023 randomised double-blind trial of 78 GERD patients [Malekpour et al., Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology, 2023].
David Gray
Content Researcher & Author
David Gray founded Wipeout Reflux to address a critical gap in reflux management. His research synthesizes over 100 peer-reviewed studies on laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), pepsin biology, and GERD pathophysiology. For LPR specifically—a condition most physicians misdiagnose—his work focuses on pepsin reactivation and why standard PPI therapy fails most patients. He develops evidence-based protocols targeting root causes of both LPR and GERD, integrating emerging research on sphincter dysfunction, dietary interventions, and newer clinical approaches. Wipeout Reflux represents practical application of clinical science for patients seeking real solutions.
I’am almost speechless about how much information you have put on this site
I have had a dry aggravating cough for 2 years and have taking Omeprazole and then Esomprazole.
Still my annoying cough persists.
I’ve had a nerve swallowing test, a regular swallow test, an endoscopy, a chest x-ray and a chest cat scan.
All have come back negative thank God.
I even had extensive blood tests to rule out cancer, HIV, AIDS and any other immune system issues.
All tests have been negative thankfully.
I rarely cough at night while sleeping and within the first few hours after I awake.
But sometimes a small amount of food or as crazy as it seems; just preparing something to eat gives me a pressure in my throat to cough.
Maybe my brain is convincing me that I need to cough.
I feel like I may need a psychiatrist. LOL
But what a God send your information is.
I can’t wait to try Gaviscon Advance from the UK.
I already pretty much everything I eat.
Although even an occasional sip of my favorite soda will cause me to cough.
Thank you so much for giving me a glimmer of hope.
I have passed on your info to many people.
Hi Steven,
Thank you I appreciate that! I can relate a lot to your story too, but I’m glad to hear that it’s all came back clear, likely as you may already know that it’s all related to LPR just from what you are talking about. I think we all need a psychiatrist when dealing with this at some point or another haha. In addition to the Gaviscon I would suggest to you to consider a low acid diet like my wipeout diet plan. You would see a good improvement with it within a months time.
I read the LES is normally in the relaxed state. It takes acid to cause it to tighten. No one talks about the use of PPI’s and other ant-acids and how they are contrary to the operation of the LES. You also talk about a low acid diet. The older you get the lower the amount of stomach acid created. This is also contrary to an operating LES. Acid may re-activate pepsin, but it is also needed to tighten the LES, why ACV may work for some people. I am old. There is nothing in the list of things to avoid for Gerd that applies to me. Tried ACV and Betaine HCL. I used jalapeno peppers in my diet to to stop debilitating, sleep upright in a chair, heartburn (including LPR) 10 years ago. Probably coincidence but it stopped so I continued to use. LPR has returned without the heartburn. How do you reconcile a low acid diet for those that may already have low stomach acid. I have tried the spray bottle of baking soda water. It helps slightly during day. I’ve also used Gaviscon under my tongue at night to slowly dissolve over hours at night. It also has limited help. On month 4 of LPR. Nowhere near as bad as 10 years ago. Have Esophagitis, come and go sore throat, no blinding instantaneous headaches. I’m missing that little bit of help to get back over that relatively small hill this time.
Yes you are right it does and can help some people. The root cause can be as you mentioned but there are also a selection of other root causes that are not related to either of them. To mention a couple of things it can mobility and also things like the pylorus valve not functioning properly all of which can cause the LES to open indirectly.
If you know for sure you have low stomach acid then using betaine HCL should be your action and finding the right dose should be ideal for you.
I just found out I have LPR after 6 months, no one knew.
I have always been healthy, I did drink coffee one cup a day only, I stop drinking it 3 months ago, never ate junk food, I am 110lbs 5/7 always had green smoothies, I did have a lot off good fats in my diet so I cut then down.
I only have burning in throat otherwise my test show good health. I always only drink water. I run business so I do a lot talking. I have been taken ACV which seen to be helping and HCL. ps will the time come when I can go back to drinking cup coffee. Thanks Kathy
If you are taking ACV and HCL they are of course increasing the acidity level and if they are passing directly over the throat (not in capsules) then this will likely only make LPR symptoms worse because of the acidity reactivating the pepsin in the throat. If it’s in capsule form and it makes you feel better the HCL then likely you could have low stomach acid. If you are taking the ACV and it passes over the throat it’s much worse than taking coffee in reference. Therefore I would think about that.
I m coming off my Omeprazole, this medication I feel makes matters worst. I am doing Gaviscon advanced feeling better with your great tips and information.
I did over eat and drink at friend party. Like I said my diet is good, what I did was spread the meals through out day that really make a difference smaller portions thanks for that great tip, it is making such a big difference.
I swim every morning all year round helps great with my stress. I am hoping in future to have at least one cup coffee in morning. 🙂
Oh sounds like you are on the right track Katherine, glad to hear that. The swimming is good and I agree it’s great for stress relief and overall wellness too. I think coffee can be reintroduced but at least initially I think it’s best to avoid to get the optimal healing effect.
Hi! I recently went to an ent and they told me I have lpr however it was a random onset I’ve never had digestion issues or anything like that before hand. I’m used to drinking soda and alcohol a lot. However I havent been recently because of the tongue and throat issues. But it feels like my throat is tight and my chest is tight. I’ve also had numbness and tingling and burning on my tongue. And enlarged taste buds.
Hi Kyrsten,
Yes some of them symptoms point to LPR. Of course as I am sure you know alcohol and soda are some of the worst things you can take if you have LPR so avoiding them is a must.
Wow I’m your new fan. Reading this I feel I’m like in a group of people talking about the same problems and helping each other. I just found out I have mild LPR and I’m also an anxious person. Actually I woke up from a 3 hour sleep super anxious. Called a helpline, the person only gave me coping skills for anxiety and then I found this.
I started Omeprazole? Prilosec generic yesterday and thank God I’ve read already few times it is bad. I’ve tried to change the diet and it’s difficult but I’m doing it. It’s difficult because, as an anxious person, I want results fast and I’ve learned also that it will come with time so I need patience.
Every time I wake up anxious I will visit the page and it will remind me there is hope through diet and that this is real. Thank you.
Hi Juana,
I’m happy to help of course. It seems you are on the right track with your diet and ideally not taking the omeprazole. Definitely work on helping your anxiety because that could be related or making your acid reflux worse. I recommend some daily exercise for 30 minutes every day, even walking is a good choice. Also 10 minutes of guided meditation every day can also help and helps me too, you can easily search some on YouTube if you aren’t sure how to get started.
I’m about to start gaviscon advance. My only concern is that it may not let me digest my food properly when taken after meals. I have sibo/ibs, so I’ve been really trying to focus on improving that too. What would your suggestion be? Maybe just at bedtime? Thanks!
I would suggest maybe taking it 1-2 times per day and at bedtime. You should take it after you larger meals like at lunchtime and dinner time for example.
This a really informative article but I take exception with the notion that overeating causes malfunction of the LES. I”ve always been slim and healthy, I don’t overeat but I have ended up with silent reflux through no fault of my own. I believe that some of us are just unlucky and that parts of your body start to malfunction especially as you get older. Laying blame on people is not helpful to their mental health.
Yes I agree not everyone is fortunate though it’s important to mention because there are people who are overweight and they later loose weight and most if not all their symptoms go away so it’s important for them in helping resolve their problem.
How long does it take to heal LPR if you follow the diet and do other suggestions? I am on a 20 mg ppi every morning but my throat and tongue still burns from time to time throughout the day. Plus I feel like like there’s a lump in my throat after eating. At night my tongue burns and my throat is dry and scratchy.
There is no clear cut answer to this question but usually people who follow a strict low acid diet see improvement in under 2 weeks time. Some people will be completely healed from LPR over time whereas for others they will see an improvement but will not be completely healed – in this situation they will have to stay strict to the diet to keep symptoms greatly reduced.