10 Quick Ways to Relieve Heartburn at Home
According to statistics , 50% of Americans have experienced heartburn. It is a symptom of acid reflux or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) – the medical terms of heartburn. Here are some facts about GERD you should know, before reading further about the natural treatments for this health issue.
What Is GERD?
When your stomach receives food that doesn’t go well with it, it makes sure you know this by giving you heartburn. But, when the stomach acid, or sometimes even pancreatic fluids, go back up into your food pipe or esophagus making you feel discomfort and causing you harm, it’s the GERD.
The acid content in your food pipe can cause irritation, inflammation, and scarring. All this can lead to narrowing of the esophagus.
Some of the symptoms include burning sensation in the throat, hoarseness, coughing, nausea, irritation, asthma-like symptoms, wheezing, eroded tooth enamel, and food getting stuck in the throat.
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What’s more, GERD increases the risk of esophageal cancer, but nothing drastic. If there’s acid reflux in the lower intestines for a longer time, the risk of Barrett’s Esophagus also increase.
This disorder is characterized by gland cells replacing the squamous cells in the stomach. Gradually, this can cause dysplasia and eventually cancer.
Many people use different store-bought products to treat or suppress their acid reflux. Sometimes they just prolong the inevitable when having spicy meals.
What Triggers GERD?
It’s very important to discover what’s causing your acid reflux or GERD. The abdominal fat in obese or older people can affect the function of the esophagus. Moreover, the aging process can also weaken the esophageal sphincter.
Here are some of the most common foods and beverages that can aggravate the GERD symptoms:
- Nicotine
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Chocolate
- Spicy, greasy, and/or fatty foods
Here are ten natural ways that can relieve your GERD symptoms as efficient as antacids.
10 Natural Ways to Relieve Acid Reflux
- Lose Weight
Overweight and obese people have higher risk of experiencing problems with the esophageal function. That’s why losing 8 to 10 pounds is recommended. Several studies have confirmed that losing weight relieves the GERD symptoms.
- Changes in Diet
Only 30% of people who suffer from acid reflux can have improvements with this problem if they change their diet. This is mostly because not many are willing to quit the foods mentioned above which trigger and worsen the symptoms of acid reflux.
However, if you are willing to improve your diet in order to reduce your GERD symptoms, here’s what you should do. Stop consuming processed, fast, and junk food, as well as the listed food items that aggravate the GERD symptoms.
- Warm Water and Lemon
Rebekah Fedrowitz who is a holistic nutritionist recommends drinking warm lemon water 15 to 20 minutes before breakfast as it balances the acid levels in our bodies. It is very important to use warm water because the cold one can stress your stomach and intestines.
- Baking Soda
Half a cup of water mixed with a tablespoon of baking soda will give you the acid reflux relief, You must dink it immediately after it has been mixed.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
The naturopathic doctor and holistic nutritionist in Trevorton, PA, Christina K.
Major, explains you need to eat highly acidic foods to stimulate the production of acid. Why? Well, it turns out we need more acid to digest the food properly. So, consuming foods and beverages such as apple cider vinegar, sauerkraut, and pickles will help you achieve that.
- Saccharomyces Boulardii
Stella Metsovas ,the author of “The 21 Day Digestive Health Detox” Stella Metsovas recommends the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii to relieve your acid reflux symptoms. This supplement will improve the absorption of vitamins vital for the digestion in the small intestine.
- Slippery Elm
This herbal supplement can be found in the form of powder, capsule, or lozenge. It’s good for soothing the irritation of the digestive tract.
- Tea
There are several teas that can be very effective for treating acid reflux and upset stomach. These are : fenugreek, chamomile, and peppermint tea. Drink one whenever you feel the symptoms or pain.
- A Gum
It may sound strange , but chewing gum stimulates the production of saliva which reduces the amount of acid in your esophagus. So, the next time you notice heartburn symptoms, grab a stick of gum.
- Sleep on the Left Side
Sleeping on your right side or your stomach worsens the acid reflux. On the other hand, sleeping on the left side can relieve your GERD symptoms. Sleeping on the wrong side puts pressure on your intestines and relaxes the esophageal sphincter.
Source The Hearty Soul | Mayo Clinic | Mother Nature Network
