{"id":629,"date":"2017-06-08T06:46:37","date_gmt":"2017-06-08T06:46:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=629"},"modified":"2021-03-10T20:52:41","modified_gmt":"2021-03-10T20:52:41","slug":"21-home-remedies-heartburn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/21-home-remedies-heartburn\/","title":{"rendered":"21 Home Remedies for Heartburn"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Heartburn is something that you need to experience to really appreciate for what it is. That is to say, that it is much more upsetting and painful than it sounds on paper, which is why it is so often confused with more serious issues such as heart attack.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s called heart burn but of course it has nothing to do with the heart. Rather, heartburn is caused by the sphincter between the stomach and the esophagus (called the esophageal sphincter) which opens up and then allows small amounts of stomach acid to find their way back up where they then burn really rather severely.<\/p>\n

This is a painful experience that isn\u2019t just felt in the stomach and the chest (behind the heart, hence the name) but can also affect your back and your neck. It then leads to acid reflux \u2013 the return of acid and food into the mouth \u2013 and can ruin your sleep and prevent you from enjoying your food!<\/p>\n

Bad times. And it tends to come on just when you\u2019re not expecting it and without any kind of warning. Not good!<\/p>\n

But there is some good news. If you are a little prone to this condition, then there are a few things you can do to try and ease the symptoms, reduce the pain and prevent it from happening again in future. Read on for 21 different home remedies for heartburn\u2026<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0Baking Soda<\/h3>\n

One of the most commonly suggested and most effective treatments for heartburn is baking soda. Take just a spoonful of sodium bicarbonate which you should have somewhere around the home and you\u2019ll be able to reduce the gnawing and burning feeling that comes from heartburn. Baking soda<\/a> works because it has a high pH and that in turn can neutralize the stomach acid that is causing you all that grief.<\/p>\n

To use, take half a teaspoon of baking soda and add to a glass of water around 8 ounces. Now stir it thoroughly and then drink. This will help you to gain immediate relief as the acid is neutralized and becomes much less harsh on your insides!<\/p>\n

\"\"2. \u00a0Water<\/h3>\n

Water is another great option to help you get rid of heartburn and acid reflux. This works in a number of ways. Firstly, a nice cold glass of water will help to sooth the area and numb the pain \u2013 just like you might apply an ice pack to an injury.<\/p>\n

At the same time, water is going to help you to dilute the acid in your esophagus and also wash it out and through. On top of all that, water will help you to prevent indigestion<\/a> if you drink it while you eat.<\/p>\n

It will do this by further helping to break down food itself as well as by lubricating it to pass through your system well and encouraging the production of important enzymes that break down food in the stomach. It even increases saliva production!<\/p>\n

In fact, heartburn is just one symptom of chronic dehydration. Many of us don\u2019t get enough water, so start drinking!<\/p>\n

\"\"3. \u00a0Aloe Juice<\/h3>\n

Aloe is a soothing plant that is often used for soothing burns, rashes<\/a>, swelling and more. It can also be used to treat sunburn.<\/p>\n

But did you know that it can do you good on your insides as well? It reduces inflammation and has a soothing effect no matter what it comes into contact with, so drink a little in juice form and you\u2019ll find that it reduces inflammation and helps to calm and sooth your stomach. Get half a cup of aloe vera juice and then cool it to room temperature before meals.<\/p>\n

One word of caution \u2013 this is also a laxative!<\/p>\n

\"\"4. \u00a0Gum<\/h3>\n

Chewing gum is famously bad for your stomach. Why? Because your body thinks that it is getting food and prepares the enzymes and acids for breaking down food and this can then damage the lining of the stomach, seeing as there\u2019s actually no food in there!<\/p>\n

But guess what? Chewing gum<\/a> is a good thing when you are eating because those same acids are good news when you need to actually break down your food. And if you have enough of them, they can do a better job so that they don\u2019t end up in your throat! Seems counterintuitive but yes, sometimes heartburn is the result of not enough stomach acid.<\/p>\n

That and gum also stimulates the production of saliva to help you break down your food before it even gets that far. In one study, people with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) saw benefits from chewing gum 30 minutes following a meal.<\/p>\n

\"\"5. \u00a0Stand Up<\/h3>\n

If you feel heart burn then try standing up. This will help for one simple reason: gravity!<\/p>\n

The pain is caused by acid and potentially food coming back up the esophagus<\/a> and so it should come as no shock that you can reduce these symptoms by standing up and helping them to go on back down.<\/p>\n

This is also why you need to think about how you are sitting when you\u2019re eating. If you eat hunched over on the couch, then there\u2019s a good chance that you\u2019ll be causing more harm than good. Solve this problem by sitting up straight and then staying that way \u2013 not lying down \u2013 for a while after you\u2019ve eaten.<\/p>\n

\"\"6. \u00a0Prop Up<\/h3>\n

The same goes for sleeping. If you eat a big meal then go to bed and lie flat, then it should come as no surprise that some unwanted stuff might spill back out and find its way up your pipes!<\/p>\n

The solution here is to prop yourself up a little better while you sleep. You can do this by using more pillows and this can also improve your sleep in a number of other ways: reducing the amount of congestion for example. Reducing snoring<\/a> and more.<\/p>\n

Did you know that a few hundred years ago everyone slept sitting up? In fact, it was once believed that sleeping lying down could kill us!<\/p>\n

\"\"7. \u00a0Apple Cider Vinegar<\/h3>\n

Remember what I said about acid reflux sometimes being the result of not enough acid rather than too much? Sounds crazy, but it\u2019s true.<\/p>\n

And for that reason, taking antacids might not be the best thing you can do! In fact, in some cases the best thing to do is to consume more acid and you can do this for instance by consuming apple cider vinegar unfiltered. Take 3 teaspoons and then mix it with 6-8 ounces of water. Mix them up and drink just before your meal. This will add to your acidity and help solve the problem.<\/p>\n

If it gets worse, time to try the alkaline<\/a>!<\/p>\n

\"\"8. \u00a0Yogurt<\/h3>\n

Yogurt<\/a> has a number of benefits and serves as a great palette cleanser after a meal. That\u2019s partly because it\u2019s so cool, soft and soothing \u2013 the perfect thing to eat when you have any kind of upset in your stomach or throat.<\/p>\n

At the same time though, yogurt also serves us well for a few other reasons. For starters, it is able to help you reduce indigestion by increasing the number of beneficial bacteria in the stomach.<\/p>\n

These live beneficial \u2018cultures\u2019 work to break down food and help you digest it, improving your nutrient absorption and preventing indigestion.<\/p>\n

\"\"9. \u00a0Bananas<\/h3>\n

Bananas are a great natural antacid. So when you find that consuming apple cider vinegar only makes matters worse, you can try going the opposite route and consuming these in order to soothe and neutralize the acids.<\/p>\n

If that doesn\u2019t work, then you might benefit from their soft nature and their ability to absorb some of the unwanted acid. And if that doesn\u2019t help, you might still benefit from the potassium which can help to prevent cramps<\/a>. Why\u2019s that relevant? Consider the next point, if you please\u2026<\/p>\n

\"\"10. \u00a0Isotonic Drinks<\/h3>\n

An isotonic<\/a> drink is the ultimately solution for cramps, for muscle pain and for dehydration following exercise.<\/p>\n

These are drinks that replace your electrolytes as well as hydrating you. And they\u2019re important because indigestion and reflux can often be the result of spasming in the stomach and in the diaphragm and sphincter.<\/p>\n

This then causes food and acid to travel the wrong way, leading to the pain that you\u2019re familiar with. But restore the balance of hydration and electrolytes and you might soothe and prevent such spasming, thereby fighting the cause of the heartburn.<\/p>\n

\"\"11. \u00a0Ginger Tea<\/h3>\n

Ginger tea, or gingerroot tea is a \u2018Mum\u2019s favorite\u2019 treatment for a large number of ailments and issues. It is particularly effective for stomach pains and they include everything from reflux to wind to infections.<\/p>\n

Sip a cup of ginger tea for up to 20 minutes before a meal and it will act as an acid buffer while calming down the stomach.<\/p>\n

Take 3 quarter sized gingerroots<\/a> and 2 cups of water and then slice the roots. Now simmer them in water and cover before removing the ginger pieces.<\/p>\n

\"\"12. \u00a0Loose Clothes<\/h3>\n

One common cause of acid reflux is tight fitting clothes. This is squeezing you like a ketchup<\/a> bottle, causing food and acid to travel upwards toward the neck. This is particularly likely if you have a tight belt on.<\/p>\n

The solution is to loosen your belt, undo your trousers or just wear looser clothes to begin with if you notice the problem is coming on.<\/p>\n

\"\"13. \u00a0Eat Slower, Chew More<\/h3>\n

Another common cause of heartburn<\/a> is that you eat too quickly. This results in air becoming trapped in the stomach, causing gas and pain and leading to reflux and heartburn.<\/p>\n

Moreover, eating too quickly will also mean large chunks of food struggle on the way down, leaving the esophageal sphincter open for too long. It also means more food sitting in your stomach for longer.<\/p>\n

A solution is simply to eat more slowly, thereby breaking the food up more efficiently. Try counting your chews to make sure you do this. Studies show you\u2019ll also feel fuller, making this a good weight loss trick as well!<\/p>\n

\"\"14. \u00a0Eat Less<\/h3>\n

Another simple solution is to just eat less. Not only does this reduce the possibility of things getting stuck or causing upset (it\u2019s simple statistics) but it also means that you won\u2019t have a stomach that is overflowing with food sitting too close to the sphincter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Eat less or eat smaller portions spaced more evenly throughout the day.<\/p>\n

\"\"15. \u00a0Eat Pineapple<\/h3>\n

Pineapple<\/a> is a great choice if you want to help your digestion. That\u2019s because it contains something called bromelain, a natural enzyme that is found in the saliva and that has the job of breaking food down before it goes down the pipe.<\/p>\n

Just have a little or drink some pineapple juice prior to your meal \u2013 it makes a great starter \u2013 and you should find the problem is reduced.<\/p>\n

Note that various digestive enzymes can also be shop bought and these will work just as well.<\/p>\n

\"\"16. \u00a0Lose Weight<\/h3>\n

Losing weight is good advice for anyone who struggles with indigestion.<\/p>\n

The larger you are, the higher the likelihood that you will suffer from GERD. Why is this?<\/p>\n

Because extra weight places more strain<\/a> on the lower esophageal sphincter, thereby making it more likely to loosen and even weaken over time.<\/p>\n

\"\"17. \u00a0Reduce Alcohol<\/h3>\n

Alcohol can cause problems for a number of reasons. For starters, it relaxes the muscles which in turn causes the sphincter to become looser and more easily opened.<\/p>\n

At the same time, alcohol is acidic and it contains gas which makes you hiccup. Finally, alcohol is a diuretic, making you more dehydrated.<\/p>\n

On top of all this, alcohol becomes much worse when combined with smoking. That\u2019s because nicotine<\/a> and alcohol together weaken the sphincter even more and they both irritate the stomach. So if you\u2019re one of those \u2018social smokers\u2019, then you are doubling up on the likelihood of heartburn.<\/p>\n

\"\"18. \u00a0Breathe<\/h3>\n

Simply taking a moment to breathe correctly can help to get everything working more as it should. This can ease pain and it can help to prevent spasms.<\/p>\n

To do it, focus on breathing with your stomach. You do this by allowing the stomach muscles to become relaxed first. This opens up the abdominal cavity, causing the diaphragm<\/a> to lower into it and making the lower portion of the lungs fill with air. Then you tighten the stomach and breathe out.<\/p>\n

Try breathing this way slowly and counting to five on each breath, you\u2019ll feel much more normal and might notice that the reflux is gone when you finish.<\/p>\n

\"\"19. \u00a0Painkiller<\/h3>\n

No matter what is causing your discomfort, this is a simple remedy that you shouldn\u2019t ignore. If you have analgesics around the home, then take them and you will ease the discomfort.<\/p>\n

This is a very painful problem and paracetamol or ibuprofen<\/a> can help by changing the way that the brain responds to pain signals. You can then focus on addressing the cause at the same time \u2013 but at least this will relieve you of some symptoms.<\/p>\n

\"\"20. \u00a0Look for Triggers<\/h3>\n

Different people will find that different foods cause them their indigestion. Often, indigestion is caused by the food that we think of as roughage.<\/p>\n

This is the highly fibrous food that takes a long time to break up and especially if it is swallowed in large pieces. Things like raw broccoli<\/a> for example, or purple sprouting broccoli are what upset me.<\/p>\n

Have a think about your own diet and try to identify the times you have felt heartburn. Perhaps even try keeping a diary.<\/p>\n

That way, you can begin to spot trends and notice the things that make you most likely to suffer with the problem. Then it\u2019s just a matter of eliminating them from the diet, cooking them more so that they\u2019re softer, or just being extra careful generally.<\/p>\n

\"\"21. \u00a0Timing<\/h3>\n

Finally, another \u2018trigger\u2019 can be what you do after you\u2019ve eaten. A good example might be if you exercised after you finished your food. We all know that swimming is particularly bad following a big meal too. Likewise, we\u2019ve already looked at the problems that can come from lying down.<\/p>\n

The best thing to do is to spend a little time at the table after you\u2019ve eaten and perhaps to enjoy a drink or a light pudding<\/a> while your food goes down.<\/p>\n

Avoid eating too soon before bed as well and just take your time!<\/p>\n\r\n

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