Heartburn often occurs due to irregular sleep patterns and improper eating. Our lives have become so hectic and unorderly that we often end up taking a lot of stress, and that also affects our digestive system.
Complementary to it, some of us also indulge in drinking and smoking. Additionally, people who live such a lifestyle generally don’t have the time for exercise. We might not be entirely at fault, but our recklessness has invited so many issues that end up turning towards acid reflux or heartburn. Initially, this situation starts with minor acidity and then turns to become more prominent.
Acid reflux is a burning outcome of undigested food and bile mixed and stored in the esophagus. This is a digestive disorder that starts with a burning sensation in the stomach and ends up in the mouth. It is a movement of bile or stomach acid along the food pipe.
You get started with hiccups, and they turn into chest pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and burning sensation in the throat. The risk factors involved in this severe health condition can range from smoking, obesity, alcoholism, stress, junk food, the presence of a hernia, and pregnancy.
Food and herbs have been saviors for a very long time. Food for acid reflux is, and so we have to take care of what we eat. Here are some recommendations on food for heartburn that can help you soothe your burning sensation to an extent.
Vegetables are crucial in all the ways, and you need to have an abundant amount of vegetables to help yourself out of heartburn. The more you depend on vegetables, the more healthy you can be.
[Also Read: Popular Foods for Heartburn]
Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons must be avoided, but then you can always go for non-citrus fruits like bananas, watermelons, mangoes, peaches, papayas, etc. which promote smooth digestion in our body and have high pH values.
This nutritious meal could be a fantastic breakfast and your snack as well. It is a versatile food that can fill your tummy quickly and in a healthy way, which is one of the cures for acid reflux. If you need a change, try oatmeal with raisins because it absorbs the acidity from the raisins and makes it a delicious meal altogether.
Salads may seem drab, but you could do far worse than eating a salad every day. A salad is the first meal for acid refluxers, although tomatoes and onions should be avoided, as well as cheese and high-fat dressings.
Bananas are nutritious food that is basic with a pH of 5.6, and they are beneficial for people with acid reflux. Hence snacking on one to two days could help you alleviate your symptoms.
[Also Read: Bananas Health Benefits]
Melons are the kind of fruit that fall under the good-for-acid reflux category along with honeydew, cantaloupe, and watermelon.
This fruit has a pH of 6.1, which helps in controlling the acid production in your stomach.
Meat is a staple of any reflux diet, breaking several notions that people have. It can be consumed in several ways from boiled, baked, grilled, and sauteed. However, it is to be noted that you can eat it fried and the skin should be removed before consuming it
Seafood, like meat, is another stape of the reflux diet. It majorly consists of shrimp, lobster, and other shellfish. It is to be noted that you can consume wild fish and not the farm-raised variety.
As in the case of meat, these could also be eaten in different ways but never dried.
Celery, the green sticks, these have no calories and consist of high water content, which makes it one of the best choices for acid reflux. It is also an appetite suppressant and fiber-rich food.
Fennel has a specific licorice flavor that makes it an excellent ingredient in the salads. Additionally, they are known to promote digestion; they also have a pH of 6.9, making it the best choice for patients suffering from acidity.
Ginger is known as the queen of traditional medicine, due to its anti-inflammatory agents and its ability to treat several conditions including acid reflux(1). It is used in a lot of ways and can cure a lot of issues in our body. Ginger is a long-term cure for an upset stomach and so ginger is indeed a beneficial food for acid reflux.
Parsley is usually seen as a part of garnishing, and most of us separate it carefully and put it aside. Parsley is a traditional remedy for acid reflux and helps in soothing the burn in a short time. So consuming parsley is a good habit that everyone should develop.
Aloe vera has been used for ages to treat several ailments. So you shouldn’t be surprised when you find out that it helps with heartburn too. You can buy the supplements of aloe vera in the form of capsules, juices, or even use it directly from the plant.
Essential oils have the aromatherapeutic properties in them that are advantageous in providing relief. No wonder they are used widely even during pregnancy. So here are the most effective essential oils and their uses.
Cannabidiol is known to act on the endocannabinoid receptors present in the digestive system and helps in promoting better digestion. Additionally, it is also known to improve the motility of the sphincter muscles present in the stomach.
[Also Read: 7 Fascinating Essential Oils for Heartburn]
[Also Read: Surprising Benefits of Peppermint Oil]
Ginger is a tried and tested cure for a variety of gastrointestinal problems, hence making it a sufficient remedy to treat severe heartburn as well. Ginger oil calms the stomach and brings relief from indigestion.
It is to be noted that due to the volatility of this oil, it has to be mixed with carrier oils such as coconut oil or almond oil before applying it on your skin.
Apply the mixed oil onto your neck, chest, and abdomen to soothe the burning sensation
Valerian root essential oil works mysteriously as it upsets the stomach and then induces healthy bowel movements and urination, hence clearing your stomach and digestive system.
Additionally, it detoxifies the body and helps in improving the nutrient absorption of the gastrointestinal tract.
This oil relaxes the muscles, hence preventing spasms and acid refluxes. Also, it helps promote the secretion of GABA, a neurotransmitter to relax the muscle.
Black Seed Oil oil is beneficial for the effective treatment of heartburn as it contains thymoquinone and nigellone that work together in curing heartburn and the sharp upward surge of acid.
This essential oil has warming and calming properties, making it a vital option in treating acid reflux. This oil has antispasmodic agents that help in the prevention of abdominal spasms.
Yoga is one of the best and most effective home remedies for heartburn. Certain poses help you get away from acid reflux and give you relief. It is indeed one of the best cures for heartburn. The following postures are meant for quick relief from heartburn.
This pose helps in stretching the abdominal muscles, stimulating circulation, improving digestion, and alleviating constipation.
[Also Read: 7 Natural Home Remedies for Acid Reflux ]
This pose helps in digestion by making the passage of food more accessible in the intestines.
In this pose, the gas that is stored in the body is expelled out of the body and thus improving the digestive system. Additionally, this Yoga Pose will also tone and stretch your lower back.
Is baking soda good for heartburn? Yes, it works well for heartburn. Learn how to use baking soda for acid reflux and when to use. So read along and find the details below.
Get some baking soda from the store that is available in either finely powdered form or crystallized form.
How much baking soda for heartburn? 125 ml or half a teaspoon of baking soda mixed in a cup or four ounces of water is an instant way of relieving heartburn.
You can also find baking soda as an effervescent powder, tablets, capsules, granules, and solutions, that can be taken before a meal or two hours post medication.
However, the safest way to use baking soda for heartburn would be as per your doctor’s recommendation.
[Also Read: Benefits of Baking Soda for Heartburn]
Coconut oil is sufficient to cure heartburn in babies as well as in adults.
This oil forms a smooth film over the stomach and throat, and this protects them from the corrosive effect of the gastric acid.
Additionally, the content of lauric acid in it makes it antiseptic too.
Olive oil is the healthiest cooking mediums to keep acidity at bay.
A teaspoonful of olive oil suppresses symptoms of acidosis.
This oil forms a smooth film over the digestive tract and the throat, thereby protecting it from the corrosive effect of the acid(2).
Pine nut oil is beneficial for the treatment of acid reflux.
It is also used chronic acid reflux, bloating, pain, abdominal cramps, indigestion, and flatulence.
Milk can relieve you from heartburn temporarily. Stomach acid can be avoided by milk because of its nutrients, fat, and also the initiation to stimulate more acid in the stomach.
Yogurts can be an excellent option to consume for heartburn. The best thing is you can consume it even if you are lactose intolerant. So have some yogurt in cases of heartburn to feel relaxing and soothing.
It is very much recommendable to use apple cider vinegar during the times of heartburn because they reduce stomach acid to a great extent.
Patients suffering from peptic ulcers or acid reflux should not consume green tea in large amounts. Firstly it is not beneficial at all for acid reflux. Then it might even end up causing you discomfort by causing upset stomach or nausea. But luckily tea is lower in tannins, and so it causes lesser damage. Nonetheless, green tea is a big no-no for heartburn.