Natural Remedies for Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is a scientific way to describe heartburn. This affects many people when food has excessive acid content or when pancreatic juices travel back into the esophagus, causing frequent trouble. This acid solution splashing into the esophagus results in irritation, scarring and inflammation. Thus it slowly narrows the circumference of the esophagus.
The symptoms of acid reflux include burning, nausea, food getting stuck, hoarseness, wheezing, coughing, erosion of tooth enamel and asthma like symptoms. It also increases the chances for esophageal cancer. Occasional heartburn happens to most people. But if it happens regularly, it is referred to as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
There are over the counter medications available that are effective, but home remedies help without making the trip to the pharmacy. Regardless of whether you eat a spicy dish or fatty foods, there are natural remedies to put your belly in comfort and to soothe heartburn.
Natural Remedies for Acid Reflux
1. Maintain Healthy Weight: However, if you are a person with a healthy weight, follow a regular exercise and a healthy diet.
2. Foods to Avoid: Fried foods, high fat foods such as greasy and fast food products, tomato based products, alcohol, onions, garlic, caffeine, soda, citrus fruit juices, chocolate.
By restricting these triggers, you may experience very few symptoms.
3. Eating habits : Eating smaller meals results in less pressure to your stomach and this also prevents backflow of acids in your stomach . Also avoid lying down immediately after eating as it may trigger heartburn. It is best to give a gap of 2 to 3 hours after each eating. While sleeping keep the pillows elevated to avoid heartburn at nighttime.
4. Helpful Foods: Curing acid reflux cannot be done overnight as there is nothing called a magic food. The helpful foods are high protein meals with low fat. Reducing dietary fat decreases your symptoms and enough fiber and protein keeps you from overeating as it gives a full feeling. You may chew non-mint gum after each meal to increase saliva in the mouth and thus the esophagus will be free from acid.
5. Quit Smoking: Smoking causes heartburn. This is because it damages the esophageal lower sphincter that is responsible for preventing stomach acids
The following are some of the best natural home remedies for acid reflux which you can try:
1. Eat raw almonds such that the food balances your pH as almonds are a good source of calcium.
2. Drink aloe vera juice two ounces daily
3. Start with a cup of fresh lemon juice in warm water in the morning. Drink it on an empty stomach and you will see a natural balance of acid levels.
4. Try baking soda, a tablespoon in half a cup of water; it is certainly effective, but not tasty.
5. Take apple cider vinegar daily 1-2 spoons. You can mix it with honey in tea or take lemon in tea.
6. Eat a red apple after meals.
7. Drink mint, chamomile or fenugreek tea so that it reduces the symptoms of acid reflux. more