Melon For Heartburn Relief
Melon has a pH of 6.1 and therefore it can be counted as one of the good foods for heartburn. Some people, however, may not respond well to melon and need to avoid it. So you can have some melon pieces every day or make a smoothie with melon and other ingredients that are also good to cure heartburn. Here is one recipe for a melon smoothie that also uses almond milk, cantaloupe, watermelon, ginger and banana. Almonds are also said to be a great remedy for heartburn as they neutralize stomach acid. While you can always snack on almonds, adding a few of them in this smoothie will not only make it tasty but will increase its efficacy in combating heartburn.
Make Melon Smoothie to Prevent Heartburn
Get this:
- Fresh ginger root- 1 inch piece
Do this:
- Place all the above ingredients in your blender and blend them together.
- Have this every morning if you have a consistent problem of heartburn.
Chew Gum To Get Rid Of Heartburn
A research shows that people with gastroesophageal reflux disease got relief when they were asked to chew sugar-free gum for about half an hour after a meal. When you chew gum, it stimulates your salivary glands to increase the flow of saliva. This saliva washes away or neutralizes your stomach acid giving you instant relief from heartburn.
Get this:
- Place the piece of sugar-free gum in your mouth after you have finished your meal.
- Now chew this for 25-30 minutes.
What Can Trigger Heartburn
Heartburn can be triggered by many different things that are a part of your daily life. For many people, heartburn can be caused by certain eating and lifestyle habits. These habits can involve things like eating large portions of food, eating too close to bedtime or even having high stress levels.
Certain foods and drinks can also trigger heartburn for some people. Some foods and drinks that could trigger your heartburn can include:
- Onions.
- Caffeinated beverages.
- Carbonated beverages.
Your lifestyle habits can also play a part in why you might experience heartburn. These everyday factors often contribute to medical conditions that cause heartburn, like GERD or hiatal hernia. Some lifestyle habits that can trigger your heartburn include:
- Being overweight.
- Having a high stress level.
- Wearing tight clothes and belts.
You May Like: Iceberg Lettuce Diarrhea
What Are The Symptoms Of Acid Reflux
Common symptoms include a burning feeling in the chest, a sensation of a lump in the throat, belching and bloating, and regurgitation into the mouth of highly acidic, partially digested food from the stomach. Reflux can also affect the respiratory tract, resulting in hoarseness, wheezing, postnasal drip, cough or asthma.
But persistent acid reflux is more than just annoying. If it occurs too often and persists for too long, it can erode the lining of the esophagus and increase the risk of developing a deadly cancer called esophageal adenocarcinoma.
How To Get Rid Of Heartburn
June 27, 2018 By Sara
Here you finish your meal, and there you get that burning pain in your chest. This is the dreadful feeling of heartburn truly justifying its name. You feel as if your heart is burning along with that very painful feeling just behind your breastbone. And if you think you can get some relief by lying down or bending over, you are just making it worse.
Recommended Reading: Does Pickle Juice Help Heartburn
Banana Can Relieve Heartburn
This is a good food to eat in the morning or in the afternoon. Bananas have a pH of 5.6. That means it is a food that soothes acid. That said, some people get a worse heartburn when they eat this type of fruit.
It becomes a matter of trying to eat a banana and see if your heartburn gets worse or better.
How Common Is Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is among the most frequent health complaints of American adults, and may have become even more common in the wake of pandemic-related stress and weight gain. Late last year, pharmacies reported an unprecedented run on antacids by people described as having a pandemic stomach, leaving those with serious ailments that required such products often out of luck.
Even before the pandemic, an online survey from 2019 of more than 71,000 adults found that nearly a third reported that they were affected at least weekly by the discomforting symptoms of acid reflux, in which a small amount of stomach contents reverses course and backs up into the esophagus.
Read Also: Salad Makes Me Gassy
Citrates And Vitamins Can Help
The citrates counteract gastric hyperacidity, thanks to their alkalizing action which helps to balance the gastric pH. Vitamins B1 and B2 promote digestive functions, while vitamin B6 counteracts the feeling of nausea.
And finally, a short vademecum to follow carefully:
1: After physical activity, always drink plenty of water, in small sips and frequently
2: Among the relaxation tips, lets not forget the cool-down phase at the end of the sport. The pre-workout stretching or muscle lengthening phase is also very important.
3: Integrate the lost sugars with fresh fruit , or dried fruit, avoiding packaged snacks
4: Before training avoid the consumption of acidic foods
5: Do not train on a full stomach, but wait at least three hours
6: Prefer light cooking methods. Light preparations such as boiling, grilling, baking, or steaming will make foods light and easily digestible.
7: Eat five moderate meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner plus two hunger-breakers, one mid-morning and one mid-afternoon. In fact, having a snack will allow us to avoid long hours of fasting and prevent acidity problems, above all it will help us to arrive less hungry for dinner.
8: Eat slowly and chew for a long time. In fact, remember that the first phase of digestion takes place in the mouth, thanks to the digestive enzymes contained in saliva.
Just A Few Dietary Tweaks Can Ease Your Discomfort
by Shelley Emling, AARP, July 28, 2017| 0
En español | Heartburn is a condition that many people will experience at least once in their lifetime. More than just a minor nuisance, this uncomfortable burning sensation can sometimes creep up into your throat leaving an unpleasantly bitter taste. The pain caused by heartburn can range from mild to so severe that its sometimes mistaken for heart attack pain.
And heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux, which occurs when stomach acid flows back up into your esophagus the tube that connects the throat and stomach. In some cases, acid reflux progresses to gastroesophageal reflux disease , or a more serious form of reflux. Common signs of GERD include frequent heartburn, coughing, wheezing, chest pain and regurgitation particularly at night.
While over-the-counter and prescription medicines are available, lifestyle changes can sometimes help those with only occasional acid reflux. The Mayo Clinic advises losing excess weight, eating smaller meals, and avoiding alcohol and nicotine. But dietary tweaks also can be key when trying to alleviate symptoms.
Here are five foods to try.
2. Melons. Like bananas, melons also are a highly alkaline fruit. They are a good source of magnesium, which is found in many medicines for acid reflux. Furthermore, melons have a pH of 6.1, making them only mildly acidic. Especially good are cantaloupe and honeydew melon.
You May Like: How To Get Rid Of Heartburn Before Bed
Don’t Miss: What Does It Mean When You Keep Having Heartburn
What Causes Heartburn And What Does It Feel Like Exactly
Stomach acid is needed to break down the food you eat, something your stomach has no trouble handling. Your esophagus, on the other hand, is irritated by it.
To keep stomach acid in your stomach and out of your esophagus, a circular ring of muscle at the tube’s base, called the lower esophageal sphincter, acts as a valve. When this valve is relaxed, food you’ve consumed is allowed to pass through to your stomach. When contracted, this valve prevents this food and acid from backing up into your esophagus.
If this valve relaxes abnormally and stomach acid is allowed to travel back into your esophagus, acid reflux occurs. Heartburn is the most well-known and obvious symptom.
It can feel differently depending on its severity, but heartburn symptoms include:
- A burning sensation in your chest, behind your breastbone
- Burning pain that rises up toward your throat
- Having a bitter or sour taste in your mouth
Acid reflux and heartburn are sometimes caused by an underlying medical condition, or even a medication you’re taking in some cases. But, more often than not, they’re triggered by things like your diet and lifestyle choices making the occasional bout of heartburn fairly common.
Common triggers of heartburn include:
- Overeating or eating too quickly
- Lying down too soon after eating
- Consuming certain foods, including caffeine, carbonated beverages, alcohol, peppermint, citrus, tomato-based products, chocolate and fatty or spicy foods
- Being overweight
- Stress and anxiety
Reducing Pressure On Your Stomach
Putting pressure on your stomach may push stomach juices into your esophagus, causing heartburn. Some ways to reduce heartburn include the following:
- After you eat, wait 2 to 3 hours before you lie down. Late-night snacks aren’t a good idea. When you are lying down, the contents of your stomach can push against the valve between the esophagus and stomach . Sitting up allows gravity to help food and stomach juices from the esophagus drain back into your stomach.
- Avoid tight clothing over your stomach. Tight belts, waistbands, or panty hose may push against your stomach and make your heartburn worse.
- Use care when lifting and bending. Bending over tends to increase the amount of stomach acid that can get into your esophagus. When lifting, bend your knees to avoid bending over at the waist.
Don’t Miss: Kidney Disease And Stomach Bloating
Resist The Urge To Overeat Or Eat Quickly
When it comes to preventing heartburn, watching portion sizes at meals can go a long way. Having a large amount of food in your stomach may put more pressure on the valve that keeps stomach acid out of your esophagus, making acid reflux and heartburn more likely. If you’re prone to heartburn, consider eating smaller meals more frequently. Eating quickly can also be a trigger of heartburn so be sure to slow down and take time to chew food and drink beverages.
Foods To Avoid To Prevent Heartburn
More than half of heartburn sufferers taking medications feel less than satisfied with their results . Fortunately, there are many remedies for heartburn besides simply reaching into the medicine cabinet just a few diet changes may be enough ward off the fiery sensation. Though it very much depends on the individual, there are several common trigger foods that tend to affect many people and may be worth avoiding.
- Alcohol
- Coffee and other caffeinated food and drink
- Carbonated beverages
- Large, fatty and/or fried meals
Read Also: Do Bananas Help With Bloating
Use Fennel And Its Seeds For Heartburn Cure
Fennel has a pH of 6.9 and thus is included in effective foods for heartburn relief. In fact, this herb is good not only for heartburn but many other diseases or conditions related to stomach problems such as indigestion, constipation, flatulence and bloating. Fennel has a volatile oil made up of such components as fenchone, trans-anethole, limonene and a-pinene. All these substances have a carminative effect that provides soothing relief to your stomach and prevents all kinds of digestive disorders including heartburn. The crunchy vegetables as well as the seeds of fennel, both are effective for heartburn.
Ways to Use Fennel for Heartburn
What About Coffee For Heartburn
Get ready for some bad news: For many people, a morning cup of coffee is a strong heartburn trigger. While theres no hard medical research that coffee causes heartburn, theres enough anecdotal evidence that its best to steer clear if you cant identify the source of your discomfort. Or cut it out for a day or two to see how your body reacts. If eliminating coffee eases your symptoms, caffeine may be a trigger. Try decaf instead or one of these caffeine alternatives.
Also Check: Why Does Lettuce Give Me Diarrhea
Apple Cider Vinegar For Heartburn
It seems counterintuitive that something acidic like vinegar could help treat heartburn, but heres a twist: Sometimes, the painful sensation occurs if your stomach doesnt have enough acid to help digest the food, says Brenda Rea, M.D., R.D., a professor of medicine at Loma Linda University in California. The longer food sits in your stomach before being broken down, the greater the risk that it will cause indigestion and heartburn. A teaspoon of diluted unprocessed apple cider may provide your stomach with the acid it needs to digest the food. Its worth noting that there is no scientific proof that the vinegar trick works , and it could make your heartburn worse, so proceed with caution.
Worst Foods For Reflux
In general, anything that is fatty, acidic or highly caffeinated should be avoided. The worst foods for acid reflux list includes:
- Coffee and tea Caffeinated beverages aggravate acid reflux. Opt for teas without caffeine.
- Carbonated beverages The bubbles expand in your stomach, creating more pressure and pain. Choose plain water or decaf iced tea.
- Chocolate This treat has a trifecta of acid reflux problems: caffeine, fat and cocoa.
- Peppermint Dont be fooled by its reputation for soothing the tummy peppermint is an acid reflux trigger.
- Grapefruit and orange The high acidity of citrus fruits relaxes the esophagus sphincter and worsens symptoms.
- Tomatoes Also avoid marinara sauce, ketchup and tomato soup theyre all naturally high in acid.
- Alcohol This has a double whammy effect. Alcohol relaxes the sphincter valve but it also stimulates acid production in the stomach.
- Fried foods These are some of the worst foods for reflux. Skip the french fries, onion rings and fried chicken cook on the grill or in the oven at home.
- Late-night snacks Avoid eating anything in the two hours before you go to bed. Also, you can try eating four to five smaller meals throughout the day instead of two to three large meals.
Read Also: Tramadol Constipation Side Effects
What To Eatand What To Avoidif You Struggle With Acid Reflux Heartburn Or Indigestion
Not only is acid reflux one of the most common health conditions, its been on the rise for the last few decades. If youve ever experienced that ominous feeling of burning in your chest, we know you want answers on what to do about it. Before taking a deeper dive into the how, why, and what to eat to treat it, its important to clarify what we mean when we say acid reflux, as opposed to heartburn, indigestion, and GORD. The terms are related, but often conflated.
When To Talk To Your Doctor About Acid Reflux
It’s a good idea to speak with your doctor if the best foods for acid reflux do not relieve your symptoms, Dr. Khaitan says. Other options can include lifestyle changes, medications to block acid, and surgical procedures on the esophagus sphincter.
It is important to make a doctor’s appointment if you have heartburn or acid reflux that is severe or frequent, Dr. Khaitan adds. Chronic acid reflux is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease and can lead to esophageal cancer.
Don’t Miss: Birth Control And Heartburn
How To Cure Heartburn Four Quick Fixes And Long
How to cure heartburn you ask? Well, theres no easy answer to that question.
If youve been struggling with acid reflux for any length of time, then you know there isnt a quick fix to this disease as a whole. GERD has many symptoms, one of which is heartburn. At the crux of this disease is the lower oesophageal sphincter . Located at the junction of the oesophagus and the stomach, the LES can weaken and no longer function as an effective barrier, allowing the acidic contents of the stomach to back-flow up into the oesophagus. When this happens, heartburn often follows. This weakening of the LES is progressive, so the more often you reflux, the more frequent the episodes become.
Learn more: GERD explained: The role of the LES
Medications can help relieve acid reflux symptoms by making the contents of the stomach less acidic however, they dont stop reflux from happening. Thats why managing GERD requires commitment and diligence: Watching what and how you eat and making lifestyle choices aimed at minimizing reflux can reduce your symptoms AND help stop the progression of the condition.
But sometimes, despite your best efforts to manage your GERD, heartburn strikes and you need relief . So though we cant provide a definite answer to how to cure heartburn? We can offer four quick fixes to help you cool the burn.
Homeopathic Remedies For Heart Burn
Besides home remedies, you can also count on homeopathic remedies for getting relief from heart burn. Here are some homeopathic remedies that can help you out.
1. Nux vomica : Nux vomica helps in treating indigestion and severe acidity.
2. Carbo vegetabilis : Carbo vegetabilis is used in the cases of heartburn, which is accompanied by heaviness in the chest and stomach, bloating, and belching.
3. Pulsatilla : Pulsatilla helps to moisten the mouth, and reduce the intensity of pain.
4. Ipecac : Ipecac is used when heartburn is characterized with excessive flatulence, vomiting or nausea. This remedy is also suitable for pregnant women.
5. Calcaria carb : Calcaria carb is given when patient suffers from heartburn, burning sensation in the stomach, and vomiting. Other homeopathic medicines are Arsenic album, Phosphorous, Aesculus hip, Staphisagria, Ferrum met, and Natrum phos.
Don’t Miss: Does Peanut Butter Cause Heartburn