What Causes Heartburn During Pregnancy
You already know that pregnancy brings with it a whole slew of hormones that are raging through your body in order to facilitate the growth and development of your baby. Progesterone, a hormone that is necessary for implantation of a fertilized egg and for maintaining pregnancy, is also responsible for that heartburn youre experiencing.
Progesterone relaxes the valve between the stomach and the esophagus that is meant to keep stomach acid from escaping up into the esophagus. The stomach has a special layer that protects it from stomach acid, but the esophagus is unprotected. When stomach acid gets into the esophagus, it irritates the lining, causing a burning sensation in an area located close to the heart, otherwise known as heartburn.
Heartburn can also be caused directly by your growing baby. As the uterus takes over, it doesnt leave much room for the stomach, and all that pressure can push the stomach up, causing stomach acid to leak into the esophagus.
Many women wonder how to get rid of heartburn during pregnancy fast. Luckily, there are many natural remedies and treatments for heartburn that are effective and safe to use during pregnancy.
The best way to ensure a heartburn-free pregnancy is by starting with prevention. The following tips will help you figure out how to prevent heartburn during pregnancy.
Functional Medicine View Of Reflux
Theres an alternate theory in functional medicine, that it is low stomach acid and NOT high stomach acid that causes GERD and reflux.
The idea is that the LES gets loose when stomach acid secretion are lower than normal. And that a sufficient level of acid is what signals the LES to stay tightly shut.
One of the most common causes of low stomach acid is a bacterial infection of the stomach called h pylori.
Regular testing at your doctors office is not sensitive enough to catch this inflammatory and acid lowering infection. I use a highly sensitive functional lab test with clients that identify h pylori along with any other gut infections that it can lead to. The test I use is called the GI Map.
Stomach acid kills and protects you from pathogens like parasites as well as bacterial and fungal overgrowth. When acid is low it leaves the gut vulnerable to infections.
Eating Spinach Can Potentially Help Reduce Stomach Acidity
“Spinach is rich in calcium, which increases bone health, and it’s highly alkaline, which helps the stomach to reduce acidity levels,” Scabardi said. Spinach is a versatile ingredient that can be added to recipes or smoothies in order to get the most out of its potentially soothing impact on heartburn.
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They Are Easy To Digest And Faster Source Of Energy
Bananas provide natural energy replenishment and they are also a super food that get digested quickly.
A scientific research has proved that eating just 2 bananas can provide you the extra energy that is sufficient for extensive 90 minutes workout.
Every 100 grams of banana provides about 89 Kcal energy to our body.
They are easily absorbed in our body and do not cause any digestion issues.
In fact, they are easily digested in our body after a hard workout on the tennis court.
What Are The Symptoms Of Acid Reflux
A big symptom of acid reflux is a burning sensation, otherwise referred to as heartburn, which occurs when acid creeps back up the esophagus from the stomach. That’s why people grasp at their chestthe pain can literally take their breath away.
Since acid is flowing backward, aka up the esophagus, swallowing can be difficult and there could be the feeling that there’s a lump in the throat. But the symptoms don’t stop thereother parts of the body take the heat, too.
There are lots of factors that go into a good night’s sleep, and feeling like your chest is burning isn’t one. Nighttime acid reflux can disrupt sleep, make asthma worse, and may cause coughing, according to the Mayo Clinic. So consuming things that can help prevent these symptoms is key for making sure it doesn’t mess up slumber, which then leads to other adverse effects.
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Getting Rid Of The Heartburn
If you are experiencing intense pain because of heartburn, the home remedies below can help you ease the discomfort.
What Is Tapioca And What Is It Good For
Adda Bjarnadottir, MS, RDN Katherine Marengo LDN, R.D.
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Tapioca is a starch extracted from cassava root. It consists of almost pure carbs and contains very little protein, fiber, or other nutrients.
Tapioca has recently become popular as a gluten-free alternative to wheat and other grains.
However, theres a lot of controversy about it. Some claim it has numerous health benefits, while others say its harmful.
This article tells you everything you need to know about tapioca.
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My Solution To Gerd And Reflux
Acid blocking or lowering medications, like antacids or proton pump inhibitors , will make the problem worse if the issue is actually low stomach acid.
If the low acid is driven by h pylori, then eradicating the infection will help it bounce back. I use this powerful tea with my clients to eradicate h pylori.
Other reason for low stomach acid is stress or deficiencies of nutrients such as zinc.
With low stomach acid its best to eat multiple smaller meal and food that is well cooked as well as blended or pureed meals. These foods have already started breaking down before they are eaten and are much easier for a weak digestive system to handle.
Eating Right For Reflux
While diet is not the whole answer, it is always foundational and can provide healing to inflamed tissues and symptom relief.
Lowering the inflammation in the gut through diet will increase immune strength and greatly support and speed the healing process.
One of the recipe featured in my Treats that Heal cookbook as well as the reflux recipe book is my resistant starch rice pudding. White rice is easy to digest and soothing to the gut.
Cooking rice in bone broth boosts nutrient density. Bone broth contains collagen, which adds protein and can help seal a leaky gut. Adding extra liquid and blending it make it creamier and will break it down to make it even easier to digest.
Resistant starch is a well-tolerated fiber that feeds anti inflammatory bacteria in the large intestine, making this recipe a biome boosting as well as soothing treat.
Bananas are extremely soothing to the gut, so feel free to blend a banana into the recipe below.
For people who have bacterial overgrowth in their small intestine , I suggest this book for managing both reflux/GERD and SIBO. It helps reduce the fermentation produced by certain carbohydrates and fibers that lead to intra-abdominal pressure that can push up on the LES.
The recipe below wont trigger SIBO or reflux symptoms, and help create a gut and stomach environment that will help tone and seal the LES.
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Foods That Cause Heartburn
Some foods and drinks can trigger heartburn symptoms or irritate the esophagus.
As everyone may react differently to foods, a person should try monitoring their symptoms after eating different foods to determine which may be causing heartburn.
The following foods and drinks are those that commonly cause heartburn.
How You Can Relieve Acid Reflux Symptoms By Eating Or Avoiding Certain Foods
To help you minimize those uncomfortable acid reflux symptoms, we spoke with registered dietitians Cynthia Sass, MPH, MA, RD, CSSD, Natalie Rizzo, MS, RD, and author of The No-Brainer Nutrition Guide For Every Runner, and Dr. Reezwana Chowdhury, MD, an assistant professor of medicine in gastroenterology and hepatology at Johns Hopkins, to compile a list of foods that either cause, alleviate, and/or prevent acid reflux from brewing.
The foods that cause heartburn and that you should avoid when you have acid reflux have a few things in common. Foods that sit in the stomach longer can worsen some of the symptoms listed above, says Dr. Chowdhry. We’ll start with ones to avoid, and then mention quite a few that can help.
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Consuming Lean Proteins Instead Of Fatty Ones Might Help You To Avoid Triggering Heartburn
A common dietary trigger of heartburn is consuming excess fat, which can be found in fried foods or certain meats like beef or lamb. Opting for leaner protein sources can potentially help to prevent acid reflux.
“Choose lean sources of protein like grilled chicken or turkey, egg whites, and even beans or legumes. These protein sources are lower in acid than red meat with very little fat,” registered dietitian Katie Hughes told INSIDER.
You may also want to bake or broil proteins instead of frying them if you’re trying to avoid triggering acid reflux, as frying foods can increase the fat content of a dish.
How Does A Smoothie Help With Acid Reflux
If youre going for the obvious answer of smoothies are soothing, youre sort of right. Yes, these nutrient-packed drinks definitely help soothe aching throats- a common issue in those who suffer from acid reflux. However, if the answer was that simple, then you wouldnt need a special anti-reflux energizing & healing morning smoothie recipe. Any combination of fruits, veggies, and liquids would do, theoretically.
However, as well see in a moment, thats not really the case. Some ingredients can actually make reflux worse. If you really want to prevent and soothe it, you need to choose the right ingredients. Thats where the GERD diet comes in super handy.
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Is There Any Alternative For Coffee
If coffee is troubling you with unhealthy side effects such as nausea, there are a couple of drinks that you can replace your cup of coffee with.
These substitutes, contain less or no caffeine at all so that you wouldnt have to worry about the backlash. And they also contain the energizing elements that you look for to keep you active throughout the day.
What The Research Says
Although many people report success in treating acid reflux with apples, there isnt any scientific evidence to support these claims. Most people can eat red apples without experiencing any side effects, so theres no harm in adding them to your daily diet. A typical serving size is one medium apple or about one cup of chopped apples.
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Is Pomegranate Juice Alkaline Or Acidic
They further posit that the sodium bicarbonate gives pancreatic juice a slightly alkaline pH that buffers acidic gastric juice . . . and this creates the proper pH for action of digestives enzymes in the small intestines. Pomegranates are very alkaline and can enhance the pancreas for massive healing.
What To Drink For Heartburn During Pregnancy
If youre wondering what to drink when expecting a baby and plagued by indigestion, there are many beverages that you can sip on throughout the day for relief.
- Milk. The alkaline composition of milk including cows milk and nut milks can provide immediate relief from heartburn. Just stay away from milk that is high in fat, as fatty foods can cause even worse heartburn.
- Coconut water. Coconut water is very high in electrolytes which promote pH balance and help to neutralize stomach acid.
- Herbal tea. Ginger, fennel, peppermint, and marshmallow root are all heartburn remedies that can be found in tea form. Sip on herbal tea in between meals to prevent or relieve heartburn.
- Water. Thats right good old water. Sip on it throughout the day to make sure that you stay hydrated so that your digestive system can work as efficiently as possible without any hitches in the form of indigestion.
Avoid beverages that may exacerbate symptoms include caffeinated drinks such as coffee or green, white and black tea, carbonated drinks, and acidic drinks such as orange juice.
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Eating Oatmeal And Whole Grains Can Help Reduce The Acid That Builds Up And Causes Heartburn
“Acid is the irritating factor in heartburn and the fiber in oatmeal and whole-grain products like whole-grain bread and pasta can help reduce it. The high fiber content of these foods helps to absorb and reduce the acid that builds up and causes heartburn,” registered dietitianEmily Wunder told INSIDER.
When cooking these whole grains, you may want to avoid pairing them with ingredients that are known to trigger heartburn, like tomato or garlic.
Other Dietary Causes Of Indigestion
If you drink no more than 1 cup of coffee in the morning and youre still experiencing indigestion you may want to take a closer look at other causes. Caffeine may be part of the problem and its found in many sources other than coffee. Theres caffeine in chocolate, tea, some ice cream flavors, hot cocoa and many soft drinks. Reducing the amount of coffee you drink wont help to eliminate your indigestion if youre also over indulging some of these other foods and beverages. The best way to avoid indigestion when drinking coffee is to pay close attention to all aspects of your diet.
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What Is It Used For
Tapioca is a grain- and gluten-free product that has many uses:
- Gluten- and grain-free bread. Tapioca flour can be used in bread recipes, although its often combined with other flours.
- Flatbread. Its often used to make flatbread in developing countries. With different toppings, it may be eaten as breakfast, dinner, or dessert.
- Puddings and desserts. Its pearls are used to make puddings, desserts, snacks, or bubble tea.
- Thickener. It can be used as a thickener for soups, sauces, and gravies. Its cheap and has a neutral flavor and great thickening power.
- Binding agent. Its added to burgers, nuggets, and dough to improve texture and moisture content, trapping moisture in a gel-like form and preventing sogginess.
In addition to their use in cooking, the pearls have been used to starch clothing by being boiled with the clothes.
Summary
Tapioca can be used instead of flour in baking and cooking. Its also often used for making desserts, such as puddings and bubble tea.
Why Use Coconut Water As Your Smoothie Base
I prefer to use coconut water over all other liquids as a base in my sons smoothie. Many studies suggest that it helps with digestion and reflux. Plus, using it as the liquid base not only adds health benefits, it will also act as a natural sweetener for the smoothies, so you wont have to add any refined sugars.
I usually like to buy Harmless coconut water because it is the purest one in the market. It is really the next best thing to drinking from a coconut. Other less expensive options that I think are good are Zico and 365 Everyday Value from Whole Foods.
You can also alternate and use almond milk, kefir , and/or coconut milk for your smoothie liquid base. At home, coconut water is what my kids like best for their smoothies.
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Prep For Summer With These Mini Banana Pudding Cups And Stock Up On Some Necessities Like Pepcid Ac For All Those Summer Cookouts
Hey guys!! It is officially summer! That means it is time to light up the grills and get ready for all those bbqs and cook outs.
We love to have cook outs at our house and I love to make all sorts of delicious food. Of course all that summer food can cause some tummy issues for some.
I personally get a bit of indigestion and heartburn if I eat anything too spicy or acidic. So today I am going to talk about how I prevent and treat heartburn and a recipe you can make that is low in acid. Summer often brings about tons of lemon desserts and citrus desserts, spicy grilled meats and yummy fresh salads and those often can be culprits for heartburn.
I love to keep PEPCID AC® Maximum Strength for Heartburn Prevention & Relief on hand so I can always enjoy all those summer goodies.
I love PEPCID AC® because it works fast* and lasts all day** ! I really like that it controls heartburn before, during, and after it starts which means I can take it anytime I need it to prevents and relieve heartburn.
And it starts to relieve heartburn in 15-30 minutes which is fabulous because as a busy mom I am always in a rush lol. Just one tablet prevents* and treats heartburn and lasts all day** So that is why I always have Maximum strength PEPCID AC® for the times I need powerful heartburn relief.
I try to stay on top of heartburn by watching what I am eating and making foods that I know shouldnt give me trouble.
I caramelize some oats with butter and brown sugar for a crunchy topping, yum!