Acidity or acid reflux disorder is very common problem affecting more than 20% adults in the western countries. Acid reflux happens when contents from your stomach move up into your oesophagus. It’s also called acid regurgitation or gastroesophageal reflux. Acid reflux can cause an uncomfortable burning feeling in your chest, which can radiate up toward your neck. This feeling is often known as heartburn. If you have acid reflux, you might develop a sour or bitter taste at the back of your mouth. It can also cause you to regurgitate food or liquid from your stomach into your mouth.
The best solution or remedy of acidity or heartburn or any kind of disease would be avoiding the cause. If you want to know the cause behind acidity or heartburn then check this link.
While our immediate and natural response when we get acidity is to reach for that antacid but it will not give you a long-term relief.
Imagine This – Acidity Strikes at The Most Inconvenient Time and All You Have At Hand Is Tea, Milk etc. What Do You Do?
I have listed below 10 best home remedies than can cure acidity instantly and can give you a long-term relief.
1. Buttermilk
The lactic acid in buttermilk normalizes the acidity in the stomach and gives a soothing effect. A glass of buttermilk topped with black pepper and coriander helps in instantly easing out symptoms of acidity. Did you know that buttermilk is categorised as a sattvic food in Ayurveda? So, the next time you get acidity after eating a heavy or spicy meal, skip the antacid and drink a glass of chaas instead. Sprinkle a dash of black pepper or 1 teaspoon of ground coriander leaves for best results.
2. Cold Milk
Milk has a high amount of calcium, which helps to prevent acid build-up by absorbing the excess acid produced. Also, if the milk is cold, it sure does provide instant relief from the burning sensation that one feels during reflux. Avoid adding sugar. Full fat cow’s milk may relax the lower oesophageal sphincter, which can worsen the reflux symptoms. Hence use low skimmed milk or any plant-based milk because low skimmed milk doesn’t contain fat, as fact can cause acid reflux. Plant based milk like almond milk, soya milk, coconut milk etc are alkaline in nature.
3. Curd
Curd is a dairy product obtained from milk by fermenting. The pH of milk can range between 6 and 8 but the fermentation process reduces the pH of curd to 4.3 or 4.4. The duration of fermentation can make curd even more acidic. Although curd is technically a high-acid food, it is a recommended for most people as it has a soothing effect on the stomach. Yogurt rich in probiotics can work in two different ways to give you heartburn relief. Presence of probiotic bacteria mainly Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus strains besides others in yogurt help in destroying harmful bacteria that causes gas and bloating. Gas and bloating is one of the main reasons for lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) to relax Another way yogurt helps ease acid reflux symptoms is by lowering inflammation. Studies have shown that Probiotics reduce inflammation which in turn strengthens intestinal muscles. Overall impact of both these properties is reduction in acid reflux. So, if you suffer acid reflux often then eat yogurt daily. The best way to have unsweetened homemade yogurt is to have it first thing on an empty stomach, diluted with water. You can eat it with fruits or even make curd rice. Start to include curd in your daily diet. It would help you in stopping acid reflux in the long term.
4. Banana
Bananas certainly help to reduce acid reflux but you have to eat specific types of bananas.
Bananas improve digestion due to its rich potassium contents resulting in less risks of acids to reach up to esophagus. Also, soluble and insoluble fiber in it increases metabolism.
In addition, vitamin B in Bananas enhance the strength of the esophagus and other tissues.
And a compound called protease inhibitor in bananas kills certain bad bacteria in the stomach. Bananas also protect stomach lining by producing more mucus that neutralises stomach acids. As a result of all these capabilities a banana becomes a natural antacid to counter acid reflux. Now let’s look into what kind of bananas help reduce acid reflux. Don’t eat an unripe banana. A mixture of milk and banana helps to suppress excess acid secretion. Don’t add sugar. Excessive consumption of bananas can cause bloating, gases and abdominal pain due to high content of insoluble fiber in banana.
5. Coconut Water
When you drink coconut water, your body’s pH acidic level turns alkaline. It also helps produce mucous in your stomach, which protects the stomach from harmful effects of excessive acid production. Since it is rich in fibre, it aids digestion and prevents the re-occurrence of acidity.
6. Honey
Afterall it is an age old home remedy for soothing your heartburn. There isn’t enough research on honey but theoretically scientists believe that honey should stop
relaxing LES due to its many helpful properties. It is believed that high density, high viscosity and low surface tension of honey creates a
protective coating on the mucous membrane of esophagus.
This can stop LES to relax, resulting in stomach contents remaining in the stomach without
trying to get back up in the food pipe.
In addition to this its antioxidant properties inhibit nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2
production to reduce inflammation.
Reduced inflammation also stops LES to relax.
Honey also aids in digestion and reduces stomach gases.
Combined impact of all these effects ease acid reflux and heartburn.
You can take honey in two different ways to effectively reduce acid reflux and heartburn.
First method involves taking raw honey.
Keep one teaspoon of honey in your mouth after food and let it slowly move down your throat.
Don’t swallow.
Just let it move down your throat on its own gravity.
This is the most effective method to get relief almost immediately.
Second method is to take it with warm water.
Make honey tea.
Add a teaspoon of honey in a cup of warm water.
Stir it well and sip it slowly to enjoy.
You can take honey whenever you have acid reflux.
7. Ajwain
Consumption of ajwain gives relief from acidity and flatulence. It is very good for digestion and is an effective anti-acidic agent.
8. Fennel
You can also “chew sauf after meals, to prevent stomach acidity”, advises Nutritionist Anshul Jaibharat.
“For its multitude of gastrointestinal benefits, fennel tea is sure to help the digestive tract be healthy and happy.
The tea is considered very useful to help indigestion and bloating because of the oils found in these seeds
9. Chewing gum
when it comes to acid reflux chewing gum works to reduce acid in the Esophagus the active chewing can increase your saliva production and cause you to swallow more this allows any acidity in your mouth to be cleared much more Quickly gum chewing may provide even more relief if you chew bicarbonate gum bicarbonate can neutralize the acid present in the esophagus your saliva already contains bicarbonate if you chew gum with bicarbonate you’re not only increasing saliva production you’re also adding more bicarbonate into the mix this can amplify its neutralizing Effects what the research says multiple studies including one published in the journal of dental research indicate that chewing sugar-free gum for half an hour after eating may reduce symptoms of acid reflux these effects can vary depending on the type of gum you’re chewing though it’s thought that minty gums such as peppermint have the opposite effect on acid reflux symptoms although peppermint is known for its soothing qualities peppermint may inappropriately relax and open the lower esophageal sphincter this can allow gastric acid to flow up into the esophagus chewing sugar-free gum may help reduce inflammation and irritation if you plan to add chewing gum to your daily routine remember to choose a sugar-free gum avoid minty gums
10. Tulsi leaves
#ANTACIDS
The antacids which are the most common drugs used for acidity. As the name indicates these are anti acids which means they contain basic chemicals that neutralize the acid present in your stomach so that there is no acid to reflux.
The problem with antacids is that their action is very short lived. They are emptied from the empty stomach quickly, in less than an hour, and the acid then re-accumulates. The best way to take antacids, therefore, is approximately one hour after meals, which is just before the symptoms of reflux begin after a meal. Since the food from meals slows the emptying from the stomach, an antacid taken after a meal stays in the stomach for longer and is more effective. Antacids are usually aluminium, magnesium or calcium based. Aluminium-containing antacids have a tendency to cause constipation, while magnesium-containing antacids tend to cause diarrhoea. Antacids containing both aluminium and magnesium cause less problems.
Its good to make some changes necessary changes in your lifestyle if there is frequent episodes of heartburn or acidity. Because In extreme cases, some people have surgery to tighten the LES to minimize their distress. But we can often stop heartburn before it reaches that point. For information regarding lifestyle changes or what to avoid then read this article.
For more such article check out the website medicoved.com
