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Enjoy holiday meals again – Ten tips to cure acid reflux naturally
A common problem that affects a number of people, acid reflux is caused by the back flow of the hydrochloric acid from the stomach back into the esophagus or the food pipe.
This results in heartburn or a burning sensation in the chest, a bitter taste in the mouth, shortness of breath, dry coughing, bad breath, bloating and nausea. ~ Health Freedoms
Sharing a big meal is a time-honored tradition for most holiday celebrations, and over-indulging is often accompanied by food coma and acid indigestion. Swallowing gallons of antacids or sucking on chalky lozenges won’t stop the pain for long, or keep it from returning. However, a few simple lifestyle changes and natural remedies may prevent burning chest pain, belching, coughing and choking.
Acid reflux is a common problem for many people accustomed to making poor food choices and overeating. Add holiday foods and drink into the mix, and it’s a recipe for a potential ulcer. Antacids, proton pump inhibitors and other pharmaceuticals are the common go-to for most people suffering from acid reflux, and the uninformed don’t realize that these dangerous medicines are not a cure. They temporarily suppress symptoms, sometimes. As their short-term effects wear off, rebound occurs, making the return of acid reflux and related symptoms even more serious.
Lesser Known Natural Treatments for Acid Reflux
Certain supplements, herbs and foods provide drug-free solutions for acid reflux and heartburn.
Unrefined, organic honey is very soothing and may reduce burning pains. Honey helps adjust the body’s pH, neutralizing stomach acids almost immediately. A spoonful of honey at bedtime will promote an easier, symptom-free sleep.
Grow some fresh basil. Basil is used in Ayurvedic medicine to relieve symptoms of acid reflux. Chewing a fresh leaf or making tea from fresh basil soothes the digestive tract.
Licorice root creates a thin film of protective mucus called mucilage that coats the lining of the esophagus and prevents damage from stomach acids. Licorice root is very soothing and best consumed as tea. Licorice root can raise the blood pressure, so consult a health practitioner before using it in large quantities.
Indian gooseberry heals the digestive tract and protects against stomach acids. The herb is edible in its raw form. Add a sprinkle of salt for taste or prepare as tea. Too much gooseberry can have a laxative effect so use in moderation.
Suck on a slippery elm lozenge to relieve heartburn. Like licorice root, slippery elm coats the lining of the digestive tract, protecting delicate tissues. Additionally, it relieves coughing and throat pain from regurgitated stomach acids.
Use bromelain, an enzyme that aids the breakdown of proteins and provides digestive support. Bromelain encourages faster digestion and increases motility, which prevents foods from remaining in the stomach to putrefy and cause acid reflux.
Lifestyle Changes
Fortunately, for those suffering from acid reflux and related conditions, there are a variety of lifestyle changes that may also relieve symptoms.
Avoid over-the-counter antacids, which create a feedback loop in the digestive tract that produces greater amounts of stomach acid and of a chance for putrefaction and resulting pain.
Eat smaller, more frequent meals and chew food thoroughly. Saliva mixes with food, predigests it, and signals the stomach to prepare for additional digestive functions.
Loosen clothing around the waist after eating and avoid bending over or lifting heavy objects within an hour of eating.
Raise the head and upper body into an elevated position during sleep to provide relief for breathing problems. Raising the upper body may prevent regurgitation of stomach contents and relieve coughing and choking. Use either an acid reflux pillow wedge or raise the head of the bed by 4 to 6 inches.
By making a few simple dietary and lifestyle changes, most people can reduce the incidence of digestive problems and feel better. If acid reflux symptoms persist or worsen, consult a health care practitioner.
You have overlooked one of the most obvious answers to the acid reflux/indigestion problem so prevalent today…..drinking water, sodas, etc. WITH meals. Wines do not do the same as they are slowly sipped. We have grown so accustomed to having drinks with our meals today that most people don’t realize what they are doing!
As a child, we NEVER were given water, juice or sodas WITH our meals and to this day I hear the old admonition from my father – “don’t wash it down” – because diluting our foods as we eat them with liquids only serves to dilute the stomach acid needed to break down our foods. As I am someone who to this day does not accept water, juice or soda with my meals when someone offers, I get a bit of a funny look and have to enlighten them on the issue. Sadly people have become so conditioned over the years to accept liquids with meals, hardly anyone understands that it was not always that way.
We need the full strength of our stomach acid in order to break down all our foods and when it is diluted, we have all the indigestion issues and then have to go back and take digestive enzymes, antacids, etc. The antacids then destroy and neutralize the stomach acid even more! Sadly people cannot figure our why and it just becomes a viscious circle!
The cardiac sphincter is the valve between the stomach and esophagus. It contracts closed when it senses acid. As mentioned in the comment above too little stomach acid causes it to relax a little. That allows some of the acid into the lower esophagus. It happens more often when we are laying down thanks to gravity.
So I treat mine with a 1/2 oz of apple cider vinegar. It’s just enough acid to cause the cardiac sphincter to contract closed. It works before I even get back to bed. I have a very alkaline diet and sometimes my stomach get too alkaline. And I also rinse my mouth with water so the acid does not erode my teeth.
An even more obvious answer to heartburn is to remove grains and sugars from your diet. The cause of heart burn is LOW stomach acid. The low level of acid relaxes the sphincter and allows acid into the esophagus. Low acid is caused by eating grains (refined OR whole) sugars and legumes. For many years I had heartburn and did all of the fixes above. It wasn’t until I adopted the Paleo diet that my heartburn symptoms disappeared. Even though I did not lose weight I have no heartburn. I can now eat high acid food and spicy food with no problems at all. I do not need to elevate my head when I sleep. I do not take ACV, or HCl. Because I am eating meat my stomach acid is high enough to keep the sphincter closed.
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“One of the most obvious answers to the acid reflux/indigestion problem so prevalent today…..drinking water, sodas, etc. WITH meals.”
Bingo!
The number one cause of “acid reflux” is low stomach acid. After you dilute your stomach acid you then ingest the drug palliatives this unhealthy for digestion common drinking with meals practice “requires”.
My god how can the HHS not disseminate this simple common sense health information? The MAIN mission of HHS is depopulation.
How can the “Medical Industry” allow this basic health ignorance to persist and kill people? Hey healthy people are BAD for the Medical Industry.
What about YOUR doctor; what is his mission?
Are the comments here moderated at all? I don’t come here to read insane rants and plugs for people’s websites. It’s always informative for others to link them to the articles here. But with “Steweeme” rambling off on some psychotic episode there is no way I am sending anyone here no matter how informative it might be. Natural health users and practitioners need to come across in a very simple, sane and intelligent way to gain respect and interest with other people.