Most of people are familiar with the painful, and burning sensation in the center of the chest, which is known as heartburn. This may be due to acid reflux or acidity, which can be a very uncomfortable condition. There are several possible causes for formation of acid in your stomach, and balance the pH levels in the stomach acidity. But this may worsen if you eat wrong choice of foods. However, healthy dietary choices can help you to manage with this issue in no time.
This article will review, what is acidity, symptoms and causes of acidity, and some home remedies for acidity that may provide great help in getting rid of acidity problems.
What Is Acidity?
Acidity or acid reflux is a feeling of burning sensation your chest, which is also known as heartburn. This may be caused due to excessive acid in the stomach primary to an imbalance. In some cases this can further irritates the intestinal lining, and can also affect the esophageal tissue leading to a burning sensation.
What are different forms of acidity and its symptoms?
Different forms of acidity:
- Acid reflux / acidity
- Gas
- GERD
- Heartburn
Symptoms of acidity:
- Constipation,
- Indigestion,
- Nausea,
- Frequent burps,
- Heaviness in the stomach after eating,
- Bad breath,
- Gas.
These symptoms should not be taken lightly as they may cause serious problems over time.
What are the common causes of acidity?
- Odd time eating or skipping meals.
- Stomach illnesses such as Ulcers, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), etc.
- Over-eating.
- Harmful eating habits such as intake of excess tea, coffee, cold- drinks, junk, spicy, oily food etc.
- Taking too much stress, inadequate sleeping, smoking, drinking alcohol etc.
How to get rid of acid reflux using home remedies?
If you’re looking for ways to help with acid reflux, there are a few things you can do at home. But it’s best to talk to a doctor before trying any of these remedies.
1. Sleeping on your left side
Sleeping on your left side of the bed has been found to lower your stomach acid levels. That’s because your esophagus comes in on your right side. So, when you’re lying on your left, your stomach acid levels are higher than when you’re lying on your right. When your stomach acid is higher, your stomach acid covers your esophageal opening, which puts you at risk for acid reflux. You might not be able to sleep on your left all night, but if you can, it could help you fall asleep more comfortably.
2. Elevate your head while sleeping
A lot of people have acid reflux symptoms that get worse at night. If you want to reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of sleep, it’s a good idea to elevate your head while you’re sleeping. Studies have shown that people who raised their upper body when they were sleeping have had fewer acid reflux symptoms.
3. Avoid late night meal
Dinner is very beneficial for acid reflux sufferers. It should be around 3 hours before bedtime. Because food takes time to digest, going to bed shortly after your meal may worsen GERD symptoms. According to some reviews, eating a meal late at night increases acid exposure by 5% when lying down compared to eating early in the evening.
4. Eat more frequent with less meals
Consuming less food and eating more often throughout the day can help reduce acid reflux symptoms. The sphincter at the bottom of the esophagus, where the stomach opens, acts like a valve and generally prevents the acidic contents of your stomach from rising into your esophagus. This sphincter opens when you swallow and closes when you belch or vomit. Otherwise, it stays closed. Acid reflux usually occurs when there is excessive pressure on the muscle producing acid to push through the opening. Typically, reflux symptoms occur immediately after a meal and may worsen if you eat 1 to 2 large meals a day.
5. Maintain a moderate weight
According to some studies, belly fat may increase the risk of GERD and acid reflux. Additionally, losing 10% of your weight could significantly reduce GERD symptoms. If you maintain a healthy body weight, you may be able to reduce your acid reflux symptoms in the long run.
6. Follow a low carb diet
Low carb diets have been shown to reduce acid reflux symptoms in several studies. This is because undigested carbs can cause bacterial overgrowth, as well as increase pressure inside the belly, which can exacerbate acid reflux.
7. Control alcohol intake & citrus juice
Alcohol is not good for your health. It can make your acid reflux more severe. It can also make your heartburn worse. Even too much alcohol can increase your acid reflux symptoms. Drinking water is much better for you than wine or beer which can worsen your reflux symptoms.
8. Avoid too much coffee intake
Some studies have shown that coffee may not be good for your health. While it does temporarily relax the lower sphincter of your esophagus, it can also increase your risk for acid reflux. In fact, some studies have even found that the consumption of coffee was associated with increased acid damage in your esophagus.
Few people who suffer from acid reflux report that drinking citrus juice exacerbates their symptoms. This is because not only is citrus juice acidic, but some of the compounds in citrus juice can also irritate your esophagus. Therefore, limiting your citrus juice intake can help you manage your heartburn symptoms.
9. Avoid smoking and drinking beer
Both beers and cigarettes increase the risk of gastric and digestive problems. Because beer contains carbon dioxide, it can cause stomach pain and increase discomfort. Cigarettes are also linked with gas production, bloating and the development of liver disease. So, avoid both beer and cigarettes to avoid gas & bloating and live a trouble-free life.
10. Skip carbonated beverages
If you have GERD, it’s important to limit your carbonated drinks. Carbonated drinks contain CO2, which passes through the stomach and gets stuck in your stomach as gas. This can cause sharp pain and stomach bloating right after you drink a fizzy drink. Plus, they can cause tooth erosion and irritate your stomach lining, making you feel uncomfortable and bloated. So, it’s best to limit or avoid carbonated drinks.
11. Control high fat foods
Some studies have shown that eating fried and fatty foods can be a trigger for GERD. This could be anything from potato chips to bacon and sausage. These foods can make your heartburn worse by releasing bile salts into your digestive system, which can cause your esophagus to tighten up. Some studies even found that when people with GERD stopped eating these foods, their heartburn went way down! Just make sure you eat a healthy diet, avoid fats, and try to get your omega-3s from fatty fish and your omega-6s from olive oil or avocado.
12. Few more tips home remedies for acidity:
- Move around post meals – It has been observed gas may build up that in turn causes pain and discomfort if you sit for long time after meal. Hence, you should get up and take a walk in the house or office.
- Eat slowly and chew your food well – As always doctors advised eating slowly, and chewing foods properly helps to improves digestion and also ensures that there is less bloating and gas in the stomach.
- Avoid artificial sweeteners – An artificial sweetener may add to most food items can cause gas and bloating, whereas natural sweetener good for digestion. Hence, avoid adding artificial sweeteners to tea and coffee to prevent gas and bloating.
- Avoid beans and legumes at night – Beans and legumes are not advice to consume at night, as they cause bloating and flatulence. Rather they can consume during day time with rice or chapattis and avoid having them or serving them during the night.
What are the best foods to eat to reduce acidity?
If you are suffering the acidity and heartburn symptoms excessively, this can be relieved with kitchen and pantry ingredients, as follows:
1. Spices
- Fennel or Saunf – Chew fennel just after meals, helps to prevent stomach acidity. Further it helps in heartburn, bloating and improves digestion.
- Cumin seeds or jeera – Cumin seeds are used in foods to improve flavor. Cumin seeds contains certain compounds which helps in relieving acidity triggered due to indigestion and flatulence. Further, it also supports to release the symptoms of acidity such as stomach pain, heartburn, pain, nausea, bloating, constipation etc.
- Cloves – A piece of clove helps in preventing the formation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract. Cloves are used in cooking foods like kidney beans or black gram which helps in acidity relief.
- Cardamom – Chewing cardamom may help you to prevent acidity, flatulence and improves digestion.
- Ginger – Ginger has various digestive and anti-inflammatory properties, however it can be considered the most effective home remedies for acid reflux. It can use in cooking or you can just chew a slice of fresh ginger to get help from acidity. Further, it may also act as a helpful heartburn cure and also aids digestion.
- Ajwain – Ajwain is the most popular home remedies to treat gas and acidity caused due to indigestion, which helps in stomach pain, stomach cramps and bloating. Its active enzymes and the biochemical thymol helps to relieve any kind of gastric problem.
- Turmeric – Turmeric used to add in your daily diet which relieves acidity and heartburn caused by it.
- Basil (Tulsi) Leaves – Basil leaves are the best natural remedies for acidity, which are known for its medicinal properties, and it can also provide quick relief from heartburn and gas. These leaves also has anti-ulcer property that help in lowering the acid level in the stomach, and also encourages the stomach to produce more secretion consequently, neutralizing the excess gastric acid in the stomach.
- Mint Leaves – Mint leaves also helps in digestion and also bring a cooling effect to your entire system. By which you can get support against acid reflux.
- Cinnamon (Dalchini) – Cinnamon can act as a natural digestive aid, which is commonly used in many dishes to add taste and flavor to food, and also help to beat acidity caused due to indigestion. Because, it comprises an active ingredient which support in the process of digestion thus relieves acidity, and it reduces the risk of developing ulcers when the acid flows into the food pipe.
- Amla (Indian gooseberry) – Amla is the best natural remedies to cure indigestion and heartburn, which is rich in anti-inflammatory compounds, which eases swelling, tenderness, and pain in stomach. Further it reduces heat in your body, which providing relief from the burning sensation. Amla has a great agent to relieve acidity and also improve digestion.
- Garlic – Garlic has a natural remedies for acidity, which helps in maintaining a critical balance of digestive bacteria in your stomach. Garlic can provide almost instant relief from acidity. You can peel a small part and can chew after 10 minutes to get benefit.
- Asafoetida (Hing) – Asafoetida used to treat acidity and indigestion. This is used in your cooking, which helps to prevent acidity and indigestion. It also has a unique flavor, in addition to helps in treating gas, indigestion, and acidity. Further asafetida has anti-inflammatory, carminative, digestive and laxative properties which make it an effective home remedy for digestive woes.
2. Fruits
- Banana – Consuming bananas provides natural remedies for constipation and neutralizes acidity and gives relief from heartburn.
- Papaya – Papaya enzymes are very effective in breaking down complex proteins, which helps your body to produce less acid to break down food that relieves the painful heartburn.
- Watermelon – Watermelon is very effective in relieving acidity and is good for digestion. You can take a glass of watermelon juice in your breakfast to keep your body hydrated and also provide natural remedies to get relief from acidity and heartburn.
3. Others
- Lukewarm Water – Drinking lukewarm water provides relief from acidity, especially empty stomach and before going to sleep at night.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Drinking apple cider vinegar particularly before your meals can help reduce reflux, because this helps in digestion.
- Almonds – Almonds can help regulate acidity issues, because they are rich in nutrients and fiber, and both may help to reduce the risk of heartburn and also absorb acid.
- Jaggery – Jaggery contains high magnesium and potassium, which helps boost intestinal strength. It supports your digestion system and also helps to reduce stomach acidity.
- Buttermilk (Chaas) – Drinking of buttermilk after meals can help in digestion, because it contains probiotic bacteria, which are good for gut health. This buttermilk is liable for refining digestion, however, helps you to fight acid reflux and gas concern at home.
- Cold Milk – Cold milk is also good for home remedies for instant relieves acidity. Because milk is rich in calcium and which inhibits the accumulation of acid in the stomach, however this can helps in relief from a burning and acid issues.
- Coconut Water – Intake of coconut water helps your body pH acidic level into alkaline, and also support to produce mucous in your stomach. This way it protects your stomach from harmful effects of excessive acid production.
- Avoid Trigger Foods – Try to avoid certain foods that are known to cause heartburn triggers. These foods may have high quantities of fat, salt or spice in them including fried foods, fast food, pizza, chili powder, cheese, peppermint, etc.
Conclusion
If you’re dealing with aches, gas, or bloating in your stomach, it can be really annoying. It can be caused by a variety of things, like eating junk food, not getting enough sleep, drinking too much caffeine, or smoking. There are some home remedies you can try, but if you’re dealing with serious stomach issues, it’s best to see a doctor. Most of these natural remedies are pretty effective, but you need to make some changes to your diet if you want to keep your body in good shape. With a healthy stomach, you can live life to the fullest.
FAQ
What are natural remedies for acidity?
The symptoms of stomach pain, such as abdominal pain, gas, and bloating, can be quite unpleasant. These symptoms can be due to a variety of factors, such as consuming unhealthy foods, inadequate sleep, excessive caffeine consumption, and smoking. While there are some natural remedies available at home, if you are experiencing severe stomach problems, it is recommended that you seek medical attention. Most of these remedies are effective, however, dietary modifications are necessary to maintain a healthy stomach. A healthy stomach can help you live a longer and more fulfilling life.
Are there any herbal teas that help with heartburn?
Yes, there are herbal teas that can help with heartburn. Chamomile tea has anti-inflammatory properties that can help calm the digestive tract. Ginger tea can also help with heartburn by reducing stomach acid production and improving digestion.
What are the do’s and don’ts for managing acidity at home?
If you want to keep your acidity in check at home, try to eat smaller, more regular meals to stop your stomach from making too much acid. Elevate your head of the bed to help with reflux during the night. Eat non-spicy fruits, veggies, lean meats, and whole grains. Don’t eat spicy, fatty, or citrusy foods. Don’t take a nap right after eating. Don’t drink too much caffeine or alcohol. And don’t wear tight clothes that put pressure on your stomach, which can make your acidity worse.
Reference Used:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/heartburn-acid-reflux-remedies
https://www.femina.in/wellness/home-remedies/best-home-remedies-for-acidity-and-heartburn-80679.html
https://www.healthshots.com/healthy-eating/nutrition/8-foods-and-home-remedies-for-acidity/
https://www.1mg.com/articles/6-effective-home-remedies-to-fight-acidity/
https://www.seniority.in/blog/20-home-remedies-for-getting-relief-from-acidity/
