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Natural Remedies for Heartburn
ShareAlthough over the counter and prescription medications can help, natural heartburn remedies and lifestyle changes may be another way to get reprieve.
The following are some commonly used home remedies for heartburn, and the evidence for their effectiveness.
Is Chewing Gum an Effective Way to Get Heartburn Relief?
Chewing gum can act as an acid buffer as it stimulates the production of saliva. Also, chewing gum makes you swallow more often. This action actually pushes those nasty acids back out of your oesophagus. So that you protect your teeth, go for the sugar free chewing gum.Finding Heartburn Relief at Home
A few simple strategies can help soothe the burn of heartburn:
- Watch what you eat. It is important to avoid certain foods that trigger your heartburn, such as peppermint, caffeine, soft drinks, chocolate, high acid fruits such as citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, onions, and high-fat foods. To keep your digestive tract moving and healthy, consume more fibrous fruits. Eating too much and too quickly is also big heartburn trigger.
- Watch when you eat. If you are prone to heartburn, try not to eat two to three hours before bedtime. This will give your stomach a chance to empty before you lie down.
- Lose weight. Excess abdominal fat can press against your stomach, and force unwanted acids up into the oesophagus. Follow a diet and exercise program to shed those extra pounds.
- Keep a diary. Keeping a diary on what you have eaten is a good idea so that you can pinpoint which foods are your heartburn triggers.
- Give up the cigarettes. For so many other health reasons, it's always the perfect time to quit. It terms of heartburn, smoking can reduce the effectiveness of the muscle that keep the acids in your stomach.
- Loosen your belt. Tight clothes put added pressure on the abdomen, forcing the acids up.
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