Do you also suffer from acidity at some point? Well, the people suffering from acidity may experience the symptoms like heartburn and even severe stomach pain sometimes. What happens is that, when you eat food, it travels down from the oesophagus to the stomach. Then, the gastric glands create acid in order to digest that food. When there is excess acid production than needed, it may lead to heartburn or stomach pain, which are the signs of acidity. Acidity, which is also known as acid reflux, is a health condition that shows symptoms in the lower chest. Many people go through digestive disorders everyday and this is a very common problem. However, if you experience the signs of acid reflux more than two-three weeks, you might have a health condition called Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It can even lead to difficulty in swallowing so one should avoid excess of fried food, cola drinks, tea, coffee, chocolate, candies, etc, to reduce the advanced signs of GERD.
Maximum number of population experiences acidity in their everyday life. The causes may differ from being obese to having oily or spicy food. An individual has to be careful with their diet and indulge into daily physical activity to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, if you suffer from acid reflux, there are always some natural remedies that can provide relief without any medicine. Read on to know many such home remedies that can help in getting relief from heartburn naturally.
Home remedies to treat acidity
Home remedies are useful in coping up with many health problems. Acidity is a common issue and might have happened with everyone at one point in life. From coconut water to raw almonds, several things can reduce acidity symptoms at home. Many people choose to take medication instead of natural remedies. You can always take your doctor's advice before trying these ways at home. Here are 11 home remedies to treat acidity:
1. Cold milk
Having cold milk is a very good way to treat acidity. Milk has the ability to absorb acid formation in the stomach and heal other signs of acid reflux. From heartburn to stomach pain, many acidity symptoms can be reduced by drinking milk. You have to take plain cold milk without adding sugar or any preservatives.
2. Cloves
Interestingly, even sucking on one or two pieces of clove can also help in reducing the symptoms of acidity like nausea. In this condition, cloves play the role of a mouth freshener as it is necessary to change the taste in an individual's mouth so that the acid buildup goes away.
3. Ajwain
The intake of ajwain is often suggested when a person is going through indigestion. It has many benefits that help in providing relief from acidity and other stomach problems. You can consume loads of ajwain in any light food item or take one tablespoon of ajwain and swallow it with water.
Also read: Top 10 Home Remedies for heart Burn and Acidity
4. Coconut water
Another way to treat acidity is the intake of coconut water. It is very healthy for your body and you should drink it atleast twice everyday. Coconut water is very easy to digest and it can benefit in enhancing your digestive system too. It has soothing and cooling properties that can reduce the acid in your stomach. It is also consumed when a person is dehydrated.
5. Aloe Vera Juice
Aloe Vera has antioxidants and anti inflammatory properties that can help in reducing the symptoms of acidity. To use it for this purpose, you should remove the leafy layer and use the inner part of the aloe vera to make a juice out of it. Aloe Vera Juice is also easily available in the market. Like coconut water, aloe vera also provides a cooling effect in the stomach to reduce the burning sensation.
6. Watermelon juice
The more hydrated you stay, the more it will help with acidity. Watermelon juice will not only increase the water intake but also keep your stomach cool, resulting in a relief from the burning sensation. One glass of watermelon juice can be one of the best remedies to treat acidity.
7. Lukewarm water
Hydrating yourself is one of the best ways to combat acidity. Drinking water is very helpful in clearing the toxins from your body. It plays a major role in regulating the digestive system. One should keep consuming lukewarm water before and after a meal to avoid stomach problems like acidity, constipation, etc.
8. Banana
Bananas are also very beneficial for your stomach and is recommended to include in the diet. It is a rich source of fiber that helps in maintaining the digestive system too. The high amount of potassium present in bananas can increase the production of mucus in the stomach, which results in reducing the excess acid formation. Therefore, this fruit plays a major role in helping with the condition of acid reflux.
9. Jaggery
Another very useful natural remedy for acidity is jaggery. It majorly helps in stopping the main symptom of acid reflux, i.e heartburn. It has a cooling and soothing effect on your stomach. This, helping with the problem of acidity in people. It can also benefit in changing the taste of your mouth. You can have a small piece of jaggery after a heavy meal.
10. Buttermilk
Buttermilk or commonly known as 'Chaas' can also be a natural remedy to treat acidity. Buttermilk is found in almost every Indian household and is a famous drink in summers. It is helpful in cooling down the acidic reaction and reducing heartburn. It has lactic acid present in it that benefits in reducing the effect of acid reflux. You can drink a glass of buttermilk post a heavy meal.
Also read: National GERD Awareness Week: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment By Dr Ajay Kumar
11. Raw almonds
Almonds are rich in natural oils and can help in reducing the symptoms of acidity in your stomach. Raw almonds are a good way to treat acid reflux immediately and they are also easily available at home. Moreover, fiber is a necessary element to enhance your digestive system and almonds contain a good amount of fiber, which helps in keeping your digestive system working and healthy. Do not soak to almonds before having them.
Acidity causes and symptoms
There are multiple reasons behind triggering an acid reflux. The main causes of acidity are overeating, having spicy food, consuming unhealthy food, certain medicines, stress, disturbed sleep, no physical activity, smoking and consumption of alcohol. On the other hand, the symptoms of acidity vary from person to person, depending on the severity of the acid reflux reaction. From mild burning sensation to severe stomach pain, the signs may get worse on the basis of the cause. Here are the major symptoms that indicate an acid reflux reaction:
- Stomach pain
- Burning sensation
- Heartburn
- Nausea
- Heavy stomach and throat
- Chest pain
- Indigestion
- Bad breath
- Bloating
- Burping for no reason
Tips to prevent acid reflux
Acid reflux may get triggered by various day to day habits. There are always some lifestyle moderations that one can make to avoid many health problems. You can go for medicinal treatment to deal with acidity but the doctor will also suggest certain day to day changes to cope up with it. Even acidity can be prevented by taking some precautionary measures. Here are some tips to prevent acidity:
- Avoid oily and spicy food
- Go for regular exercise
- Maintain optimum weight
- Consume small meals
- Have a low carb diet
- Don't overeat
- Take proper sleep
- Avoid having meals right before bedtime
- Restrict smoking and alcohol consumption
- Do not consume trigger foods of acidity like raw onion
- Reduce stress
These were some useful home remedies to get treat acidity and the symptoms, causes and ways to prevent acid reflux. These natural remedies for heartburn come in handy and are inexpensive. Other home remedies include ginger, mint leaves, berries, basil leaves and pineapple juice. You can also follow the above listed tips and lead a healthy lifestyle. Even after suffering from acidity, you should take a step back from trigger foods and find ways to avoid this condition.
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