Homemade remedies for heartburn

Acid reflux happens when the stomach acid gets pushed up through the esophagus and the acid causes the body to suffer through heartburn, chest burn, etc. it is also called gastroesophageal reflux disease.

In order to prevent this from happening, aside from going to the doctor, there are several steps we can take on our own that can help prevent the GERD from affecting us.

Here are the few Home Remedies for Heartburn for GERD

1. Having a controlled diet: It is important the lower esophageal sphincter is always closed so as to prevent the stomach acid from reaching the top of the esophagus. But, if the stomach is too full, it becomes difficult for the LES to remain tight shut. Thus, having a controlled diet will help from LES getting loose.

2. Lose Weight

Too much belly fat can apply pressure on the stomach and force the gastric juices to push up the esophagus. This is called hiatus hernia. Hence, it is best to prioritise your weight and make sure that you don’t allow excess fat to get stored in your body. It is best to stay somewhere close to the BMI index of the body.

3. Have low-carb and high fibre foods

Foods that are low on carbohydrates and high on rich fibre help in preventing acid reflux. This is because fibre acts as an adsorbent which absorbs the gastric juices. Hence this prevents from the stomach acid from overflowing to the esophagus. Further, having too much of high carb based foods can take time to digest and having undigested carb in your stomach can cause bloating. This again pushes the acid upwards on the esophagus.

4. Limit Your Alcohol Intake

Alcohol makes things worse. Too much of intoxication can cause the LES to relax. Further, mixing of various alcohols in the stomach can cause the body to vomit out the contents. With the vomit, there are also chances for the acid to flow out and cause your esophagus to burn and cause acid reflux. Therefore, it is best to reduce the intake of alcohol.

5. Don't Drink Too Much Coffee

Caffeine is another culprit which weakens the muscles of the stomach. Therefore all foods that have caffeine in them can elevate the problem of GERD. Foods such as coffee, cola drinks, cold coffees etc. are some of the things that should be avoided.

There is however not a conclusive evidence to prove this. Several studies along with reports from people do however say that caffeine actually is an irritant for GERD.

7. Avoid Raw Onion

Onions increase the risk of getting heartburns and acid reflux. The more frequent the intake of foods like garlic and onion, the more there are chances for the GERD to kick in. This is because a lot of gas is produced during their digestion process. Further garlic and onions also have the tendency to irritate the inner linings of esophagus. This might further worsen the already fragile condition of LES and increase the chances of getting GERD.