Heartburn: that uncomfortable burning in your chest that has taken the shine off many a party and family get-together.
Heartburn is most commonly triggered by the foods you eat, especially foods that are spicy, fatty, or acidic. The burning sensation happens when acid from your stomach backs up into your esophagus.
For most people, heartburn isn’t serious, though it is always uncomfortable. Try one of these natural remedies next time it’s giving you grief.
Baking soda “cocktail”
If you need immediate relief for occasional heartburn, an inexpensive solution is likely in your cupboard already: baking soda. Your body even produces the main ingredient in baking soda, sodium bicarbonate, to protect the intestines.
Baking soda neutralizes the acidity to calm the burn.
Dissolve ½ teaspoon of baking soda completely into 4 ounces of water and sip slowly.
Licorice
Licorice tea has been used for a long time as an herbal remedy for upset stomach, but licorice root has proven effective for treating heartburn as well. One study showed that for people who regularly experienced heartburn, consuming licorice root over a two-year period significantly improved their symptoms.
Gum
Did you know that simply chewing gum can help you manage heartburn? Chewing gum produces more saliva, and swallowing that saliva can help clear the esophagus of food and acid. You can even find gum with a little bicarbonate right in it, which makes it even more effective.
Gum might even be the best remedy on a dinner date: relieve the heartburn and keep your breath fresh for later.
Let’s conclude with a few simple tips for prevention:
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Lying down makes it easier for stomach acid to leak, so don’t eat within a few hours of going to sleep and try not to lie down anytime after eating.
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Eat slowly and limit caffeine and alcohol.
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When you have heartburn, jot down what you’ve eaten so you can start to pinpoint which foods are a trigger for you.
With these natural remedies and ideas, at your next family dinner hopefully the only burning will be a stovetop mishap with a new recipe.
Let’s get healthier, together,
Your friends at Santo Remedio
