Home Remedies for Acidity that Work
13-11-2016 | Posted By: Admin | 4396 View(s)
People love to have Spicy Foods and very few like to eat boiled vegetables or fruits for breakfast or lunch. Whenever somebody is asked as to what kind of food he or she would like to have, the answer is pretty obvious. The majority of the young and adults too would opt for spicy and appetising foods but as we all know, with something good comes something bad and one of the basic problems that humans of all the ages face is acidity. In this article, we will talk all about Acidity including some highly effective Home Remedies for Acidity.
What is Acidity and when does it Happen?
Acidity is also known as acid reflux and is characterised by heartburn felt around the lower chest area. Acidity occurs when too much secretion of the acids occur in the gastric glands of the stomach. This leads to bad breath, stomach ache and also produces gas in the stomach along with several other symptoms.
One of the primary reasons of acidity can be a long gap between the meals, excessive intake of coffee, tea, alcohol or tobacco or empty stomach. These are the times when the secretion of acids increases even more. Acidity can happen at any time and at any moment.
What are the Major Causes of Acidity?
Some of the major causes of acidity are:
• Unhealthy eating habits
• The side effect of medicines
• Certain medical conditions
• Stress
• Lack of sleep
• Drinking alcohol
• Smoking
• Consuming spicy foods in excess
People who are prone to acid reflux problem include those who are obese, consume non-vegetarian food, drink too much alcohol and women who are pregnant.
What are the Symptoms of Acidity?
Some of the major symptoms of acidity include:
• Burning sensation in the stomach
• Difficulty swallowing
• Feeling restless
• Sour taste in the mouth
• Constipation
• Indigestion
• Burning sensation in the heart and throat
• Nausea
• Bad breath
How is it Diagnosed?
If you experience any symptoms of acid reflux, you should consult a doctor. Based on the symptoms, your doctor may ask you to undergo some tests like an X-ray or endoscopy which enables the doctor to see the lining of the oesophagus stomach.
How is Acidity Treated?
Based on the condition, the doctor prescribes medicines to treat the symptoms. However, if the condition is severe, the doctor may suggest surgery to reduce the production of acid in the stomach.
So what can be done? Certain Home Remedies for Acidity can be put to use for fast relief.
Which are the Best Home Remedies for Acidity?
Some of the quick and effective home remedies for acidity are:
1. Fennel (Saunf)
Chewing fennel right after heavy meals prevents acidity. It cleanses the digestive tract and has several gastrointestinal benefits. Fennel tea helps in digestion as this contains oils which are good for our health.
2. Basil Leaves (Tulsi)
Tulsi is one of the best home remedies for acidity. The carminative and the soothing elements present in the basil leaves works instantly as a remedy for acidity. Chewing 3 to 4 basil leaves or boiling a few of them and sipping the water frequently gives instant relief.
3. Buttermilk
Buttermilk has been categorised as sattvic food in the Ayurveda. Intake of antacids or any other medicine all the time has a lot of side effects. Instead, having some chaos or buttermilk to be precise will work better for acidity. Buttermilk comprises of lactic acid which neutralises the acidity in the stomach. Adding some crushed coriander and black pepper adds more benefits to it. This is one of the best home remedies for acidity.
4. Cinnamon
This spice works as a natural and one of the best antacids for acidity. It settles in the stomach and improves the absorption and digestion. Cinnamon tea also helps to cure stomach problems and cleanses the gastrointestinal tract.
5. Cloves
All of us know that cloves are used as a part of medicine to cure several digestive disorders. They are carminative in nature, which helps in the prevention of forming gas in the stomach. Cloves are used even while cooking lentils like kidney beans and black grams and chewing some crushed cloves even helps to reduce bad breath.
Chew two cloves so that the juice enters your system. You can also eat crushed cloves and cardamom to get rid of acidity.
6. Jaggery
Jaggery is high in magnesium which boosts up the intestinal strength. It helps in proper digestion and also reduces the approach of acidity. This is one of the reasons probably as to why the elders have jaggery most of the times after a heavy or spicy meal. Gur also helps to control the body temperature by keeping the stomach cool. Intake of gur sharbat during summer is considered to be beneficial.
7. Cumin seeds (Jeera)
This is one of the best home remedies for acidity. Cumin seeds are proven to give relief from stomach pains, but it also works as a neutraliser for acids as well as helps in digestion. Having some crushed and freshly roasted jeera by adding it into a glass of water and consuming it almost after every meal has a brilliant effect on acidity.
Another option is to mix 1 teaspoon each of coriander seed powder, fennel seed powder, and cumin seed powder and some sugar in ½ cup of water and drink this on an empty stomach.
8. Ginger
Ginger is considered to be one of the best home remedies for acidity. It has the best anti-inflammatory as well as digestive properties. It neutralises the stomach acids. Munching on a freshly cut slice of ginger or having a teaspoon of ginger juice two to three times a day will keep you away from several stomach problems. Or adding some chopped ginger into a cup of boiling water and drinking it also does miracles to acidity.
9. Cold Milk
Milk helps to generalise the gastric acids of the stomach. Drinking a glass of cold milk during acidity gives immediate results. But those who are lactose intolerant cannot opt for this option. But never the less, various other options are available.
10. Apple Cider Vinegar
The properties of apple cider vinegar make it one of the most efficient home remedies for acidity. Mixing one to two spoons of raw and unpolished apple cider vinegar into a cup of water and drinking it twice daily acts as a cure for acidity.
11. Coconut Water
Drinking coconut water turns the body’s ph level into alkaline. It also creates mucous inside the stomach which cures the stomach of the acidic formation. Because it is high in fibre, it helps to treat digestive problems and also prevents the constant occurrence of acidity.
12. Banana
Banana is known to be natural antacids which act against the acid present in the stomach. Having one banana per day can keep you away for acidity.
Apart from home remedies for acidity, you should also try some effective tips to treat and prevent acidity.
Additional Tips to Treat and Prevent Acidity:
1. Do not Overeat
There is a ring-like muscle called the lower oesophagal sphincter where the oesophagus opens into the stomach. This acts as a valve and helps prevent the acidic content of the stomach from going up into the oesophagus. In people with acidity problem, this muscle is either dysfunctional or weakened.
Generally, reflux symptoms take place after a meal, and heavy meals may worsen the symptoms. So avoid eating large meals to minimise acid reflux.
2. Eat a Low-Carb Diet
According to several studies, eating a low-carb diet may help you relieve acid reflux symptoms. Scientists suspect that carbs which are undigested can cause bacterial overgrowth and elevated pressure inside the abdomen and this may be one of the major causes of acid reflux. Eat a low-carb diet to treat the symptoms of acidity.
3. Say ‘No’ to Alcohol
Those who drink alcohol are more prone to acid reflux and heartburn. Drinking too much alcohol aggravates symptoms by impairing the ability of the oesophagus to clear itself of acid and increasing stomach acid.
According to studies, even moderate intake of alcohol can cause reflux symptoms in healthy people. Stop drinking alcohol to treat acid reflux symptoms.
4. Limit the Consumption of Coffee
Various studies suggest that drinking too much coffee weakens the lower oesophagal sphincter, thereby increasing the risk of acid reflux.
So you should drink just one cup of coffee and not more than that.
5. Chew Gum
According to some studies, chewing gum is helpful in reducing acidity in the oesophagus. Gum that contains bicarbonate is highly effective in treating acidity. Research findings indicate that chewing gum increases saliva production and that in turn may help clear the oesophagus of acid.
6. Avoid taking Carbonated Beverages
Patients with acidity problem are advised to limit their consumption of carbonated beverages. One study found that carbonated soft drinks are associated with increased acid reflux symptoms. Various other studies show that drinking cola or carbonated water weakens the lower oesophagal sphincter temporarily.
7. Avoid Sleeping on Your Right Side
Sleeping on your right side can aggravate acid reflux symptoms. The reason behind this is not entirely clear, but it can be explained by anatomy.
The oesophagus enters the right side of our stomach and that is why the lower oesophagal sphincter sits above the level of the stomach acid when we sleep on our left side.
When we lay on our right side, stomach acid covers the lower oesophagal sphincter. This, in turn, increases the risk of acid leaking through it and causes reflux. Avoid sleeping on your back to prevent acidity.
8. Limit the Intake of Citrus Juice
A study was conducted wherein 400 GERD patients participated and 72 per cent reported that grapefruit or orange juice made their acid reflux symptoms worse.
Some citrus juices irritate the lining of the oesophagus, thereby causing acidity. Though citrus juice doesn’t cause acid reflux directly, it can make your heartburn worse.
It is better if you avoid citrus juice if you have acid reflux symptoms.
9. Avoid Eating Before you go to Bed
People with acidity problem should avoid eating within the three hours before they go to sleep. According to a study, eating right before bedtime increases reflux symptoms. It is best if you have dinner early and then go for a walk.
It is actually worthwhile to follow these tips and home remedies to take care of the acidity Problem. If you are suffering from acidity problem for a long time, it is vital to take it seriously. Prolonged acidity problems can lead to an array of health problems. Consult your health physician and get a health checkup done to know the cause of the problem to cure it permanently. Should you require the services of a good Gastroenterologists in Delhi to get rid of acidity problem, find them all at www.medylife.com.
