How to Combat Heartburn/GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflex Disease) Naturally
For more than thirty years, I have dealt with the intolerable discomfort of heartburn and GERD. I have found that almost everyone gets heartburn at one time or another and in most cases at least once a month. Usually the cause is obvious like eating spicy or rich foods - a Thanksgiving dinner, French fries, chilli or devil food cake, however there are several less obvious heartburn or GERD (gastroesophageal reflex disease) triggers. As an alternative to expensive prescription medications, I found that from the food you eat, to the clothes you wear, there are lifestyle changes that you should consider implementing if you want to reduce the recurrence of heartburn or GERD. Here are some ways to prevent and remedy the onset of heartburn.
Learn How to Fight GERD...
In order to avoid acid reflux you need to watch what, when and how you eat.
What - Choose a low-fat, high-fibre diet that's full of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats.
When - Don't eat late at night and don't lay down right after meals.
How - Eat more slowly. Eating in a hurry only encourages heartburn.
Following are some specific foods that will help reduce acid reflux.
Oatmeal
A great way to start the day is to choose oatmeal and add some sliced bananas. Oatmeal is high in fiber and low-fat while bananas naturally fight stomach acid. Avoid high-fat food.
Ginger
2 to 4 grams of fresh ginger a day works as an anti-inflammatory for stomach complications of all kinds (using any more can actually cause heartburn). Chew on a piece of fresh ginger, use it liberally in your cooking recipes or steep the ginger in hot water to make tea.
Pasta (without cream or tomato sauce)
Whole-wheat pasta boosts your fibre intake however if you suffer from GERD, stay away from heavy sauces and tomato-based sauces.
Pulses and Beans
Pulses and beans are a terrific meat alternative or vegetarian/vegan source of fibre and protein.
Applesauce
When baking, substitute apple sauce for oil or butter. Generally, you can use the same number of cups of applesauce as the recipe calls for in oil. You may need to tweak the odd recipes but by making this minor change it will help to reduce fat and increase fibre in your baked goods.
Some Quick Fix Remedies...
Chewing gum
Research has shown that chewing a piece of sugar-free gum for 30 minutes after a meal provided heartburn relief for those with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms. The gum increases the amount of saliva which will wash away any acid that accumulates in the gut. Reducing acid provides improvement for the symptoms of GERD.
Baking soda
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) helps neutralize acid. Mix about ½ to 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water. Avoid using baking soda on an on-going basis if you have heartburn regularly since it contains high levels of salt that could cause nausea or swelling.
Licorice
Licorice's natural stomach healing properties eases heartburn and gets to the source of the problem however one of the side effects is high blood pressure and contains glycyrrhizic acid which is potentially dangerous. To avoid glycyrrhizic acid, look for DGL licorice or try chewable DGL licorice tablets before meals. If you don't like the taste of licorice, try a brand that doesn't taste like licorice.
Aloe
Aloe Vera has a history of being used to soothe burns and has properties that reduce inflammation. Aloe juice does the same thing for GERD sufferers by quieting down any inflammation that is in the esophagus and the stomach.
Drink 1/2 cup of aloe before meals. Note that the juice can be a laxative.
Slippery Elm
Herbal remedies to treat a variety of illnesses include Slippery Elm. In order to treat GERD symptoms, Slippery Elm tree extract thickens the mucous lining creating a coating or protective layer against acid to the stomach.
For heartburn relief, take a couple of tablespoons of Slippery Elm tree extract in water after meals and at bedtime.
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