Foods That Help Hearburn

Heartburn happens to many of us for a variety of reasons from eating the wrong foods to physical anomalies like a hiatal hernia. Either way, it isn’t pleasant.

Most people can avoid heartburn by simply avoiding foods that trigger an episode. These can be:

·        Certain high acid fruits and vegetables like citrus, tomatoes, cranberries, pineapple, cucumbers, or garlic

·        Vinegar or pickled items

·        Fatty or fried foods

·        Dairy products that are high in fat

·        Peppermint

·        Spicy foods like hot pepper

·        Sweeteners like sugar and honey

·        Caffeinated products-tea, coffee, or chocolate

·        Carbonated drinks

·        Alcohol

·        Or a food allergy or sensitivity

Most people can avoid heartburn by simply avoiding the foods that trigger an episode.

However, for those dealing with chronic heartburn, avoiding these foods may not be enough. The following is a list of foods that may help with acid suppression, inflammation, and healing.

·        Aloe vera juice-promotes healing by stimulating new cell formation.  Aloe may react with certain drugs so consult a naturopathic physician if needed.

·        Barley grass juice-anti inflammatory and healing.

·        Licorice root - healing and anti inflammatory. May cause an increase in blood pressure. Try DGL or deglycyrrhized licorice if this is the case.

Ginger, chamomile, fennel seed, cilantro, coriander, or slippery elm tea - use as tea or chew on seeds. Soothing to upset and inflamed tummies.

·        Slippery elm bark - acts as a mucilage coating the esophagus and relieving pain from inflammation.   Use the powdered form and add to water.

·        Some people find eating an apple an hour or two before bed helps with night -time reflux. This may be due to the high pectin found in apples.

·        Warm water helps dilute the stomach acid, if your system produces too much acid.

NOT ALL HEARTBURN SUFFERERS HAVE TOO MUCH STOMACH ACID.

It is important to note that not all heartburn sufferers have too much stomach acid. In fact, many people dealing with chronic heartburn have reduced levels of acid. The reason they experience the pain of heartburn is not that the acid backwashes into the esophagus but there is no protective mucous lining that area as there is in the stomach.  It is vital to determine the cause of the reflux as the natural treatment protocol varies with the cause of the condition.

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