Heartburn: Natural home remedies to fight off acid reflux

Heartburn sucks. It affects many of us and for an array of reasons. It can happen sporadically, or it can be more often for other people. Here are some tips and tricks to consider if you are looking for at-home remedies.

What is heartburn?

Heartburn is the burning sensation you get in your esophagus when the backflow of acid from your stomach rises all the way to your throat. Some might describe it as uncomfortable, while others might go as far as to say it feels like a fire has been lit up in their chests.

Heartburn is actually a symptom of something called acid reflux, which is regularly associated with gastro-oesophageal disease (GERD).

At home remedies to treat heartburn

While over-the-counter remedies do exist and are relatively cheap to fetch at your local pharmacy, if you want to keep it natural you should know that there are plenty of options that involve simple lifestyle changes.

The first thing you should look into is to notice what types of foods trigger the burning sensation. When the culprits have been identifies, try to avoid these as much as possible. There are certain types of foods and beverages that are highly conducive to heartburn, including:

• Coffee and some herbal teas
• Spicy food
• Alcohol
• Fried foods
• Acidic foods such as tomatoes
• Mint

Another thing you can do is to track the time at which you eat before going to bed. Typically, it is best to wait at least two to three hours before lying down to fall asleep after you've eaten. Practising mindful eating habits are essential if you want to reduce the chances of experiencing the unpleasant sensation, such as eating more slowly.

Calcium, the active ingredient found in most over-the-counter medication to fight off mild heartburn, is a scientifically proven way to alleviate the pain. For this reason, drinking a glass of milk (but not too much of it, either) can be good to treat heartburn.

Another easy way to relieve acid reflux is by chewing gum, as this confectionary produces saliva, which has been shown to help decrease the amount of acid in our bodies.