Stop the Burn of Heartburn

 In our hurried everyday life we unfortunatly have seen a rise in that ever annoying heartburn.  After a long day of working, raising a family and generally running around you finally get a chance to lie down and relax.  Just as you feel that tension starting to leave your body a burning sensation starts building up in the pit of your stomach.  You get up, reach for the antacids and hope they work. 

Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't.  You find yourself thinking that therre must be a better way.  Fortunately for use there is.  I looked around for effective ways to help prevent heartburn for attacking us.  Some are old school and some are newer thoughts.  In this list you are sure to find a couple that works for you.  I did.

I was reading up on heartburn to see if there was anything I could do to help prevent it and boy was I surprised. I couldn't believe the things out there that can cause heartburn.

I knew that smoking was one of the triggers for heartburn but couldn't believe when I found out that not only smoking was a trigger but also second hand smoke. I couldn't believe it, how could this be so? Actually, when you inhale smoke it relaxes your lower esophageal sphincter. When this happens it allows stomach acid can seep up into your esophagus and cause heartburn.

The way you sleep can also let heartburn sneak in. If you sleep in one position all night long studies have shown that you are more likely to have heartburn. So, moving in your sleep, changing positions, rolling over is one of the ways to help lessen heartburn. That plus raising the head of the bed about 6 inches.

Believe it or not there are foods, just a few, that actually kill the heartburn. Milk is one of them that I am sure many people already know. Because milk is alkaline based it counteracts the acidity in the food you eat.

There is even a little smoothie that you can make to help with heartburn. Just blend together banana, mil, and strawberries for a delicious solution to that nasty heartburn.

Oats are another easy way to help combat heartburn. Simply add some to yogurt, a smoothie, or have a bowl of oatmeal.

Give these foods a try and you will be amazed at the relief they will give you, your stomach, and your esophagus.

1. Take a dose of Vinegar

Drinking a vinegar "cocktail" ( 1tbsp vinegar per 8 oz water) before eating a meal can soothe chronic heartburn The acid in the vinegar helps digest the food in your stomach before it can back up into your esophagus.

2. Eat licorice

Licorice contains glycyrrhizin which can increase levels of postaglandin E which can help reduce the production of stomach acid.

3.Chewing gum

By chewing gum for 30 minutes after a meal you increase the flow of acid-reducing saliva.

4. Eat candied ginger

Ginger cuts heartburn flare-ups by speeding the breakdowns of fats that trigger heartburn.

5. Eat whole grains

High fiber foods soak up stomach acid before it can back up into your esophagus.

6.Avoid alcohol

Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages for 3 to 4 hours before bedtime.

7. Take pectin supplements

Pectin works by making a acid-neutralizing foam that rises to the top of your stomach which creates a barrier that keeps acid from traveling up into your esophagus.

8. Dress comfortably

Tight clothes can push stomach acid up into your esophagus.

 

*Citrus fruits

*chocolate

*peppermint

*spearmint

*tomatoes

*raw onions

*garlic

*Black pepper

*fatty foods

*spicy foods

*coffee

*carbonated beverages

*alcoholic beverages