10 Best Home Remedies for Acidity

One of the most common digestive problems that people go through at some point in their lives is acidity. This digestive condition is when the bile or the stomach acid backs up into your esophagus, causing irritation. It can manifest in the form of heartburn, which is a burning sensation in the chest, throat, and stomach. Regular and frequent heartburn episodes, that last for more than three days a week, can result in serious problems like Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) that will need immediate medical attention. When the symptoms are minor, we tend to overlook them. However, if we start altering our dietary habits little by little, particularly when it is at a nascent stage, we will prevent it from worsening into a serious ailment.

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What is Acidity & How does acidity occur?

Acidity, in the context of gut health, refers to an imbalance in the stomach's acid levels, which can lead to discomfort and digestive issues. This condition often results from excess acid production or a weakened barrier that allows acid to irritate the stomach lining. Factors like stress, diet, and certain medications can contribute to this problem. When the stomach produces too much acid, it can cause symptoms like heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion. Managing acidity involves adjusting diet, using medications, and lifestyle changes to restore balance and support overall digestive health

Common Causes of Acidity

Acidity in the gut commonly arises from several factors. Diet plays a significant role, with spicy, fatty, or acidic foods and beverages like coffee and alcohol often triggering symptoms. Stress and anxiety can also increase stomach acid production. Smoking and certain medications, such as NSAIDs, may contribute to acidity by irritating the stomach lining. Additionally, conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or peptic ulcers can cause excessive acid. Poor eating habits, such as eating large meals or lying down soon after eating, can exacerbate the issue. Managing these factors can help alleviate and prevent acidity-related discomfort.

Home Remedies for Acidity

We have a list of effective instant relief from acidity at home, which are as follows.

1. Cold milk:

Milk contains calcium, which makes it alkaline, and helps maintain the pH balance in the body, thereby aiding in proper digestion. Perhaps that’s why cold milk can help relieve the burning sensation that occurs during acidity. The calcium in the milk can also curb and neutralize the acidic digestive juices which, in turn, can reduce acid reflux and heartburn symptoms. However, for it to work, ensure the milk is cold and that there are no additives like sugar or chocolate powder.

2. Buttermilk:

Buttermilk is the perfect example of naturally occurring probiotics. It is one of the most effective home remedies for acidity. Tart and tangy in flavor, buttermilk is a yogurt-based drink with live cultures of lactic acid bacteria, which aid in digestion and help prevent gut-related problems. The good bacteria contained in probiotics prevent gas build-up and bloating which are often the cause of acid reflux. Furthermore, it allows proper nutrient absorption that reduces the risk and frequency of acidity and helps maintain good gastrointestinal health.

3. Bananas:

Bananas are a low-acidic fruit that can help cure acidity at home. It does so by covering the esophageal lining, which helps curb any discomfort. Due to their high fiber content, bananas can help make your digestive system strong, which can further help ward off indigestion. An important soluble fiber in bananas is pectin, which helps move your food through the digestive tract smoothly without discomfort. This further prevents acidity as food stuck around your intestinal tract generates acid.

4. Fennel Seeds:

There is a reason why most people prefer to have fennel seeds or saunf after their meals, one of the most commonly effective home remedies for acidity. A compound called anethole is present in fennel seeds, which has a soothing effect on the stomach, further preventing flatulence, bloating, and spasms. It also helps to cool down the stomach lining, thanks to its anti-ulcer properties. You can either chew these seeds or soak them in water and drink it up to get instant relief.

Home Remedies for Acidity - Fennel Seeds

5. Water:

One of the major reasons for acidity and heartburn is dehydration. Excess digestive juices in the stomach are all flushed out with the help of water. It helps to neutralize stomach acid and maintain the pH balance in the body. This helps keep your digestive system healthy and robust. Get into a daily habit of drinking a glass of lukewarm water, when you wake up in the morning, and as the last thing, you do before going to bed. This habit will benefit your digestive health in many ways

6. Clove:

Cloves help reduce inflammation, thereby preventing heartburn and stomach spasms. Anecdotal evidence suggests that chewing cloves have an alkaline and carminative effect on the stomach and gastrointestinal tract, which doesn’t allow gas formation. Furthermore, cloves prevent flatulence and bloating.

7. Ginger:

In Chinese medicine, ginger is considered a facilitator of digestion. It works well as a carminative, helping with flatulence, indigestion, and bloating. In small doses, it also helps to alleviate any gastrointestinal irritation. Meanwhile, it can also lessen the chances of stomach acid flowing up the esophagus.

8. Coconut Water:

2 glasses of coconut water each day may aid with heartburn relief. It is high in fiber and can assist in relaxing your digestive system as well as protect your stomach from the effects of excessive acid production.

9. Mint Leaves:

Mint leaves have digestive effects and can also act as a natural cooling agent. This allows you to get sufficient relief from acid reflux and heartburn. A cup of mint tea is a great natural acid reflux treatment.

10. Jaggery:

Another effective home cure is jaggery. It aids with digestion, provides relief from acidity, and has a cooling impact on your stomach. One of the most effective home remedies for acidity is to consume a little piece of jaggery after a heavy meal.

Apart from these, other natural remedies for acid reflux include regularizing your routine and inculcating some good habits, like exercising regularly, giving up smoking altogether, minimizing alcohol, managing stress, chewing food properly while eating, and having at least 8 hours of sleep.

You can also try out Wellbeing Nutrition's Probiotic + Prebiotic. It provides support to your digestive health, neutralizes toxins, improves metabolism, and helps prevent other gut-related issues. With 36 billion (CFU) active live cultures per serving your gut microbiome will thrive and be healthy, ridding it of all digestive problems like acidity and heartburn.

If the symptoms of acidity are chronic, visit a doctor immediately.

References:

A comparative study of the antacid effect of some commonly consumed foods for hyperacidity in an artificial stomach model, Vandana Panda
, Priyanka Shinde, Jyoti Deora, Pankaj Gupta, Complementary Therapies in Medicine, (https://daneshyari.com/article/preview/5565189.pdf)
Using Probiotics Instead of Pharmaceuticals to Treat Gastrointestinal Disorders, Heidi L Rowles, Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, (https://www.imedpub.com//articles/using-probiotics-instead-of-pharmaceuticals-to-treat-gastrointestinal-disorders.php?aid=20152)
Maneerat N, Tangsuphoom N, Nitithamyong A. Effect of extraction condition on properties of pectin from banana peels and its function as fat replacer in salad cream. J Food Sci Technol. 2017;54(2):386-397. doi:10.1007/s13197-016-2475-6, (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5306033/)
Fennel: A Spice For Overall Health Welfare, Deepmala Verma, SukHraj Punar, and Raaz K Maheshwari, Advance Research in Agriculture and Veterinary Science, (http://www.aravsjournal.com/aravs_may2018/8.pdf)
Tariq H, Makker J, Ahmed R, Vakde T, Patel H. Frequent Sips of the Water for the Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Induced Refractory Cough: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Case Rep Gastrointest Med. 2019;2019:9205259. Published 2019 Jun 3. doi:10.1155/2019/9205259, (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6582892/)
Recent Trends in Indian Traditional Herbs Syzygium
aromaticum and its Health Benefits, Debjit Bhowmik, K.P. Sampath Kumar, Akhilesh Yadav, Shweta Srivastava, Shravan Paswan, Amit Sankar Dutta, Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, (https://www.phytojournal.com/archives/2012/vol1issue1/PartA/1.pdf)
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