This increase in pressure will cause acid reflux, however, other issues such as being overweight, lying down after eating a large meal, pregnancy, alcohol, leaky gut and certain acidic trigger foods can also lead to acid reflux and heartburn.
If you want acid reflux relief fast, you must address these root causes.
Acid reflux diet
When looking for acid reflux cures you will want to first change your diet. There are specific foods that are essential to natural treatment of acid reflux including:
Ginger - Is anti-inflammatory and helps promote digestion.
Aloe Vera - Aloe Vera juice helps with acid/alkaline balance of the digestive system and reduces yeast fermentation. Yeast fermentation occurs when there is an overgrowth of the normal yeast balance in our gut causing a fermentation process that leads to an increase of intra-abdominal pressure.
Fennel - A perennial herb that is also categorized as a vegetable, has been shown to improve stomach function by balancing pH. Add fennel to soups and salads as a delicious way to consume this important herb.
Organic chicken or turkey - These meats are low in fat and easy to digest, just make sure you chew it well before swallowing in order to activate the proper enzymes, which aid in digestion.
Comment: The digestive system is perfectly capable of digesting fat. It is a diet rich in carbs - which in turn is rich in anti nutrients - the one which destroys our digestive system. Those who want to heal their acid reflux must above all avoid GMOs, soy, gluten and dairy like the plague. People going on a ketogenic diet - typically rich in animal saturated fat - often restore their gut issues. For more information see:
- Got Digestive Problems? Take it Easy on the Veggies
- Six signs you're gluten intolerant - and don't even know it
- The Ketogenic Diet - An Overview
Parsley - This fantastic herb has been used for thousands of years to settle the stomach and help with digestion.
Acid reflux foods to avoid
If you want to reduce acid reflux there are certain foods that must be avoided including:
Alcohol - Leads to inflammation and puts stress on the liver.
Tomatoes - Contains two types of acids: citric acid and malic acid. Both are triggers for acid reflux. The cells in our stomach, known as parietal cells, create an acid that naturally lines the stomach to break down foods that have been eaten or are sitting in the stomach. For some, the consumption of tomatoes adds more of acid than the stomach needs and this gets backed up into the esophagus causing acid reflux.
Citrus fruits - As with tomatoes, citrus fruits also contain citric acid. This can trigger acid reflux when our stomach has excess citric acid produced by the parietal cells in our stomach. This acid is used to break down the foods that we eat, however; too much citric acid will cause a back up into the esophagus and cause acid reflux.
Carbonated beverages - Affects digestive system in negative way increasing growth of yeast and bad bacteria.
Refined sugar and carbohydrates - These cause bacterial overgrowth and candida.
Top 5 natural acid reflux remedies
#1 Apple cider vinegar
Mix 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar with one ounce of water about 10-20 minutes before a meal.
#2 Digestive enzymes (1-2 caps with meals)
Enzymes amylase, lipase, and protease support the breakdown of foods.
#3 HCL with pepsin or Betaine HCL tablets
Start with taking 1 pill, 650 mg or less, before a meal and monitor your symptoms. Keep increasing the number of pills until the symptoms resolve.
#4 Probiotics (25+ billion live bacteria)
Choose a probiotic with soil based microrganisms and lactobacillus strains.
#5 Chew your food well and relax while you eat
Most of us just swallow food without really taking time to chew your foods properly. Thoroughly chewing our foods activates signaling messages to the rest of the gastrointestinal system that begin our entire digestive process. When our food is not properly broken down it becomes fodder for bacteria leading to indigestion.
Essential oils for acid reflux
Supplementing with essential oils of peppermint, ginger and fennel have proven to reduce the symptoms of acid reflux. Put two drops in water as a supplemental dose.
As you can see, there are many acid reflux remedies and natural cures for heartburn.
Reader Comments
I had to sleep on three pillows, take highest doses of previcide, nexium, etc.; I tried them all for years and still at the end almost NO relief.
Four days after I stopped eating wheat products of any kind my GERD went away and has never returned in over four years.
Now I am grain free, low carb, and fat burning adaptive (keto) and my arthritis, sleep apnea, and irritable bowel symptoms are all gone, and my allergies and life-long bad asthma, are significantly improved. At 60 I am experiencing better health in every way than in my late 40s and 50s. A low-fat, high-carb (of ANY kind!) diet is a slow-death killer for humans. Do the research and read Grain Brian and Keto-Adapted (Emmerich) to start.
No mention of the one tried,simple & true method I've used for years-
Sodium bicarbonate aka baking soda.
One teaspoon mixed with a glass of warm water,scull it all,almost instant,complete relief.
Has been linked with neutralising pH too.
In my case I eliminated the GERD with elevating the head of my bed 15 degrees, limiting the volume of food during meals and avoiding spicy foods.
I still eat all the carbs I want, including breakfast cereals, bread, pasta and cookies, just in reduced quantity, with no problem from acid reflux.
Its the volume not the carbs.
Acid reflux is caused by low stomach acid. To make strong stomach acid, you need salt and calcium. So either your not salting your food or you have a calcium deficiency. If you have low stomach acid, your not digesting your food. If you listen to Larry the Cable Guy or go to your MD doctor and get the purple pill, your stomach acid will go down and your reflux symptoms will go away. But you will put yourself on a pathway to your next disease, because now your not digesting your food at all. You could use digestive enzymes or the many other tricks to avoid reflux, but if you are low on calcium, you may have other problems like kidney stones, high blood pressure and bone spurs. People with digestive problems should avoid everything that contains gluten, oil in a bottle (including olive oil) (once you open the bottle it begins to oxidize and it starts producing free radicals). By the time you get to the bottom you are pouring out disease causing junk. The big push today is to eat whole grains. REALLY? Grains are a terrible source of nutrition. If you want to live healthy, follow Dr Wallach's advice.