Heartburn Horrors!
Friday, February 08, 2008
Posted by Abby
Heartburn is something I’ve never known much about, but somehow I’ve managed to coincide experiencing it quite regularly over the past week, or so with learning more about it as part of my nutritional health studies.
In case you’re lucky enough to have avoided it let me fill you in on what happens. Heartburn occurs when acid from the stomach leaks back up into the oesophagus (this is what takes food from your mouth into your stomach) and in some cases up into the throat. Thankfully the body reacts by releasing lots of saliva into the mouth which neutralises the acid. It’s not a pleasant experience but there are things you can do to avoid/manage it.
1. Avoid foods which increase acid production – these include chocolate, coffee, fizzy drinks, fried and fatty foods, tomatoes (including ketchup) and citric fruits. Spices, pepper, chilli and mustard can also cause problems as can medications, especially painkillers (except paracetamol).
2. Avoid large meals - eating little and often can help avoid heartburn, especially if you cut down on fat and choose foods that are high in protein and carbohydrates.
3. Vigorous exercise is a trigger some people. If this is the case for you, try taking an antacid product before exercising. You should also avoid exercising within two hours of eating a meal.
4. Avoid lying flat within two hours of eating a meal – this gives your stomach time to empty.
In addition to antacid products, which neutralise the stomach acid, there are a number of natural remedies which you can try:
1. Ginger helps reduce indigestion.
2. Charcoal capsules can help absorb digestive gases.
3. Liquorice and aloe vera preparations can give instant relief
4. Dandelion tea will help stimulate digestion.
5. Slippery elm can help relieve symptoms by reducing inflammation.
These natural remedies are well worth a try as antacids can interfere with other medication you may be taking.
Important Note: heartburn can be a symptom of a hiatus hernia. It can also seem similar to heart disorders such as angina and heart attack but in these cases there is unlikely to be the release of saliva that accompanies heartburn. if you are worried speak to your doctor.
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This Post was written by abby from eat the right stuff
An instant remedy for heartburn is drinking half a glass of cold milk. Works everytime.
I used to suffer from this in the latter half of my pregnancy and the doc gave me some antacid. I hate the chalky taste of the stuff and cold milk worked just great.