Tips to relieve acid reflux without medicine

Acid reflux is an issue you may come across easily, but managing it without medicine is even easier. This disease may seem very innocent, but if you don't pay proper attention to it, it can cause severe complications. The occasional sour taste in the mouth, itching in the throat, and hoarse voice may not seem much, but these symptoms can ruin the lining of your oesophagus.

Since it is a lifestyle disease, you may bring some healthy tweaks to your life to eliminate it. Let us tell you how you can relieve acid reflux without the use of any regular medication.

Eat Properly

Stuffing your stomach more than it can handle causes acid reflux. This happens because the stomach produces more acid to digest a large amount of food. While churning the food during the digestion process, this acid is more likely to rise to your oesophagus. To fix this issue, eat slower and chew your food properly. Also, try taking in small portions rather than eating three big meals.

Tweak your Food Choices

According to research, there are many foods which may trigger acid reflux due to many reasons. Surprisingly, the list contains many foods, usually known as healthier options. For example, mint is a food that is more likely to trigger acid reflux in many, while others use it to calm the stomach. Similarly, garlic, a well-known anti-inflammatory food, also falls in this category. Tomatoes and onions also worsen the situation for people suffering from acid reflux.

Caffeine-loaded foods like tea, coffee, carbonated beverages, chocolates, spicy fried foods and alcohol are the main culprits to cause and increase the risk of acid reflux. Therefore, try to exclude these foods to relieve acid reflux. In general, if you eat healthy foods, there are lesser chances of getting acid reflux.

Avoid Cold Drinks

Carbonated beverages and sparkling water cause burping, a significant cause of acid reflux. Similarly, too cold water disturbs the digestion process and causes acid reflux. Try replacing these drinks with warm water. Even when you feel heartburn due to acid reflux, have a cup of warm water and experience the magic.

Pillow replaces Pills

Most of the time, acid reflux occurs at night when you sleep without a pillow, or your pillow is too thin to provide an inclination. The gravity rule jumps in, and the acids from your stomach travel back towards your mouth.

The best suggestion is to incline your bed in a way that your feet are six to eight inches lower than the head. In many cases, no other remedy or medicine is required to relieve acid reflux.

Don't Be A Couch Potato

Gravity is not only for physics but also works magic to relieve acid reflux without medication. Avoid eating while lying on the couch, and don't fall asleep right after eating. Instead, wait for the stomach to finish with the digestive process. This is why medical experts suggest having dinner two to three hours before bedtime. Moreover, late-night snacking also plays havoc with your digestive system. You may also try having a light stroll after heavy meals to keep the acids under control.

Don't Divert the Focus

Digestion is a rigorous process and requires blood flow towards the stomach to avoid issues like acid reflux. Therefore, the body can't function properly if you indulge in heavy exercises right after eating. Similarly, bending over while doing an exercise forces the acids and other contents of the stomach towards the oesophagus. Acid reflux caused in this situation is far worse to manage and usually comes with a hoarse voice, sore throat and cough.

Manage Weight

If you are overweight, excessive belly fat continuously pressurises the lower part of the oesophagal sphincter. This part of your body acts as a guard to keep the acid from your stomach from rising to the oesophagus. If obesity is the reason behind your acid reflux, no medicine is likely to work unless you reduce your weight.

Try Ginger Tea

Ginger has a calming effect on the stomach. Boil an inch of ginger in a cup of water. Consume it warm to relieve acid reflux instantly. Do not add sugar to it as it increases the acid production in the stomach.

Fennel Tea

Fennel tea also neutralises the excessive acid production in the stomach and calms it down. You may boil a teaspoon of fennel in water and have it on an empty stomach.

Control The Acid with Banana

Banana is a powerhouse to relieve acid reflux without medication, as it works in multiple ways to fix this issue. It neutralises the acid with its highly alkaline properties. It also strengthens the oesophagus lining by coating it and thus, reversing the damage done by acid reflux. Moreover, pectin in bananas improves bowel movement as it is a high-class soluble fibre. Bananas also reduce nausea caused by acid reflux. So, we can safely say that bananas are a great option to try while managing acid reflux.

Leafy Green Vegetables

Green vegetables are alkaline and, thus, help manage acid reflux. Use them raw in salads with mild dressings. Avoid mayonnaise or other too-oily dressings. Similarly, lemon is also not suitable for such salads.

Neutralise the Acid

You may use a pinch of baking soda in a glass of water to neutralise the acid reflux. Take it on an empty stomach if you have acid reflux very often.

Conclusion

Too many medicines are never advisable for any health concern. Instead, sit back and reflect on what you are doing wrong in your lifestyle to address such issues. Managing acid reflux without medication is achievable. Just follow our tips and enjoy a healthy life! However, we suggest seeking medical help if the symptoms persist for longer than a week or occur too frequently.