The unpleasant burning sensation in the stomach can affect anyone, although it is most common in pregnant women and in people between 50 and 70 years of age. It can occur as an independent ailment or be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Although the best known “home” way to fight heartburn is to modify your diet and change your eating habits, such as avoiding spicy food, the use of natural and pharmacy preparations also helps.
Avoiding what causes and aggravates heartburn is just as important as using medications to reduce heartburn. A myth is the once-repeated advice that milk and mint are helpful in treating heartburn. On the contrary – according to doctors, milk neutralizes the acid that goes to the stomach with food, therefore, although it reduces the pain and burning sensation for a moment, it immediately returns intensified, stronger and more burdensome. In addition, milk stimulates the production of stomach acid.
As for mint, it also neutralizes the effects of acid, but it relaxes the muscles that close the stomach, which will not make us feel better either.
How to avoid heartburn?
Unfortunately, the only way is to modify the diet and make a list of “prohibited products”. To avoid this unpleasant ailment, it should include:
- Spicy dishes – chili, cayenne pepper, hot pepper are forbidden,
- Alcohol,
- Peanuts,
- citrus,
- yeast dough,
- Kawaii,
- Tomatoes.
Of course, you can extend the list with items that apply only to you – by observing the reactions of your stomach after eating various foods and products, you will come to what causes heartburn in your case.
Natural ways to reduce heartburn symptoms
But what if the ailment has already caught up with us? You can bet on pharmacy preparations, or try these natural and safe methods to eliminate heartburn:
- Flaxseed – if you feel a burning sensation in the stomach too often, use the flaxseed treatment. You can use the version in the form of ground powder or grains: then you put a teaspoon of linseed in half a glass of water, cook it, leave it overnight and drink it (heated) on an empty stomach the next day. The treatment should last seven days, taking a break during the week and then returning to it. Drinking flaxseed regularly can benefit the entire digestive system,
- Warm water with the addition of one tablespoon of honey and apple cider vinegar – one cup of such a mixture will help in emergencies.
- Infusions – burning will also be relieved by herbs that contain plant mucus, because they protect the gastric mucosa from excess acids. You can use raw potato juice for this purpose (2-3 times a day for a cup), or linden flower infusion (pour a tablespoon of herbs with boiling water and drink).
- Chewing Juniper Seeds – Chew three seeds on the first day and add one each day. Stop when you reach eight grains.
- Charcoal powder – dissolve half a tablespoon of powder in tea, milk, apple juice or water.