Last February, I experienced difficulty in breathing that made me decide to go in hospital for a medical check-up. At first I only thought that it was cholesterol but the worst thing that I thought what if I have a heart problem. The doctor asked me a lot of questions and she diagnosed me that I have hyper acidity. For clearing my thoughts the doctor wants me to have X-ray and the result was normal, but still I'm not fine so the doctor do ECG on me but nothing can be found abnormalities on my body. The doctor prescribed antacids maalox and proton pump inhibitor for my hyper acidity. I cannot define if the medicine are helpful on me since I still felt difficulty in breathing. Then I decided to have 2-D echo to be sure that my heart is normal just to ease my negative thoughts about my condition, but still the result was normal. Lately, I have been experiencing hyper acidity or acid reflux again and it is the worst thing that happened to me. Breathing is unconsciously; but I do it the other way like consciously breathing and it contradicts to proper breathing that somehow I don't know how to breath and it become anxiety.
I started browsing the internet and I found out that all my favorites foods are the cause of my hyperactivity. I never anticipated that the doctor was right from the beginning. Then I started to browse home remedies for hyper acidity and I found these three remedy that can easily be seen in kitchen and in the market; these are Apple Cider Vinegar, Ginger and Honey. I have been using these three useful remedies mixing it with milk when my hyper acidity is back. I can't control myself eating foods that can trigger my hyper acidity but I am thankful that I already knew the remedies for my condition.
Apple cider vinegar - provides benefits that may reduce or prevent acid reflux. Although apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid that can trigger reflux for some people, others use apple cider as a remedy for heartburn, the pain and burning in the upper chest and throat from acid reflux. The effectiveness of a treatment may depend on the person and the cause of heartburn. Just as acid reflux triggers differ among people, solutions may also affect people differently.
Ginger - is a very good remedy for hyperacidity. Ginger improves digestion by absorbing and assimilating essential nutrients. Ginger aids in the breakdown of proteins. It cures stomach ulcer by producing more mucous and protecting the stomach from the attack of acid. Whenever you have acidity, you should chew ginger. You can also boil ginger in water and consume the solution. You can mix crushed ginger with little jaggery. When you suck ginger with jaggery in this form, the juice of ginger goes to the stomach and relives acidity. You should consume ginger thirty minutes before having meals.
Honey - has been used as a medicinal substance for thousands of years, particularly as an antibacterial agent. Busy bees make honey from the nectar of flowering plants and save it in hives as a source of food. The flavor, sweetness, scent and other properties of honey depend on which type of flowers the bees that made it visited most often. Once honey is harvested, a number of things can happen to it. It can be sold raw, or unprocessed, or it can be very processed. Either way, honey is still primarily sugar. One 21-gram tablespoon of honey contains 17.25 grams of sugars; water and a tiny bit of protein comprise the other 3.75 grams.
Common hyperacidity triggers include:
- Citrus fruit
- Caffeinated beverages
- Chocolate
- Tomatoes
- Garlic, onions
- Alcohol
Causes of Hyperacidity and Heartburn
Heartburn and hyperacidity are primarily lifestyle or age related. While there are various health conditions and circumstances that could cause hyperacidity and heartburn, for the most part, the condition results from unhealthy lifestyle choices.The biggest contributing factor towards heartburn and hyperacidity is bad eating habits. Eating large meals and foods that are high in unhealthy fats, starch, sugars, spices and oil can all lead to heartburn. Eating heavy meals before sleeping also causes hyperacidity, as you are not giving your body adequate time to digest the food properly. When you sleep soon after eating, the reclined position also makes it easier for acid reflux to occur. Keeping long gaps between meals and skipping meals can also cause acids to build up in the stomach and lead to heartburn and acidity. Bad eating habits put extra stress on the digestive system making it work overtime to try and function normally.
Natural Ways To Neutralize Stomach Acid
- Avoid eating heavy meal during nighttime. It is one of the leading causes for stomach acidity.
- Instead of three big meals, eat 5-6 normal meals. Eating less quantity of food at a time encourages the stomach to secrete less acid.
- Eat foods that are high in complex carbohydrates to neutralize stomach acid. Some of the foods are sweet potatoes, corn, beans, bread, pasta, wheat, oats, rice, etc. Complex carbohydrates remain for a longer time in the digestive tract and therefore it slow down the digestive process. It also helps in absorbing excess of acid. However, it has to be eaten in one serving. These foods when taken in excess can cause excess secretion of acid.
- In fact eating any kind of food should be in moderate amount, since over eating initiate the stomach linings to secrete more acid to digest the food.
- Avoid drinking alcohol, beverages which are rich in caffeine such as tea and coffee. It is well established fact that alcoholic beverages double the acid secretion in one hour than normal.
- Avoid eating fried food and junk food or food that contains excess of fats.
- Avoid lying down after eating. Remain upright or sit for one hour after your meals. This will help the stomach content to empty in the duodenum, instead of backing up towards esophagus, which may lead to heartburn.
Home Remedies To Neutralize Stomach Acid
- A cup of ginger tea is said to be an effective home remedy for neutralizing stomach acid. Ginger contains chemicals that help in curtailing excess secretion of acid. It helps to reduce nausea and vomiting caused due to hyperacidity.
- Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate as it is called is a considered a natural home remedy for neutralizing gastric acid. Mix a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate in a glass of warm water and sip it slowly as much as you can.
- Oats are another good food for neutralizing acid secretion.
- The fruit banana is considered to be an effective natural stomach acid neutralizer. Banana stimulates the mucus secretion in the stomach which helps in protecting the inner lining of the stomach.
- One of the best ways that you should follow everyday to neutralize excess of stomach acid is to drink a glass of water after you get up.
- Yogurt helps in relieving symptoms produced by stomach acid.
- Herbal tea prepared from spearmint is useful for relieving hyperacidity.
- Drink a glass of coconut water at least three times in a week if you want to keep your stomach acid well balanced.
Eat an apple day. Just as the old saying goes, apples are very healthy, and may very well keep the doctor away when it comes to hyperacidity. No studies have been done to prove that apples are effective antacids. Instead, many people report a reduction of hyperacidity symptoms after eating an apple.
I hope it's helpful for you..^_^
Reu☺♥♥
Sources:
http://www.wikihow.com/Cure-Hyperacidity-Naturally
http://www.livestrong.com/article/488251-is-ginger-good-for-acid-reflux/
http://www.searchhomeremedy.com/home-remedies-for-hyperacidity/
http://www.simple-remedies.com/home-remedies/hyperacidity-and-heartburn/neutralize-stomach-acid-naturally.html
