Treating Heartburn

Top 5 Natural Remedies for Treating Heartburn

Anyone who has ever felt that intense burning in their chest will agree that knowing ways of treating heartburn is incredibly important to getting through your day. It can be serious pain; plain and simple. Other symptoms include your throat burning from a sour, acidic or horrible salty tasting fluid that makes it hard to swallow. You may also experience the feeling of food being ‘stuck’ in your chest and it can cause a chronic cough or hoarseness. Sometimes life changes and stress can cause the symptoms to arise so it is recommended to keep a journal, logging your food intake and other relating activities.

Heartburn, contrary to popular belief is not from too much acid in your stomach but rather the complete opposite. It is important in treating heartburn that you first understand how it works. As you get older or from drinking too much alcohol and consuming a poor diet you actually produce less acid. Too many prescription drugs can cause this as well. So, now the food processes in our system much slower since your body doesn’t have as much acid. Since the food is sitting there longer in your stomach it starts to ferment and give off gases in your body. The absolute last thing you should reach for is an acid reducer. It can be a quick temporary fix but it is essentially doing more harm than good. Adding enzymes in your body speeds up the digestive process and this is how you should go about treating this pain.

It is recommended when treating heartburn that you should eat several small meals throughout the day instead of the traditional three square meals you may have grown up believing was good for you. You also need to wait at least three hours after eating to lay down so late night snacks must be eliminated. Avoid alcohol, mint and yes, I’m sorry, chocolate. These products relax the valve between your esophagus and your stomach and can trigger symptoms. Also avoiding foods with acid like oranges or tomatoes, spicy foods, coffee and quitting smoking will help. If you have excess weight around your mid-section, add some cardio into your day to get your weight down. Even a small weight loss like 5 or 10 pounds can produce some incredible results in treating heartburn.

There are a few proven, amazing natural remedies to not only treat your symptoms but help to prevent them long term.

Apple Cider Vinegar-we hear more and more about this product and it does seem to be on the rise as a new unknown ‘super food’. Mixing 2 tsp in a glass of water 3 times a day or after heavy meals can eliminate your heartburn symptoms. You’re supposed to be drinking water anyway so add a little Apple Cider Vinegar in your glass.
Pickle Juice-you know, that extra juice that is the pickle jar that you’re not really ever sure what to do with. Drinking this juice is one of the top rated cures for treating heartburn.
Raw Honey-here is another super food that is the cure for so many things. Eating a spoonful of honey after meals and before bed can assure you a good night sleep free of pain. Honey has been the cure for sore throats for generations. It’s no surprise runners eat a spoonful before long races because they say it makes them feel better. The bumble bees gave us something really amazing so remember that next time you swat at them.
Peppermint-no one knows what is so special about peppermint but we do know is that it works. Sucking on a peppermint will help control your heartburn symptoms.
Pine nuts-it is a proven cure that eating a half cup of pine nuts throughout the day not only helps with your pain but can help prevent symptoms from being triggered all day long.

Next time you get that burning feeling in your chest and you know that it’s going to be a long, painful, sleepless night, don’t reach for an acid reducer. Try out a natural remedy that will actually help in prevention as well as curing your heartburn symptoms.