1. Clear Out the Pipes With Water
Banish the acid and muck that causes heartburn by drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. Water reduces the amount of acid in the stomach and prevents it from making its way to the esophagus. When you consume plenty of water, it makes your body more alkaline and rids it of toxins. This keeps it cleaner and less likely to breed the conditions that foster heartburn. An occasional water fast can clean out the system after a bad case of heartburn.
2. Drink Apple or Papaya Juice
Although citrus fruits and juices can make heartburn and acid reflux worse, a few fruits and juices actually relieve these conditions and lessen the chance of it getting worse. Drink apple or papaya juice or teas containing extracts of these non-acidic fruits. We all know about the health benefits of apples and apple juice. This light, crisp juice provides vitamin C without backing up from the stomach into the throat. Papaya's even better for detoxing from GERD. It has an enzyme called papain that acts as a digestive aid. It soothes the stomach and prevents harmful, heartburn-causing acids from forming. Check with your doctor before using papaya or papaya juice to control heartburn if you are pregnant, and avoid it if you take a lot of aspirin or other drugs or herbs that inhibit blood clotting.
3. Drink Mint Teas
Ward off heartburn before it begins by drinking peppermint or spearmint tea after meals, especially if you've been naughty and indulged in GERD causing fried or spicy foods. Peppermint tea contains a small amount of menthol, so it won't inflame acid reflux like peppermint candy or peppermint oil. You can also drink diluted apple cider vinegar and honey before meals to prevent and control heartburn before you sit down at the table.
4. Consider Clay Powder
It sounds odd, but drinking clay powder and water reduces heartburn. Europeans use clay powder mix to combat a host of ills like bad breath, sinusitis and bronchitis. Purchase detoxing clay powder from an online company like Nature Purity or look for it at a well-stocked health food store. The clay powder in question contains trace elements of clay and other minerals, and it bears no resemblance to the molding clay we remember from kindergarten. Add a teaspoon of the powder to water or juice once a day to eliminate excess acid in the stomach and curb toxins in the body. It's a very powerful natural remedy, so check with your doctor before use.
5. Eat Vegetables In the Raw
After detoxing with liquids, eat raw veggies like carrots, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. These vegetables, when eaten raw, retain all the nutrients your body needs and then some, and they counteract acids in the gastrointestinal tract. Raw vegetables are fantastic for pregnant women who suffer from heartburn and the urge to nosh at night. Sprinkling garlic and ginger in salads and dishes battles heartburn, too.
