1. Treatment Depends on the Cause
One important thing that should be noted right off the bat: Excessive acid production and presence in the stomach does not cause indigestion. That being said, it naturally follows that, since indigestion is caused by factors other than acid, antacids offer little-to-no help in eliminating symptoms Indigestion is caused, to a large degree, by mechanical factors that involve eating practices, such as the ingestion of air, rapid eating and excessive fluid intake during eating. Indigestion is more a manifestation of bad habits than of any single factor, and treatments should be geared more in that direction.
2. Change Your Eating Habits
The next time you sit down to a meal, pay attention to how you consume it, how long it takes you, what you talk about during the meal, what and how much you drink during the meal. In today's fast-paced life, it isn't uncommon for busy people to literally gulp their food down in a flash so they can return to work.
Some do's and don'ts to help you minimize the potential for indigestion:
DO: Chew your food slowly, and with your mouth closed.
DON'T: Talk while chewing.
DON'T: Eat too fast. Give yourself a reasonable time frame to eat.
DON'T: Eat too late at night. Your stomach needs time to empty before going to bed.
DO: Try to eat your final meal by or before 7 p.m.
DON'T: Drink fluids while eating. This prompts the swallowing of air and also helps push the food to the bottom of the stomach, delaying the satiation, or "full" sensation.
3. Prevention Is the Best Treatment
Here are some tips to help you prevent indigestion. Follow some basic principles to thwart indigestion before it starts.
First, eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. This keeps you feeling full, keeps energy levels high and decreases the risk of overeating due to hunger. Eat slowly. Many advocate chewing your food 100 times before swallowing. Limit gas-producing foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, certain beans and carbonated beverages. Sleep better by decreasing your caffeine intake. Caffeine has been shown to stimulate increased hydrochloric acid production in the stomach.
Reduced your stress. This causes mechanical disturbances within the stomach itself. Evaluate your lifestyle and job stressors that can cause physical manifestations. And last but not least, wait at least 3 hours after eating before going to sleep. The worst thing to do is go to sleep on a full stomach.
