Acid reflux may develop after eating hot, spicy foods or from eating too much food at one time. It may occur when foods digest too slowly in the stomach or when you have eaten foods that do not combine well with one another. Painful attacks of acid reflux or heartburn may respond to certain natural supplements that reduce symptoms and encourage better digestion. Burning pain in the stomach or chest may indicate serious problems, so consult your health practitioner before using unfamiliar products.
Digestive Enzymes
Add digestive enzymes to your meals to help prevent acid reflux and promote healthy digestion, says the University of Michigan Health System. Enzymes are released by the pancreas to aid digestion, writes Colorado State University. However, some people do not synthesize enough enzymes to digest the food they eat and the result is indigestion, putrefaction and discomfort in the form of acid reflux, according to "The Acid Alkaline Balance." Digestive aids are available as individual enzymes or in combination with other enzymes, and can be purchased at pharmacies and health food stores. Consult with your health practitioner or a nutritionist to decide what enzymes are best for your individual condition.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Both apple cider vinegar and baking soda help alkalize the system, according to "The pH Miracle." Although they act in different ways, each of these substances may be helpful in reducing the incidence of acid reflux; however, when mixed together, they are exceptionally potent and many of the properties that might produce side effects disappear, adds "the pH Miracle." Add 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar to a tall glass. Slowly add 1/2 tsp. baking soda. The mixture will foam wildly and expand. Allow all the foaming action to subside and pour in 6 to 8 oz. water. Drink the entire mixture at one time to relieve acid reflux symptoms.
By mixing apple cider vinegar and baking soda together, they two products neutralize some of each other's properties creating a drink with a near perfect pH between 7 to 7.5. The combination takes some of the acidity out of the vinegar and removes the excess saltiness and alkalinity from the baking soda. When the mixture is ready to drink it has very little taste or odor. Make a similar drink with lemon juice replacing the apple cider vinegar, which can also be used to alkalize the body and reduce acid reflux symptoms.
Raw Honey
Honey is predigested in a bee's stomach, making it very easy for people to eat and digest. It is high in amylase, the enzyme the body uses to digest starches, according to "The Acid Alkaline Balance," and may be useful for reducing symptoms of acid reflux and poor digestion. In his book "Alkalize or Die," Dr. Theodore Baroody recommends sipping on a teaspoonful of raw honey before bedtime to help alkalize your body and prevent digestive symptoms during the night. The most potent honey contains all of its original nutrients including royal jelly, propolis and pollen. Processed honey may offer some slight relief, although not as lasting as the raw, organic product.
References
- "The Acid Alkaline Balance"; Felicia Drury Kliment; 2002
- "The pH Miracle"; Dr. Robert O. Young and Shelley Redford Young; 2003
- University of Michigan Health System: Digestive Enzymes
- Colorado State University: Exocrine Secretions of the Pancreas
