Heartburn is characterized by pain and a burning sensation in the stomach or chest. It may be accompanied by a sour taste in the throat, bloating, gas and nausea. A backwash of digestive juices that a sphincter muscle normally keeps in the stomach by can irritate the esophagus, which connects the throat and the stomach. See your doctor if heartburn symptoms persist. GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a chronic condition that may lead to serious complications. While no natural foods can cure heartburn, some may help to reduce symptoms.
Papaya and Pineapple
Papaya is a tropical fruiting plant that contains papain, a proteolytic enzyme that aids in the digestion of proteins. Fresh or dried papaya fruit, papaya leaf tea and papaya seeds are rich in this chemical. The seeds have a peppery taste. Nutritionist Phylliss Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," writes that papaya leaf tea acts as a buffer to stop heartburn. Pineapple contains bromelain, another proteolytic enzyme, which is found in the juice and stems of the fruit. When using canned pineapple, choose a variety packed in juice and not syrup. Both plants are traditional remedies for digestive upset. Try enjoying small amounts as an appetizer before meals.
Calcium Rich Foods
Calcium salts are an ingredient in many over-the-counter heartburn remedies. The American Pregnancy Association suggests eating yogurt or drinking milk to relieve heartburn, and advises that 1 tbsp. of honey in a glass of warm milk might soothe symptoms. Raw almonds are another calcium-rich food. Chewing a small handful of them thoroughly after meals may bring relief.
Aloe Vera Juice
Aloe vera is a succulent plant common to warm climates. The pulp from inside the leaves yields a clear thick juice with a pungent odor. It is high in magnesium, iron, folic acid, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc, and is a rich source of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C and E. Nutritionist Balch says that aloe vera juice has astringent, emollient and anti-inflammatory actions. At Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria, Sameer Yusuf and colleagues tested aloe's effects in rats. At higher concentrations, the juice inhibited the secretion of stomach acid and at lower doses aloe protected delicate mucosal tissues from the effects of stomach acid. The study was published in the July 2004 "Journal of Ethnopharmacology."
Orange Peel
Chewing a piece of orange rind at the first sign of symptoms may bring relief from occasional heartburn. A chemical used as flavoring in soft drinks and other foods, d-limonene, is found in the peelings of limes, tangerines, lemons and grapefruit. Writing about the clinical applications of this natural medicine, Jidong Sun of Thorne Research in Idaho states that d-limonene facilitates the passage of food through the digestive tract and neutralizes stomach acid, relieving heartburn and GERD. Sun's report was published in the September 2007 issue of "Alternative Medicine Review."
References
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," Phyllis Balch, CNC, 2004
- American Pregnancy Association: Pregnancy and Heartburn
- Pubmed.gov: The Effect of Aloe Vera A. Berger on Gastric Acid Secretion and Acute Gastric Mucosal Injury in Rats
- Pubmed.gov: D-Limonene: Safety and Clinical Applications
