Many people fear to eat the things they like. This is because the foods many people like and want to have causes acidity symptoms like heartburn. So, the next time you have such meals and lay down to rest, you feel that eerie burning sensation in your chest. This is what most people are afraid of. Research has shown that about 20 per cent of people suffer from the symptoms of acidity, which affects their day-to-day lives.

Getting Rid of Heartburn Quickly and Easily

Many of you out there would have experienced heartburn at some point in your lives. It’s quite common these days. This is because of the changing world and the lifestyles and habits that are changing along with it. But the one main thing that seems to affect people right up to the point of heartburn is food. Food and especially spicy or fatty food can cause a burning sensation in your chest, which is the result of excessive stomach acid gushing up from your stomach all the way to your chest and throat.

Or perhaps, some of you might even have GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, which is a major cause for concern as it is a chronic condition. But what can you do when heartburn strikes? More importantly, is it even possible to control heartburn? Let’s try and go over some tips that will you help you ease heartburn quickly, even before you know it.

• Wearing Loose Clothing

The stomach acids that rise during acidity can burn certain tissues, thereby damaging them. But there are some cases wherein you may have acid reflux symptoms due to the kind of clothes you are wearing. If you happen to wear clothes that are too tight, try avoiding them and wear loose clothes instead.

This is because, tight clothes tend to compress your stomach, thereby causing the acid to rise and move up into the oesophagal region, and thus, resulting in heartburns. So, find out whether wearing such tight clothes, especially pants and sometimes, even shirts are compressing your stomach.

• Try to Stand Up Straight

Awkward postures can also lead to heartburns and acidity-like symptoms at times. So, try not to bend too much while standing, sitting or even walking. Try to stand up straight. Upright postures tend to put less pressure on your lower oesophagal sphincter or LES.

• Drink Water that is Mixed with Baking Soda

Baking soda works like a charm for acidity symptoms such as heartburn by neutralising the acids in your stomach. Moreover, this is a readily available solution to acidity. So, try mixing a teaspoon of baking soda with a glass of water, and consume the drink slowly.

This will go a long way in easing the symptoms of acidity. But do be cautious as to drink anything and everything slowly, especially when you’re experiencing acidity symptoms like heartburn.

• Aloe Vera Juice, the Coolant

Aloe Vera acts as a coolant, reducing skin inflammation. Also, it is also found to have cooling effects on the stomach as well. This cooling effect can provide relief for the symptoms of acidity, especially heartburn at that. However, not all Aloe Vera juice is effective, so you should try using the one prepared for internal use.

• Basil Leaves, the Super Herb for Acidity

Basil leaves not only ease heartburn but alleviate other symptoms of acidity such as nausea and gas. So, chew on two or three of them every day, so that they can help neutralise stomach acid.

• Turmeric for Digestion Stimulation and Acid Build-up Prevention

Turmeric helps ease the digestion process, not to mention that it also reduces the excessive acid that tends to build-up in your stomach. Turmeric is used in many kinds of foods but can be consumed directly as well, in case you don’t use turmeric while cooking.

• Boosting Digestive Enzymes

Digestive enzymes work in a similar way to stomach acid and help in the digestion of food by breaking down whatever you consume. So, taking digestive enzymes help, especially if acid reflux symptoms tend to occur due to a low stomach acid build. These enzymes help rebuild the acid in your stomach to normal proportions, thereby preventing symptoms of acid reflux.

• Increasing Hydrochloric Acid and Pepsin Levels in the Stomach

The most common acid present in your stomach is hydrochloric acid. This acid helps break down macro foods such as proteins. However, certain medication lowers the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. So, direct intake of HCL can help you out there.

However, you should be more cautious of the dosage you take. Also, you shouldn’t take in more HCL when you have such stomach infections as Helicobacter pylori, as the acid can worsen the symptoms. One of the easiest ways of knowing whether HCL is working in relieving acidity symptoms is that warm feeling you begin to get in your gut.

But don’t increase the dosage of HCL. HCL should be taken for a short time, after which, the acid production in your stomach resumes and returns to normal.

• Take a Few Deep Breaths Before you Start Eating

The Central Nervous System controls digestion. So, if you’re in a hurry or stressed out for some reason, it will focus on that and not on the digestion process. So, eating fast, or eating when you’re stressed out can lead to indigestion and thus acidity symptoms pop up.

So, you might want to take a few deep breaths before you start having your meal. This helps with the digestion process, especially if you’re experiencing acidity-like symptoms.

• Message your Upper Abdomen

In case the acidity symptoms you’re experiencing is caused by too much of acid backing up into the oesophagus, or there is a delay in emptying the stomach of acid, you can try massaging your upper abdomen. This helps keep the valve that separates the stomach from the oesophagus calm, not to mention that it helps strengthen it as well.

So, give a gentle message to the middle of your chest, right at the bottom of the rib cage. Using your middle as well as pointer finger, gently rub it in a round or circular motion to support its proper functioning.

• Keep Stress Under Control

Stress and indigestion go hand in hand. Stress can affect the whole process of digestion. So, check to see if you are experiencing any acid reflux symptoms each time you are under stress. If you are a person who is always stressed out, you can try breathing and relaxation exercises and see if that helps alleviate the stress. Additionally, stress can also cause the stomach to empty its contents, including acids. And very low amounts of acids in the stomach can also cause acids to reflux into the oesophagus.

So, to bring stress down, you can try relaxation techniques. Alternatively, you can try things such as yoga or meditation, which are also beneficial overall.

Sketching Out an Acid Reflux Remediation Plan

Everyone who is suffering from acid reflux symptoms must start somewhere, if they want to, if not get rid of them overall, at least try to bring down the symptoms, so that they can lead a normal life. Use these tips as weapons to counter acidity. These are just some of the basic things you can do so that acidity won’t be a bother for you.

Incorporating these changes will not only restore the proper functioning of your digestive tract but will also help get rid of any other digestion and stomach problems that you may have. Also, it could even help rid your body of any other health-related issues it might be facing.

• Exercising Regularly

Exercising regularly also helps. Exercises like ab crunches will help push the excess amount of acids out of the stomach. However, it can cause heartburns as well. So, be sure not to exercise right after you eat, as it may aggravate the symptoms of acidity. You must take at least an hour or two, after having taken a heavy meal, before you can start your daily workout.

Exercises not only help alleviate the symptoms of acidity but promote the overall health of the organs and the body as well.

• Avoiding Fatty Foods

Also, certain fatty foods can force push the stomach acids into the oesophagus. So, be sure to avoid fatty foods at all costs. Or at least try to cut down on them, to not worsen the symptoms of acidity that you are already dealing with.

• Quitting Smoking and Alcoho

Smoking and the consumption of alcohol causes big problems regarding the lower oesophagal sphincter, the muscle that keeps the acids in the stomach from gushing up into your chest and throat. So, try to avoid smoking and alcohol consumption at any cost.

There is no set course of actions for relieving acidity as different people are affected by it in different ways. For some, it could be as simple as drinking a glass of water to get rid of the heartburns. Others may need to avoid certain foods such as those which are spicy or fatty. Still, others may even need medication. Nevertheless, some of the techniques that have been mentioned above work well in most cases. So, don’t forget to try them. They are sure to leave you with a happy and healthy stomach, not to mention, promote overall health.