Acidity Archives

February 20, 2020 By Komilla Pareek 3 Comments

How Antacids Are Making Your Heartburn, GERD or Acid Reflux worse!

If you’ve ever suffered from heartburn, Zantac and Ranitidine might have been your knights in shining armor and if you’ve never had the misfortune of going through this, the aforementioned Over-The-Counter (OTC) drugs are used to cut down the production of acid in the stomach. There are many other OTC antacids such as Gelusil, that neutralize the acid in the stomach. While self-prescribing for relief from heartburn or GERD, have you ever considered that these antacids might actually be making your condition worse?

What is Heartburn or GERD?

Heartburn or GERD is characterized by a burning sensation in the chest. This burning sensation is caused due to the acid reflux that happens when contents from your stomach move up into your esophagus (food pipe). Most of us associate this with high stomach acidity and reach out to over the counter antacids for quick relief.

Heartburn or GERD is not caused due to high levels of stomach acid. The incidence of heartburn and GERD increases with age, while stomach acid levels generally decline with age. Just as studies show acid secretion declines with age, it is also well established in scientific literature that the risk of GERD increases with age. In fact, when stomach acid is measured in people suffering from heartburn and GERD, it is almost always low, not high.

Why Do We Get Immediate Relief From Antacids?

I agree, symptoms of heartburn and GERD are caused by stomach acid refluxing into the esophagus. What’s crucial to understand is that any amount of acid in the esophagus is going to cause problems. That’s because the delicate lining of the esophagus isn’t protected against acid like the stomach lining is. You don’t have to have excess acid in your stomach to have heartburn.

Also, symptom relief doesn’t imply that the underlying cause of the problem has been addressed.

Stomach acidity may not be the actual reason for your heartburn. Instead, the prevailing scientific theory is that GERD is caused by a dysfunction of the muscular valve (sphincter) that separates the lower end of the esophagus and the stomach. This is known as the lower esophageal valve, or LES. The LES normally opens wide to permit swallowed food and liquids to move down easily into the stomach. If LES is working efficiently, stomach acid will not enter your esophagus. If the LES is malfunctioning, as it is in GERD, acid from the stomach moves up back into the esophagus and damages its delicate lining. It doesn’t matter how much acid there is in the stomach. Even a small amount can cause serious damage. Unlike the stomach, the lining of the esophagus has no protection against acid.

What Causes the LES to Malfunction?

Increase in Intra-Abdominal Pressure (IAP) can cause your LES to malfunction. Acid reflux occurs when pressure causes gastric distention (stomach bloating) that pushes the stomach contents, including acid, through the LES into the esophagus. Overeating, obesity, smoking, bending over after eating, lying down after eating, and consuming spicy or fatty foods may be contributing factors.

How Do Antacids Make This Condition Worse?

Malabsorption of carbohydrates leads to bacterial overgrowth, resulting in increased Intra-Abdominal Pressure which drives reflux. Low stomach acid, as caused by your antacids, can contribute to both bacterial overgrowth and carbohydrate malabsorption.

One of the chief roles of stomach acid is to inhibit bacterial overgrowth. But when stomach acid is insufficient and the pH of the stomach rises above 5, bacteria begin to thrive. Stomach acid (HCL) supports the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates by stimulating the release of pancreatic enzymes into the small intestine. If the pH of the stomach is too high (due to insufficient stomach acid), the pancreatic enzymes will not be secreted and the carbohydrates will not be broken down properly.

The fermentation of carbohydrates that haven’t been digested properly produces gas. The resulting gas increases IAP, which is the driving force behind Acid Reflux or GERD.

FDA Cautions Against Common Heartburn Drugs

In September 2019, FDA has communicated about the detection of an impurity, which is a carcinogen (cancer-causing agent), in common heartburn medications (ranitidine, commonly known as Zantac, and nizatidine) available over the counter or by prescription. Several countries have banned these medications.

Minimise or avoid use of OTC medications. Use proper lifestyle modifications to manage and treat your symptoms. Reducing bacteria loads and limiting carbohydrate intake have both been shown to greatly improve, and in some cases completely cure, acid reflux and GERD.

We hope this article helps you make the right choices and #LevelUp your health. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more sessions on how to ease GERD and Acid Reflux, tune in to our experts on GOQii Play.

#BeTheForce

March 6, 2019 By Poonam Goyal 5 Comments

What Alkaline Water Does To Your Body!

A few days back, I was at a store. I came across water filters that claimed they increase energy and regulate the body’s pH level. It tempted me. To add something more healthy to my regimen, I purchased an expensive filter without knowing what I was really buying. Now that I have read up a little on Alkaline Water, I want to share my thoughts on it.

First, let’s understand what Alkaline Water is and how different it is from regular water. Certainly, it boils down to the pH levels. Liquids with a pH closer to 0 are very acidic while liquids with a pH close to 14 are very alkaline. Pure water is neutral and has a pH of 7.0 whereas Alkaline Water has a pH between 7-9.5.

In today’s fast paced world, our gastric acid levels have increased. Due to our dependence on processed foods, artificial additives, refined sugar, increasing stress levels and reduced physical activity, there’s an imbalance in the acid and alkaline environment in our body. So we are moving towards quick fixes like alkaline water.

Advantages of alkaline water

The most important health benefit of alkaline water is to fight acid reflux, which is a common health concern these days
It makes us feel more energetic as our body is able to absorb it more quickly
Healthier gut, as higher pH water protects us from dangerous microorganisms due to its negative oxidation-reduction potential (ORP).
Provides antioxidants
Protection from contaminated water

Disadvantages of Alkaline water

Digestive malfunction – drinking alkaline water can cause steep changes in the levels of pH and can hinder the digestion process
Can cause a condition called hypochlorhydria, that is the reduced absorption of calcium in our body
Presence of too many ions in the body can result in acute dehydration at the cellular level
Exert pressure on the kidney to bring the pH level to ideal

Artificial Alkaline Water

Lot of water ionizers are available in the market these days. In essence, what they do is split the water molecules with electricity to create alkaline water. We get them in the form of water filters or filter bottles.

All water found in nature has a pH that perfectly corresponds to the minerals in water. When we drink alkaline water, our body assumes it is receiving alkaline minerals like calcium and magnesium. The problem with ionized water is that the body thinks it is receiving more alkaline minerals than what are actually present in the water.

Before the body is stressed by the artificial alkalinity, the first 30 days might make you feel better due to the presence of antioxidants and hydration. Other side effects can be erratic heart behavior, hypertension, UTI, infections etc.

It is also advised that if we are drinking ionized water or artificially alkaline water, we should measure our bodies pH daily and regulate the consumption accordingly.

Few Interesting facts about our body’s pH

Our body regulates blood pH in a very narrow range because all the enzymes are designed to work at pH 7.4. If the pH varies too much it will not be able to function
We cannot change the pH of our blood but our diet does affect the pH of our urine. Normally urine is at pH 6, which is acidic but normal and shows our kidney is working fine
The pH of the stomach acid or gastric acid is 1.5 – 3.5 which is required for the proper digestion of our food . Alkaline ions might cancel the acid and neutralize it
It is the job of the lungs, liver and kidney to maintain a normal pH of our body
The most common minerals found in water are calcium, potassium, copper, manganese, magnesium and iron. According to World Health Organisation(WHO), water contributes to 1-20% of the dietary intake of some trace minerals

How to Make Your Body Alkaline Naturally

Start your day with a glass of lemon water
Add a tsp of natural baking soda to water and drink it the first thing in the morning. It helps neutralise stomach acids and provides relief from indigestion in adults
Add some cucumber slices to water to make it alkaline
Store water in a copper vessel and drink it in the morning
Drink cumin water or cumin tea. Cumin water generally stimulates the secretion of digestive enzymes and accelerates the digestion process, thus helping you fight gut issues
Vegetable juice will not only make your body alkaline but add various nutrients to your diet too
Start your day with a glass of water with 1-2 tbsp of Aloe Vera juice added to it. Aloe Vera juice alkalizes the body, balancing overly acidic dietary habits
Drink natural coconut water. The pH acidic level in the body turns alkaline when you drink coconut water and that’s why it’s good for acidity
Add more fruits and vegetables in your diet. According to the Institute of medicine 20% of water comes from food sources

Naturally occurring alkaline water is undoubtedly good for health but what we get in the present times is water that is artificially made alkaline. If our goal is to be healthy why would we drink or eat anything artificial.

February 12, 2019 By Sunita Arora 5 Comments

Benefits of Fennel Seed Water

Benefits of Fennel Seeds Water The age-old secrets of health can be found in the simplest of ingredients in our kitchens. We just need to unveil them. Fennel Seeds are used in traditional rituals and celebrations as a symbol of Nature. In Ayurveda, Fennel Seeds are considered very beneficial. It is used to increase stamina and promote longevity, also used by nursing mothers in order to increase breast milk. Fennel Seeds are extensively used in Indian recipes. It is an effective aid to digestion, treating bloating, gas, or cramps and also acts as a diuretic. In foods and beverages, Fennel Oil and Fennel Seeds are used as flavoring agents.

Health benefits of Fennel Seeds:

1) Fennel Seeds for Constipation, Indigestion, Acidity, Bloating and IBS: Fennel Seeds are very useful in treating these disorders because it contains Estragole, Fenchone and Anethole. For those with IBS, the volatile oils found in Fennel Seeds can help kick-start digestion by promoting the production of gastric enzymes.

2) Managing Blood Pressure: Fennel Seeds are also a very rich source of Potassium, which is an essential component of cells and body fluids. Hence, it helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure.

3) Improves Eyesight: A handful of these seeds can do wonders for your eyesight as well. Fennel Seeds contain Vitamin A, which is essential for good eyesight. The extracts of these seeds were used in ancient times to improve the symptoms of Glaucoma.

4) Purify Blood: The essential oils and fiber in these seeds are very useful to flush out toxins and sludge from our bodies, thus helping to cleanse the blood and clear the skin.

5) Relieves Menstrual Pain: Fennel Seeds help in reducing menstrual pains, alleviates symptoms of menopause, shorten the length of the menstruation cycle, reduced period-related nausea due to the presence of estrogen.

6) Promotes Breast Milk Production: It has estrogen which increases Prolactin levels and increases breast milk production.

7) Reduces Hair fall: The antioxidants and nutrients present in Fennel Seeds strengthen the roots of your hair and give your follicles extra strength.

8) Reduces Cholesterol: It contains high amounts of fiber, which decreases re-absorption of cholesterol, and thus, lowers the risk of heart related diseases.

9) Improves Brain Functioning: Fennel Seeds are rich in potassium, which stimulates electrical conduction throughout the body. Which in turn improves brain functioning and cognitive skills. It acts as a great brain booster and improves brain-based skills.

10) Improves Vision: It helps improve eyesight, alleviate high eye pressure, pink eyes, dry eyes, tired, watery eyes and almost all eye related problems.

Some Other Benefits:

Gargling Fennel Tea can relieve inflamed gums and treat bad breath
It eases muscular pain
Fennel Water is used to relieve colic pain in newborn babies
Fennel Water eases morning sickness in expecting moms
Used as a spice in many different cuisines all over the world
Sugarcoated Fennel Seeds (Saunf) have been used as a condiment after food to improve digestion

How to use Fennel Seeds:

a) Fennel Tea: Extract of Fennel Seeds is not the same thing as fennel tea. Fennel tea is less processed and more likely to be pure and the measurable, beneficial impacts of fennel tea suggest multiple reasons for drinking it.

Here is a recipe for Fennel Tea:

Take 1 teaspoon of dried Fennel Seeds per cup of tea and pour hot water over it
Make sure you do not boil the Fennel Seeds as this will kill most of its nutrients
Cover and let it rest for 10 minutes. You will get a light yellow infusion
Drink it 2-3 times a day
The best time to drink this tea is after meals to help treat digestion problems and its sweet taste, much similar to that of licorice, can serve as a wonderful after dinner treat

b) Fennel Water: Take one glass of water and add one tsp of Fennel Seeds and soak it overnight. Drink it early in the morning. This water helps in reducing acidity and constipation.

Do you want to know more about Fennel Seeds? Stay tuned for the second part on the Benefits of Fennel Seeds.

If you have your own special style of using Fennel Seeds, let us know in the comments below!

#BeTheForce

January 10, 2019 By Urvashi Sareen 12 Comments

Acidity – its symptoms and Prevention

Acidity is one of the most common problems that most individuals face. This is largely due to wrong eating habits and sometimes even stress. Bad eating, stress in a way is all connected. One leads to another and that, in turn, leads to unhealthy living and problems such as acidity.

But, to find a solution to the problem it is first important to understand what is Acidity?

Acidity is a term used for a set of symptoms caused by excess production of acid by the gastric glands of the stomach. The stomach normally secretes hydrochloric acid which is required for the breakdown and digestion of food that we eat. Acidity causes symptoms like dyspepsia, heartburn gastric inflammation, and ulcers in the stomach.

Now, there are some factors which cause acidity such as eating habits, fad diets, stress, smoking and alcohol consumption, lack of physical activity, irregularity in eating pattern, consumption of oily and spicy foods. Apart from these certain medicines are too responsible for the cause of acidity.

Some of the symptoms which can be felt as a result of acidity can be:

Burning session in the stomach
Burning session in the throat
Restlessness
Belching
Nausea
Sour taste
Indigestion
Constipation

As correctly said, “Prevention is better than cure”

So let us look at some of the parameters to prevent acidity.

Don’t consume spicy food or fried foods too often.
Eat more fruits and vegetables. One should be taking at least 2 servings of fruits and 3-4 servings of vegetables. Green leafy vegetables would be a really good choice to go for.
Eat small, regular meals. Try to reduce the gap between meals to not more than 3 hours.
Consume your last meal at least a few hours before sleeping.
Chew tulsi leaves, cloves, saunf (Aniseed), etc.
Avoid medications like NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and steroids
Reduce stress. Deep breathing, going for a walk and being in nature are some of the activities which can help in reducing stress.

However, if you are already suffering from acidity, I am discussing below some of the home remedies of acidity which really work. So before you start with antacids for the treatment, do try these home remedies and you may get rid of the problem.

Basil leaves: Eat basil leaves thoroughly at first sign of acidity. Can also boil 4-5 leaves in a cup of water for 15 minutes.
Cinnamon: Add half spoon of cinnamon powder in a cup of water, boil for few minutes and drink this 2-3 times a day.
Buttermilk:

Grind half to one teaspoon of methi seeds with little water to make a paste. Mix it in a glass of buttermilk and have it.
Add a tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a cup of buttermilk and keep it for 5 minutes before drinking.
Mix a pinch of black pepper in a glass of buttermilk.
Mix a tablespoon of coriander leaf juice in a glass of buttermilk.

Apple Cider vinegar:

Mix 1-2 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in half a cup of water and drink.
Mix 2 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with 1 teaspoon of organic honey and drink before eating a spicy meal.

Cloves: Chew 2-3 cloves thoroughly.
Jaggery: Jaggery is high in potassium. After each meal, take a small piece.
Ginger:

Can take 2-3 teaspoon of ginger juice in a day for combating acidity.
Can boil ginger in water and drink the water twice a day.

Cumin seeds:

Crush roasted cumin seeds and stir in a glass of water. Drink after each meal.
Boil seeds in water, strain and drink.
Mix 1 teaspoon of coriander seed powder, a teaspoon of cumin seed powder and a teaspoon of fennel seed powder and some sugar in half cup of water and drink empty stomach.

Aniseed: Soak a teaspoon of aniseed in a cup of boiled water overnight. In the morning, strain the water add a teaspoon of organic honey and sip it at least 3 times during the day.
Cold milk: After a meal, drink a glass of cold milk, not iced milk.
Lemon and ginger juice 15 minutes post meal, zaps acidity quickly.

If eating right and proper preventive measures are adhered to, Acidity can be averted.