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5 Foods That Will Help You Avoid Acidity

avoid acidityDay in and day out, most of us experience acidity due to an erratic lifestyle, wrong postures, no time to have meals, eating junk or spicy food outside. Acidity is also known as heartburn. Do you know why? Because it actually feels like your chest is on fire! Acidity can be a serious mood killer in any circumstance and it can happen to anybody irrespective of age. So exactly can you avoid acidity? Before we answer that, let’s look at some common triggers: 

  • Staying on empty stomach for too long
  • Having too many cups of tea or coffee a day 
  • Spicy street food
  • Deep fried oily food
  • Junk food consumption containing refined flour
  • Frequent restaurant visits

What Can You Do To Avoid Acidity? 

To avoid acidity, you need to first avoid the above triggers. You can also try these 5 foods below which help in relieving acidity. 

  1. Bananas: This fruit is easily available throughout the year. Its high fiber content strengthens the digestive system. Pectin, found in bananas, moves the residues through the digestive tract which actually helps one avoid acidity. 
  2. Ginger: is a natural treatment for acidity due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger juice can be extracted and 2-3 drops or 1tsp of ginger juice can be consumed as ginger shot post meals to relieve acidity. Another way to consume ginger is by making ginger tea.
  3. Yogurt: also has a soothing effect on our digestive system as it helps coating the lining of the digestive tract. Also it contains probiotics which are healthy gut bacteria that aid digestion. Consuming curd/yogurt is a proven remedy for acid reflux. 
  4. Aloe Vera: not only soothes the skin but our gut as well. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it helps you avoid acidity. Drink 5-10ml of aloe vera juice everyday on an empty stomach for good results.
  5. Fennel Seeds (Saunf): are loaded with anti-inflammatory properties and they also aid good digestion, reducing the symptoms of acidity easily. Consume about 1tsp of fennel seeds post meals. It will not only improve digestion, but also help you fight against acidity. It works great as a good mouth freshener too.

So keep these easily available foods ready with you to avoid acidity. Do remember to avoid the triggers as well, as prevention is always better than cure. We hope this article helps you. If you’re suffering from acidity, try them out and let us know your experience in the comments below.

For more home remedies on acidity, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

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5 Foods That Fight Acid Reflux Naturally

acid refluxI am sure that we are all a little too familiar with the term acidity or more particularly acid reflux. It is a condition that causes a burning sensation in the lower part of our food pipe. Basically, the digestive process in our stomach spills back into our oesophagus due to relaxation of the valve dividing them. As we all know, stomach juices consist of Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) – which is not good for the membranes of our oesophagus – hence, the burning sensation. 

Usually such situations can be brought under control by using a base neutralizer such as baking soda, ENO, etc. But such solutions are not viable because they provide temporary relief along with a strong possibility of a worse acidic rebound. This calls for an alternate solution, a natural one preferably.

How To Fight Acid Reflux Naturally With Food 

  1. Popped Rice: It is very alkaline in nature, easy to digest and moreover absorbs the excess acid from the stomach. It is famous in Maharashtra and is called as “Salichya Lahya” which is the part of Diwali prasad. Just eat a handful of these with ‘Khadi sakhar/Mishri’ (Rock candy) or boil the lahya in water, cool the water, strain and drink. It helps with acidity. This low calorie snack absorbs the residual acid and neutralizes the stomach’s pH. Popped Sorghum (Jowar) is a decent alternative to this. 
  2. Banana: is a fruit that can be found everywhere. It has multiple health benefits and preventative abilities that many people tend to overlook. We just think that they are healthy and consume them. Their high roughage content helps strengthen our digestive system which in turn helps in prevention of indigestion. The soluble fibers present in the banana wash away the food remaining in the digestive tract. Those sticky food morsels serve no purpose except to create unnecessary acid. All this along with the added bonus of nutrients like Potassium, Magnesium, Vitamin C, Antioxidants and Phytonutrients.
  3. Ash Gourd: This food item right here is slightly elusive. It belongs to the family of cucumbers. It’s also known as green pumpkin or white melon. The symptoms of acid reflux syndrome can be alleviated by its active principles such as Terpenes, Flavonoid C, Glycosides, and Sterols. They have antioxidant properties that help in inhibiting gastric mucosal damage. Five teaspoons of boiled ash guard along with jaggery 2 times a day is the best way to get instant relief. You can also make juice, raita or sabji.
  4. Raisins: Despite their tiny size, raisins pack a punch full of nutrition! The fiber in it absorbs excess stomach acid. Raisins also contain minerals such as potassium, magnesium, copper and iron which help in balancing acid levels as these minerals are alkaline or basic on the pH scale. Soak 10-15 raisins in water overnight and consume them as first thing in the morning (along with the water).
  5. Potatoes: Bland starches are a good choice when it comes to foods that are easy on the stomach linings. Potatoes contain easily digestible fiber that can help neutralize stomach acid. Potato is naturally alkaline, rich in potassium salt which helps restrict acidity. Try baked, boiled, or mashed potatoes only and strictly avoid the fried ones.

It’s always best to use the most natural and easily accessible solutions possible. The above foods not only provide relief from acid reflux but also contribute to a healthy lifestyle! Try them now if you’re facing this condition and let us know your thoughts in the comments below! 

For more information on acidity and acid reflux, check out Healthy Reads or ask your GOQii Coach directly by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce 

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

antacidsIf 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. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more sessions on how to ease GERD and Acid Reflux, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr 

#BeTheForce 

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