Heartburn is just something we all think we should live with, but really, that’s not the case. No one wants to have to fear eating a favorite food because of all the pain it can cause afterward!
If you experience heartburn regularly, you may have a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or peptic ulcer disease. I do suggest you visit your doctor if you’re really struggling with heartburn as these conditions can cause other problems and it’s wise to seek medical advice before you begin to experience more troublesome complications and symptoms.
That advice aside, if you’re dealing with occasional heartburn, you don’t have to rely on over-the-counter medications all the time if you don’t want to. There are some natural things you can do to help ease that discomfort when it pops up.
Drink baking soda
Of course, this one is not meant for regular use and it does include sodium, so do not try this if you’re on a restricted-sodium diet. As noted by Very Well Health, baking soda is a natural antacid (https://www.verywellhealth.com/heartburn-treatments-1742754). Dissolve about one teaspoon of the soda into eight ounces of water. Drink the water, and the baking soda will neutralize stomach acid and ease your heartburn.
Try to lose weight
This can be a tall order, but when you’ve overweight, it puts pressure on your stomach and increases your heartburn risk. If your body mass index is over 30, you should consider adding some exercise into your daily routine and changing your diet to help you shed some pounds.
Wear looser clothes
As with extra weight on your frame, tight clothes around your stomach put additional pressure on it, and this can increase your bouts of heartburn. For women, control pantyhose and body shapers can be an overlooked source of this pressure, and for men, belts can contribute.
Don’t lay down right after eating
You should not recline for two or three hours after you eat. This can make it easier for the acid causing the heartburn to rise out of your stomach, since it’s being produced to break down the food you recently ate.
Naturally, you also shouldn’t eat during the three hours before you hit the hay. This will create the same problem as lying down right after you eat does.
Heartburn can be a frustrating thing to deal with, but you can use the easy and natural methods above to help ease that fire in your chest!
