It is not without reason that heartburn is still known as “the widespread disease” – around one in five people in Germany is affected by it. The main reasons for the unpleasant, burning feeling behind the breastbone are:the stressful everyday life, dishes that are too fatty and spicy or large portions, accompanied by a lot of alcohol. If it only occurs occasionally, heartburn is harmless and with the right tips you can easily and quickly relieve the symptoms yourself at home. What helps against heartburn and what are the best home remedies for heartburn? We will tell you the answers to these and many other questions in our article!
Heartburn is a burning, stabbing pain behind the breastbone. This causes stomach acid to rise and attack the lining of the esophagus. Those affected experience painful symptoms and an unpleasant feeling of pressure in their stomach.
Home remedies for heartburn – What are the most common heartburn symptoms and causes?
The factors and causes that can irritate our stomach and lead to the burning pain are incredibly many. Below you will find an overview of the most common heartburn causes:
- Unhealthy dietis one of the most common reasons for stomach acidity - fatty dishes, large portions, acidic foods and too much alcohol promote the production of stomach acid.
- Also too muchStressat work or in private life can cause heartburn.
- Overweight peopleare most affected by heartburn. The increased fat content increases the pressure in the abdominal cavity and this in turn leads to stomach contents rising.
- Heartburn pregnancyThis happens very often, especially in the last few months - as the baby grows in the stomach, the pressure on the stomach increases.
- Taking some medicationssuch as painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen or diclofenac), as well as some antibiotics and antihypertensives can cause heartburn.
- In some cases, aZwerchfellbruchbe the cause of heartburn.
Most sufferers describe heartburn as a stabbing and painful burning sensation. So that you can recognize early enough whether you are also suffering from it, we have put together the most common complaints and heartburn symptoms for you.
- Feeling of fullness in the stomach
- Difficulty swallowing
- Nausea or in some cases even vomiting
- bad breath
- Tiredness and low energy
- if it occurs more than 1-2 times a month – tooth damage
And these heartburn home remedies really help
While some foods and habits promote heartburn, there are also those that relieve the symptoms or help you successfully prevent them.
- Almonds and nuts –Eating a handful of raw nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts or cashews per day offers a lot of benefits for our health. They also help to quickly relieve the symptoms of acute heartburn. However, you should make sure that you chew the nuts slowly for a few minutes before swallowing them, otherwise you will only make the burning sensation worse.
- Flaxseed –Flaxseeds are healthyand nutrient-rich and are among the best home remedies for heartburn. To do this, you need to bring a level tablespoon of flaxseed to the boil with about 200 ml of water and simmer the mixture over low heat for 30 minutes. Pour everything through a sieve, collect the liquid and drink a few sips 3-4 times a day.
- Chewing gum for heartburnIt probably sounds strange, but it can work wonders for minor complaints. This is because saliva production is stimulated by chewing and saliva quickly neutralizes stomach acid.
An overview of other home remedies for heartburn
- Rusks or breadare tried and tested home remedies for heartburn - they absorb the stomach acid and in this way alleviate the unpleasant symptoms. The same applies here – eat small amounts and chew for a long time. Even a small portion has an acid-binding effect and can help you just as well.
- oatmeal– A bowl of oatmeal with milk for breakfast – not only delicious, but also extremely healthy and helpful against heartburn. But did it happen to you in the office or on the go? A handful of oatmeal calms digestion and relieves pain.
- Aloe Vera Saft –Just as aloe vera has a cooling effect on a sunburn, it can also cool and soothe the stomach and relieve heartburn symptoms. We recommend that you either make the juice yourself at home or buy it from the organic store.
- Gingeris a wonderful heartburn home remedy that can also help with a whole range of different health problems. To do this, put a few thin slices of fresh ginger in hot water, let it steep for about 10 minutes and drink it. To prevent heartburn, try using ginger as a spice in your favorite dishes.
- herbal teais particularly helpful and is one of the most helpful home remedies for heartburn. Teas made from medicinal plants such as fennel, chamomile, anise or caraway have an anti-inflammatory effect and soothe the stomach. In addition, the tea flushes the remains of the stomach acid that has risen back into the stomach. However, we recommend that you avoid peppermint tea because the ingredients can increase heartburn.
- Is milk helpful for heartburn?– Even though milk is considered the number one heartburn home remedy, doctors are very divided on the answer to this question. On the one hand, milk with a high fat content itself has a slightly acidic pH value and can even stimulate the production of stomach acid. However, a glass of low-fat milk diluted with a little water can relieve the pain of mild heartburn. However, buttermilk has proven to be very helpful with a quick effect.
- Fresh herbs and spices– Many herbs have been known for centuries to have pain-relieving and calming effects. Particularly helpful remedies for heartburn are basil, dill, caraway, bay leaf, marjoram, tarragon, cinnamon and cardamom.
- Fennel seedsare among the most popular home remedies for heartburn around the world. They contain approximately 16 active ingredients that relieve unpleasant stomach cramps. Put about 2 tablespoons of ground fennel seeds in a pot with 200 ml of water and bring to the boil. Remove from heat, cover and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain the mixture through a sieve and drink throughout the day.
- Backnatronis a food that everyone already has at home. The miracle cure binds and neutralizes stomach acid and relieves heartburn. To do this, dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in 200 ml of water and drink it slowly.
- Garlicsuccessfully kills microorganisms and bacteria and is considered a natural antibiotic. As a home remedy for heartburn, you need to chop up a raw garlic clove and mix it with about 100 ml of apple cider vinegar. The drink isn't particularly tasty, but it helps in a flash.
- Potato juiceneutralizes excess stomach acid and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Juice a raw potato and mix it with water in a 1:1 ratio, stir well and drink immediately. If that's not for you, eat a potato fresh out of the oven.
- Carrot juiceagainst heartburn – freshly squeezed carrot juice helps to stimulate digestion after large portions and high-fat meals and protects the esophagus.
- Some types of fruithave also proven to be tried and tested home remedies for heartburn. Apples and bananas in particular neutralize stomach acid and relieve pain.
- Sauerkraut– Whether raw, as a juice or in a salad – sauerkraut regulates the pH value and helps to relieve the stinging burning sensation.
- Mustardis a little-known yet extremely effective heartburn home remedy - it is rich in minerals and turmeric and contains acetic acid. Take a teaspoon of mustard to relieve heartburn and balance pH.
What helps against heartburn? – Helpful tips for prevention
- Eat small, high-protein, low-fat meals –Give your organs enough time to digest and try to eat several small portions throughout the day. If the stomach is too full, the risk of stomach acid rising to the top is increased. Fatty and fried dishes such as pizza, fries, kebabs, etc. are also known as “acid blockers” and for this reason we recommend that you completely eliminate them from your diet.
- Do not season spicy –You know how your tongue burns when you eat something too spicy. The same thing happens in your stomach - spicy foods and spices irritate the stomach and can cause heartburn. Above all, avoid pepper, chili, hot sauces and wasabi paste.
- Skip coffeeor replace with decaffeinated coffee –Caffeine and all other substances that give the typical coffee taste can stimulate the production of stomach acid.
- Quit smoking –It's no secret that smoking is harmful to our health. Something many people don't know is that the toxins and substances contained in smoke promote stomach acid production and lead to heartburn.
- Lose weight -Overweight people with a body mass index of over 25 particularly suffer from heartburn. The excess fat on the stomach puts enormous pressure on the stomach, which in turn causes gastric juice to enter the esophagus. To get rid of heartburn completely, you should try to eat a more balanced and healthy diet and lose a few pounds.
- Don’t eat too many sweets –Chocolate, ice cream, pralines etc are mostly full of sugar and fat and as mentioned earlier, greasy food leads to heartburn. If the craving for sweets hits you, opt for healthier and easier on the stomach alternatives such as fresh fruit, dried fruits or honey.
- Wear loose clothing –Loose pants and skirts are not only comfortable, but they put much less pressure on the abdominal organs. In this way you can successfully prevent heartburn.
- Mix honey with vinegar –This mixture is an old and helpful heartburn home remedy. To do this, mix a teaspoon of honey with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and drink 30 minutes before eating.
- Change sleeping position –For many people, heartburn only occurs at night in bed. When this happens, many doctors recommend lifting your head and upper body when lying down. To do this, simply place 2 pillows under your upper body. Or if you can't get used to the sleeping position, at least try sleeping on your side instead of your stomach.
Heartburn what to do? – You should avoid these foods.
- Alcoholin large quantities irritates the stomach lining and can lead to heartburn.
- Sugary drinkssuch as cola, lemonade or energy drinks.
- Citrus fruitssuch as lemons, oranges and grapefruit usually contain a lot of acid and should not be consumed.
- ready mealsand high-fat foodssuch as fries, schnitzel, mayonnaise or cream sauces.
- legumes
- Smoked foodssuch as salami, ham, bacon, liver sausage, bacon.
