How to Prevent and Reverse Acid Reflux Naturally
Natural prescription and over- the- counter anti-acids: you’ve tried them all, like thousands of other Americans, but without them, you just can’t seem to get rid of that annoying heartburn, acid indigestion, burning sensation in your abdomen and esophagus. Chronic heartburn, or shall we say chronic acid indigestion, can be prevented, treated and even reversed naturally. The journey starts in your kitchen, as many different foods help put it out as well as contribute to its onset. There are also at least 20 different herbs available on the market today that are natural anti-acids and they are cheap too. Learn how to treat the root cause of acid indigestion, and you are back in the driver’s seat- in charge of your own healthcare. You can learn how to prevent it as well as reverse it.
What better way to treat acid indigestion than to dig into a bowl of vanilla ice cream or sip on a glass of cola. Yes, you heard correctly. These food items are natural anti-acids, as well as many other sweet sugary foods. (If you are concerned about calories, opt for one of the reduced calorie ice creams now available on the market.) Sugar is a natural anti-acid. You experience this effect when you add it to tart strawberries or blackberries when making a pie. There is a therapeutic use for this processed, nutrient stripped white substance after all. Other naturally sweet anti-acid foods include: milk, pudding, ricotta cheese, red delicious apples, pears, purple sweet grapes, dates, figs, honeydew, coconut, and peppermint. Anti-acid vegetables and other food products include white potatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, kale, collards, most leafy greens (salad material), cucumbers, asparagus, avocado, plain tofu, and white rice.
But wait! Before you begin eating that salad, pay careful attention to the type of salad dressing you are drizzling on top of it. Is it sour, or more on the sweet side? If it is a raspberry vinaigrette or simple oil and vinegar dressing, chances are that it is sour and only adding to your existing problem. Which brings me to the number one cause of chronic heartburn: too much acidity in the gut. Acid reflux or chronic acid indigestion is caused from too much acid, period. Some people’s systems naturally tend to make more of it than others to begin with. But any food that is acidic and if consumed frequent enough, will cause it to develop in sensitive people. What foods are acidic? Basically any substance that is sour is the greatest offender. That even includes sour natural supplements such as vitamin C. Fermented foods also fall into this category because they are considered sour. For example, to make yogurt, you have to let it sour and ferment.
Foods that fall into these two categories are: grapefruit, lemons, limes, tangerines, kiwis, rhubarb, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, granny smith apples, yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk, pickles, vinegar, cheese, coffee, alcohol, sourdough bread, tomatoes, ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, tartar sauce, and even sweet fruits that might be more tart than sweet such as: unripe green bananas, oranges, pineapple, green grapes, and peaches. Unless the fruit you buy is overly ripe and sweet, you may be better off buying it canned, swimming in light syrup, or sweetened with table sugar.
The second main cause of acid reflux is spicy foods. Say goodbye temporarily to your chilies, strong salsa, spicy Mexican food, and Indian cuisine. Curry, horseradish, garam masala, chili powder, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and even too much black pepper or garlic, can cause acidity to increase. The hotter the spice/seasoning, and the more frequently consumed, the more it will aggravate or provoke chronic acid indigestion.
The good news is that, along with avoiding sour, fermented, and spicy foods, you can temporarily take anti-acid herbs for a certain length of time for double action. Some of these are: dandelion, tumeric, peppermint, cumin, marshmallow, licorice, slippery elm, shatavari, red raspberry leaf, aloe, and red clover. Stronger herbal anti-acids include: neem, goldenseal, and gentian.
So next time when eating out, if you decide to order a plate of spaghetti with a spicy tomato sauce, or a pizza with spicy wings, add a salad, a coke, or a dish of vanilla ice cream to neutralize the acidity. Then pop 1-2 capsules of gentian, cumin, dandelion, goldenseal, licorice, or neem. This is not the type of eating I recommend on a regular basis for this condition, but if you must cheat, here’s how to do it. Bon appetite!
copyright 2003 Pat O'Brien
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