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Going out with your colleagues post-work for greasy Chinese, indulging in pizzas over the weekends with your friends and reaching for packets of chips while binge-watching shows can often cause you that occasional indigestion. And let’s admit it, an unwelcome attack of indigestion in the midst of a long workday is the worst. This is why we decided to share simple home remedies for indigestion that can instantly edge out acid reflux.
1. Symptoms Of Indigestion
2. Drinking-Water – Home Remedies For Indigestion
3. Peppermint Tea – Home Remedies For Indigestion
4. Bananas – Home Remedies For Indigestion
5. Apple Cider Vinegar – Home Remedies For Indigestion
6. Fennel Seed – Home Remedies For Indigestion
7. Ginger – Home Remedies For Indigestion
8. Baking Soda – Home Remedies For Indigestion
9. Lemon Water – Home Remedies For Indigestion
10. BRAT Diet – Home Remedies For Indigestion
11. Coconut Water – Home Remedies For Indigestion
12. FAQs:
Symptoms Of Indigestion
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Symptoms of indigestion include bloating and a feeling of fullness, both of which can be exacerbated after a meal. These can also be accompanied by stomach pains, acid reflux, chest pain, belching and general discomfort upon eating. In severe cases, it can even lead to vomiting and heartburn, a burning sensation in the chest.
Although it is advisable to see a doctor when these symptoms are chronic and acute, here are some home remedies that are effective in treating indigestion, an extremely common and easy to manage the ailment.
Drinking-Water – Home Remedies For Indigestion
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Drinking water can neutralise the acids in our stomach, thus proving to be a go-to remedy for gastrointestinal problems such as acid reflux by lowering any high pH levels in the body. While it is an easy remedy for indigestion, it is one that must be cautiously used.
Pro tip: Consuming small sips of water in between meals can aid digestion whereas large gulps of water are likely to have an adverse effect.
Peppermint Tea – Home Remedies For Indigestion
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Peppermint tea is IBS’s kryptonite. Irritable Bowel Syndrome causes a wide variety of symptoms such as diarrhea and constipation, the most prominent of which are abdominal pain and cramping. Peppermint causes symptom relief and scientifically proven benefits in reducing the severity of abdominal pain. Consuming peppermint in the form of tea can have a soothing effect on the gut and even alleviate nausea and vomiting.
Pro tip: As with everything in life, it is only advisable to be consumed in moderation.
Bananas – Home Remedies For Indigestion
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Bananas are a prebiotic food and produce fatty acid in the gut and friendly bacteria in the intestines, which are associated with reduced stomach discomfort and relief from IBS. Its high fiber content makes it the perfect remedy for treating constipation by normalising bowel movements. This fruit is particularly rich in fiber pectin which aids digestion and clears toxins from the body. It is also one of the primary components of the BRAT diet which is commonly prescribed for diarrhea.
Pro tip: Stick to the regular one or two intakes and don’t overdo it.
Apple Cider Vinegar – Home Remedies For Indigestion
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ACV is a kind of fermented apple juice that is commonly regarded for its benefits to the gut. It is a great remedy for indigestion as it contains natural probiotics that stimulate the production of good bacteria in the stomach. It also prevents bloating and heartburn by ensuring that there are sufficient acid levels in the digestive system.
Pro tip: Apart from digestion, apple cider vinegar, when consumed in the right proportions is also considered beneficial for weight loss, hair health and diabetes.
Fennel Seed – Home Remedies For Indigestion
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No remedy is as useful for preventing bloating as is fennel seed, commonly referred to as saunf in Indian households. There is a scientific reason behind the custom of Indian restaurants serving fennel seeds after a meal: it’s ability to speed up digestion. It is also able to suppress nausea that can set in after eating by increasing bile flow from the liver to the gallbladder. Its low acid composition and nutritional properties have elevated it to the status of a superfood or a miracle food that is useful in treating almost all symptoms of indigestion – ranging from inflammation to heartburn.
Pro tip: Chewing on a teaspoon of fennel seeds can stimulate gastric enzymes in the digestive system which help our bodies to break down food.
Ginger – Home Remedies For Indigestion
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Ginger is the best remedy for digestive issues such as inflammation and acid reflux. It absorbs stomach acids and decreases gas formation, thereby helping with symptoms of acid reflux. It can be consumed in several forms, such as tea, powder or ale, making it a remedy that can easily be concocted at home and is easy to use.
Pro tip: Despite its benefits in maintaining digestive health, ginger must be carefully consumed in restricted quantities to avoid any adverse side effects such as heartburn and stomach problems.
Baking Soda – Home Remedies For Indigestion
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Sodium Bicarbonate commonly referred to as baking soda is a chemical salt that is known for its remedial properties. As it is an alkaline substance, dissolving baking soda in water and drinking on an empty stomach can serve as a powerful antacid that prevents acid reflux by neutralising the high pH levels in the gut. Not only does it maintain digestive health but also cleanses the digestive tract when consumed with some lemon juice.
Pro tip: Baking soda can also be used to stimulate burping to release excess gas trapped in the stomach, alleviate heartburn and reduce bloating.
Lemon Water – Home Remedies For Indigestion
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Drinking warm lemon water in the morning not only supplies one with some amount of the vitamin C necessary for the body but its citric acid content stimulates the secretion of gut enzymes that facilitate the process of digestion. Lemon water is popular for its detox properties and ability to alleviate digestive problems.
Pro tip: However, given the acid levels contained in lemon, this remedy should be used with a grain of salt because it could lead to heartburn and acid reflux.
BRAT Diet – Home Remedies For Indigestion
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The BRAT diet is a specially curated diet that comprises bananas, rice, applesauce and toast and is prescribed as a solution for acute digestive problems such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Although these foods are not the only ones that can be consumed in this diet, they are its main components because of their low fiber content, which makes them easy for the body to break down and absorb.
Pro tip: Since the diet is considerably low in nutritional value, it is only recommended for 2-3 days, especially for children and the elderly, after which they should resume their normal, everyday diet.
Coconut Water – Home Remedies For Indigestion
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Coconut water contains high amounts of potassium which aids in digestion. It also contains 5 of the 7 electrolytes in the human body, which is helpful in treating the electrolyte imbalance caused by diarrhea, vomiting and other digestive problems. Tannins are a type of biomolecules that are also found in coconut water and have anti-inflammatory properties.
Pro tip: As coconut water is a diuretic, having one glass every day can greatly improve digestive health and keep the body hydrated.
FAQs:
Q. Does milk help indigestion?
A. Several people contend that milk is beneficial in treating symptoms of indigestion such as acid reflux and heartburn. However, milk is also commonly implicated in giving rise to these very problems. Thus, it is more advisable to use safer and more effective remedies such as baking soda, coconut water, and fennel seeds to help with indigestion.
Q. What is the best natural antacid?
A. Ginger is the best natural acid and provides relief from acid reflux and other digestive problems.
Q. Does honey and hot water help acid reflux?
A. Yes, drinking honey and hot water is able to ease acid reflux and heartburn symptoms by reducing inflammation and stomach gases.
Q. What can I drink for heartburn at night?
A. Drinking ginger tea is a great remedy for treating heartburn at night because of its soothing properties that treat digestive issues such as acid reflux and inflammation. Consuming ginger tea before bed can also ensure that you have a healthy digestive system and can ease you into a mindful sleep.
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