The stomach produces strong hydrochloric acid which plays a major role in the digestive process. This acid is contained within the stomach by the closing of a valve in the lower oesophagus. A higher-than-normal concentration of the acid is quite common and it could be due to various reasons that cause acidity, some common ones being obesity, eating large meals, certain acidic foods like citrus fruits, alcohol, smoking, pregnancy and aerated beverages.

The symptoms of acidity include heartburn, a bloated feeling in the stomach, burping, hiccups, nausea and weight loss. An important thing to notice is that acidity is not a disease, but a symptom of an underlying disease. Unless there are serious structural issues, most cases of acidity can be managed with dietary and lifestyle changes. Some of the best, yet simple and effective ways to deal with acidity are listed below.

Habit of eating smaller, but frequent meals. Eating one large meal is one of the main causes of acidity. Eating smaller frequent meals gives the stomach time to digest the food and also avoid acidity.
Avoid eating close to bedtime. When you go to bed with a stomach full of food, you are sure to end up with acidity. A minimum of 3 hours should lapse between the last meal and the bedtime. This gives sufficient time for the stomach to clear the contents.
Sleep with the head of the bed slightly elevated. Raising the head of the bed ensures there is no regurgitation of food, thereby preventing acidity.
Daytime nappers with acidity issues can try to sleep in a recliner or on a chair to prevent acidity attacks.
Manage weight through weight loss measures including diet and exercise. Obesity is one of the main reasons for acidity, and managing weight can help control acidity.
Smoking is a major cause of acidity. The negative pressure created during smoking helps regurgitation of acid, causing heartburn. Quitting smoking can help relieve long-term acidity symptoms.
Alcohol is another substance that aggravates acidity, and reducing or quitting can help in relieving acidity.
Baking soda, aloe juice, banana, chewing gum, mustard, almonds, and chamomile are some natural remedies to relieve acidity.
Most people have certain foods which are the triggers for acidity. Identifying these and avoiding these can also be a good way to manage acidity.
Acidity is a major concern during pregnancy. The bloated feeling is worsened by the acidity and the developing baby.
Clothes which have tight belts or are tight around the waist can be another reason for acidity.
While acidity is a common issue, it also is something that can be easily managed. Try the above measures and see your heartburn reduce.

Acidity - 11 Ways You Can Deal With It!

The quote 'Good day starts with coffee' suits a lot of people who love nothing more than a cup of coffee every morning. However, your morning tryst with a cup of coffee might not be a very healthy habit. Believe it or not, addiction to caffeine (in the form of coffee) is as harmful as addiction to any other drug. In fact, caffeine is a legal drug that slowly and gradually damages your gastrointestinal tract. Here are the negative effects of coffee on your digestive system:

Increases Acidity: Coffee is known to contain different kinds of oils, acids and caffeine. These compounds have an adverse impact on the digestive system. The stomach and intestinal linings get damaged due to the over-consumption of these compounds in the form of coffee. Moreover, as you take coffee, your stomach produces more hydrochloric acid for digestion. This causes acidity and hampers the HCL levels altogether. When we take coffee regularly for years in empty stomach, our body's capacity of producing proper amounts of HCL gets hampered. Often, HCL production gets reduced as well. This leads to indigestion of other food items and effects flatulence and produces unwanted gases due to the improper breaking of proteins and fats by the body.
Ulcers and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Doctors believe that coffee acts as an irritant for patients of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), gastritis, Crohn's disease, colitis and ulcers. Coffee is responsible for the irritation of the lining of stomach and intestine. It is also noticed that certain enzymes present in the coffee beans are also harmful to the gastrointestinal tract.
Heartburn: Coffee is responsible for relaxing the esophageal sphincter muscle. The relaxation of this muscle hinders the process of digestion and causes acid-reflux, resulting in heartburn. It is known to have compounds that have diuretic, laxative and mineral blocking effects on the body.
Laxative Effects: Coffee stimulates the process of peristalsis or movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract. The peristalsis starts immediately after food is swallowed by the individual. The intake of coffee catalyzes peristalsis and consequently leads to emptying of the stomach even before the food is digested properly. The semi-digested food is sent to the intestine too early, causing injury to the intestine and hampering the absorption of nutrients.
Affects absorption of minerals: Caffeine reduces the ability of the stomach to absorb iron and also hinders the absorption of minerals like calcium, zinc and magnesium by the kidney. All these minerals help in digestion at different points and regulate the bowel movement.
Coffee is known to have benefits like reduction of constipation and sugar absorption. But, it also interferes with the smooth functioning of the digestive system. It has a tendency to increase stomach aches, disturb the fluid balance and the overall process of digestion.

Coffee and Your Digestion

Stomach produces gastric juices (acid and enzymes) for the digestion process. Acid reflux is a medical condition in which there is back flow of gastric juices/ acids from the stomach to esophagus. Too much reflex can cause the stomach acids to burn the esophagus and can result into serious complications. The esophageal sphincter lies at the junction where the stomach and the esophagus join; lower esophageal sphincter plays a most important role in acid reflux condition. This sphincter allows food to enter the stomach and it prevents the reflux of acidic stomach contents back into esophagus, as a result of malfunctioning of lower esophageal sphincter, condition like acid reflux develops.

Triggers of heart burn

Hiatal hernia
Pregnancy
Heavy meals
Certain medications
Alcohol
Chocolate
Spicy or fatty food
Peppermint
Carbonated drinks
Smoking
Exercise just after meal
Stress
Obesity
Lying just after meal
Acid Reflux Symptoms

Heart burn
Acid regurgitation
Dysphagia or difficulty swallowing
Dyspepsia
Stomach pain
Black stools
Sleep disturbance
Weight loss without any reason
Hoarseness or sorethroat
Chronic cough
Laryngitis
Asthmatic symptoms
Dental erosion
Recurrent aspiration
Otitis media
Non-cardiac chest pain
When it comes to the digestive system, heart burn and acidity are probably two of the most common medical complaints. These conditions may be often be considered synonymous. It is affected by the acid levels in the stomach. Heartburn refers to an irritation in the esophagus by this stomach acid. It is characterized by a burning sensation in the upper abdomen. You may also experience a bloating sensation in the stomach. An antacid can provide relief in cases of acidity but this relief is temporary and superficial. It does not address the root cause of acidity and hence does not reduce the frequency of heartburn attacks.

Homeopathy is a holistic form of medication that can be quite effective in the treatment of heartburn and acidity. This form of treatment does not address only the symptoms present but also looks into the overall physical, mental and emotional health of the person. In doing so, it addresses the root cause of the acidity and treats the problem as a whole. Unlike antacids and other allopathic medications, homeopathy does not follow a one size fits all approach. Though the symptoms may be similar, medication for each case must be customized to suit the patient s overall health. These are known as constitutional remedies.

According to homeopathy, heart burn and acidity is not a problem in itself but is a symptom of a larger problem. It may be indicating an allergy to a certain food, stress or overeating unhealthy food. Though homeopathy has negligible side effects, in case your heartburn is accompanied by vomiting, nausea, extreme pain or dehydration, you must seek advice from a homeopathic doctor and not try to treat yourself. Homeopathic medication can relieve the symptoms of acidity as well as strengthen your digestive system so as to reduce the chances of recurrent acidity attacks. If your acidity is triggered by an allergy, it can also help treat this allergy.

Homeopathic medication is derived from natural sources. These medications are usually mild and do not overtake the body s immune system to treat a condition but support and strengthen it. Some of the common homeopathic remedies used to treat heart burn include Nux Vomica, Arsenicum, Ipecacuanha, and Podophyllum. The best medication for you will depend on the intensity of your symptoms, the food you feel it has been triggered by and any other symptoms you may be experiencing. Along with knowing the right medication, it is also important for it to be consumed in the right dosage and frequency.

Homeopathic Treatment of Heartburn and Acidity Accompanied By Bloating!

The acids help the body dissolve the food particles and also break it down to more basic elements. However, when the body produces too much acid, it causes acid reflux which can cause discomfort. Too much acid within the body, which is also known as hyperacidity, can be caused by a multitude of factors.
Known and effective ayurvedic cures
Ayurveda considers acidity to be a'pitta' problem and it can be corrected by following certain simple steps. There are other food ingredients which are also used as remedial tools. Let's have a look at some of the dos and don'ts of ayurvedic remedies for acidity.

Don'ts for acidity according to ayurveda
1. Limit junk food and other foods, which are very heavy in fats and processed items: most processed foods and junk food usually made in stores contain unhealthy fats. The stomach needs to produce more acid in order to digest them and thus may end up causing acidity.

2. Stop excessive consumption of tea, coffee: stop consumption of caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee and other caffeine injected drinks which may encourage the production of more stomach acids.

3. Stop the consumption of alcohol and cooperates: apart from being generally bad for health as both of these are known contributors of cancers, they can even affect smaller day to day functions and can lead to acidity.

4. Don't consume foods which are high in acidic content: if you tend to like food which is very high in acidic content, it is advisable to limit its consumption. Some examples of this are:

1. Vinegar
2. Curds
3. Pickles
4. Tamarinds
5. Sour citrus fruits
6. Salty fried foods

Dos for acidity according to ayurveda
There are multiple solutions for acidity in ayurveda which have been known cures for generations. Let's take a look at some of these.

1. Do have meals on time: it is best to not skip meals as this can cause the acidity levels within the stomach to rise if it doesn't have any food to digest. It is especially harmful to skip breakfast and then have a heavy lunch to compensate.

2. Do have amla or indian gooseberry: this is a very effective weapon against acidity and chewing a few morsels will easily cure the problems in your stomach.
Pomegranate juice: very small quantities of pomegranate juice on a daily basis will be very beneficial for a bad case of acid reflux.

3. Coconut water: drink coconut water as it is known to have properties to neutralize the stomach acids.

4. Aniseed: also known as saunf, you can chew them raw and slowly swallow with water for quick relief from acidity.

5. Jeera: jeera consumed with warm ghee and then mixed with rice tends to be very good for acidity as well.

Ayurvedic Remedies for Acidity

Acidity is an ailment that troubles most people regardless of the absence of any other medical condition. It causes discomfort in the chest region along with heart burn and indigestion. If you are distressed with acidity, you may consider undergoing Ayurvedic treatment which would help in alleviating the problem to a great extent.

1. Tulsi leaves:
  Tulsi leaves help in stimulating the stomach for production of more mucus and are also rich in anti-ulcer properties which cause a significant reduction in the effects of gastric acid.
  It is recommended to chew 5 to 6 clean Tulsi leaves when you have acidity to soothe the stomach.

2. Bananas:
  The potassium content in ripe bananas helps in eliminating sudden bouts of acidity.
  Bananas also aid in relieving constipation problems and cause healthy bowel movement.

3. Cumin seeds:
  Cumin seeds which are commonly used in cooking dishes have anti-inflammatory properties that aid in soothing the digestive tract.
  These stimulate saliva production, boost metabolism and relieve the problem of bloating along with other discomforts caused by gastric troubles.
  You may chew a few cumin seeds when troubled with acidity or boil them in water and drink the solution.

4. Cold milk:
  The richness of calcium in milk aids in reducing acid problems and absorbing the acid which has already been produced.
  It helps in providing instant relief from the burning sensation owing to its coldness.
  But it is important to drink it plain without any additives like sugar.

5. Cloves:
  Cloves are known for their calmative properties which help to improve the process of peristalsis by which food moves down the stomach.
  When you put a clove in your mouth, just bite it once to help in releasing the extracts which would reach your digestive tract and immediately lower down the acid reflux.

6. Ginger:
  If you do not find raw ginger to be very pungent, you can keep a candied ginger slice in your mouth for instant relief from acidity.
  If you feel that you wouldn t be able to chew raw ginger, you can boil it in water and drink it after it cools down.
  Ginger can be also eaten with a small piece of jaggery to help the juice reach the stomach and alleviate the acidity.

7. Mint leaves:
  Commonly referred to as  pudina , mint leaves are known for lowering the acid content and improve digestion.
  If you feel that an acid attack is imminent, you can chop down a few mint leaves and boil it in water and drink the solution for eliminating bloating problems.

These few Ayurvedic remedies can help in soothing acidity along with its other symptoms.

Acidity - 6 Amazing Home Remedies That Can Help!

One of the most common health problems people have is indigestion. As per ayurveda, the accumulation of Ama or toxins leads to an imbalance in the way the small and large intestines functions along with various other participating organs like the liver and more. And this is the rootcause for indigestion.

The digestive tract or system is one of the most important organs of the body. Ayurveda relies on the rhythms and functions of the body to find the rootcause of ailments. Indigestion usually occurs because of bad daily habits & less physical activity.

There are many ways to treat to indigestion in an ayurvedic way. Let us look at the top tips for the same:

Timely intake of meals: For better digestion, one must take meals at the same time everyday. Also, do not sit down for the next meal before the previous meal has been digested properly.
Sleep: Sleep is a major factor that cure stress and creates a balance of sorts in one's routine, thus aiding proper digestion.
Exercise: Some form of movement and exercise is imperative to keep the digestive system in prime working condition. Walk and yoga especially are ideal to boost one's digestive health.
Aloe vera: An ounce of aloe vera a day will keep indigestion away. Break off, a leaf and scoop some gel into a smoothie for smooth digestion.
Turmeric: Haldi or turmeric helps in reducing bloating and is one of the most commonly used spices found in ayurveda. This spice is a staple in indian cooking as well, where pretty much all dishes are seasoned with cooked turmeric.
Meditation: This is one of the best ways to give digestion a positive push with a good dose of mindfulness and awareness for better balance in the body.
Avoiding unhealthy food: One must avoid unhealthy food that are excessively fried, fatty, sweet or cold so as to aid the digestive fires in doing their job effectively.
Triphala: This combination of three fruits ensures that your digestive system remains in good working condition.

Digestion Problem? Know The Simple Ayurvedic Remedies to Cure It!!  

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