We often don’t give due attention to the digestive issues that they deserve. This could be because most of the time the discomfort is temporary or for a short spell. We only react to digestive issues if the condition becomes extremely painful to endure. Digestive ailments, if left untreated, could also wreak havoc on our health. One of the most common digestive disorders is acidity. Acidity is defined as a digestive disease in which stomach acid or bile irritates the food pipelining. Acidity can cause heartburn – a burning sensation in the chest, stomach, and throat. Frequent episodes of heartburn (more than two-three times a week) may lead to severe problems like Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), which calls for medical intervention.
Common symptoms associated with acidity are:
- Abdominal discomfort, especially on an empty stomach
- Nausea or maybe vomiting
- Bloating; increased abdominal girth
- Change in motion; loose motions or constipation
- Loss of appetite
To overcome the problem of acidity, one must maintain a healthy lifestyle, which means eating at the right time, eating in a sitting position, chewing your food well, sitting upright for at least half an hour after a meal. Small frequent meals, as opposed to heavy meals and regular exercise all, help keep this in control. There are some foods and home remedies that may help keep acidity or related problems at bay. Home-based remedies do work well in alleviating the symptoms of acidity and also the long-term benefits of controlling the acidity.
Foods and Home Remedies to Combat Acidity:
Ajwain- Carom seeds have long been associated with alleviating gastric discomfort and aiding in robust digestion. Its biochemical Thymol, an active ingredient in ajwain, helps in aiding robust digestion. Carom seeds can be taken with a pinch of salt, chewed, and ingested; you can also soak a teaspoon in water overnight and have the water.
2. Saunf- Taking a pinch of saunf (or fennel seeds) after a meal is quite a common part of Indian tradition. This helps with mouth odor but more importantly, this practice started because it helps with digestion. A mixture of saunf and mishry is better for digestion. Saunf is given to small babies for relieving colic – it is safe and effective to use. Other than after a meal, saunf soaked in water overnight can also be used or warm saunf water can be made. Saunf can also be added to tea. Adding a little sugar helps more.
3. Yogurt- Yogurt is another way of controlling acidity. In addition to calcium, it also is a natural probiotic that provides for a healthier gut and better digestion.
4. Honey- Research has shown that taking a teaspoon of honey with warm water helps with acidity. Adding some lemon to it makes it a good alkalizing agent which neutralizes the acid in the stomach.
6. Fruits- All fruits, including citrus fruits, leave an alkaline ash, neutralizing acids. They also add fiber which improves digestion and health. Taking two fresh fruits daily is a good strategy for controlling acidity. Fruits make for a good snack option, and taking snacks between meals is a good way to control acidity harming the stomach lining.
