6 Natural Treatments for Indigestion and Heartburn

Flavorful food is always appreciated. However, many times that delicious taste treat can leave you with a feeling of distress and discomfort--indigestion and/or heartburn--that last far longer than the pleasure you got when you ate it. If not treated, that sensation can even approach the level of actual pain. Following are a few natural treatments for indigestion and heartburn.

Avoid Spicy Foods

One of the best natural treatments for indigestion and heartburn is probably the best advice you can give or get for anything that is potentially dangerous or painful--avoid it. Spicy foods are apt to cause indigestion and heartburn. Not eating the type of food that could cause you the misery associated with indigestion and heartburn is the best way to avoid the pain. Of course, people react differently to various foods. Some people can eat the spiciest food you can imagine, on a regular basis, and not experience any discomfort. Others suffer greatly from nothing more than a few small bites, or from foods that others don’t think have any taste at all. If you are one of the people who fall into the latter category, you should avoid spicy foods altogether.

Don’t Overeat

If you have a tendency to eat a lot of food at one time, you could increase the possibility of suffering through a bout of indigestion or heartburn. Overeating fills up your stomach and some of the food may be driven back up your esophagus, because until it’s digested the food has nowhere else to go. This could result in an increased chance of an attack of indigestion and/or heartburn.

Fresh Pineapple May Help

For those who like the taste of pineapple, it is a natural treatment for indigestion and heartburn that you might enjoy. You can either eat some fresh pineapple or drink pineapple juice. Eating or drinking pineapple can help in the digestive process, but you must be careful not to overdo it. Too much pineapple can cause gastrointestinal distress, which is what you’re trying to avoid.

Try Garlic Mixed with Apple Cider Vinegar

If you’re experiencing heartburn, you need help quickly because it can become quite painful if it goes untreated. One way to do that is to put a few cloves of garlic in a small glass of apple cider vinegar. Keep it refrigerated, and when you feel heartburn coming on you can drink the mixture. The garlic acts as an antiseptic and may help kill the bacteria that are causing the distress.  The apple cider vinegar will help restore a healthy pH balance to the stomach. You won’t need much, just a small amount with help quite a bit.

Avoid Problems by Drinking Tea

Many people drink tea on a regular basis. Some do it for the flavor of the tea or simply because it’s an accepted practice in certain parts of the world. Others swear there is a healthy benefit to drinking tea. One of those benefits may be the alleviation of the distress and discomfort caused by indigestion and/or heartburn. Various types of tea can be used for this purpose. Chamomile tea may provide effective relief from heartburn, and some herbal teas may also help. Teas that contain peppermint and caraway ingredients may help relieve indigestion. You may also want to try a little ginger tea following a meal. It could aid the digestive process and thereby avoid indigestion and heartburn altogether.

Don’t Lie Down After Eating

If you are in the habit of taking a nap or simply lying down following a meal, you could be increasing your chances of suffering from an attack of indigestion or heartburn. Instead of doing nothing but relaxing after a meal, try taking a walk around the block or around your yard. The inactivity can be conducive to indigestion and heartburn. If you exercise after eating, it will help the digestive process. The food won’t simply be lying in your stomach. Your body will start using the energy provided by the meal so you won’t feel bloated. You’ll feel better and probably won’t suffer as much from indigestion and heartburn.

Photo Credit cardiologist.org

Guest post from Casey Lynch. Casey writes for HomeInsurance.org.