Avoiding heartburn with some ‘don’ts’
Heartburn can be avoided by following basic preventive measures. The foremost thing to keep in mind is to avoid alcohol and smoking. Alcohol can wreak havoc on the functions of the digestive system and this can become troublesome whenever you eat. Alcohol cannot be easily digested and so a large amount of gastric secretions is required to complete the task. Smoking can also harm and damage the inner walls of the esophagus and the respiratory tract. A damaged esophageal wall will have a decreased capacity to control the secretions, leading to chronic conditions of heartburn.
Coffee and other caffeinated beverages must also be avoided to keep heartburn away. The caffeine content in these products can increase gastric secretions as they can be digested only with a lot of acid. Limit your coffee intake to only once or twice in a day. Instead of these, you can take decaffeinated green tea or other decaffeinated drinks. Oranges and grapes are juicy fruits but they are to be avoided as they are rich in citric acid. Milk is often said to be a recommended drink for the management of heartburn, but for some, it can even trigger heartburn more rapidly.
Avoiding heartburn with some ‘dos’
Heartburn can be kept from affecting our digestive system by following some simple procedures that are beneficial to our health. The first important step is to eat what is fresh and organic. Depend on a healthy diet that limits the amount of junk foods, processed foods, and other spicy dishes. Try to have plenty of beneficial drinks, which can help in digestion. Water, lemon juice, vegetable juices, and protein shakes are all good for the intestine and for the stomach. They have been proven effective against heartburn.
Brush using only natural toothpaste, which can be beneficial in refreshing your mouth without the use of chemicals. Apple cider vinegar, almond, ginger, and turmeric are recommended for fighting heartburn. Completely chewing the food eases the strain on the digestive system. Heartburn can also be cured with some antacids and other products that can reduce the effect of acids. Chewing gum is also added to the list for curing heartburn, as an adequate secretion of saliva can neutralize the effect of the acids.
Avoiding stress also helps heartburn and if symptoms are observed, it would be best to take it easy at work and at home to give your overworked digestive system a rest.