To help you get an idea of how common acid reflux is, Healthline tells us that around 7 million Americans experience symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease in their lifetime, a condition commonly abbreviated as GERD. Furthermore, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reports that GERD generally affects 20% of the population in the U.S. at one time or another. If you are interested in learning about how to treat GERD naturally through acid reflux remedies at home, take a look at the recommendations below.
1. Baking Soda
The number 1 natural remedy for acid reflux on our list is one that you can easily find in your home or at your local store. Baking soda works so well as an acid reflux quick remedy owing to the fact that it can neutralize your stomach acid. In turn, you will be left without acid reflux thanks to the high pH level (over 7.0) of this base substance. This is actually one of the most popular home remedies for severe acid reflux, so you should really consider trying it for fast relief.
Instructions
- Take one teaspoon of baking soda and mix it with a glass of water.
- Mix well and drink the whole glass.
- Repeat the remedy multiple times throughout the day, but don’t drink more than 7 in one day. Moreover, don’t use it for over a week on a daily basis to avoid uncomfortable side effects.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
It’s almost impossible to create a list of home remedies without including apple cider vinegar. ACV is a wonderful natural remedy acid reflux sufferers can count on, thanks to its outnumbered health benefits. It might seem awkward to drink something acidic when you have acid reflux, but this anti-inflammatory ingredient has proven to be miraculous time and time again by actually adjusting low acid.
Instructions
- Drink 1-2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar on a daily basis. Add it to a bit of herbal tea if it’s too hard to swallow.
- Dissolve one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and drink twice every day as an alternative.
* Unfiltered, raw apple cider vinegar provides the best results.
3. Mustard
Among our wonderful natural remedies acid reflux victims can experiment with is mustard. Mustard has some amazing alkaline properties that can calm down your acid reflux and soothe the burning sensation. Similar to baking soda, it neutralizes your stomach acid and gets you back to tip-top shape in no time.
Instructions
- Get a good brand of mustard and consume 1 teaspoon.
- Repeat this remedy up to 3 times a day to get rid of acid reflux.
4. Aloe Vera
Just like apple cider vinegar, aloe vera is ubiquitous when it comes to natural home remedies. The main reason why aloe vera is among the top acid reflux remedies is that it has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. This means that it’s not only good for curing sunburns, but also for treating internal burns caused by acid reflux.
Instructions
- Cut open the leaf from an aloe plant and remove the gel inside to get natural fresh aloe vera juice.
- Drink ½ cup of this juice before every meal.
5. Sugar-Free Gum
An acid reflux natural remedy that you probably didn’t expect is chewing gum. Provided it contains no sugar, gum can help with your acid reflux because chewing it stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth. As a result, any acid that builds up will be flushed away with ease. This quick remedy for acid reflux actually has research to back it up, so you should really keep it in mind if heartburn kicks in.
Instructions
- Keep a pack of sugar-free gum with you at all times if you tend to get acid reflux.
- Chew a piece for 30 minutes after you finish a meal to protect your body from heartburn.
* Make sure that the gum you chew contains no sugar at all, so you won’t get any side effects or unpleasant results.
6. Chamomile Tea
Herbal remedies for acid reflux are always a pleasure to explore. As far as this category is concerned, chamomile seems to have the best impact on upset stomachs. Fenugreek is also an option, but chamomile is truly known to work like a charm. The reason is that it contains a plethora of active ingredients, from flavonoids, farnesene and chamazulene, to its powerful bisabolol.
Instructions
- Boil 1 cup of chamomile tea using 2 teaspoons of this herb.
- Drink a cup of chamomile tea about 30-60 minutes before you go to sleep.
- Repeat this nightly for a soothing effect. As an extra perk, its calming properties also might help you sleep better.
7. Apple
This category of acid reflux remedies is strongly connected to a saying that was always repeated to us when we were kids. ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’. An exceptional natural cure for acid reflux could be a red delicious apple, thanks to the fact that it contains a stomach-calming substance called sorbitol. You already know that apples also come with nutrients like dietary fiber, vitamin C or magnesium, so grab this as a snack instead of reaching for cookies after dinner.
Instructions
- Eat an apple after a meal to alleviate the symptoms of acid reflux or prevent them from occurring in the first place.
- Consume apples especially after dinner, before you go to bed, so you won’t get heartburn.
8. Ginger Root
One of the top herbal acid reflux remedies and generally a fantastic home remedy acid reflux patients can try is the anti-inflammatory and antiviral ginger root. It is known for taming a wide range of stomach issues – like cramps, motion sickness or nausea – so you can use it for other purposes too. You can easily purchase some ginger tea, but brewing your own pot with ginger root can bring even better relief.
Instructions
- Take 3 small pieces of ginger root and cut them into even smaller slices.
- Add them to 2 cups of water and allow them to boil for half an hour.
- Drink a glass of this ginger root tea roughly 20 minutes before every meal to prevent acid reflux.
9. Almonds
If you are looking for the best home remedy for acid reflux prevention, your answer just might be one of your favorite snacks. Like other acid reflux remedies on our list, almonds work by neutralizing your stomach’s acid and keeping you away from heartburn and the painful effects of acid reflux. Additionally, they are high in nutrients like calcium, vitamin E, iron, phosphorous or magnesium, all essential for stomach health.
Instructions
- Eat a handful of almonds after each meal to prevent acid reflux.
- Soak the same amount in water overnight to make almond paste, if you prefer a different method.
10. Bananas
While a banana might not be the best remedy for acid reflux in the book, it certainly is an effective, tasty and healthy alternative all at the same time. The great part about bananas is that they are loaded with antacids that can naturally protect you from acid reflux. Please make sure that the bananas you eat are ripe so you can enjoy the best results.
Instructions
- Eat a banana on a daily basis to alleviate potential symptoms of acid reflux.
- Don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor for professional medical assistance if you still have problems after a while.
Tips for Long-Term Acid Reflux Prevention
For those who frequently get heartburn, acid reflux remedies are more related to lifestyle decisions than hopping into your car and driving to your local market. As acid reflux is strongly connected to what you eat, you should start thinking about a few nutritious foods that can help you avoid it. While fatty foods and frizzy drinks aggravate acid reflux, foods rich in fiber and protein can keep you happy, healthy and heartburn-free.
The table below shows what you should and shouldn’t eat to avoid acid reflux.
| Diet Recommendations for Preventing Acid Reflux | |
| YES | NO |
| White Fish | Sodas |
| Melon | Food fried in oil |
| Broccoli | Mint |
| Carrots | Chocolate |
| Cabbage | Onions |
| Peas | Caffeine |
| Baked potato | Citric juices |
| Green beans | Tomatoes |
| Lean ground beaf | Garlic |
| Low-fat Greek yogurt | Alcohol |
| Cottage & Swiss cheese | Spices |
Conclusion
To sum up, we all know how annoying and discomforting acid reflux can be. It’s almost impossible to avoid at one point, as we can’t always control what we eat or how prone our body is to heartburn. However, we can take preventative measures and apply acid reflux remedies to keep that painful burning sensation away. Tell us all about your favorite remedy in a comment below!
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