Acid reflux, or GERD, is a common issue where stomach acid flows back into the throat, causing irritation. This can lead to symptoms like heartburn (a burning feeling in your chest), a sour taste in your mouth, coughing, or bad breath.
Causes of acid reflux
Problems with the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle that stops stomach acid from going up, often happen as people get older. This can lead to acid reflux. Certain things like medicines, alcohol, and smoking can also mess with this muscle.
There are other reasons for acid reflux, too:
- Trouble with how the esophagus squeezes can keep it from pushing acid back down.
- If the stomach doesn't squeeze often enough, food stays in there too long, creating pressure and making the esophageal sphincter open. This lets food and acid go up into the esophagus.
Other things like smoking, eating acidic foods, stress, being pregnant, or being overweight can also cause acid reflux. If you're having these issues, it's important to talk to a doctor.
How acid reflux can affect you
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Esophagitis: When stomach acid keeps reaching your food pipe (esophagus), it can cause inflammation, called esophagitis. This may make you feel pain, find it hard to swallow, and in severe cases, even bleed.
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Barrett's Esophagus: If acid reflux isn't treated for a long time, it might lead to Barrett's esophagus. This means the cells in the lower part of your food pipe change. Barrett's esophagus is a step towards getting esophageal cancer.
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Respiratory Complications: Acid reflux can also lead to stomach contents going into your lungs, causing breathing problems like coughing and wheezing. It can make conditions like asthma worse.
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Dental Problems: When acid from your stomach comes up into your mouth during reflux, it can harm your teeth. This might lead to dental problems like erosion and other issues in your mouth.
- Sleep Disturbances: Acid reflux can get worse at night, disturbing your sleep and possibly causing insomnia.
Natural supplements for acid reflux
Lots of people are turning to natural supplements to find relief from acid reflux symptoms. It's worth noting that instead of just treating the symptoms with medication, it's often better to figure out the root cause. If you're exploring natural ways to ease symptoms, here are some suggestions and insights into how they work. Still, keep in mind that individual reactions can vary, so it's wise to consult with a healthcare professional before adding supplements to your routine.
1. Turmeric
Turmeric, historically valued in traditional medicine, holds potential as a natural remedy for acid reflux due to its active compound curcumin, and shows promise in alleviating acid reflux symptoms through its anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, and antioxidant properties.
Turmeric is known for helping with heartburn and inflammation. To use it for acid reflux, you can take dried and ground turmeric powder either by mouth or in your cooking. However, it might be hard to get enough benefit because your body doesn't absorb turmeric well. To improve its absorption, you can eat turmeric with piperine, which is found in black pepper. The pepper helps turmeric work better in your body.
2. Banana
Bananas are known for their rich nutritional profile, containing essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Bananas might help with acid reflux because they are considered alkaline-forming fruits. This means they can raise the pH level in your stomach. Eating alkaline foods like bananas may neutralize too much acidity, relieving acid reflux. Bananas are also packed with pectin, a type of soluble fiber. Studies show that pectin can create a gel-like barrier in the stomach, protecting the esophagus from stomach acid and soothing acid reflux symptoms.
3. Licorice Root
Licorice root, derived from the Glycyrrhiza glabra plant, has a rich history of traditional use for its anti-inflammatory properties, particularly in addressing symptoms of acid reflux and indigestion. Scientific research, including meta-analyses and clinical studies, suggests the potential efficacy of licorice root supplementation in reducing symptoms of acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Its anti-inflammatory properties soothe digestive tract irritation. Licorice Root also stimulates mucus production, creating a protective barrier against stomach acid, and may also have mild antacid effects, reducing acidity. Its muscle-relaxing properties could lessen the occurrence of acid reflux episodes.
4. Ginger:
Ginger is well known for its anti-inflammatory effects and has been looked into for its potential to alleviate symptoms of acid reflux as well. Research indicates that it might have the ability to relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and reduce the creation of inflammation-causing substances in the esophagus. While ginger has been traditionally used as an alternative remedy for various health benefits and is commonly used to soothe upset stomachs and relieve nausea, mostly in the form of ginger drinks, research on its effectiveness in managing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is limited.
A small study demonstrated significant improvements in symptoms like nausea, belching, bloating, heartburn, and epigastric pain with daily powdered ginger intake. Despite its traditional use for nausea relief, don't go overboard with your ginger intake as excessive consumption of ginger may potentially contribute to heartburn instead of fight it.
Conclusion
Managing acid reflux can be tough, but there's hope in natural supplements and herbs. Turmeric, ginger, banana, and licorice root have shown promise in easing symptoms, backed by scientific research. However, it's crucial to talk to healthcare professionals before adding these supplements to your routine to avoid potential interactions with medications or underlying health issues.
References
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Eliaz, I., & Weil, E. (2012). Protective Effects of the Modified Citrus Pectin Intestinal Barrier Function in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 18(6), 90–98.
Tangaroonsanti, A. (2019). Acid reflux disease: A condition brought on by stress which can be dangerous if left untreated. https://www.samitivejhospitals.com/article/detail/acid-reflux-disease