Born into a family with indigestion problems, I remember suffering from heartburn in junior high school. So a few years ago, it was no surprise when I found out that I was suffering from a hiatal hernia, a small tear at the base of my esophagus that gives stomach acid free entry upward. Considering that my father and sister both suffer from this condition, I’d like to say that it was fate -- but stress and overexertion also helped bring it on in my case.
For the most part, I try not to take any drug for heartburn. While some doctors quickly prescribe heavy-duty doses of PPI’s (proton-pump inhibitors), I’ve found that reducing stomach acid is not the best idea, considering we need it to properly digest the food we eat. Instead, I focus on what I put into myself, searching for acid-fighting, alkaline-based foods as often as possible. The following four foods all help when the burn begins, so I don’t have to run to my medicine cabinet to ease the pain.
Food for Heartburn No. 1: Apple Cider Vinegar
The most popular home remedy is also the most effective. Fans of this treatment literally treat it as a cure-all, and the benefits appear to be many. From my own experience, I can vouch for its heartburn-soothing benefits: The acetic acid in vinegar (found in other varieties as well) helps stimulate the production of saliva, which reduces heartburn.
A word of caution: If you are going to try this method, dilute the vinegar with at least 50 percent water. If you drink pure vinegar, you are in danger of causing damage to your esophagus -- the very thing you’re trying to avoid!
My favorite apple cider vinegar is the most common brand: Bragg, which also makes a delicious line of apple cider vinegar beverages.
Food for Heartburn No. 2: Aloe Vera
Besides being great as a topical treatment for burns, aloe vera is wonderful for cooling heartburn. Since it can also be used as a laxative, be sure the bottle you buy does not contain aloe latex, aloin or aloe-emoin compounds. Aloe is an extremely potent drink, so I limit use to 2 tablespoons in a 12-ounce green apple/lemon/ginger/celery juice that I make. My wife and I buy Herbal AloeForce, a tasty raw and unfiltered product you can pick up at Whole Foods or other health food stores.
Food for Heartburn No. 3: Ginger
The key to ginger is amount: Too much can cause heartburn, but a little sliver (less than 4 grams) has plenty of anti-inflammatory qualities that can soothe an upset stomach. Ginger is also absolutely delicious. There’s no need to dilute it with anything -- just peel a chunk and eat it raw or use it in juice.
One last word of advice: Since ginger is a root, opt for organic. Any conventional root vegetable risks the chance of soil contamination.
Food for Heartburn No. 4: Sleepytime Tea
OK, I confess: There are no specific ingredients that help heartburn in sleepytime tea, one of the country’s most famous teas. Yet reducing stress helps prevent heartburn, so what better way of calming yourself down than with a mug of this incredible tea? Honestly, any chamomile-based tea will have similar effects. And though I’m someone who doesn’t get nostalgic very often, the little bear in his sleeping cap on the bottle is one I’ll always fall for.
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