Avoiding Heartburn

Try and identify your personal triggers and avoid them where possible.

Some foods will trigger heartburn for you. Identify them and avoid them.

Don't eat when angry, stressed, tense or experiencing negative emotions.

Don't over eat. Eat small meals frequently instead.

Sleep or rest with your head or upper body slightly elevated.

Make eating a relaxed event. Eat slowly and chew your food properly.

Drink in between meals rather than at meals.

Coffee irritates the stomach and can trigger heartburn. Switch to herbal teas.

Don't lie down or recline after eating. Try taking a short walk while your body starts digesting your food.

Fennel seed teas are stomach tonics and assist digestion.

Papaya contains digestive enzymes that will help. Pineapple and apple peel also contain digestive enzymes. Try eating small amounts before or after your meal.

Coping with Heartburn

Chew raw almonds slowly.

Drink Slippery Elm infusion. Severe heartburn can be alleviated by taking a teaspoon of Slippery Elm powder mixed with honey. This herb neutralises stomach acids, helps your body absorb gases and soothes your stomach.

A short term fix: Milk

Sip some milk on an empty stomach. Yogurt and cream work as well. Eating homemade fermented yogurt is better for you than consuming unfermented dairy products.

When you are feeling the burn of heartburn, milk can help relieve it but be aware that this is only a temporary fix and can possibly aggravate the problem later.

When milk is the only substance in a stomach, the gastric acid is neutralized, or buffered. Milk was designed to be in the stomach with absolutely no other substances. When milk is combined with other foods, milk prevents the stomach from doing its job.

Keep this in mind as dairy could be a trigger for your heartburn.

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