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Home Heartburn Remedies

I'm pretty glad I scheduled a sorry post just in case for thursday! We had a lovely day taking my godson Adam to the zoo, then a relaxed evening having a takeaway with Kerri, Lewis and Adam. While it was a fantastic day, it did mean that we didn't leave Kent until about 8pm and didn't arrive home in Bristol until gone midnight so I certainly wasn't about to write a blog! My camera died almost as soon as we got to the zoo (typically) so there are only a few photos of that, but there are some nice ones from the wedding that I will share with you once the camera is charged. :) Yesterday I was pretty much a zombie thanks to a late night and early start, but now I'm all recovered and ready to write a blog for you!

Today I thought I'd dedicate my blog to my partner Tom, but probably not in the way he expected! He suffers heartburn really badly and it can even disrupt his sleep at night, so I've looked up some home rememdies for heartburn and I will try to convince him to try some of them to see if I can help him out.

Heartburn is caused by acid from your stomach refluxing and coming back up your esophagus, creating a burning sensation in the chest and sometimes throat. It has a number of causes, from spicy foods and fizzy drinks to not chewing properly when you eat or over-eating. It's fairly simple to counteract if it's only a mild problem, but if you suffer chronic heartburn it's best to go see your doctor.

Here's a run down of home remedies that might give you relief from heartburn: (Please note this does not constitute as medical advice, simply things other people have tried and found to help. None of these remedies should be taken in the place of medical advice from your doctor.)

Keep your head up. Elevating your upper body while you sleep will reduce the effects of heartburn as gravity keeps the acid from refluxing as easily. Great for if you're asleep (or trying to be) and can't take something for it.

Don't sleep on a full stomach. Similarly, you shouldn't lie down too soon after eating as it will be easier for the food/acid to reflux. Stay upright for at least 1 hour and 2-3 hours if possible, as that's how long it will take for the food to pass through your stomach.

Watch what you're drinking - bad stuff. Caffeine, alcohol and fizzy drinks are all known to increase heartburn. Cut out each one individually to see if any of them are causing your problems. You should also avoid drinking during meal times, as this bloats your stomach which makes heartburn more likely. Instead drink after a meal, when you know you're not full up.

Watch what you're drinking - good stuff! Fruit juices such as mango, papaya, guava and pear will all help to soothe heartburn. Or if you have a juicer (and some odd taste buds..) stick cabbage or raw potatoes through it and drink that. Buttermilk is also good for heartburn, but don't get it confused with normal milk which will do the opposite!

Eat soothing foods. Try nibbling on some blanched almonds or plain brown rice, both of which won't need any extra stomach acid to digest. Alternatively, Soda Crackers are brilliant as they are easily digested and actually absorb some of the excess acid. Apples are also brilliant for cooling down the effects of heartburn - they can be eaten as they come or made into desserts for something a little more interesting.

Get spicy! I don't mean grab a chilli or curry, I mean look in your spice rack. Cardamom, Cinnamon, Ginger and Sage will all help heartburn, either by soothing the effects or preventing the causes.

Make your own antacid. 1/2 teaspoon of Bicarbonate of Soda in half a glass of water will soothe your heartburn in no time. Warning! If you're on a salt-restricted diet, do not use baking soda. OR Mix 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp honey and 1 cup warm water together and drink.

Chew properly and don't overeat. If your stomach is full to the brim with large chunks of barely chewed food, it'll push the food back up to make space for digesting. Instead chew your food properly before swallowing it and make sure to only eat what you need rather than filling up completely. Eating slower will mean your stomach will have more time to let you know it's full.

And finally... De-stress! Stress can cause excess acid secretion, so try to keep the stress to a minimum if you regularly suffer heartburn.

If none of these tips help, consult your doctor as something more serious could be causing the problem. I'll grab Tom soon and see if he'll be my guinea pig. If he will, I'll let you know which of these methods work best for you. :)

Do you have any heartburn tips I haven't mentioned? Or if you've tried one of these, how did it go?

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