It goes by many names -- acid reflux, heartburn, acid indigestion -- but this malady is so widespread in our culture -- as indicated by prescription meds and over-the-counter meds -- due mainly to a poor diet along with damaging lifestyle choices. That's the bad news. The good news is that if you suffer from indigestion, it can be turned around and avoided by making some good preventative health choices.
What is Indigestion?
Technically, heartburn and acid indigestion are not exactly the same, but both are caused by either too much or too little acids and other digestive enzymes in the abdominal area. Heartburn occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, and acid indigestion takes place in the lining of the stomach. If these are ongoing, another chronic condition known as GERD (Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease) can result.
There are many causes of indigestion and heartburn, mostly involving poor dietary choices and the development of harmful bacteria in the stomach. But the root of the concern is found in the digestive tract. Indigestion is literally "in (or poor)-digestion." When the food we eat is ineffectively digested, it indicates that the digestive juices, enzymes, and helpful bacteria in the gut are out of balance. The result is what we call indigestion or heartburn.
What are the Symptoms of Indigestion?
Some of the most common symptoms include:
- A burning feeling in the stomach, esophagus, breast bone, and/or throat
- Gas
- Belching
- A feeling of fullness (bloating)
- Nausea
- Stomach aches/pains
- Abdominal bloating and discomfort
These symptoms are more than just uncomfortable. They are indicators of significant bowel and digestive system dysfunction that, especially if chronic, can lead to more serious illnesses such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, malnutrition, cancers of bowel, esophagus, throat, and others. When the body is acidic like this, it is a very unhealthy environment that attracts and enables disease.
How Can I Treat and Prevent Indigestion?
Here are some ideas on how to naturally deal with indigestion and heartburn:
- What you eat
The first weapon against indigestion is an organic, whole-foods based diet. Choose organic fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy oils and mainly vegetable sources of protein such as beans and other legumes. Stay away from what, unfortunately, many Americans eat: a high-fat diet, fried foods, soft drinks, coffee, alcohol, sugar, and excessively spicy foods. Gluten intolerance, or Celiac disease, is also an issue. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease in which the lining of the small intestine is damaged from eating gluten and other proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats. Many Americans suffer from gluten intolerance and don't realize that their health concerns are being caused by Celiac disease. Gluten intolerance can cause allergies, skin concerns, insufficient digestion, etc. - How you eat
Learn to eat smaller amounts of food and eat slowly, chewing each bite thoroughly.
Avoid drinking water or other beverages with your meals. This only dilutes digestive juices and can encourage indigestion due to poor digestion.
Take a tip from other cultures, such as the French, for example, who treat meal time as an event to be savored and enjoyed. Stress is always destructive, but while eating it can disrupt digestion and lead to heartburn. Put some quiet, peaceful music on while you dine and enjoy the company of others in a calm, unhurried way.
Keep the TV off when eating a meal.
Try not to eat after sunset.
It is also important to maintain a healthy weight, as obesity can contribute to indigestion as well.
Other tips include avoiding intense exercise after eating, and never lying down after a meal. A slow walk would be a much better idea.
Wear loose fitting clothes both during and after meals.
- Other preventative measures
About 30 minutes before eating, try drinking a glass of room temperature purified water with 1-2 teaspoons of organic apple cider vinegar mixed in. This does wonders for your digestive system, and helps to balance your pH levels too.
Enzymes. Take 20-30 minutes before a meal to help food to be digested and assimilated properly.
Raw, organic garlic will help to keep a bacteria called H. pylori under control that can result in indigestion.
Eat a bit of fresh pineapple after meals.
Digestive tract cleansing. Keeping the digestive tract cleansed by using an oxygen-based digestive tract cleanse and working effectively will help resolve most concerns with indigestion.
After eating, there are many herbal treatments that can help with indigestion. One of the most effective is a cup of delicious mint or chamomile tea after dinner. Minced ginger root or ginger tea are also excellent choices to soothe the stomach and prevent indigestion.
Beware of Drugs for Heartburn/Acid Reflux
One way you don't want to combat indigestion is with proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) medications. Your doctor will probably offer such drugs, as there are over 95 million prescriptions written annually for these drugs. However, they have some dangerous side effects, and may actually worsen your acid reflux. These medications can become addictive, in the sense that once a person stops using them, the symptoms increase. They also can cause bone damage by blocking the absorption of calcium. The good news is that there are so many natural, healthy ways to avoid indigestion and no one really needs to use these toxic chemicals, despite the propaganda of Big Pharma.
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