Your best natural heartburn cure
Some heartburn meds have been pulled from the market due to health concerns, making others like Pepcid harder to find. Not to worry! Home remedies can help
After-meal flares?
Before meals, sit for 2 minutes and take slow, deep breaths. Eastern Virginia Medical School researchers say this “pause” cuts heartburn risk by as much as 65%. Indeed, gastroenterologist Chris Khor, M.D., explains that pre-meal calm activates the enteric nervous system, a branch of nerves that speeds digestion and intestinal movement.
Daily burn?
Try d-limonene. This natural citrus peel extract neutralizes excess stomach acid and speeds digestion of high-fat meals, plus coats and protects delicate throat tissues. No wonder Danish researchers say taking
1,000 mg. daily ends heartburn
flare-ups for 90% of women in two weeks. And you could feel the relief within 48 hours of the first dose! Note: Check with a doctor before supplementing.
Late-night pain?
Swapping your usual evening snack for high-fiber popcorn, whole-grain crackers or dried fruit reduces the odds of latenight heartburn by 73%. Plus, it makes any flare-ups disappear in half the time, British scientists say. Digestion and stomach emptying naturally slow in the evening, allowing acids to creep up into your esophagus. But gastroenterologist Mari Konovalova, M.D., explains, “Fiber soaks up those acids, so
they stay in your stomach.”
Sleep disrupted?
Gravity keeps stomach acid down until you lie down, then ouch. A sweet Rx: raw honey. Australian researchers say 1 Tbs. at bedtime banishes the burn in minutes, plus lessens the risk of nighttime flare-ups by 52%. Credit raw honey’s rich stores of enzymes, which neutralize stomach acid and calm irritated throat nerves. — Brenda Kearns
Over 40?
Surprisingly, up to 33% of women over 40 feel the burn because of too little stomach acid. This slows digestion, allowing food and tissueirritating chemicals to wash up into the esophagus. The fix: sipping 1 Tbs. of unpasteurized cider vinegar in 6 oz. of water before meals. UCLA researchers say it could halt heartburn flares in 24 hours.