7 Hacks for Getting Through Holiday Heartburn
Whether it’s one too many handfuls of your aunt’s killer homemade Chex party mix, or one too many cupfuls of the killer—in other ways—office party punch, holiday party foods can wreak havoc on acid reflux. You could stock up on antacids, or you could try some of these all-natural tips.
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1. Sip peppermint tea.
Peppermint is a carminative, or an herb that prevents or helps expel gas. So it’s great for many a tummy trouble, including heartburn. A cupful of peppermint tea should get your digestive muscles firing again, or just steep peppermint leaves in boiling water—the essential oils will soothe the pain.
2. Try the reclining hero pose from yoga.
Relieve the pressure on your midsection by assuming this nerve-settling position. Kneel with your knees hip-width apart, then slowly lower your upper body and butt down to the ground and fall backward until you are entirely resting on the floor, arms extended up over your head. You might need a pillow under your head or back to help take the pressure off your knees. This pose stretches your abdomen and relieves digestive pressure.
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3. Eat an apple.
Yes, an apple a day keeps the heartburn away, too. Apples neutralize the acids in your stomach, so you might feel better within just a few minutes of eating one. Even one tiny slice is enough to make a difference.
4. Chew your food longer.
Heartburn is caused when stomach acid splashes back up into your esophagus. If you chew your food more throroughly, your stomach acid and digestive organs don’t have to work as hard to break it down, cutting down the likelihood of acid production, and thus reflux.
5. Drink apple cider vinegar.
Is there anything this stuff can’t do? Mix two teaspoons of raw apple cider vinegar into a half cup of water and down it. You could take at the first sign of heartburn, or drink between meals to keep it at bay.
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6. Eat ginger.
You might remember your mom giving you ginger ale to settle your stomach, and it wasn’t just an old wives’ trick—ginger has been shown to be extremely powerful at inhibiting acid production, so chew a bit or have some ginger tea to help quell your symptoms.
7. Chew gum.
This one couldn’t be easier! After your meal, freshen your breath and prevent acid reflux by chewing gum for 20 to 30 minutes. Gum stimulates the flow of your saliva, which helps keep the acid down and rebalances your pH.
By Kaitlin Menza
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