Antacids are basic compounds that reduce the stomach’s acidity level. Maintaining the right pH measurement is very important to avoid circumstances such as hyperacidity. A pH level that is lower than seven is said to be acidic while levels higher than seven would be basic or alkaline.

Antacids are basic in nature; their main role is to neutralize stomach acids. Acid helps the body digest food but sometimes, this acid is over produced and could lead to heartburn which is the feeling of burning in the insides of the chest all the way to the throat and would give a slight sour taste with the food pushing its way up to the mouth and going back downwards the throat once again. This sensation is usually experienced after meals or heavy eating. Experiencing heartburn almost every day or many times daily is considered to be severe and safety measures should be made to avoid exacerbating the situation. If untreated, worst case scenario would be the wounding of the esophagus that would make it very hard to swallow food. This may also lead to cancer of the esophagus. Causes of which could also be eating too much before sleep, smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages, eating too much sweets, fried and fatty foods. Acidity also causes Gastro esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or the chronic and severed state of heartburn and many more different types of diseases such as gallstones which cause the gallbladder to malfunction.

Safety measures such as eating slowly and eating smaller meals could help prevent over producing of acids in the stomach. Chewing gum is one simple way to dilute acids from the stomach because it causes the mouth to produce saliva. Going to bed with a full stomach is one great way to heighten the acidity level, so better stay up for a few hours before going to bed to prevent heartburn. Sleeping with a wedged pillow or with the head a little elevated over the body helps keep acid in the stomach and prevents it from reaching the esophagus. Wearing loose clothes also helps because it doesn’t pushes whatever is inside the stomach upwards. Smoking decreases the functionality of the muscle that controls the esophagus’ opening which is the material that keeps acid into place, which is why putting a stop into smoking is very much suggested. Drinking water every after meal flushes stomach acids. Herbal teas can help too. Overweight or obesity contributes a lot to increasing acidity level in the body for the more reason that losing or maintaining the right weight is required to relieve symptoms of hyper acidity.

There are several kinds of antacids known to aid and reduce the stomach’s level of acidity in the form of medicine and drugs but as we all know, taking too much or even missing a single dose prescribed would make a difference – not to mention the side and adverse effects associated with it. Of course, the most natural way is much reliable and effective than the ones given over the counter. Avoiding foods such as sweets, as well as fried and fatty ones help quite a lot – and adding the different kinds of natural antacids onto your diet would make things easier. Aside from saving a lot of your money when you refrain from purchasing antacids in synthetic form, these natural antacids are more available at home and isn’t that hard to find.

• Bananas

  This simple fruit helps in relieving heartburn. Bananas produce protective barriers against stomach acids. Banana even mixed with milk may suppress secretion of acids. This fruit also contains soluble fiber that helps normalizing and soothes the digestive tract for a healthier digestive system and is very well known as a natural antacid. Aside from being just an antacid, banana gives off so many nutrients and substance that you will surely benefit from. Bananas are also rich in potassium.

• Celery Juice

  Celery is also rich in dietary fiber. Eating such food with high fiber would mean to eat in normal serving size but at the same time you consume less on fat and calories. This is also good for calming indigestion. This is also rich in calcium and vitamins A and C.

• Cranberries

  Aside from being rich in vitamin C and calcium, it contains an important component that is effective for a good stomach regimen. It prevents gastritis and hyper acidity. It soothes the flow of the digestive system. This is also proven effective in preventing urinary tract infections.

• Fiber

  Increasing dietary fibers helps reduce stomach acidity and may lead to decreasing the risk of heartburns. Eating high fiber diet includes fruits, beans, nuts, whole grains and vegetables.

• Licorice

  It is known for its active fighting ingredient for stomach infections; a good choice for calming the digestive tract and reducing the risk of heartburn and a precaution for ulcers because it fights the growth of potential intestinal bacteria that are very harmful. Eating it after big meals would be very helpful. This is high in calcium, which means it aids in neutralizing the stomach’s acidity.

• Papayas

  This is suitable after eating meat or heavy meals. This tropical fruit is ideal for breaking down protein from the food we eat and is good for heartburn and indigestion prevention. Papaya enzymes are very good for soothing the digestive tract. It contains vitamin E, potassium, lycopene, and folate which are known for its antioxidant abilities.

• Yogurt

  Fermented foods like yogurt support microorganisms with good bacteria which is essential to breakdown food for digestion. It is high in calcium which stabilizes the stomach’s pH level.

  Some people would prefer purchasing ready-made antacids which is in synthetic form but overdosing would also mean to destabilize the neutrality between acid and base in the body resulting to a failure in proper digestion, desterilizing stomach contents, and difficulty in absorbing trace elements, an increased risk of stomach cancer and many others. As always, the best way to do things is the natural way. As we all know, over taking or over dosing of medicine won’t do much but it could rather do more harm than good. Besides, synthetic forms of antacids only takes effect momentarily while the natural antacids are much more effective in the long run.

Sources
stop-heartburn-indigestion.com
foods-healing-power.com
womensforum.com