Natural Heartburn Remedies in Chicago, IL

If your goal is to find natural solution and avoid medications when dealing with acid reflux, there are many ways to try and keep it at bay.

Natural Remedies to Treat ACID Reflux (GERD)

Trigger Foods

If you’ve suffered from acid reflux for a while, your body has probably already given you some indication of which foods to steer clear of. Keep a journal of foods that bother you and the symptoms you experience to help you identify your trigger foods. The most common among our patients tend to be:

• Tomatoes and tomato-based foods
• Spicy food
• Mint
• Fried and greasy food
• Coffee, tea, beer, wine, and other forms of alcohol
• Sweets and high-glycemic index foods
• High temperature meals

Healthy Weight

For some, losing weight does the trick to reduce symptoms resulting from acid reflux. We’d be happy to meet with you and discuss an exercise and weight loss regimen.

Mindful Eating

Overeating which often results when we eat quickly has proven to induce heartburn. Many of our patients report that they don’t even realize that they are fast eaters. Some mindful eating techniques that may help you to slow down and list to your body include:

• Pause before each meal to notice your food and acknowledge if you feel the food is nutritious.
• Eat smaller meals.
• Get rid of distractions, such as reading, watching TV, and checking your phone.
• Chew each bite thoroughly.

Sleep Techniques

Some struggle with night reflux due to esophageal acid exposure and acid clearance time. Here’s how to avoid nighttime symptoms:

• Avoid lying down after meals and wait 4 hours before going to bed.
• Use bed lifts or wedge pillows to elevate your head when you sleep.
• Sleep on your left side.

Tight-Fitting Clothing

Pressure on the stomach can lead to acid reflux, so adjusting our wardrobe to the following:

• Low-rise pants
• Elasticized waists
• Bigger sizes
• Dresses rather than skirts

Stress Management

Stress is can also be a trigger as studies have shown it to sometimes cause heartburn. Try incorporating stress management techniques into your life.

• Professional help with a psychotherapist
• Meditation
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Exercising
• Yoga

No Smoking

Nicotine tends to lead to relaxation of your lower esophageal sphincter, the muscle that closes off the esophagus to prevent heartburn, so smoking could be contributing to your acid reflux.

Natural Remedies

Add any of the following to your diet and record how your body responds to each.

• Honey
• Avocado
• Marshmallows
• Turmeric
• Ginger
• Apple cider vinegar
• Slippery elm, an herbal treatment
• DGL licorice
• D-limonene, a citrus peel extract

When You Should See a Doctor

Lifestyle and diet modifications are the ideal way to keep your heartburn under control, but if you find that you’re experiencing regular or severe bouts of acid reflux for the first time, call us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Lotsu. Long term acid reflux can lead to a damaged esophagus and more complicated issues. In fact, some heartburn symptoms stem from heart attacks and other underlying conditions. Therefore, if you are having chest pain, you must be seen by healthcare provider immediately to rule out heart disease.