If you’ve ever suffered from acid reflux, you know how irritating and uncomfortable that burning feeling can be. It can make completing everyday activities quite difficult and uncomfortable.
Fortunately, there are many proven home remedies for acid reflux symptoms that you can try. For example, some people find relief from drinking hot water.
Does drinking hot water help acid reflux?
Drinking hot water can calm your stomach, aid digestion, and relieve symptoms of GERD and acid reflux. Water also dilutes the stomach contents, preventing acid from rising into the esophagus, which is the main cause of acid reflux. In addition, drinking water ensures adequate hydration, which is necessary for health.
How does hot water help with heartburn?
Drinking enough water every day dilutes stomach acid so it is less potent and less likely to cause acid reflux.
It also helps maintain proper electrolyte balance in your body, which is essential for treating GERD symptoms and acid reflux.
The pH of most water is neutral or around 7.0 , which can help make acidic foods that cause heartburn alkaline.
Water also mixes well with fiber in your stomach. Not only does this help curb your appetite so you don’t overeat, but it’s also a great way to absorb excess stomach acid.
This way the acid doesn’t get into the esophagus and cause an unpleasant burning sensation and many other symptoms.
Therefore, consuming fiber-rich foods combined with some water is a good way to combat acid reflux symptoms.
In addition, drinking hot water stimulates metabolism and speeds up digestion. This means that the foods that cause stomach acid reflux are removed from your body more quickly, preventing more serious and unpleasant symptoms from developing.
However, always make sure the water is not too warm as this can worsen your reflux symptoms.
Additionally, a cup of warm water helps flush out the toxins that build up in your body throughout the day.
These toxins can cause more damage to your esophagus and make your acid reflux worse over time. Therefore, ending the day with a glass of warm water can be beneficial in several ways.
Many people also choose to add honey to their warm water and drink it every evening. Honey is a well-known antioxidant and helps protect our cells from free radicals.
These free radicals can cause acid reflux because they can damage the lining of your esophagus and cause inflammation.
Therefore, adding a little honey to your hot water can reduce inflammation and soothe the burning sensation.
Can fruit-infused water help with heartburn?
If you have trouble drinking enough water every day, consider adding some fruit. While all fruits are acceptable for most people, those who suffer from acid reflux and GERD should opt for low-acid fruits.
These can include melons, watermelons, berries (strawberries or raspberries), or peaches.
Infusing water with fruit adds additional flavor to the drink, meaning you’re more likely to drink enough water each day.
On average, men should drink 15.5 cups of fluid per day and women should drink 11.5 cups of water per day .
That may seem like a lot, but by adding some fruit flavor to your water, you increase the likelihood of drinking enough every day.
If you’re infusing your water with fruit, it may be best to choose lukewarm or cold water. This way the fruit does not lose its nutrients and health benefits.
Another alternative is to add dried leaves to your hot water, especially if you prefer it warm, and make a tea with it.
Certain teas have anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce the intensity of reflux symptoms.
Is cold or hot water better for heartburn?
There is varying research when it comes to whether hot or cold water is better for acid reflux. However, there is no evidence that drinking will make your heartburn worse either.
In fact, it is important to drink enough water to stay healthy. So going without water will only harm you.
Whether you drink cold or hot water depends mostly on your preferences and the type of drink you are making.
For example, tea requires hot water, while fruit-infused water is best served cold. However, there is something to be said about hot water’s ability to dilute stomach acid better than cold water.
You may want to try using lukewarm water, gradually increasing the temperature – without getting too high.
Is hot tea good for heartburn?
Teas, like hot water, are a good home remedy for heartburn. However, be careful to choose teas that do not contain caffeine, as this can worsen the symptoms of acid reflux and especially GERD.
Herbal teas are a good choice because they do not trigger increased acid production. Teas like chamomile, licorice and marshmallow are a good calming alternative to traditional Earl Gray tea.
The best tea choice for acid reflux is chamomile. It has anti-inflammatory properties and when combined with hot water, it calms your stomach and prevents the acid from entering the esophagus.
In fact, some studies show that drinking a hot cup of chamomile tea is the same as taking an over-the-counter antacid.
The same goes for adding a spoonful of baking soda (also considered a natural antacid) to a cup of warm water and drinking it.
These two options work relatively quickly for acid reflux because the water helps flush out the toxins and the anti-inflammatory properties remove the excess acid.
In most shapes and forms, water is an excellent heartburn remedy. Not only does it hydrate you and keep you energized, but it also helps prevent several symptoms of GERD.
Another good thing about water is that it’s incredibly difficult to drink too much of it – but not impossible – so it’s safe to keep a bottle with you at all times. By adding low-acid fruits you can make drinking water even more pleasant.
What is the best drink for heartburn?
- Drinks for heartburn
- herbal tea
- Fruit juice.
- Smoothies
- Water
- Coconut water
Can I drink water to relieve heartburn?
With acid reflux, the chest and throat burn. It can be managed by consuming herbal teas, water and low-fat milk. Sodas, alcohol, and caffeinated drinks can worsen symptoms. Heartburn, often called acid reflux, occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus.
Is hot water good for your stomach?
Constipation and abdominal discomfort are often caused by waste products that have become trapped in the intestines due to diseases of the digestive system. Warm water can help the intestines contract, speeding up the expulsion process. In addition, drinking warm water stimulates digestion.
What is the fastest way to neutralize stomach acid?
After eating, baking soda can help with indigestion, gas, and bloating by quickly neutralizing stomach acid. To cure, mix 4 ounces (oz) of warm water with 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) of baking soda and then drink it. In general, sodium bicarbonate is harmless and safe.
Which drinks make heartburn worse?
Your doctor may advise you to stay away from foods and drinks known to worsen acid reflux if you have this condition. These include high-fat meals, drinks with added alcohol, chocolate and caffeine (coffee, tea, lemonade), as well as spices and peppermint and spearmint oils.