You’ve probably had at least one experience of heartburn, so you know that it’s not comfortable: a burning, bubbling sensation that travels up from your gut to your throat. Heartburn tends to get worse during pregnancy. Or, you could get it after you overeat, or if you’re sensitive to certain types of food and drinks: garlic, tomatoes fatty food, alcohol and coffee. If you tend to get heartburn regularly, here are some things you can do.
Loosen your belt
Restrictive clothing can contribute to heartburn, especially if you overeat. So if you’re going to go to a buffet, or pig out at your family’s
Thanksgiving celebration, wear something loose and comfortable.
Find your trigger foods
A food journal, typically used by dieters, can also be helpful in tracking what types of foods trigger your heartburn attacks. If you can’t seem to detect a pattern in the type of food, look at the amount of food. You may be better off eating smaller, more frequent meals rather than three big meals a day.
Drink water
Before you take any bite of food, drink a tall glass of water. Ideally, do this half an hour before you eat. This will trigger your body’s production of mucuous, which will lower your chances of heart burn. Don’t overdo it, though. Taking two or more glasses may dilute your digestive enzymes.
Eat slowly
Chewing food well helps break it down even before it reaches the stomach. That makes it easier for the body to absorb nutrients. This lowers your risk for heartburn, which is linked to digestion problems.
Take an herbal supplement
If you’re constantly plagued by heartburn, consider buying digestive enzyme supplements that contain . Betaine hydrochloric acid, bromelain or papain. These may help your body digest food more efficiently. Others recommend dandelion leaves. Note that pregnant women should talk to their doctor before taking any herbal supplement.
Load up on probiotics
The healthier your digestive system is, the less risk you have for heartburn. One of the best way to improve your digestion is to take probiotics. A very healthy, natural and completely safe source of probiotics is yogurt.
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