Due to today's busy life, irregular eating habits and excessive stress, acidity or acid reflux has become a very common problem. Many people complain of heartburn, sour water in the throat, heaviness and bloating as soon as they wake up in the morning. Often people resort to antacid syrup or gas pills to get immediate relief from it, but as soon as the effect of the medicine wears off, the problem returns to its original state. According to gastroenterologists and nutritionists, everyday acidity is not due to lack of medicines but is the result of some basic mistakes in our daily lifestyle. If you improve only 3 small but important habits in your daily routine, you can get rid of this permanent stomach problem to a great extent naturally. 1. Keep a gap of 2-3 hours between dinner and sleep. The biggest reason for acidity and heartburn is going straight to bed after having dinner late at night: Principle of Gravity (Gravity & Stomach Acid): When you lie down after eating food, the hydrochloric acid (HCl) and digestive juice produced in the stomach to digest food easily flow in the opposite direction and enter the food pipe (Esophagus). In medical language it is called 'acid reflux' or GERD. What to do: Have dinner at least 2 to 3 hours before sleeping. Instead of sitting or lying down immediately after a meal, walk for 15 to 20 minutes (Shatapavli). Due to this, the food from the stomach easily slides down towards the small intestine and the acid does not rise up. Correct sleeping posture: While sleeping, sleep on the left side. According to anatomy, sleeping on the left side keeps the stomach junction below the level of the esophagus, preventing acid from flowing back up into the throat at night. 2. Stop consuming tea and coffee on an empty stomach and improve your water drinking routine. How you start your morning has a direct impact on your digestion throughout the day: Harm from caffeine on an empty stomach: Drinking strong tea or black/milk coffee on an empty stomach first thing in the morning directly stimulates the inner lining of the stomach (Gastric Mucosa). Caffeine relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), allowing acid to flow upward faster. Drinking water right after meals: Drinking 2-3 glasses of cold water while or immediately after eating meals dilutes the digestive fire and enzymes present in the stomach. This causes the food to rot, causing gas and sour belching. What to do: Start the morning with lukewarm water, soaked raisins or fennel-cumin water. Drink plenty of water 45 minutes before or 45 minutes after meals. 3. Control the speed and quantity of food (Mindful Eating) Acidity is caused not only by what you eat, but also by how and how much you eat: Swallowing food hastily: When you eat food quickly without chewing it properly, the stomach has to secrete extra acid to process it. Besides, air also gets inhaled along with food which causes bloating. Overeating: Filling the stomach 100% in one go puts extra pressure on the stomach valve. What to do: Chew food thoroughly so that saliva can mix with the food. Saliva is alkaline which naturally neutralizes the stomach acid. Eat smaller meals: Instead of eating heavy meals 2 times a day, eat light and balanced meals 3 to 4 times. Quick Home Remedies If you ever suddenly feel acidity, try these home remedies instead of taking medicine immediately: Cold Milk: Half a cup of cold milk without sugar provides instant coolness to the stomach lining. Fennel and sugar candy: Chewing half a teaspoon of fennel after meals helps maintain the balance of digestive juices. Banana: Ripe banana works as a natural antacid as it is rich in potassium. By adopting these three easy improvements in your daily lifestyle, you can not only get rid of acidity, but also keep your entire digestive system strong and energetic.
