‘Tis the season to be jolly– the festive season brings along with it numerous parties and weddings. The late nights and the delectable but unhealthy food and drinks take its toll on our digestion power. Indigestion can occur anytime and its manifestation like upset stomach, burps, and gas can disrupt normal life and can be quite embarrassing, especially for women. Here you will get to know about the remedies for indigestion.
Commonly occurring digestive problems are chronic constipation, intolerance towards certain foods, GERD, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), gastritis, and stomach ulcers. The general manifestation of digestive problems includes upset stomach, heartburn, nausea, gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. You can always opt for OTC antacid medication but it has its own set of side-effects. So before you head for the medicine box, make a beeline for the kitchen cupboard. Certain easily available ingredients can work wonders for your indigestion problem. Some of the remedies for indigestion are given below.
Dietary and Lifestyle Changes To Help Combat Indigestion
Some dietary and lifestyle changes can make you healthy, and reduce the occurrence of indigestion:
- Have fiber-rich food and also incorporate healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids in your diet, which can help to combat problems like IBS, ulcers, and hemorrhoids.
- Drink plenty of water, about 3 liters per day of uncaffeinated fluids and also having water-rich fruits and vegetables.
- Reduce stress, as it can have a direct effect on your gut health.
- Pay attention to the plate of food before you start eating. Chew your food and eat slowly. You should also opt for smaller plates and portions. Eat till you are almost full and not completely.
- Exercising regularly keeps you healthy. Instead of lying down after eating, you should walk for 15-20 minutes, as it will facilitate digestion.
- Smoking and drinking can lead to acid reflux, stomach ulcers, heartburns, and IBS. Also don’t have a dinner post at 9 o’clock.
- Add valuable nutrients in your diet-like probiotics, zinc, and glutamine in your diet. Also having fermented food in your diet is good for you, as it contains good bacteria that are good for your gut. Such foods include kefir, miso, sauerkraut, and sourdough bread.
- You should abstain from certain kinds of food like processed foods, spices, fried items, acidic foods, and artificial sweeteners. Also, reduce gas which occurs when you swallow air while eating or drinking. Certain activities like chewing gum, drinking carbonated drinks and eating quickly increase the air intake. Many foods also create gas upon digestion leading to extreme discomfort.
- Get plenty of sleep, a minimum of 6 hours. A goodnight’s sleep can heal most issues.
Quick and Efficient Home Remedies For Indigestion
To treat your indigestion sooner, here are some of the best home remedies you need to try:
1. Herbal Teas
peppermint tea, chamomile tea, and green tea have an antispasmodic property that helps to relieve nausea and indigestion. Peppermint should be avoided in case of acid reflux.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
There are a plethora of benefits of apple cider vinegar. It helps in stimulating the release of digestive juices. Drink by mixing a tablespoon of ACV in a cup of warm water. For optimum results, drink it 30 minutes before a meal.
3. Ginger
Ginger helps to reduce the quantity of stomach acid and helps to combat bloating, gas and nausea. Make ginger tea by mixing 1 teaspoon of ginger pieces and a cup of water and simmering it for 10 minutes. You can add honey too.
Ginger
4. Spices like fennel, cumin, cinnamon, coriander seeds, and caraway
Indian spices not only add flavor to recipes but are beneficial for your health too. Fennel or saunf assists in digestion and reduces GI problems like bloating, stomach cramps and nausea. Cumin helps to reduce gas, acid reflux and inflammation. For the best effect, you can chew a pinch of raw cumin or make tea by steeping half teaspoon of cumin in a cup of water. Simmering a teaspoon of coriander seeds with water and drinking it with a little honey, helps with gas and upset stomach. Caraway or ajwain is excellent for heartburn and acid reflux and bloating. Post-meals, you can have half a teaspoon of ajwain for instant respite.
5. Baking Soda
It helps in neutralizing stomach acid. You can make a solution by mixing half a teaspoon of baking soda to a cup of warm water and drinking it after the meal.
6. Lemon Water
Lemon helps to flush out toxins and helps in maintaining metabolism. Add the juice of a half lemon to warm water and teaspoon of honey. Drink while it is still warm.
7. Licorice
Chewing on licorice root 30 minutes before food intake can aid in digestion, as it helps in reducing GI inflammation.
8. Aloe Vera
The benefits of aloe Vera are well known and plentiful. By drinking 2 tablespoons of aloe juice every day can make your gut healthy.
9. Turmeric
Turmeric is both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in nature. By drinking a teaspoon of turmeric powder steeped in warm water or milk, will help to soothe symptoms of indigestion.
These natural remedies are beneficial for pregnant women who often suffer from indigestion problems. Indigestion and GI issues are common PMS problems faced by most women every month. so, before opting for medicine, try one of these natural remedies. But if you find that symptoms are persistent and getting severe with the passage of time like weight loss, black stool, vomiting, trouble swallowing and fatigue, then you should consult a doctor immediately.
Also Read: 5 Yoga Poses To Relieve Indigestion
