If you eat too fast, too much, or too many of the wrong foods you'll sometimes get that all-too familiar burning sensation in your chest and you know it's time for help. If you want, you can run to the drug store for something chewable or to the medicine cabinet for something awful-tasting or to the list of grandma's favorite home remedies. Alternatively, you could just relax and take a little baking soda for heartburn.
Why It Works
With all of the causes of heartburn, what causes that burning is always the same - acid from the stomach squirting up through the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and attacking the esophagus. There are many reasons why that can happen and it's work taking the time to find out why it happens to you and then try to avoid it. If you suffer often you can just deal with the common problem: acid. The opposite of acid is antacid or alkaline and that's just what baking soda is, which is why simply using a little baking soda for heartburn is so effective.
Because the esophagus, the stomach and the LES that connects them co-exist in such cramped conditions there's often a little spillage causing that burning sensation. For the occasional, mild heartburn, nature has a few easy ways to help. Saliva has what it takes to calm the little bit of acid that escapes with a belch. You can help things along with a stick of chewing gum to increase the saliva and give your body the boost it needs. A glass of water also keeps things flowing in the right direction - down and away from the esophagus and, in any case, the coolness usually feels good.
Quite often the problem starts with dry food. When plain water just isn't enough for the job you need that something extra to counteract the acid instead of just washing it away. Baking soda, when used to treat heartburn, is a natural antacid that is gentle to your inflamed insides and has no side effects. You put it in cookies after all, so, when you drink a glass of water, add a spoonful of baking soda for heartburn for quicker, safe relief.
If you often suffer from heartburn, ask your doctor about possible causes. Some medical conditions or medicines can cause the LES to weaken and allow acid reflux. Let your doctor know when heartburn becomes a side effect of taking antihistamines, asthma medication, calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure, anxiety medication, nitrates, or prescription pain killers. In the meantime you can still keep taking a little baking soda to help things along.
What Is Heartburn and How Can Baking Soda Help?
Some people suffer heartburn after eating too quickly or eating particular foods. It results from a little stomach acid squirting up into your esophagus, which is the tube that leads from your mouth to your stomach. This ?acid reflux? irritates the walls of the esophagus resulting in a burning sensation. It actually has nothing to do with the heart but because the burning is felt in the chest area, it was referred to as ?heartburn?. Symptoms of heartburn can mask the more serious symptoms of heart disease so it is important to find the causes of the acid reflux and eliminate them.
In mild heartburn, drinking a little water can help reduce the burning sensation by diluting the acid. Saliva produced in the mouth is naturally alkaline and so can neutralize the acid. Chewing gum is a good way to increase the saliva, which is naturally alkaline, before swallowing (the saliva, not the gum!).
However, baking soda for heartburn is such an effective remedy because it too is alkaline and will help to neutralize the acid. Just one teaspoon in a glass of water, sipped slowly, should bring adequate relief. The benefits of baking soda over antacids, is that you can buy it from any food store, it is cheap and it does not require a prescription. And if you bake cookies, then you have a ready supply already!
When Baking Soda and Antacids Can Cause Problems
However, if you take too much baking soda, as with any antacid medication, then you will neutralize the acid in the stomach itself. This can result in the stomach producing more acid to compensate. You then end up taking more baking soda or antacid. With this vicious cycle, the stomach cells can become exhausted with the over-production of acid and so the levels of stomach acid can decline over time. This may at first appear to be a good thing, for your heartburn perhaps. But the levels of stomach acid can be reduced to such a degree that digestion is impaired and food not properly broken down. This in turn can lead to allergies and inflammation in other parts of the body.
You also do not want the excess sodium, from baking soda or some antacids, if you suffer from high blood pressure. If you have to use over-the-counter antacids, then make sure that they do not contain aluminum salts, as aluminum has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease. Also, be aware that antacids containing calcium and magnesium can cause mineral imbalances in the body if used long-term. You should also note that some medical conditions can weaken the esophageal sphincter and cause acid reflux, as can some medicines. Consult your doctor if you have frequent heartburn or if you think that the following medications may be a side-effect: prescription pain killers, calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure, antihistamines, asthma medication, or nitrates.
Antacid medication and baking soda are not long term solutions to your heartburn. Your priority now should be to discover the causes and solutions to your acid reflux. These might surprise you. The cure for your heartburn and the solutions to your long term health could be the exact opposite of what you might expect.
Both Charles Stubbs & Natalie Beech are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Charles Stubbs has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Mens Health and Lemon Law. For further information on heartburn, its causes, symptoms and treatment, visit Heartburn Advice Made Easy at where baking soda is j. Charles Stubbs's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.
Natalie Beech has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fat Loss, Fitness and Food and Drink. Author Natalie Beech is a health writer who writes informatively about a variety of health topics, including heartburn. If you want to find out the surprising facts for the relief of heartburn and acid reflux, and that can contribute to your longterm hea. Natalie Beech's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.