Ginger Ale is a popular option for settling an upset stomach and quelling nausea and abdominal discomfort related to vomiting, diarrhea, and other illness. Ginger tea is gentle on your stomach and can be used to prevent or treat acid reflux and even motion sickness!
Ginger: Ginger is naturally anti-inflammatory, and is a natural treatment for gastrointestinal problems, which is why many people drink ginger ale when they're nauseous. You can add grated ginger to almost anything to ease acid reflux symptoms!
Drinking ginger tea can help a person get more ginger into their diet and provide a warm, soothing sensation. Ginger ale is less likely to help because of carbonation and because it sometimes contains caffeine. Most commercial ginger ale sodas also do not contain enough ginger to have a positive effect.
Ginger can reduce the likelihood of stomach acid flowing up into the esophagus. Ginger can also reduce inflammation. This may relieve symptoms of acid reflux.
Ginger, a member of the plant family that includes turmeric and cardamom, has been proven to be effective at treating nausea and vomiting — two hallmarks of a classic upset stomach. In fact, ginger is even used to treat morning sickness, muscle pain and menstrual pain.
A healthy eating guide for reflux
Breakfast - a bowl of high fibre cereal such as untoasted muesli, weetbix or porridge with fresh or tinned fruit and reduced fat or skim milk and/ or wholemeal or grain toast with minimal margarine and honey or vegemite.
Drinks you can try at home to improve acid reflux include alkaline water and herbal tea, specifically licorice, ginger, or chamomile tea. Does drinking water help acid reflux? Drinking water can help to balance the pH of a particularly acidic meal (which can trigger acid reflux in some people).
Carbonated Beverages
Soft drinks not only relax the LES but also increase stomach acid levels. This may be due to the caffeine in popular cola products which can affect the LES and trigger acid reflux.
Drinking water during the later stages of digestion can reduce acidity and GERD symptoms. Often, there are pockets of high acidity, between a pH or 1 and 2, just below the esophagus. By drinking tap or filtered water a little while after a meal, you can dilute the acid there, which can result in less heartburn.
Steer clear of ginger ale, too. The carbonation and sugar could both aggravate your acid reflux. High-fat, fried foods are more difficult for your stomach to break down, making them a common reflux trigger.
Yogurt that is not too sour is also excellent for acid reflux, because of the probiotics that help normalize bowel function. Yogurt also provides protein, and soothes stomach discomfort, often providing a cooling sensation. It is easy to choose foods by looking them up to see how acidic they are.
These days, the most common iterations of ginger ale and ginger beer are similar. They are made with carbonated water, sugar, and ginger. We tested their pHs, and they were both quite acidic (between 3.0 and 3.5 for both Canada Dry Ginger Ale and Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer).
Drinking cold water may improve acid reflux. Cold water has a certain sedative effect, which can effectively link the burning discomfort of the chest and throat. In addition, cold water can also help the balance and stability of body fluids in our body.
Whole grains — High fiber, whole-grains like brown rice, oatmeal, and whole grain breads help stop symptoms of acid reflux. They are a good source of fiber and may help absorb stomach acid. Lean protein — Low-fat, lean sources of protein also reduce symptoms.
The fat in milk can aggravate acid reflux. But nonfat milk can act as a temporary buffer between the stomach lining and acidic stomach contents and provide immediate relief of heartburn symptoms."
One member of their team saw relief from his heartburn symptoms after consuming five milliliters (about one teaspoon) of plain honey. If you don't want to take one teaspoon of honey by itself, you can mix it with a glass of warm water or tea.
When your stomach is distended and bloated, acid can rise back into the esophagus, triggering symptoms. But an empty stomach can cause problems, too. Go more than three to four hours without a meal or snack, and stomach acid — which would usually be used in the digestive process to break down food — collects.
Elevating your head and chest higher than your feet as you sleep can help prevent and ease acid reflux and heartburn. You can do this using a foam wedge placed under the mattress or by raising bedposts using wood blocks. Beware of piling pillows, as this usually isn't effective and may even make your symptoms worse.
Just like food, if you drink a lot of liquid, even water, this can put more pressure on the stomach and the LES and makes it much more likely for acid reflux to happen. Lower your liquid intake as you're approaching bedtime. Try to stop half an hour before you get in bed.
Oatmeal is a heart-healthy food and, since oats absorb stomach acid, it's a good choice for reducing symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Foods to Eat on an Acid Reflux Diet
Noncitrus fruits: Apples, bananas, blueberries, and strawberries are safe bets.
It is a good source of fiber, so it keeps you feeling full and promotes regularity. Oats also absorb stomach acid and reduce symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Pepper Snapple Group, which owns Canada Dry and Schweppe's (another brand of ginger ale), says the sodas do contain real ginger, but the company won't reveal how much to protect proprietary formulas.