by When you hear the term ‘acid reflux,’ it is probably easy to assume that stomach acid must be bad for your health. However, this isn’t always the case. Stomach acid is important for proper digestion and certain vitamins and minerals absorption. Let’s examine why stomach acid is so important, even when suffering from acid reflux.
What Does Stomach Acid Do?
Stomach acid (or hydrochloric acid) helps break down food so it can be digested more easily. It also helps kill bacteria, viruses, and other harmful organisms that may have been ingested through food or drink. Furthermore, stomach acid allows your body to extract vital nutrients from food, such as calcium and iron. Without adequate levels of stomach acid, the body would not absorb these essential vitamins and minerals properly.
How Does This Relate to Acid Reflux?
For those who suffer from regular bouts of acid reflux (more commonly known as heartburn), it’s important to understand that this condition does not mean you have too much stomach acid. In fact, many people who experience heartburn do so because they have too little gastric juice in their digestive systems. A lack of sufficient gastric juice can prevent proper digestion and lead to painful symptoms, such as heartburn.
Acid Reflux Natural Treatments
Fortunately, several treatments are available for those who suffer from frequent bouts of heartburn caused by low gastric juice levels.
Eating Fermented Vegetables
Fermented vegetables have become popular natural remedies for treating acid reflux. The live probiotic cultures found in fermented vegetables help facilitate digestion while providing valuable antioxidants that can reduce inflammation, one of the main causes of acid reflux.
Eating Ginger
Eating ginger can help aid digestion and reduce inflammation, even treating symptoms and preventing heartburn in some cases.
Drinking Digestive Bitters
Digestive bitters are crafted from herbs that increase acid production in the stomach, allowing the body to better break down foods and reducing symptoms that stem from weak acids.
Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar also helps to naturally reduce symptoms of acid reflux as it contains beneficial bacteria, acetic acid, and enzymes that balance digestive juices.
Final Thoughts
Stomach acid plays an important role in our digestive process. Even when experiencing heartburn due to low levels of gastric juice, we need to maintain a healthy balance to ensure proper nutrient absorption into our bodies. Fortunately, several treatments are available for those who suffer from frequent heartburn. These can help alleviate symptoms and allow us to continue our daily lives without discomfort or pain due to low levels of gastric juice in our system.
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