Is drinking warm water good for acid reflux?

Acid Reflux

Is drinking warm water good for acid reflux?

One of the most common health problems faced by people nowadays is acid reflux. The other terms are heartburn or acid indigestion. How do you know that you’re affected by acid reflux? What are the symptoms? Is drinking warm water good for acid reflux? 

It happens when some of the acids go back into the food pipe, which creates a sense of burning pain in the lower chest area that often happens after eating. There are several factors that can contribute to acid reflux, including smoking, lack of sleep, alcohol consumption, and eating spicy foods.

A lot of people wonder how acid reflux is caused and why it occurs. Continue reading this blog to know how warm water plays a vital role in acid reflux and home remedies to recover from the same.

Why is warm water considered the best for drinking?

Acid reflux is formed due to the reverse flow of acid into the food pipe, so drinking warm water helps to neutralize the acid and get rid of the excess digestive juices present in the food pipe. If you are frequently experiencing heartburn or bouts of acidity, then consuming a glass of warm water in the morning and at night before going to sleep is a must. Follow this remedy for a week and you will see an immersive change in your acid reflux.

Other than drinking warm water, there are other drinks and foods that you can consume as follows:

Ginger tea

Yogurt

Milk

Oatmeal and whole grains

Vegetables

Coconut water

The benefits of drinking warm water also include

Weight loss

Reduced stress

Fighting the common cold and sinus issues

Is drinking warm water with lemon good for me?

Even though lemon juice is quite acidic, adding a little amount of warm water can have an alkalizing effect. It gives a boost to the immune system and also cleanses. This may also help with losing weight.

Does fruit-infused water help with acid reflux?

Any drink with a combination of sugar and acid can exacerbate acid reflux, but plain water is free of all that. Acid reflux can never be triggered by water. A little lemon in the water will make your acid reflux act up, so it must be avoided.

People facing acid reflux can consume fruits like basil, blackberries, mango, cherries, papaya, etc. and the fruits that shouldn’t be consumed are oranges, kiwis, cranberries, and pineapple.

Does warm water help with the digestion of food?

One of the easiest ways to reduce acid reflux is by drinking warm water, which helps in stimulating your digestive system in a better way and also helps in flushing out waste to cleanse your body.

What are the best ways to avoid acid reflux?

Occasional or mild cases of acid reflux can usually be prevented by adopting a few lifestyle changes. For example,

Avoid smoking

Sugar consumption must be controlled by diabetes patients.

Staying fit by following a proper diet rather than being obese or over-weight

Chewing gum increases the saliva content and helps clear the esophagus of stomach acid.

While sleeping, elevate your head on your bed. This may reduce the symptoms of reflux while sleeping at night.

You should control the unhealthy food you have and not eat large meals. Eating late at night can also cause a trigger, so it should be prevented.

What are the home remedies to reduce acid reflux?

The best remedy for acid reflux is to aim for a healthy weight and to know what to eat and drink because the main cause of acid reflux is bad intake and food habits.

Few people may find that home remedies are sufficient for reducing acid reflux. Try taking herbal teas like chamomile, licorice, green, fennel, and fruit teas. But avoid mint tea, as it might trigger acid reflux.

What does the research say?

Acid reflux is a hugely common but complex disease characterized by symptoms associated with heartburn and indigestion, leading to unhealthily living. These increase the risk factors due to inadequate sleep, smoking, and so on. It is reported that people who have the typical acid reflux symptoms of heartburn are usually from western countries and also highly populated places like China and Asia. The research says that obesity is the most likely reason for the reflux rise. Eating smaller meals and maintaining your body’s fitness is a must.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do hot drinks make acid reflux worse?

Not all hot drinks make the acidity worse. Ginger tea soothes the stomach and reduces acid production. This caffeine-free ginger tea, with a little honey added as a sweetener, is the best way to consume it for a person with reflux.

What will immediately help acid reflux?

Here are a few quick reliefs and remedies for acid reflux.

Mixing baking soda with warm water

Sipping apple vinegar.

Chewing gum to help dilute the acid

Adding some ginger to your food routine

Avoid smoking

A ripe banana 

Is cold water bad for acid reflux?

As cold water increases the heat in the stomach, it is bad for acid reflux. Even soft drinks or sodas must be avoided as the carbonation causes more burning symptoms. And if you are a coffee addict, I would like to make a suggestion to limit your coffee intake as it will worsen your acid reflux or heartburn. 

What food neutralizes stomach acid?

Many people suffer from indigestion. Instead of having antacids to calm your stomach, you might as well try to control it by consuming food neutralizers in your kitchen.

Take a glance at the list below.

Drink a cup of peppermint tea after meals to quickly soothe your stomach or keep a few pieces of peppermint in your pocket for relieving stomach problems like nausea and indigestion.

Apple cider vinegar: Add one to two teaspoons of raw, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar to a cup of water and drink it for fast relief.

Baking soda: it is generally a safe neutralizer for stomach acid and relieves indigestion, bloating, and gas after eating. To remedy this, mix 12 teaspoons of baking soda into warm water.

Does honey and hot water help acid reflux?

It’s said to be a safe and very effective treatment for acid reflux. If you are going to try honey, have these points noted:

Only one teaspoon of honey.

It has the potential to affect blood sugar levels (extreme caution is advised).

Conclusion

A little bit of lifestyle change and the intake of medication can help to cure this reflux effectively. But in the long run, stronger medication might be needed according to the person and their health condition.

Moreover, drinking lots of water can be a very helpful remedy for reducing acidity and other symptoms. If you experience regular acid reflux or heartburn, have a word with your doctor and diagnose the issue immediately.

 

Reference – 

https://www.onhealth.com/content/1/heartburn_symptoms_gerd_remedies_acid_reflux

https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2021/dec/home-remedies-for-heartburn-10-ways-to-get-rid-of-acid-reflux/

https://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/beverages#drinks-to-avoid 

https://www.healthline.com/health/gerd-acid-reflux/headache-from-acid-reflux#takeaway

 

Snehal Joshi
mugdhaaa@gmail.com

Snehal is a Certified Nutrition Coach by National Academy of Sports Medicine. She is writing about her persuits of Nutrition Science since last 4 years.

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