Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 8-13-21

Health
Baking Soda
side effects.
Chewing Gum
Chew a piece of sugar-free gum 30 minutes after eating can help wash away acid.
Slippery Elm
Research suggests that adding a couple of tablespoons of this herb to a glass of water can help coat and protect the stomach.
Aloe
This plant can reduce in- flammation in the stomach. Some experts suggest drinking aloe juice, but use caution be- cause it can also be a laxative. Use only 1/4 to 1/2 cup.
Probiotics
Hundreds of clinical studies have shown that probiotics can prevent and treat hundreds of common ailments, including acid reflux problems. Take one probiotic a day to really remedy your acid problem.
Mustard
Mustard is an alkalizing food. Because of its alkaline properties, it will help neutral- ize the acid that may come creeping up your throat. This can neutralize the pain of acid reflux. It seems to be the most helpful if you’re feeling a bout of heartburn creeping up, or if you’re in the midst of one. Just take one teaspoon of good qual- ity yellow mustard straight to the head.
Ginger
Ginger root powder can be more effective for acid reflux problems than many over-the- counter medications. For opti- mal acid reflux treatment, use a teaspoon of the freshly grated root each day. You can put it in your smoothie or drink it every morning.
Bananas and Apples
Bananas contain natural antacids that can act as a buffer against acid reflux. If you want to try out the simplest home remedies for heartburn first, try letting a few bananas ripen up nicely and eating one every day.
Mixing a half teaspoon into a glass of water can help neu- tralize stomach acid. But it shouldn’t be used for chronic heartburn because it’s high in
If you’re one of the millions of Americans that suffer salt.
from acid reflux, eating a big meal sometimes can be scary. Licorice While you may know some, many of us never know all the
ingredients that may trigger your feelings of pain from acid
reflux.
A circular muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) joins your esophagus and stomach. This muscle is in charge of tightening your esophagus after food passes to the stomach.
If this muscle is weak or doesn’t tighten properly, the acid from your stomach can move backward into your esopha- gus. This is known as acid reflux.
Heartburn actually has nothing to do with the heart. Heartburn occurs in your digestive system. Specifically, in your esophagus. Heartburn involves mild to severe pain in the chest. It’s sometimes mistaken for heart attack pain.
When that happens, here are a few things you can do to make the pain go away–fast:
Experts say licorice has stomach-healing properties that can get to the root of the prob- lem rather than just calming symptoms. But be careful – eat- ing too much could have serious
PAGE 8-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2021