Lemon water for acid reflux: Does it work?

Lemon is an acidic substance, though many people believe it can help to reduce acid reflux. Does it work, and is it safe?

Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid flows up into the food pipe. This common condition affects 60 million Americans per month and 20 to 30 percent of people in the Western world. It can be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Many people are interested in home remedies to relieve the symptoms of acid reflux. In this article, we look at the evidence for lemon water.

Share on PinterestLemon water may improve acid reflux for some, but could make symptoms worse for others.

Acid reflux causes inflammation and irritation in the esophageal lining. This may result in a burning sensation known as heartburn, as well as belching, regurgitation, and nausea.

According to a 2012 review, lemon juice has a history of use in Eastern and Western practices to aid digestion and gastrointestinal issues, including acid reflux.

However, there is no research to suggest that it works. In fact, because of its acidity, lemon juice could make acid reflux worse.

Some sources say that lemon water has an alkalizing effect, meaning that it can neutralize stomach acid, which may reduce acid reflux. However, this is not backed up by research.

Lemon juice is acidic, with a pH of 3, while water has a pH of around 7, which is neutral. This means it is neither acidic nor alkaline.

Some people may find that drinking a glass of lemon water can improve their reflux. For others, an acidic liquid, such as lemon water, could even make their symptoms worse.

There is no research to suggest that lemon water will relieve the symptoms of acid reflux. If a person still wants to try this home remedy, they can consider the following advice:

• Mix 1 tablespoon (tbsp) of fresh lemon juice with 8 ounces (oz) of water. If it tastes too strong, add less lemon juice at first. Always dilute lemon juice with water to reduce its acidity.
• Some people drink lemon water 20–30 minutes before each meal in an attempt to stop acid reflux from happening.
• Drink a small amount at first and see how the body reacts. Slowly graduate up to a full glass if appropriate.
• Drink lemon water with a straw, because the acid in the juice can damage teeth and enamel.

Lemon water has several benefits and a few risks to be aware of.

Benefits

According to some people, lemon water can have a range of health benefits.

Lemon water contains vitamin C, which is an antioxidant. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Vitamin C helps improve the immune system, which helps the body fight off infection. Vitamin C also helps the body to absorb iron from the diet.

People also suggest that lemon juice can improve kidney function, skin appearance, and even reduce the risk of cancer. However, there is little high-quality evidence to support these claims.

Risks

Lemon water is usually safe to drink. However, there are a few possible side effects.

Lemon water can damage the teeth and the enamel. Drinking through a straw can prevent such damage. Rinse your mouth after drinking lemon water.

For some people, the lemon juice can make acid reflux or GERD worse. Always watch the body’s signals and stop using a home remedy if it makes symptoms worse.

Share on PinterestDrinking aloe vera syrup may decrease symptoms of GERD.

For mild or moderate acid reflux, some over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription drugs are available, such as antacids and proton pump inhibitors-PPIs. Talk to a doctor before taking any new medication.

The following home remedies may help to reduce acid reflux:

• Drinking aloe vera syrup. A study from 2015 found that drinking aloe vera syrup decreased the symptoms of GERD in 79 participants. Try mixing aloe vera syrup with water or juice to reduce inflammation and acid reflux.
• Eating enzyme-rich foods. Eating foods, such as papaya and pineapple, that are rich in digestive enzymes or taking digestive enzymes supplements before meals may reduce acid reflux.

Specific lifestyle changes can also help people manage their acid reflux:

• Avoid overeating. Eating too much or eating huge meals can irritate the stomach or directly cause acid reflux.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Acid reflux is more prevalent among those who are overweight and obese.
• Avoid trigger foods. Alcohol, caffeine, processed sugar, chocolate, carbonated drinks, tobacco, and spicy foods can all trigger acid reflux.
• Elevate the head of the bed. If acid reflux occurs at night, try raising the head of the bed to relieve the reflux. Avoid eating 2–3 hours before bedtime.
• Eat slowly. Eating fast can trigger acid reflux.
• Avoid tight clothing. Wearing loose-fitting clothes and avoiding tight belts can reduce pressure on the abdomen.
• Stop smoking. Smoking increases the risks of acid reflux.

Acid reflux is an uncomfortable condition that often leads to belching and heartburn.

Drinking lemon water is a potentially helpful remedy to reduce symptoms. Always drink it diluted and pay attention to the body’s reaction.

Some people report that drinking lemon water can reduce their symptoms of acid reflux after a meal. For others, lemon water can make their acid reflux worse.

There are few risks to trying this natural home remedy, though people may want to talk to their doctor beforehand, particularly if they have any pre-existing medical conditions that affect the digestive system.

For those that do not find lemon water to be helpful, other home remedies and lifestyle changes can help.

Lemon Water for Acid Reflux: What You Should Know

Lemon water and acid reflux

Acid reflux occurs when acid from your stomach flows up into your esophagus. This can cause inflammation and irritation in the esophageal lining. When this happens, you may feel a burning sensation in your chest or throat. This is known as heartburn.

Anyone who has experienced heartburn knows that certain types of food can make your symptoms worse. That spicy Mexican dinner you had last night? You may pay for it later. Was a raw garlic glove mixed in with that pasta sauce? Time to grab the Tums.

When it comes to lemon for reducing symptoms, there are some mixed signals. Some experts say that lemon and other citrus fruit increase the severity of acid reflux symptoms. Others tout the benefits of “home remedies” using lemon water. They claim it can reduce heartburn symptoms. So who’s got the right answer here? As it turns out, there’s a bit of truth to both sides.

Pros

1. Lemon may aid in weight loss, which may help reduce the symptoms of acid reflux.
2. The citrus fruit can also help to lower your blood pressure and protect your body against cell damage.

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There are significant health benefits that can be gained by ingesting lemon. For example, one study found that lemon compounds helped mice lose fat cells and keep them off. Obesity and weight gain can both contribute to the symptoms of acid reflux. If lemon can help people lose weight, it may lead to a reduction in acid reflux symptoms.

A 2014 study found that lemon is linked to lowering blood pressure, especially in people at high risk for high blood pressure and cholesterol. Lemons are rich in vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid. It is a powerful antioxidant and helps protect your body against cell damage that could be caused by acid reflux.

There’s evidence that diets rich in ascorbic acid, such as lemon juice, actually help protect the stomach from certain cancers and other damage. These findings were especially applicable to people with peptic ulcers.

If your acid reflux is caused by low stomach acid, drinking lemon water may be beneficial for you due to its potential alkalizing effects

Although lemon juice is very acidic, small amounts mixed with water can have an alkalizing effect when it’s digested. This can help neutralize the acid in your stomach.

If you decide to try this home remedy, you should mix one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice with eight ounces of water. Then drink it about 20 minutes before a meal to help prevent symptoms that might be triggered by food.

Be sure to drink this mixture through a straw, if possible. This can prevent the acid in the juice from touching your teeth and eroding tooth enamel. And you should never drink straight lemon juice due to its acidity. It needs to be diluted with water to be effective.

If your acid reflux is mild or moderate, you may be able to control it with over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications.

Antacids, such as Tums, can treat infrequent heartburn. Stronger medications such as h3 blockers and proton pump inhibitors are better for recurrent acid reflux. They can provide relief for an extended period of time and are available in different strengths.

There are risks to taking any type of medication, so talk to your doctor before beginning any regular regimen. In severe cases of acid reflux, your doctor may recommend surgery to strengthen the esophageal sphincter.

Although limited research is available, it’s possible that lemon water may relieve your symptoms. If you’re interested in trying this home remedy, remember to:

• thoroughly dilute the lemon juice with water.
• add no more than one tablespoon of lemon juice.
• drink the mixture through a straw.

You may consider drinking a reduced amount at first to determine what kind of effect it may have. If you don’t experience an increase in symptoms, you may wish to try the full amount.

If your symptoms persist, you should speak with your doctor. They can help devise the best treatment plan for you.

Keep reading: Home remedies for acid reflux/GERD »

What foods cause heartburn ⛑ causes, symptoms |rennie.ua

Burning “in the pit of the stomach” and discomfort in the stomach after eating indicate diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). These unpleasant sensations are intensified if the diet is unbalanced, heavy and aggressive for the stomach. Products that cause heartburn, you need to “know by sight” in order to stop in time and protect the stomach from unpleasant consequences.

Heartburn – what is it?

Heartburn is a condition of the gastrointestinal tract, in which the aggressive environment in the stomach begins to irritate its mucous membrane. In some cases, heartburn is accompanied by reflux disease (GERD) – the reverse reflux of food from the stomach into the esophagus. If there is a predisposition to this disease, you need to know which foods cause heartburn.

Reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter is not working well. This organ is a set of folds that open and close like a valve:

• food got into the esophagus – the valve opened to pass it into the stomach;
• food in stomach – valve closed.

If the sphincter does not work, part of the food is thrown back along with impurities of gastric juice. Among other components, it contains hydrochloric acid, which is aggressive for the walls of the esophagus. A feeling of heat begins, it bakes in the throat. Reflux is not the only cause of burning. Very often, people harm themselves by eating foods that cause heartburn. They are aggressive and irritate the gastric mucosa by themselves.

Heartburn is caused by food

We are what we eat. The physiological causes of heartburn have been elucidated. Concomitant factors remain:

1. diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and other organs – ulcers, gastritis, sometimes pathologies of the heart and blood vessels, anatomical disorders of the larynx;
2. products that provoke heartburn.

If the first causes must be dealt with in a complex manner, then the second can be easily eliminated. It is enough to remove aggressive food from the diet, and the condition of the body improves. If the causes of heartburn in foods, pay attention to whether there are in your diet:

• Sour vegetables and fruits. These are oranges, lemons, all citrus fruits, pineapples and tomatoes – they contain a lot of acids. If the stomach produces juice in large quantities, acids from vegetables and fruits only increase the effect of hydrochloric acid.
• Sweet, especially in large quantities. Various desserts relax the lower esophageal sphincter with all the ensuing consequences.
• Chocolate and coffee. In increased quantities, they have the same effect as desserts.
• Fat is hard to digest and takes a long time. Therefore, you should not abuse food rich in fats – cheeses, nuts, sausages and sausages. Trans fats are bad for the stomach. Particular attention should be paid to the composition when choosing fast food and semi-finished products.
• Soda – accumulation of gas can bulge the stomach and put pressure on the sphincter.
• Spicy foods such as horseradish and garlic irritate mucous membranes, causing discomfort.
• Alcohol. Alcohol increases the production of gastric juice, especially red wines and beer.

Overweight people are prone to heartburn, as they have increased intra-abdominal pressure, the walls of the stomach and diaphragm are compressed, causing reflux. The same applies to pregnant women.

The first signs of heartburn

Heartburn appears almost immediately after eating. When the aggressor product enters the stomach, it begins to be broken down by enzymes and gastric acids. For the digestion of spicy, fatty and combined carbohydrates, juice is needed more, so the body releases it in an increased amount. A burning sensation begins in the abdomen, which reaches the chest and throat. Pain in the right hypochondrium or side in parallel with heartburn can indicate dangerous diseases or an inflamed appendix.

A sour or bitter taste in the mouth is added to the burning sensation. This suggests that the food has affected the liver and gallbladder, so it is worth examining these organs as well.

If non-specific signs are added: cough, hoarseness, shortness of breath and inflammation of the bronchi, you need to visit narrow specialists. Perhaps the causes of heartburn are associated with pathological processes in the lungs, bronchi or other organs.

The symptoms of heartburn can be divided according to the time of onset and duration. This is an indirect factor for determining the disease:

• heartburn appeared 15-20 minutes after eating – most likely it is GERD (reflux disease), an additional symptom is belching;
• bloating and burning immediately after eating – a sign of gastritis, ulcers, or normal overeating;
• with duodenal ulcer, burning may appear 1-2 hours after eating;
• stones in the gallbladder – after taking drugs for heartburn, it does not go away, acute pain appears.

It is not necessary to self-diagnose the disease, this is done by a doctor during a consultation. If you experience the following dangerous symptoms, you should visit him immediately:

• blood in stool;
• anemia;
• weight loss;
• vomiting;
• a quick feeling of satiety is the first sign of precancerous conditions [1].

If heartburn occurs behind the sternum, does not decrease, but only intensifies, call an ambulance. This may indicate a heart attack.

Heartburn: diagnosis

If the patient complains of regular heartburn, look for the underlying disease. In 70% of cases, burning causes GERD [2]. To diagnose it, they conduct a test with antacids: taking these drugs should quickly eliminate heartburn, which indicates reflux disease.

Additionally, laboratory tests of blood and feces are performed to detect an ulcer or gastritis. Examination with a probe is required, and in some cases endoscopy with contrast [3]. They also determine the acidity of the stomach and take an analysis to detect the bacterium Helicobacter pylori .

Heartburn associated with eating disorders is eliminated quickly, but gastrointestinal diseases require additional treatment.

Heartburn: treatment and quick help

If the symptom is not caused by severe pathologies of the esophagus, it is easy to get rid of it. It is necessary to maintain a balanced diet, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine recommends removing aggressive foods from the diet [4]. They can be replaced with those that suppress heartburn:

• bananas and melons correct pH;
• green vegetables also normalize the pH in the stomach;
• yoghurts, but only natural and reduced or medium fat content;
• oatmeal “calms” the stomach, but it should be boiled in water;
• Ginger drink can help with mucosal inflammation.

Diet is not the only treatment for heartburn, because sometimes drugs are indispensable. The World Organization of Gastroenterology recommends taking antacids for reflux disease [5]. They quickly eliminate the symptom, so they are prescribed in the complex treatment of diseases accompanied by heartburn. Rennie ^® not only starts working after 2 minutes, but also has a favorable safety profile. This means that it can be used during pregnancy.

Rennie ^® mint and orange flavored tablets. They are convenient due to the chewable form. The drug contains two antacids at once – calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate – these substances have proven their ability to increase pH in just a few minutes [6]. They neutralize hydrochloric acid in the stomach and esophagus, so they can quickly relieve heartburn.

Consult your doctor before taking any medication and to calculate the dosage.

[1] UMHS GERD Guideline, September, 2013. Guidelines for Clinical Care Ambulatory, University of Michigan Medical.

[2] A guide to heartburn. Global Perspectives. World Organization of Gastroenterologists, 2015.

[3] UNIFICATION OF CLINICAL PROTOCOL OF PRIMARY, SECONDARY (specialized) MEDICAL CARE. GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX ILLNESS. Decree of the Ministry of Health Protection of Ukraine dated 31 July 2013 No. 943.

[4] GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX ILLNESS. Adapted clinical setting, based on evidence. 2013

[5] Global guidelines of the World Gastroenterological Organization. GERD. Global perspective on gastroesophageal reflux disease. 2015

[6] Mironycheva TS. “Comparative evaluation of the neutralization rate and buffering time of magnesium hydroxoaluminate” Science and Modernity, no. 6-2, 2010, pp. 289-293.

not all citrus lovers know about it – Teacher’s newspaper

Much is known about the benefits of lemons. Citrus fruits have everything that is necessary for health: vitamins, minerals, amino acids, flavonoids, phytoncides, pectin. However, lemons can pose a serious danger. They also have side effects. Ten of them are known .

Photo: Ekaterina Ivanova

It has been proven that a medium-sized lemon satisfies almost 40% of the daily requirement of an adult for vitamin C, which plays an important role in the functioning of the immune system. The fruits of the southern plant protect immune cells that produce antiviral substances, stimulate the formation of leukocytes. Lemons contain antioxidants, which are considered the main fighters against free radicals.

However, even lemons have side effects. Ten of them were reported by En Son Haber.

Insufficient bowel cleansing . People who consume a lot of lemons often complain of stomach pains. No wonder: the digestive system cannot digest large amounts of citric acid. If it lingers in the stomach for a long time, it will lead to irritation of the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, abdominal pain and insufficient bowel movement.

Reflux . Lemon has been called one of the most common dietary triggers for reflux (a chronic condition in which stomach contents rise up into the esophagus, causing heartburn, chest pain, belching, and breathing problems). Citric acid can weaken the muscle that separates the stomach from the esophagus, thereby stimulating the production of stomach acid and irritating the damaged esophagus.

Ulcer . Excessive consumption of lemon stimulates the production of stomach acid, which destroys the inner wall of the digestive tract and leads to ulcers.

Kidney stones . In addition to lemon juice, lemon zest is used in everyday life and in the production of various products. Cooks, for example, cannot do without it when baking. But lemon peel contains a lot of oxalates. This substance, which is not absorbed, crystallizes in the body, including the kidneys, leading to the formation of stones.

Increased absorption of iron . Excessive consumption of lemon can stimulate the digestive system and speed up the absorption of iron. As a result, its amount may turn out to be much larger than it should actually be. It can also cause hemochromatosis.

Frequent urination . The acidity of lemons is partly due to the content of vitamin C. An extremely useful and important vitamin is a natural diuretic. If it is consumed in large quantities, it can cause frequent trips to the toilet.

Migraine and headache . In the course of research, scientists have found that excessive passion for lemons can cause migraines and headaches. Lemon contains a significant amount of tyramine. This is the name of an organic substance that stimulates blood circulation in the brain. This can lead to acute migraines and chronic headaches associated with increased blood flow.

Oral problems . Drinking raw lemon or lime juice can damage your teeth, cause inflammation of the mouth and cavities. Citric and ascorbic acids contained in fruits can seriously damage tooth enamel. This can lead to cavities, tooth discoloration, loss of dental tissue, and other problems.

Sunburn . Lemon juice is often used for cosmetic purposes. They are complemented by masks for skin and hair, discolor age spots and freckles. In these cases, the experts of the publication remind, sun exposure should be avoided so as not to get a sunburn. This problem often occurs in people with fair skin.

Hair breakage and scalp dryness . From time to time, lemons can be used in hair care, but you should not get carried away with such procedures either.