11 foods that can help to ease or prevent heartburn
Dr. Nusbaum was interviewed by Insider Magazine for his expertise in acid reflux. Read the full article here.
Consuming aloe vera can sometimes help reduce symptoms of acid reflux
Aloe vera might be known for being a key ingredient in creams meant to soothe sunburns, but it can also be useful for reducing the symptoms of acid reflux, including heartburn.
“Aloe vera is famous as a natural healing agent and also appears to reduce gastric acid levels naturally. It is available as a living plant but the leaves or liquid form are sometimes sold separately in grocery and health food stores,” bariatric surgeon Dr. Michael Jay Nusbaum told INSIDER. He also said the liquid form of aloe can be used as a thickening agent when preparing certain dishes.
Liquid aloe vera can have a slightly sour taste, so you may want to add a drizzle of honey if you plan to consume it undiluted. And if you want your aloe vera to be as fresh as possible, you can keep a live plant in your home and remove its leaves as needed.
Eating bananas may help to settle your stomach
A portable healthy snack, bananas can sometimes aid in reducing the frequency of heartburn. Dr. Nusbaum told INSIDER that a banana’s natural pH can help settle the stomach and he said he recommends them to those who suffer from acid reflux.
However, Dr. Nusbaum said about 1% of patients with acid reflux find that their condition is actually worsened by bananas. So before using bananas as your go-to solution to acid reflux symptoms, you may want to test how your body reacts to them first.
Fennel is a flavorful herb that may help settle the stomach
Fennel is a crunchy herb that looks like a cross between onion and celery even though it’s actually a member of the carrot family.
“[Fennel’s] neutral pH helps settle the stomach. It is great food for acid reflux and actually seems to improve stomach function through improving gastric motility,” said Dr. Nusbaum.
Fennel can be consumed raw or cooked and its seeds can be used to add flavor to dishes like chicken and fish.
Chewing sugar-free gum might help with reducing heartburn
When heartburn strikes, you may want to try chewing on a stick of sugar-free gum. A 2005 study published in the US National Library of Medicine found that chewing gum could cause you to swallow more frequently which can help improve how quickly acid reflux is cleared from your esophagus.