As we age, our bodies often produce excess acid. This can cause problems like heartburn and reflux disease, both of which are referred to as acid reflux. But what if you’re drinking wine? Do hot water with a little added sugar help fight back against acid reflux? It might surprise you! In fact, the opposite is true. Drinking warm water with a little added sugar can actually increase your chances of experiencing acid reflux symptoms again. So if you’re already prone to experiencing this unpleasant side effect when drinking warm liquids, it may be time to switch up your routine!
Does drinking hot water help acid reflux?
There is no clear evidence that drinking hot water has any effect on acid reflux. Some people do experience a small number of side effects from drinking too much water, but these are generally mild and self-limited. The best way to avoid any problems with acid reflux is to drink cold water instead of hot water.
What Causes Acid Reflux?
1. Heartburn
Heartburn is one of the most common symptoms and indications of acid reflux. Nausea, burping, burning sensations in your chest, as well as throat discomfort, can all be symptoms of heartburn. Acid reflux occurs when stomach acids rise back into your esophagus and irritate the lining which can cause inflammation and pain.
2. Bacterial Overgrowth
Reflux disease is primarily caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in your digestive tract that causes irritation to your stomach or intestinal wall. There are two main types of bacteria that cause acid reflux disease: H pylori and lactobacilli. Both types of bacteria are harmless and usually live peacefully inside the body but when they become overgrown or multiply excessively, it can lead to many different digestive problems including heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea, etc.
3. Stress Retention
Acid reflux occurs when excess stomach acid rises from your stomach into your esophagus (the metal tube that connects the mouth to the stomach). This causes irritation to the lining in your throat which results in a burning sensation in your chest area (heartburn). Stress is one of the leading factors for acid reflux since it often affects our digestion during times where we might be under stress (e.g., work pressure) so if you’re experiencing any kind of chronic stress then this may lead to more frequent reflux episodes over time – especially if you don’t know how to deal with it.
4. Eating Acidic Foods
The most common trigger for acid reflux is the consumption of some foods or liquids that irritate your stomach lining (e.g., carbonated beverages, chocolates, caffeine). The main cause is probably due to the effects of some of these foods on the saliva glands in your mouth which can lead to excessive amounts of saliva production and subsequent increased acid production in your esophagus.
5. Inflammation
Stress, anxiety, and depression are all commonly associated with acid reflux disease so it makes sense that chronic stress can increase the likelihood of experiencing heartburn and stomach pain. The severity of symptoms can vary depending on many different factors such as varying stress levels, length, the intensity of episodes, etc. So if you’re a chronic sufferer of heartburn then it’s important to make any changes you can to improve your overall health and handle life stressors more effectively.
What Does Not Help Treat Acid Reflux?
1. Medication
Acid reflux is caused by an unhealthy balance of acids (e.g., stomach acid, gastric acid, bile) and base (e.g., sodium, potassium, calcium) that is present in your body. Therefore there are no medications on the market that can directly treat heartburn or acid reflux disease so it’s recommended that you first determine what is causing your symptoms before going through any medical treatment options.
2. Surgery
There are many different procedures that can be performed but all these surgeries just end up addressing symptoms (which may or may not cause heartburn) and some uncomfortable pain in your chest area rather than dealing with the root cause of the problem which may be the presence of excess stomach acid in your gut or esophagus. This excess stomach acid is likely the leading factor for why you’re experiencing chronic symptoms. So when you go through surgical options without knowing what exactly is causing your problem then it will likely not work well at all and only deepen your condition even more which means you’re really probably looking at a lifetime of treatment with potentially prolonged side effects as well as essentially losing most or all ability to digest food naturally in a healthy way.
3. Lose Weight
This will only help temporarily but it’s not really something I would recommend at all since losing weight won’t affect how much stomach acid your body produces nor will it address what might be causing constant stomach issues, to begin with – so unless that is addressed first then you’ll be an overall stressed out an individual with symptoms caused by a combination of other factors.
4. Avoid Some Foods
There are certain foods that are known to cause or trigger symptoms so it is essential for you to eliminate these foods as well if you continue experiencing ongoing heartburn and acid reflux problems. Some examples of these foods include: -Nightshades -Aspartame -Alcohol (especially red wine) -Bromelain (used in many anti-inflammatory supplements) You might also want to consider taking natural herbal supplements that help reduce stomach acid levels such as peppermint and passionflower. Both of these herbs work in the same way as pharmaceutical medications but without any additives and side effects associated with them.
5. Eat More Probiotics & Fermented Foods
I would recommend fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, etc. These fermented items work effectively at reducing excess stomach acid levels which means they can help prevent or treat acid reflux specifically. Small amounts of non-fermented probiotic foods that can still be healthy such as yogurt, kefir, kefir-like beverages, etc. Should also be considered though since they are high in probiotics too so they’ll still provide your body with beneficial bacteria which helps restore the healthy balance of your gut while reducing gas and bloating.
What Helps Treat Acid Reflux?
1. Probiotics & Fermented Foods
These are the number one things I recommend to people suffering from acid reflux problems as they can help restore balance on a number of levels. Probiotics and fermented foods directly assist in restoring the healthy balance of your gut which is crucial if you want to prevent or even treat acid reflux problems. If you have any questions about them or why I recommend these specific items, feel free to read my blog post below:
2. Pills
If your acid reflux symptoms persist after taking these first two options then I would recommend seeing your doctor and discussing the possibility of prescription medications that will stop the continued refluxing for good. I would also suggest speaking with a nutritionist about changing your diet so you can avoid all food triggers as well as purchasing foods with higher amounts of probiotics and fermented foods in order to get proper stomach acid secretion back under control..
3. Anti-inflammatory Supplements
Medications for acid reflux like Zantac, Prilosec, Nexium, etc. Are also effective at reducing symptoms related to digestive system problems such as GERD and Acid Reflux. These medications work by helping to reduce the stretchiness of your stomach and esophagus (I would recommend avoiding over-the-counter medication if possible though since they often have some unwanted side effects).
4. Natural Remedies
Green tea, tea tree oil, cinnamon, and chamomile can all be used in small amounts or on an empty stomach to manage your acid reflux problem. You can buy these natural remedies as well supplement specific herbs that help to control excessive stomach acid levels such as peppermint or passionflower depending on what’s best for you.
The Best Way To Drink For Your Reflux Symptoms
1.”Breakfast”
For breakfast, I recommend drinking a glass of milk and eating a piece of toast with peanut butter and jelly. If you’re trying to lose weight or have diabetes, soda, milk, and juice will work too. Just make sure that at least half the time you eat some fruit with your meal.
2.”Lunch”
As for lunch, it’s recommended that you have a salad or drink some soup. It can be hard to eat anything when refluxing so make sure you balance out the foods that are more problematic than others.
3.”Dinner”
If you end up having dinner around 6 pm then I would recommend having something that is high in carbs such as potatoes or fish but also contains healthy fats like avocado, nuts, or olive oil. Also, be sure to drink at least one glass of water per meal (for comfort). You can see this in the recipes below on how I’ve prepared meals for myself that seemed to shift my stomach acid levels back
Summary
Drinking warm water with a little added sugar can actually increase your chances of experiencing acid reflux symptoms again. This can be especially important for people who experience acid reflux regularly but want to minimize the chance of another attack. If you’re already prone to experiencing this unpleasant side effect when drinking warm liquids, it may be time to switch up your routine!
