A hot burning sensation in the chest is an uncomfortable feeling. GERD is a serious illness. People try to get rid of acid reflux by taking medications, which ends up being more harmful than remedial. There are natural remedies to try instead of prescription medications. This will impact your lifestyle and the right food and nutrition will help. The best part about natural remedies is that there would be fewer or no side effects.

Let us look at some natural remedies to enhance the diet of people suffering from GERD.

1. Avoid lying down after eating
Lying flat right after a meal allows the acid contents to reach the esophagus from the stomach. This happens due to the pressure applied to the lower esophageal lining. Sit upright or have a small slow walk for 10 minutes after your meal. This will help digest the food before bedtime. Gravity works well and allows the food to digest properly not allowing any contents to pass from the stomach. You can also lie down on an elevated platform or bed keeping a pillow under your back.

2. Baking soda
One teaspoon of baking soda helps to subside the acid effect and in a few seconds itself, you will feel the difference. Just mix a teaspoon of baking soda into one glass of water and drink it. You can repeat this method every five hours until you are completely relieved of the acid reflux. Do not use this method for more than a day because the extra salt content in baking soda could cause swelling and nausea.

3. Fruits
Bananas, apples, watermelons, muskmelon, papaya, etc., are great antacids. These fruits help ease the pain caused due to GERD. Honey added to a fruit salad can help much better as it washes away the toxins and keeps your body alkaline allowing only essential acids to stay. Be sure to avoid citric fruits like sweet lime, oranges, pineapple, etc.

4. Ginger and turmeric tea
We have known the benefits of turmeric and ginger for a very long time as it is one of the best natural remedies for good nutrition. Ginger is anti-bacterial and turmeric is anti-inflammatory. A combination of these two in boiling water can help maximize your food intake. Scale up your diet by including this drink. You can also infuse them in water overnight. Filter the contents the next day and drink this water. Chewing on a piece of ginger can bring better benefits.

5. Gum
Chewing sugar-free gums after every meal helps stimulate salivary glands and the production of saliva is very helpful. GERD patients have found to be very satisfied.

6. Mustard
Vinegar is a weak acid that helps make your body alkaline. Neutralizing acidity in the stomach is required for GERD patients. Mustard consists of vinegar and minerals. You can either eat one teaspoon of mustard or the powder and see for yourself if the chest pain and heartburn goes down.

7. Chamomile tea
Drinking chamomile tea an hour before bedtime helps eliminate stress. It also helps to remove the acidity in your stomach. Stress and acidity is not a good combination. Honey and lemon can also be added which helps it make more alkaline.