Do You Have Heartburn or Acidity? They're Not the Same!

Although the symptoms are similar and we often confuse these two problems, heartburn and acidity are actually complete opposites. Heartburn occurs due to a lack of stomach acid, and acidity is caused by an excess of that same substance.

Lots of people suffer from heartburn or acidity at some time or another. Usually this happens after eating an unbalanced meal, however, others have to deal with them day in and day out, no matter what they eat.

In this article, we’ll explain why both occur. Getting to know what they’re all about and knowing how to tell them apart will help you determine what sort of imbalance you suffer from. This way, you can treat it with the natural remedies suggested below.

Factors that play a role

Some factors are the same for heartburn or acidity, so we’ll first point those out:

• Combining different types of foods: For example, combining meat and fish, legumes and meat, dairy and meat in one meal. You should try to eat simpler meals.
• Eating too much: If your stomach has a hard time digesting food, the healthiest thing you can do for your body is to eat smaller portions throughout the day so that it can work through that food bit by bit.
• Sugary desserts: Having desserts that are rich in fat, dairy or sugar are hard to digest and cause you to gain weight. This is why you should only eat them at mid-morning or mid-afternoon.
• Eating citrus fruits for dessert: It’s hard to digest acids after a meal. Try sticking to pears and apples, and eat citrus fruits in the morning.
• Eating too quickly: Eating quickly without properly chewing your food are also factors.
• Drinking a lot of water with your meals: It is much healthier to drink water up until half an hour before the meal or a while after you’ve finished digesting your food.
• Eating while feeling stressed: This includes eating when you’re nervous, anxious or irritable. When you’re eating, you should try to be calm, be in a comfortable place, be focused only on eating, and be with people who do not upset you.
• Anti-acid medication: Having taken anti-acid medication during a long period of time can affect your stomach’s natural acidity.

Heartburn

People who suffer from heartburn differ from the rest because they have stomachs that produce a limited amount of stomach acids. In other words, this causes their improperly digested food to ferment.

Other common symptoms are:

• Slow, heavy digestion
• Burning sensation after eating
• Eating quickly
• Getting full quickly
• Suffering from constipation, gas, and swollen gums

Remedies for heartburn

To combat these symptoms, you should follow these tips:

• Eat small portions throughout the day.
• Don’t eat very hot or very cold foods.
• Try to chew your food well and eat slowly.
• Take a natural supplement with digestive enzymes depending on which type of food is hardest for you to digest (fat, protein, carbohydrates).

Acidity

Stomach acidity is quite the opposite of heartburn: the stomach secretes too many acids, causing your food to digest very quickly. You can recognize it due to the following symptoms:

• You experience acidity before eating.
• It tends to happen when you are very hungry, and eating makes it better.
• Wanting to drink lots of cold water.
• Also experiencing constipation and swollen gums.

Remedies for acidity

• Although eating seems to make acidity go away, try to eat as slowly as possible by chewing well and make sure to choose healthy, refreshing foods.
• Avoid acidic or acidifying foods, such as citrus fruits, refined flour, sugar, fried foods, dairy or red meat. You can, however, drink a bit of lemon juice, because this acid is capable of neutralizing the acids in your stomach.

Natural anti-acids

If you need to take an anti-acid, whether it be for heartburn or acidity, you should try out one of these natural remedies to alkalinize those acids without altering your stomach’s natural pH. Similarly, you should avoid medications and even baking soda, which can have negative long-term effects.

• Umeboshi plums: Japanese umeboshi plums have a very strong flavor, which is both salty and acidic at the same time. This comes from the fermentation process they undergo. They are very beneficial; just put a bit in the center of your tongue, leave it there for a few seconds, and swallow.

• White clay (for oral use): White clay is an extremely beneficial supplement that can help you eliminate toxins from your body, as well as neutralize your acidity. Mix a cup of water with a teaspoon of clay. Stir with a spoon that is neither plastic nor metal. Let it sit for ten minutes and drink.
• Raw potato juice: Potato juice, despite its strange texture and flavor, is a natural anti-acid. You can blend up a well-washed potato or buy this juice at a natural food store.

Above all, remember whether you may have heartburn or acidity, the most important thing is to watch the foods you are eating to prevent any unwanted symptoms.