Alkaline Water For Acid Reflux

Can the sufferers of acid reflux benefit from drinking alkaline water?

RELATED: What Is Alkaline Water? | What You Need To Know

In this article:

1. Many Americans Experience Heartburn
2. What Is Acid Reflux?
3. Why Does Acid Reflux Occur?
4. What Are the Symptoms of Acid Reflux?
5. When Does Acid Reflux Get Serious?
6. How Does Alkaline Water Help Manage Acid Reflux?
7. Where Can You Get Alkaline Water?
8. When Is the Best Time to Drink Alkaline Water for Acid Reflux?

Understanding Acid Reflux and How Alkaline Water Helps

Many Americans Experience Heartburn

Have you been feeling the burn? We’re not talking about your muscles burning from strenuous exercise or your skin baking in the hot summer sun.

We’re referring to that burn you get deep in your chest after you eat certain foods. Over 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month.

What Is Acid Reflux?

Before we dig deeper into how heartburn affects your body, let’s first know what it really is. Acid reflux, also known as acid indigestion, pyrosis, or heartburn, is a common health condition characterized by burning pain in the lower chest area of the body.

The pain can also move up as the stomach acid refluxes towards the throat producing a sour or bitter taste.

Why Does Acid Reflux Occur?

Heartburn occurs because of the following factors:

• Stomach Abnormalities

Hiatal hernia, a condition wherein the upper part of the stomach enlarges through the large muscle that separates the chest and abdomen, may cause acid reflux.

• Pregnancy

Heartburn can also occur during pregnancy because of the increasing levels of progesterone and the pressure from the growing child inside the womb. The symptoms of acid reflux could get worse in the third trimester but may go away after giving birth.

• Eating Large Meals

Stuffing the stomach with too much food forces the intestine to stretch, putting pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle that keeps acid from going in the wrong direction. This triggers the acid juice from the food to reflux.

• Lying Down Right After a Large Meal

Lying down immediately after a meal can overwhelm the LES, forcing food back into the esophagus and triggering heartburn.

• Eating Acid Reflux-Triggering Foods

Eating tomatoes, chocolate, garlic, onions, or spicy or fatty foods and drinking soda, alcohol, coffee, or tea can also contribute to heartburn. Smoking and obesity can trigger acid reflux as well.

What Are the Symptoms of Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux symptoms commonly include the following:

• Heartburn – a burning pain or discomfort that can move from your stomach to the middle of your abdomen and chest.
• Regurgitation – the sensation of acid backing up into your mouth or throat, producing a sour or bitter taste.
• Dyspepsia – a term for stomach discomfort. This includes burping, experiencing nausea after eating, bloating, and suffering from abdominal pain.

Other symptoms like the following may accompany the above-mentioned as well:

• vomiting
• chronic sore throat
• dysphagia or the feeling of having something stuck in the throat
• hiccups
• stomach cramps
• bad breath

RELATED: Former Acid Reflux Sufferer Credits Tyent Ionized Water (Updated)

When Does Acid Reflux Get Serious?

Acid reflux that is persistent and occurs more than twice a week may lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Symptoms of this condition can include chest pain, difficulty in swallowing, and a sensation of a lump in the throat.

When GERD is left untreated, it can cause damage to the esophagus over time. It can also lead to tooth decay as the acid from the stomach can wear down the enamel.

How Does Alkaline Water Help Manage Acid Reflux?

Alkaline water is one acid reflux remedy that can help manage the condition’s symptoms. Its high pH diffuses the stomach’s acidity to maintain pH balance.

A 2012 study concluded that alkaline water with a pH of at least 8.8 can denature pepsin, the main digestive enzyme in the stomach. It serves as an acid-buffer which neutralizes the increased acidity in the digestive system.

Where Can You Get Alkaline Water?

The best way to obtain alkaline water is through a water ionizer. Having one at home saves you from the hassle of buying bottled alkaline water.

Installing a reliable water filtration system also means you can drink alkaline water any time you want.

Tyent water ionizers are certified to be of high quality in both design and output. The alkaline water they produce is infused with extra hydrogen molecules which hydrate the cells faster.

When Is the Best Time to Drink Alkaline Water for Acid Reflux?

To better reap the benefits of alkaline water for acid reflux, it’s best to drink it 30 minutes before and after meals. This is so to allow the stomach acid to perform its function of breaking down ingested food.

 

Now that you know what acid reflux is, how it affects the body, and how alkaline water can help, you have more reasons to consider owning a water ionizer.

Do note that medical assistance is still important should symptoms persist or worsen.

Have you tried drinking alkaline water to help manage acid reflux or heartburn? How was your experience? We would love to hear your success stories in the comments section below!

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on August 8, 2013, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.