What exactly is Heartburn?

Heartburn is caused by stomach acid flowing back up your oesophagus (the tube that links your stomach and your mouth). It is also known as acid-reflux and it can begin shortly after eating, or anything up to 2 hours later. At the base of your oesophagus there is a ring of muscle (called a sphincter) which opens to let food and drink through into your stomach when you swallow and then closes again to prevent it flowing back up. Where this muscle is too weak or doesn’t close properly the stomach acid can flow back up. The cells lining your stomach produce this acid and are designed to be unaffected by it. However the cells lining your oesophagus are different and will ‘burn’ if they come in contact with stomach acid  - hence the feeling we call Heartburn.

Why does Heartburn happen?

Some people experience this problem in response to eating certain foods whilst others believe it is caused by overeating. Here are some foods that may ‘trigger’ Heartburn if your digestive system is not working properly:

• Tomatoes
• Citrus Fruit
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Garlic
• Onions
• Vinegar
• Alcohol
• Fried and Spicy Food
• Carbonated Drinks

The Problem with Junk Foods

As you can see from this list some fast foods could be prime candidates for Heartburn e.g. Pizza or Pasta with lots of tomato, onions and garlic, washed down with a fizzy drink and a coffee! Other triggers for Heartburn include:

• Eating too much and too quickly
• Eating close to bedtime (when you will be lying down)
• Exercising too soon after a large meal
• Stress and anxiety

Although over the counter medication can bring relief, it doesn’t address the cause. Is there a natural alternative that can?

What can I do naturally to help Heartburn?

Diet and lifestyle play an important part in causing this very common condition – so it is worthwhile getting good advice on how to make the right changes. There are also natural solutions to relieve the symptoms and often the cause too. If you can remove the triggers we mentioned above and improve your diet to cut out fast food and include more fresh green vegetables that will certainly help. Herbs of Gold Reflux Relief is specifically formulated with deglycrrhizinated Licorice (DGL)and traditionally used Ayurvedic Amla (Indian Gooseberry) for the relief of heartburn and reflux. Warning:  If you experience the sudden onset of a burning sensation in your chest you should seek urgent medical assistance.