Natural Ways to Prevent and Relieve Heartburn, Gas and Other Digestive Woes Read More http://www.ivillage.com/natural-remedies-prevent-and-relieve-heartburn-gas-and-other-digestive-woes/4-b-405446#ixzz1uHFvJtee Sign up for iVillage Special Offers

Sip Cider Vinegar

 If you struggle with heartburn, you might be hesitant to chug something acidic, like apple

cider vinegar. “Yet that’s what many people need to prevent heartburn from ever happening!”

says a gastroenterologist . The connection? Stalled digestion is what keeps food in the

stomach long enough for it to wash up into the esophagus and cause heartburn pain, he

says. “And cider vinegar contains malic and tartaric acids, powerful digestive aids that speed

up digestion so your stomach can empty quickly.” Dilute one tablespoon of apple cider

vinegar in an 8- ounce glass of water and drink before each meal -- you’ll see noticeable

improvements in as little as 24 hours. For the best results possible, pick up some

unpasteurized cider vinegar the next time you’re at a health or whole foods store. Malic and

tartaric acids can be damaged by heat, so you’ll get a heftier dose of these tummy-soothers

if you opt for cider vinegar that’s never been heated.

          

Dawdle at Dinner

If you’re tempted to drag out a meal so you can get a break from your hectic life -- do it!

People who take 30 minutes to eat their largest meal of the day are 32 percent less likely to

be hit with indigestion, gassiness and heartburn compared to people who finish in less than

10 minutes, according to studies . “Plus people who eat at a leisurely pace have less

swallowed air, bloating, cramping and intestinal pain,” adds a Dr.  “If you tend to eat quickly,

just slowing down could completely change the quality of your life.” Can’t seem to break your

speed-eating habit? Try dining in silence. Studies suggest that people who turn off the TV

and radio -- so they’re eating in a calm, quiet atmosphere -- naturally nosh at a more

leisurely, tummy-soothing pace.

Chew Gum

According to researchers, chewing gum after meals prevents heartburn by doubling the flow

of saliva down into the esophagus, where it neutralizes any stomach acid that’s leaking up

from your tummy. You don’t have to chew gum nonstop. Just pop a piece in your mouth

when you feel the first twinge, and chew until your heartburn disappears. That depends on

how the rest of your digestive tract functions! The artificial sweeteners in sugar-free gum

have an odd little quirk: They’re surprisingly good at getting the large intestines moving.

Have a Glass of Peppermint Tea

It’s packed with 40 intestine-soothing natural plant compounds, and sipping three cups daily

can reduce painful cramping and chronic bloating for up to 75 percent of women within 48

hours, say researchers. Time it right by drinking 8 ounces half an hour before each meal.

Peppermint tea can even prevent dyspepsia (that nasty upper-belly pain and bloating that

can drag on for hours after meals), say the researchers. Peppermint’s plant compounds can

make you less prone to embarrassing bouts of flatulence, because they break up large gas

bubbles in the intestines, plus stall the formation of new ones.

Soak in the Tub

Taking warm, soothing daily baths can reduce bloating in as little as 72 hours, according to

researchers at Logan’s University of Utah. The reason: Being immersed in warm water

relaxes the entire central nervous system, and when people feel more calm, cool and

collected, they swallow 67 percent less air than when they’re stressed to the max!  More

good news: A relaxing soak reduces your adrenal glands’ production of damaging stress

hormones -- as stress hormone levels drop, your stomach’s ability to properly digest and

absorb food naturally rises.

Munch Candied Ginger

Nibbling two slices of candied ginger quells the queasies for up to 88 percent of people within 30 minutes, say researchers. That makes this sweet, spicy treat as effective as Dramamine for easing nausea, but without this meds’ sleepy side effects. Bonus: Researchers at India’s Central Food Technological Research Institute say enjoying two slices of candied ginger daily can also help cut your heartburn flare-ups as much as 40 percent. Their studies suggest that ginger’s active ingredients (gingerols and curcumin) not only improve digestion and quell nausea fast; they also prod the gallbladder to produce more bile (a digestive aid that helps break down heartburn-triggering fats).

Eat Rye Bread

Munching on whole-grain rye bread relieves constipation more effectively than laxatives. Plus, it prevents future flare-ups, too, according to researchers . The credit goes to rye’s arabinoxylan -- dietary fiber that improves your belly’s ability to keep food moving at a reasonable clip. The study subjects enjoyed seven slices daily -- but just trading your usual dose of bread for whole-grain rye can do the trick.

Cook Fruits and Veggies

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) -- the most common digestive problem nationwide (at least one in five women struggle with it daily) -- can cause terrible bouts of pain, constipation, diarrhea and other symptoms. And while a diet rich in fruits and vegetables helps ease digestive upsets for almost 60 percent of women, there’s a pretty big catch: Raw produce releases irritating hydrogen gas when it reaches the intestines, which causes nasty flare-ups for IBS-prone women. If you suspect uncooked produce could be making your belly upsets worse, try this test: Only eat fruits and veggies that have been cooked, canned, made into soups or processed into juices. If you’re sensitive to fresh produce, you’ll see dramatic improvements in as little as one week.

Relax After Meals

If   If you’re prone to belly pain, bloating or other uncomfortable symptoms after meals, try relaxing in a comfy chair after eating. For five minutes, sit and visualize your symptoms gradually disappearing. Spending a few minutes daily picturing a positive, pain-free outcome helps up to 89 percent of women soothe bellyaches in as little as one week,. That’s because a post-meal serenity break switches on your enteric nervous system, a specialized group of nerves that nourishes your digestive tract, plus secretes the hormones your intestines need to function at their peak

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    Practice Yoga

   Spending just 20 minutes daily practicing even the most basic yoga poses can reduce your bouts of indigestion by 70 percent in one week and cut your heartburn flare-ups in half, say doctors. Turns out these calming, body-bending moves act just like meditation, dramatically lowering your output of tummy-trashing stress hormones.