Acid Reflux is something that most people will experience at some point in their lives.
This unpleasant sensation caused by stomach acid is known by lots of different names, including heartburn. It causes belching, discomfort, and nausea too, and generally is a horrible thing to experience.
That is why people who are suffering from heartburn are always looking for solutions to help their acid reflux.
If you suffer from chronic acid reflux, then your doctor may recommend tablets to help with your condition.
However, if you suffer from acid reflux sporadically, then there are lots of natural remedies that you can use to soothe your acid reflux.
In this guide, we’ll be taking a look at whether, or not, lemons work to reduce the symptoms of acid reflux. So if you want to find out more, keep on reading!
What Is Acid Reflux?
So, first, let’s take a look at what acid reflux is.
Well, as we have established, acid reflux is caused by stomach acid, and it is commonly referred to as “heartburn” due to the burning sensation that it causes in the center of the chest.
The burning sensation will typically start in the chest, and then work its way up the body through the throat.
This burning sensation is caused by stomach acid escaping the stomach and traveling up the esophageal tract.
As well as causing a burning feeling in the chest, acid reflux may also cause a disgusting taste in the mouth, and also make you feel a little sick.
It is something that most people will suffer from at some point in their life, and it is typically caused by eating too much food in one sitting.
It can also be triggered by certain foods and drinks, or by eating too close to your bedtime.
Acid reflux is a truly uncomfortable condition and it is one that many people will search for ways to help.
Antacids are one of the most effective ways to resolve acid reflux, but there are natural solutions too. Is lemon one of them? Let’s find out.
Do Lemons Help With Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux is caused by stomach acid, so the best way to resolve this condition is to neutralize the acid through the use of an alkaline substance.
Antacids work because they are created using a variety of alkaline chemicals that combine in a chalk-like substance. Taking the antacid will neutralize the stomach acid and stop the symptoms of acid reflux that you are experiencing.
Unlike these chemicals, lemons are actually acidic. But, they are able to have an alkalizing effect on the stomach acid causing acid reflux.
This is why, in theory, consuming lemon will help with your acid reflux symptoms as the juice of the lemon will neutralize the stomach acid in your throat and stomach.
This will prevent the acid from burning your throat and chest, and stop the symptoms. So, yes, lemons do help with acid reflux. But only when used correctly.
When using lemon to help with acid reflux, it is important that you get the measurements right.
You need to neutralize the stomach acid, so the amount of alkaline lemon needs to be perfect to ensure that the chemicals remain balanced and that they don’t tip over into the alkaline side of the pH scale.
Generally, you do not need to consume a large amount of lemon to neutralize the stomach acid.
You only need to use a very small amount of lemon, which is great news for anyone who isn’t really a big fan of lemon juice.
Instead of eating a lemon, we recommend squeezing the lemon and consuming the juice instead. You don’t need to consume the lemon juice on its own, instead, you can add it to water and drink the lemon water.
To neutralize the stomach acid, you will only need to consume around 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. Simply add the lemon juice to a glass of around 8 ounces of water, then mix.
Then you can drink the lemon water and this should resolve the acid reflux symptoms that you are experiencing.
What Soothes Acid Reflux Immediately?
While lemons will help with your acid reflux symptoms and resolve the issue, they will not do so instantly.
In fact, there are very few foods or drinks that you can consume that will resolve the problems straight away.
Unfortunately, if you are looking for immediate resolution for your acid reflux, you will typically need to take an antacid.
You may feel uncomfortable taking antacids frequently, but these tablets really do work.
So, if you are searching for instant relief, then you will typically need to opt for an antacid.
If you visit your doctor regarding your acid reflux, then they will likely recommend that you take antacids to resolve your acid reflux, and that is because they work.
So, if all else fails, you really should consider this traditional route of treatment.
Can Drinking Lemon Water Cause Acid Reflux?
Finally, let’s address the elephant in the room, and that is the fact that lemons are highly acidic.
It is this that makes lemons great for cleaning, so surely lemons would cause acid reflux, rather than help it, right?
Wrong! While lemons are acidic before being ingested, once they enter the digestive system they actually have an alkalizing effect.
It can be a little confusing to understand, but lemons do not cause stomach acid, instead, they help to neutralize it.
So, no, drinking lemon water does not cause acid reflux. Instead, drinking warm lemon water will actually help ease symptoms of heartburn because of the alkalizing effect it has in the digestive tract.
Summary
In short, yes, lemons do help with acid reflux. While they are acidic before being ingested, once eaten, lemons actually have an alkalizing effect, and this can help to ease the symptoms of heartburn.
So, if you are searching for a natural acid reflux treatment, add a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to a glass of water and drink it. Soon after, you will notice that the burning sensation has eased.
Thanks for reading!