15 Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Indigestion + Best Foods To Eat

Would you ever say ‘no’ when something delicious is offered to you? No, right? Even those on a strict diet are known to cheat every now and then, especially when the food is irresistibly tasty. However, this leads to trouble when you overeat and start feeling nauseous and bloated and experience a burning sensation. In other words, you end up suffering from indigestion. So, what should and shouldn’t you do to get immediate relief during such times? In this article we discuss a few home remedies to get rid of indigestion and also what kind of foods you should consume to avoid it. Read on.

What Is Indigestion?

Indigestion is a medical condition that is also referred to as dyspepsia. It often causes pain or discomfort in the stomach and is associated with difficulty in digesting food. Your eating habits or even chronic digestive problems can trigger indigestion. Let us now look at a few other causes that may lead to dyspepsia.

What Causes Indigestion?

Some of the most common triggers of indigestion are:

• Overeating
• Eating spicy and greasy food
• Lying down immediately after a meal
• Smoking
• Drinking alcohol
• Certain medications like aspirin and ibuprofen
• Medical conditions like acid reflux disease, gastric cancer, pancreatic abnormalities, or peptic ulcers

When you are suffering from indigestion, you may experience the following symptoms.

Signs And Symptoms Of Indigestion

• Bloating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Heartburn
• Sudden feeling of fullness during a meal
• Burning sensation in the stomach
• Gnawing sensation in the stomach
• Belching
• Blood in vomit
• Weight loss
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Black stool

These symptoms are a clear sign that you are experiencing indigestion. However, you don’t have to worry. You can treat and even prevent indigestion with the help of some simple and effective home remedies that are listed below.

How To Treat Indigestion Naturally

1. Baking Soda

 

You Will Need

• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 glass of warm water

What You Have To Do

1. Add half a teaspoon of baking soda to half a glass of water and mix well.
2. Consume this mixture.

How Often You Should Do This

You must drink this solution 2 to 3 times daily for a couple of weeks.

Why This Works

Baking soda is a natural antacid that can help treat indigestion and heartburn. It neutralizes the stomach acid to cure indigestion (1).

Caution

You must not ingest baking soda if you feel full after a meal.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

You Will Need

• 1-2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar
• 1 glass of water

What You Have To Do

1. Mix one to two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water.
2. Add some honey if the flavor is too strong for your liking.
3. Consume this solution.

How Often You Should Do This

You must consume this solution 1 to 2 times daily.

Why This Works

Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, which is a weaker acid as compared to the hydrochloric acid in your stomach. It is because of this that ACV is able to buffer the acidity levels in the stomach (2).

3. Essential Oils

a. Lemon Essential Oil

 

You Will Need

• 1 drop of lemon essential oil
• 1 glass of water

What You Have To Do

1. Add a drop of lemon essential oil to a glass of water and mix well.
2. Consume this solution half an hour before you have your meal.

How Often You Should Do This

You must consume this solution 2 to 3 times daily, preferably before every meal.

Why This Works

Lemon essential oil has alkaline and carminative properties, which help neutralize the stomach acid and treat indigestion (3). It also has antibacterial and detoxifying properties that can help in cleansing your digestive system (4).

b. Ginger Essential Oil

You Will Need

1-2 drops of ginger essential oil

What You Have To Do

1. Add a few drops of ginger essential oil to your favorite herbal tea and consume it 20 to 30 minutes before your meal.
2. If your indigestion is due to acid reflux, you can rub a few drops of ginger essential oil on your stomach for relief.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 2 to 3 times daily.

Why This Works

Ginger essential oil can work wonders in calming your stomach and treating indigestion (5). Its anti-inflammatory properties make it an excellent remedy for gastrointestinal issues like indigestion (6).

4. Milk

 

You Will Need

A cup of fat-free skim milk

What You Have To Do

Consume a cup of fat-free skim milk.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this 1 to 2 times daily.

Why This Works

Milk can help buffer the acids in your stomach. This is because it is a weak acid, with its pH ranging between 6.5-6.7, which can help neutralize the stomach acids and treat indigestion. However, full cream milk can lead to the production of more acid by your stomach (7). Hence, you must only consume fat-free skimmed milk to treat indigestion.

5. Honey

 

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of organic honey or Manuka honey
• 1 glass of water (optional)

What You Have To Do

1. Add a teaspoon of organic honey to a glass of water and mix well.
2. Consume this solution an hour before every meal.
3. Alternatively, you can also consume a teaspoon of honey without mixing it with water.

How Often You Should Do This

You must consume honey an hour before every meal and also before going to bed daily.

Why This Works

Honey is a rich source of various nutrients that aid digestion. Its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce inflammation while the minerals in it (like potassium) neutralize the acids in your stomach, thus curing indigestion (8), (9).

6. Aloe Vera Juice

You Will Need

1/4 cup of aloe vera juice

What You Have To Do

Consume one-fourth cup of aloe vera gel.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 1 to 2 times daily, preferably before meals.

Why This Works

Aloe vera juice is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that can help detoxify your body and enhance digestion (10). It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce any inflammation within your body

7. Coconut Oil

 

You Will Need

1-2 tablespoons of 100% virgin coconut oil

What You Have To Do

1. You must consume one to two tablespoons of coconut oil on a daily basis.
2. You can either consume it directly or mix it with your favorite beverage or salad.
3. Additionally, you can also try and replace your normal cooking oil with coconut oil.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this 2 to 3 times daily.

Why This Works

Coconut oil contains saturated fats like lauric acid and capric acid, which soothe your stomach and digestive tract by neutralizing the microbes present in them (11). Also, unlike most oils, coconut oil can be easily digested and is thus one of the best options for treating indigestion.

8. Fennel Seeds

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds
• 1 cup of water (optional)

What You Have To Do

1. Consume a teaspoon of fennel seeds after every meal.
2. Alternatively, you can also add a teaspoon of fennel seeds to a cup of hot water and consume it after allowing it to cool for a while.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this thrice daily for best results.

Why This Works

Fennel seeds have carminative properties that help in expelling gas from your stomach (12). They also help in relaxing the digestive tract muscles, which promotes the secretion of bile and digestion of fats (13).

9. Chamomile Tea

 

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of chamomile tea
• 1 cup of hot water
• Honey

What You Have To Do

1. Add a teaspoon of chamomile tea to a cup of hot water.
2. Allow it to steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Strain and add some honey to the tea and consume it.

How Often You Should Do This

Consume chamomile tea 2 to 3 times daily.

Why This Works

Chamomile tea is another popular remedy for indigestion. Its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce the inflammation within your body that might have occurred due to indigestion and production of extra acid (14). It also relaxes the digestive tract muscles, thus facilitating digestion (15).

10. Cinnamon

You Will Need

• 1 inch of cinnamon stick
• 1 cup of hot water
• Honey

What You Have To Do

1. Add an inch long cinnamon stick to a cup of steaming hot water.
2. Allow it to steep for 5 to 10 minutes and then strain.
3. Once the tea cools down a bit, add some honey and consume immediately.

How Often You Should Do This

Have this tea 2 to 3 times daily.

Why This Works

The antispasmodic properties of cinnamon help relax the muscles of your digestive tract, and the anti-inflammatory properties help reduce inflammation that can occur due to indigestion (16), (17).

11. Carbonated Water

 

You Will Need

1 can of carbonated water

What You Have To Do

Sip on a can of carbonated water throughout the day.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this daily until you obtain relief.

Why This Works

Carbonated water is nothing but carbon dioxide dissolved in drinking water. It is known to alleviate indigestion and its symptoms with its antacid effects (18).

12. Buttermilk

You Will Need

1 cup of buttermilk

What You Have To Do

1. Consume a cup of cold buttermilk whenever you experience indigestion.
2. You can also add some fennel powder to the buttermilk to increase its effectiveness.

How Often You Should Do This

Consume buttermilk after a meal or whenever you experience indigestion.

Why This Works

Buttermilk is the liquid that is left behind when the cream is churned into butter. It is a refreshing drink that is used by many to treat indigestion. Buttermilk is rich in lactic acid that can help neutralize the stomach acid, thereby treating indigestion and its symptoms (19).

13. Lemon And Ginger Tea

 

You Will Need

• 1 inch of ginger
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• 1 cup of hot water
• Honey

What You Have To Do

1. Add an inch of ginger to a cup of steaming hot water.
2. Add a teaspoon of freshly extracted lemon juice to it.
3. Allow it to steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain.
4. Add some honey to the slightly warm tea and consume immediately.

How Often You Should Do This

You must consume this tea 2 to 3 times daily or whenever you experience indigestion.

Why This Works

Lemon and ginger tea not only stimulates digestion but also helps in combating bloating and flatulence (20). The powerful anti-inflammatory properties of this tea can help relieve inflammation and acidity in the stomach (21), (22).

14. Cumin Seeds

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
• 1 cup of hot water (optional)

What You Have To Do

1. Add a teaspoon of cumin seeds to a cup of hot water.
2. Let it steep for 5 to 10 minutes and strain.
3. Consume the tea while it is warm.
4. Alternatively, you may also simply chew on half a teaspoon of cumin seeds after every meal.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this on a daily basis.

Why This Works

Cumin seeds, like fennel seeds, are widely used to treat indigestion. They aid digestion and reduce bloating as they possess carminative and anti-flatulent properties (23).

15. Oatmeal

 

You Will Need

A bowl of cooked oatmeal

What You Have To Do

Consume a bowl of cooked oatmeal.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once daily.

Why This Works

Oatmeal is a fiber-rich food that is known to aid digestion. It absorbs the excess acid in the stomach, thereby helping alleviate indigestion (24).
Give these remedies a try, and you will surely experience relief. To speed up your recovery, you can also follow a few tips that are mentioned below.

Relief Tips

• Have small meals at regular intervals instead of heavy meals.
• Eat slowly.
• Avoid spicy and fried foods.
• Don’t lie down soon after eating.
• Reduce your intake of alcohol and caffeine.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Stop taking medications that worsen your symptoms of indigestion.
• Workout regularly.
• Reduce your stress by doing meditation and yoga.

In addition to these tips, here is a list of foods that will help treat indigestion and its symptoms.

Best Foods For Indigestion

• Vegetables: Vegetables, such as green beans, asparagus, and broccoli, are low in fat and sugar, and hence, are the best options to treat indigestion.
• Oatmeal: Oatmeal is another food that is great for your stomach, given its high fiber content.
• Bananas: Bananas is a prebiotic that can help relieve symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders (25).
• Yogurt: Like buttermilk, yogurt can help cool your stomach and ease indigestion (25).
• Melons: Melons are high alkaline foods that can help bring down the acidity in your stomach.
• Egg Whites: Egg whites are not only low in acid content but are also a good source of protein, which makes them an ideal choice to combat indigestion.

Indigestion is a common problem faced by people of all ages and is certainly not easy to deal with. Get back to your healthy self with the help of the remedies and tips discussed in this post. Do let us know which ones worked best for you by commenting in the box below.


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