If you’ve been constantly on the search for ways to control your acid reflux, then you’ve probably already heard the potential benefits of Kombucha for relieving acid reflux symptoms. Kombucha is a healthy fermented beverage that has remarkable benefits in maintaining gut health and preventing digestive issues. But does it help with acid reflux too? Certainly yes.
Kombucha’s probiotics can help balance the stomach acid and prevent the symptoms of acid reflux from occurring or getting worse. These probiotics can also help boost digestion, prevent inflammation, and kill harmful microorganisms that may cause infections.
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What Is Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux or Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) is a common digestive issue that people of all ages experience. It happens when you have a weakened lower esophageal sphincter caused by low levels of stomach acid.
The lower esophageal sphincter is a muscular sphincter that is located between the esophagus and stomach. It acts as a valve that keeps stomach acid and food in the stomach. It also prevents them from flowing up the esophagus.
When the lower esophageal sphincter becomes weak, some of the stomach acids flow up into the esophagus. Compared to the stomach, the lining of the esophagus is more delicate to acids. This causes an individual to feel an uncomfortable feeling in the chest or simply referred to as heartburn. Many use the terms acid reflux and heartburn interchangeably, however, these terms are not similar. Heartburn is only a symptom of acid reflux.
In addition to heartburn, some common symptoms of acid reflux include:
- Coughing
- Nausea
- Burping
- Sore throat
- Regurgitation
- Hoarseness
Over-the-counter medications or commonly referred to as antacids are commonly used to relieve acid reflux. While over-the-counter medication does provide immediate relief from acid reflux, these medications only offer temporary relief. If you are currently experiencing acid reflux and want a long-term solution, the best thing to do is to prevent it from happening. You can do this by living a better lifestyle and improving your diet. Not only will this give you a long-term solution for your acid reflux but also improve your overall health and wellness.
How to Prevent Acid Reflux?
To help you prevent acid reflux, we’ve listed some of the things you can do.
- Avoid overeating, eating quickly, or eating late
- Avoid or reduce stress
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Avoid eating acidic foods that trigger acid reflux symptoms
- Avoid caffeine and opt for herbal teas instead
- Do light exercises daily like walking, light jogging, and yoga
- Choose to wear loose-fitting clothing
- Adjust your sleeping position
- Give up smoking if you smoke
If you experience acid reflux often or more than twice a week, we recommend consulting your doctor. Recurrent acid reflux may lead to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). GERD is a more serious condition than acid reflux. It occurs when the stomach acid repeatedly flows back the esophagus causing an uncomfortable burning feeling in the middle of the chest. If GERD is not treated, it can cause inflammation or damage to the esophagus.
What Can I Drink for Acid Reflux?
If you have acid reflux, you should opt for nonacidic drink options that will prevent your acid reflux symptoms from getting worse. Some common nonacidic drinks you can easily find are the following:
- Herbal tea
- Chamomile tea
- Licorice tea
- Ginger tea
- Turmeric tea
- Fennel tea
- Low-fat or skim milk
- Plant-based milk
- Soy milk
- Fax milk
- Cashew milk
- Oat milk
- Almond milk
- Non-citrus fruit juices
- Watermelon juice
- Cucumber juice
- Pear juice
- Vegetable juice
- Carrot juice
- Cabbage juice
- Aloe vera juice
- Smoothies made of low-acidity ingredients like:
- Leafy greens like spinach and kale
- Root vegetables
- Non-citrus fruits
- Berries
- Oatmeal
- Ginger
- Plant-based milk
- Water
- Coconut water
In addition to drinking these beverage options, it is also a healthy practice to avoid trigger beverages that cause or worsen acid reflux symptoms.
Some drinks that can trigger acid reflux are the following.
- Certain acidic fruit juices like:
- Lemon juice
- Orange juice
- Tangerine juice
- Lime juice
- Grapefruit juice
- Tomato juice
- Coffee
- Alcohol
If you have recurring acid reflux even when drinking beverages that are low in acidity, you can try sipping liquids slowly with a meal instead of drinking them quickly. Drinking large volumes of liquid in a short period of time can result in a distended belly. This leads to more pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter and will eventually trigger acid reflux symptoms.
Are Fermented Foods Good for Acid Reflux?
The short answer is yes. Fermented foods are good for acid reflux because they contain probiotics that naturally improve stomach acid levels. With better stomach acid levels, the esophageal sphincter, the valve between the stomach and esophagus, becomes stronger. When this valve gets stronger, it can prevent the stomach acid and food from flowing back to the esophagus and causing acid reflux.
In addition to acid reflux, fermented foods can also help in other digestive issues like bloating and slow digestion of food. Furthermore, fermented foods can fight harmful bacteria in your stomach preventing infections and possible diseases.
Fermented foods have also shown positive effects in preventing certain diseases and boosting overall health. Ultimately, incorporating fermented foods into your diet is a great way not just to ease acid reflux symptoms but also to improve your health.
Are All Fermented Foods Good for Acid Reflux?
Fermented foods that contain probiotics are good for acid reflux and can naturally improve stomach acid levels. Some common examples are:
- Yogurt
- Kimchi
- Sauerkraut
- Kefir
- Kombucha
- Raw fermented vegetables and pickles
Take note that some preserved foods are not fermented and do not contain probiotics that are beneficial for acid reflux. One famous example of this is store-bought quick pickles which didn’t undergo natural fermentation and do not contain gut-beneficial bacteria.
Do Probiotics Heal Acid Reflux?
Hard Kombucha is known to contain gut-friendly probiotics that are beneficial to the digestive system. However, unlike regular Kombucha, hard Kombucha doesn’t contain high amounts of probiotics as some live bacteria can’t survive high alcohol content. For this reason, hard Kombucha may not be able to provide the same gut-nourishing benefits as its non-alcoholic version.
In addition to probiotics, many people switch to hard Kombucha for its polyphenols and antioxidants. However, the amount of these nutrients in Kombucha may not be enough to make significant changes to health.
On the other hand, wine is known to be good for heart health. Like hard Kombucha, it also contains antioxidants that may help prevent coronary artery disease that can lead to heart attacks.
Both alcoholic beverages can be healthy in moderation. Remember to only drink as much as your body can tolerate to avoid hangovers and adverse effects on your body.
Why Does Kombucha Calm My Stomach?
Kombucha can help improve stomach health because of its probiotics content. Probiotics also relieve the body from common digestive issues such as diarrhea and constipation. Different Kombucha products contain varying amounts of probiotics depending on the fermentation process. Typically, the probiotic value of Kombucha is roughly 10 billion Colony-Forming Units or CFU per gram.
What Soothes Acid Reflux Immediately?
There are several ways to soothe acid reflux immediately. Below we discuss these ways one by one.
1. Taking Medication
The immediate way to soothe acid reflux is by taking medicine. Nowadays there are several over-the-counter medications or antacids that can help with acid reflux. These include:
- Esomeprazole (Nexium)
- Lansoprazole (Pravacid)
- Omeprazole (Prilosec)
- Pantoprazole (Protonix)
- Rabeprazole (Aciphex)
- Dexlansoprazole (Dexilant)
2. Eating Alkaline-promoting Foods
Alkaline-promoting foods are those that are high in pH and can help prevent chronic diseases and symptoms of acid reflux.
Some of the best alkaline-promoting foods for acid reflux are:
- Vegetables especially leafy greens
- Non-citrus fruits
- Melons
- Bananas
- Apples
- Pears
- Mushrooms
- Nonfat milk
- Ginger
- Apple cider vinegar
- Lemon water with honey
- Fennel
In addition to alkaline-promoting foods, foods that contain a lot of water can also ward off acid reflux symptoms. Some of these foods include the following.
Celery
Cucumber
Lettuce
Watermelon
Broth-based soups
3. Chewing Sugar-free Gum
Chewing gum helps to reduce the amount of acid in the esophagus. This helps soothe the uncomfortable burning sensation caused by acid reflux. We recommend, choosing sugar-free gums to prevent consuming a lot of sugar. For faster results, you can opt for bicarbonate gums which can help neutralize the stomach acid in the esophagus.
4. Avoiding Trigger Foods
While avoiding trigger foods does not offer immediate benefits, it can offer a long-term solution to preventing acid reflux symptoms. If you are not yet sure what foods trigger acid reflux, check out the list below.
Acid Reflux Trigger Foods
Fried food
Processed foods and snacks
Chili powder and white or black pepper
Fatty meats
Cheese
Tomatoes and Tomato-based sauces
Citrus fruits
Peppermint
