Does Drinking Hot Water Help Acid Reflux?

Hot water is underrated. You may not see the point in drinking anything other than room-temperature water, but it can speed up the digestive process and is one of the best home remedies for relieving congestion.

You may have heard that drinking hot water helps acid reflux sufferers fight their symptoms and wonder if it is true. This article puts an end to the doubt and gives more insight into acid reflux disease. Read on to learn how hot water affects acid reflux.

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The good news for people suffering from heartburn symptoms is that drinking hot water is a great way to be relieved from your uncomfortable symptoms. Drinking a glass of warm water can soothe your stomach and prevent acid reflux symptoms due to indigestion.

However, it only provides temporary relief, and your symptoms may resurface after a while. Hot water is also not a treatment method for acid reflux, as the best way to combat chronic acid reflux is using counter medications like omeprazole. You can eat alkaline foods like green vegetables, soybeans, and legumes if you want the immediate relief hot water does not provide.

You should seek medical advice if hot water or alkaline foods do not provide any form of relief for your acid reflux symptoms.

Read also: Best Vodka For Acid Reflux

How Does Hot Water Help Acid Reflux?

You need to drink so much water daily because it is one of the best drinks to keep your body hydrated. It also dilutes hydrochloric acid and other acids produced in your stomach to prevent symptoms of acid reflux.

A cup of warm water has a pH level of 7. Plain water is the most neutral substance on earth, while substances with a lower value have higher acidity levels, and a higher pH than seven indicates alkalinity. You should avoid substances with a high amount of acid content if you want to prevent heartburn or other symptoms of acid reflux.

Drinking hot water can help acid reflux by facilitating proper digestion because more stomach acid gets produced when foods take longer to digest. These stomach acids weaken the lower esophageal sphincter preventing their flow to the esophagus. However, you should ensure the water is not too warm as it may not have the same effect as hot water.

Some people also add little honey to hot water, which is a good idea though there is no scientific evidence to back its effectiveness. Honey in hot water helps protect our cells from free radicals that may irritate the esophagus and cause inflammation. The combination of honey and hot water has anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe the symptoms of acid reflux.

Does Hot Tea Help Acid Reflux?

Hot tea is one of the hot drinks that help prevent acid reflux symptoms. Asides from its numerous health benefits and taste lacking in your glass of water, hot tea does not aggravate acid reflux symptoms if it does not contain caffeine.

Herbal teas are the best choice for acid reflux sufferers because of their therapeutic benefits. Chamomile tea is popular among many people because of its anti-inflammatory properties.

What To Do If You Experience Acid Reflux Symptoms

man holding on his chest having acid reflux

Acid reflux -or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)- is a medical condition whose symptoms occur when excess acid from the stomach flows backward to irritate the esophagus. The lower esophageal sphincter is a set of muscles at the bottom of the food pipe that prevents acid reflux, but it could become weak due to extra pressure from these acids. Some common GERD symptoms include a burning sensation in the chest, sore throat, and nausea.

Here are some lifestyle changes you should make if you want to avoid symptoms of GERD:

Avoid Acidic Foods

Foods with high acidity levels are a common trigger of acid reflux symptoms, and you should avoid them. These acidic foods trigger acid reflux symptoms by causing an increase in the pH of the stomach when you eat them. Some acidic foods you should avoid are spicy foods, citrus fruits, and citrus fruit juices.

Quit Alcohol And Smoking

Another lifestyle change you should consider to avoid acid reflux symptoms is quitting alcohol consumption and smoking. These cause acid reflux symptoms because the body relaxes when you take alcoholic drinks or smoke. In turn, the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes and allows the flow of stomach acid to the esophagus.

Change Your Eating Habits

Your eating habits are crucial to preventing acid reflux symptoms because the timing and manner of your meals could lead to these symptoms. You should ensure you eat 2 to 3 hours before you sleep because undigested foods settle closer to the esophagus when you lie down and could trigger heartburn. Also, eat smaller meals and chew your food well to help the digestive tract process the food properly.

Loose Weight

Excess weight on the body puts more pressure on your internal organs, including the organs of your digestive system. Due to this pressure, the digestive system may find it hard to break down foods, and indigestion is a factor that leads to acid reflux symptoms. You should consider a weight loss program that can help you combat your acid reflux symptoms.

Does Drinking Hot Water Help Acid Reflux Summary

Hot water is good for acid reflux but only provides temporary relief, which is not what any GERD patient wants. It does not offer treatment for your medical condition, and balancing out acids by consuming alkaline substances is a better option. You should seek the attention of healthcare professionals if you want a solution to your acid reflux symptoms.