Top tips to beat acidity
Most people these days are suffering from acidity but the good news is that it is a completely reversible condition. Here are a few tips to beat it!
Are your eating habits irregular? Do you eat out a lot? Do you love spicy food? And have you been experiencing burning sensations in the throat, gas formation, sour taste in your mouth and fatigue? Chances are that you are suffering from acidity.
What causes acidity?
Acidity is caused when the digestive juices produced in our stomach are not utilized completely. In fact the acid helps digest food we eat. However, when there isn't enough food for digestion or if there is an over production of this acid, you will experience acidity pangs.
In addition, acidity may also be due to eating a meal filled with either sugar or spices, stress, lack of exercise or long gaps between two meals. In most cases, the main trigger for acidity is the food we eat and our eating habits.
Though acidity is one of the most common problems faced by most of us, preventing acidity from occurring is very simple. Here are a few tricks which will help you beat acidity!
Eat at regular intervals
Always eat in small portions. Instead of one heavy breakfast, break it down into two portions and eat it at two-hour intervals. This way, your stomach is neither too full nor completely empty.
Fruits and veggies
Eat a lot of fruits, vegetables and whole wheat grains as this will increase the amount of fibre you consume. The fibre in your food will absorb the extra acid produced in your stomach and also discard it out of your body. Fruits such as bananas, papayas, cucumbers and watermelons go a long way in relieving acidity. Also, dry fruits like raisins, dried figs and almonds help in easing heartburns and the burning sensation in your stomach. Eat more vegetables like drumsticks, beans, pumpkin, cabbage, carrot and spring onions.
Drink water
Drink warm water first thing in the morning. This is said to flush out the excess acid which gets accumulated in your stomach through the night. In addition, drinking tender coconut water three times a day will also help you fight acidity.
Essential foods for a healthy die
Milk:
Remember how your mother would force you to have 2 glasses of milk every day
when you were a child? She would do it for a number of good reasons. Milk is
extremely rich in calcium and also aids in burning fat. With increased cases of
osteoporosis and arthritis among elderly males, a regular intake of fat-free
milk will do wonders to their health. A glass of milk at breakfast, and one
before going to bed will fulfill the daily dietary needs.
Eggs: Eggs
are best sources of dietary protein. They are rich in choline and antioxidants
which reduce the risks of breast cancer and eye diseases. Though most of us
tend to abstain from eating eggs because of their cholesterol inducing
properties, we fail to realise that consuming them in moderation will actually
result in a healthy heart. Having an egg daily will boost the immune system and
help the skin and hair glow with health. Heart patients, however, are advised
to restrict their intake to two a week.
Avocado: Though dangerously termed as butter fruit, the nutritional goodness packed in avocados do not match its cholesterol producing namesake in anyway. Rich in Vitamin-E, Foliate and potassium, avocados reduce the risk of heart disease and blindness. A dollop or two in salads will not only call for good taste, but will also aid in better absorption of beta carotenes.
Olive Oil: Olive oil is nothing short of a blessing when it comes to maintaining a healthy heart. With its proven abundance in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, it helps reduce chances of cancer and Alzheimer’s. The Extra Virgin varieties available in the market are excellent sources of antioxidants packed with full flavor. Cooking with olive oil will not only make your food more palatable but will also help in the absorption of betcarotenoids present.
Nuts: Although nuts are high in calories and so should be eaten in moderation, the calories in nuts come mainly from their high levels of monounsaturated fats, which are extremely good for health. Eating foods rich in these fats can help reduce bad cholesterol and lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. As well as their heart benefits, nuts are also a great source of protein and are packed with fiber, antioxidants, fatty acids and vitamins and minerals. It is worth noting that peanuts are actually legumes and have different nutritional properties from tree nuts, but there are many other good options to pick from including Brazil nuts, cashews, walnuts, pecans and pistachios.
Oily fish: Oily fish - such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and trout - are renowned for their health benefits when eaten in moderation (between two and four portions a week). Not only are they a great source of vitamins and minerals - including immune-boosting vitamins A and D - but they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These super healthy unsaturated fatty acids have many health benefits, having been linked to a lowered risk of heart disease, brain damage, stroke, dementia and prostate cancer. Research findings published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology also suggest that omega-3 fatty acids can benefit eye health by halting the progress of age-related macular degeneration.
Beetroot: Beetroot is one of the latest vegetables to be hailed as a 'super food', and looking at its reported health benefits it is easy to see why. Various studies have suggested that drinking beetroot juice can improve stamina when exercising, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, improve heart health and liver function, reduce risk of dementia, and fight against cancer. The versatile vegetable is also a good source of many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, which is important for tissue growth and repair, and foliate, which helps to reduce the risk of birth defects in unborn babies, as well as helping to prevent anemia.
Onions: The onion family (part of the genus Alliums) contains many foods that may do wonders for our health including onion, garlic, leeks and chives. Studies have suggested that both onions and garlic can help lower cholesterol, while findings published in the Journal of Nutrition showed that onions could help lower blood pressure. Onions and garlic also have antiviral and antibacterial properties, so can help to fight against bacteria and illness in the body, while a study by researchers at the King's College London and the University of East Anglia found that eating foods from the onion family could help prevent hip osteoarthritis.
Dark, leafy greens: Dark, leafy greens such as spinach, watercress and kale are automatically associated with healthy eating for many due to the "eat your greens mantra" that has been drummed into our heads over the years. However, this faith in the health properties of green veg is well-founded, as these vegetables are bursting with nutrients including iron, calcium, potassium and vitamin C, and packed with health-boosting phytonutrients. Some of the reputed health benefits of eating your greens include lowered blood pressure, improved eye health and a reduced risk of cognitive decline.
Quinoa: Quinoa has only recently become widely available and well known in many places, but it has quickly become popular with healthy eaters due to its great body benefits. Mostly treated as a grain (although it is actually a seed), quinoa can be used in the place of pasta, wheat or oats for an extremely nutritious meal. Quinoa, like most grains, is high in fiber, making it great for the digestive system, but perhaps its best attribute is that it is one of the few plant sources of high quality protein, containing all eight essential amino acids. On top of this, quinoa is a great source of nutrients including magnesium, manganese, iron, calcium, potassium and several B vitamins.
Berries: Acai berry, blueberry, goji berry, blackberry... With a new "super berry" hitting the headlines seemingly every week, it can be hard to keep up with which berry you should be buying this week. Luckily, the truth of the matter is you generally can't go wrong with any commercially available berry. These super healthy fruits are extremely high in antioxidants and have many individual health benefits, including the ability to help prevent dementia (blackcurrants and boysenberries), fight off colon cancer (blueberries), improve vision (bilberries) and ward off urinary tract infections (cranberries).
Oats: Grains are notoriously good for our health, but the closer they are to their natural state when eaten the better their benefits, meaning that whole oats are a particularly good choice of grain. Oats not only contain many minerals - including zinc, iron and calcium - but they are a good source of B vitamins, which are great for the nervous system. This popular breakfast ingredient has countless other health benefits; helping to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, lower cholesterol, reduce blood pressure and benefit the digestive system. Oats are also a great source of slow release energy, meaning that they will keep you feeling full and active for longer.
Beans: From the macrobiotic to the student, many diets rely on the humble bean in its dry, tinned or baked form - and this could be great news for our health. Studies have found that beans are not only excellent weight-loss and energy foods, but they are a great source of antioxidants, protein and nutrients (such as iron, manganese and B vitamins). Beans are also an excellent source of soluble fiber, which can help to reduce cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar and improve the digestive system, while a study by scientists at the University College of London showed that beans can also help prevent cancer.
Tomatoes
Avocado: Though dangerously termed as butter fruit, the nutritional goodness packed in avocados do not match its cholesterol producing namesake in anyway. Rich in Vitamin-E, Foliate and potassium, avocados reduce the risk of heart disease and blindness. A dollop or two in salads will not only call for good taste, but will also aid in better absorption of beta carotenes.
Olive Oil: Olive oil is nothing short of a blessing when it comes to maintaining a healthy heart. With its proven abundance in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, it helps reduce chances of cancer and Alzheimer’s. The Extra Virgin varieties available in the market are excellent sources of antioxidants packed with full flavor. Cooking with olive oil will not only make your food more palatable but will also help in the absorption of betcarotenoids present.
Nuts: Although nuts are high in calories and so should be eaten in moderation, the calories in nuts come mainly from their high levels of monounsaturated fats, which are extremely good for health. Eating foods rich in these fats can help reduce bad cholesterol and lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. As well as their heart benefits, nuts are also a great source of protein and are packed with fiber, antioxidants, fatty acids and vitamins and minerals. It is worth noting that peanuts are actually legumes and have different nutritional properties from tree nuts, but there are many other good options to pick from including Brazil nuts, cashews, walnuts, pecans and pistachios.
Oily fish: Oily fish - such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and trout - are renowned for their health benefits when eaten in moderation (between two and four portions a week). Not only are they a great source of vitamins and minerals - including immune-boosting vitamins A and D - but they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These super healthy unsaturated fatty acids have many health benefits, having been linked to a lowered risk of heart disease, brain damage, stroke, dementia and prostate cancer. Research findings published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology also suggest that omega-3 fatty acids can benefit eye health by halting the progress of age-related macular degeneration.
Beetroot: Beetroot is one of the latest vegetables to be hailed as a 'super food', and looking at its reported health benefits it is easy to see why. Various studies have suggested that drinking beetroot juice can improve stamina when exercising, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, improve heart health and liver function, reduce risk of dementia, and fight against cancer. The versatile vegetable is also a good source of many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, which is important for tissue growth and repair, and foliate, which helps to reduce the risk of birth defects in unborn babies, as well as helping to prevent anemia.
Onions: The onion family (part of the genus Alliums) contains many foods that may do wonders for our health including onion, garlic, leeks and chives. Studies have suggested that both onions and garlic can help lower cholesterol, while findings published in the Journal of Nutrition showed that onions could help lower blood pressure. Onions and garlic also have antiviral and antibacterial properties, so can help to fight against bacteria and illness in the body, while a study by researchers at the King's College London and the University of East Anglia found that eating foods from the onion family could help prevent hip osteoarthritis.
Dark, leafy greens: Dark, leafy greens such as spinach, watercress and kale are automatically associated with healthy eating for many due to the "eat your greens mantra" that has been drummed into our heads over the years. However, this faith in the health properties of green veg is well-founded, as these vegetables are bursting with nutrients including iron, calcium, potassium and vitamin C, and packed with health-boosting phytonutrients. Some of the reputed health benefits of eating your greens include lowered blood pressure, improved eye health and a reduced risk of cognitive decline.
Quinoa: Quinoa has only recently become widely available and well known in many places, but it has quickly become popular with healthy eaters due to its great body benefits. Mostly treated as a grain (although it is actually a seed), quinoa can be used in the place of pasta, wheat or oats for an extremely nutritious meal. Quinoa, like most grains, is high in fiber, making it great for the digestive system, but perhaps its best attribute is that it is one of the few plant sources of high quality protein, containing all eight essential amino acids. On top of this, quinoa is a great source of nutrients including magnesium, manganese, iron, calcium, potassium and several B vitamins.
Berries: Acai berry, blueberry, goji berry, blackberry... With a new "super berry" hitting the headlines seemingly every week, it can be hard to keep up with which berry you should be buying this week. Luckily, the truth of the matter is you generally can't go wrong with any commercially available berry. These super healthy fruits are extremely high in antioxidants and have many individual health benefits, including the ability to help prevent dementia (blackcurrants and boysenberries), fight off colon cancer (blueberries), improve vision (bilberries) and ward off urinary tract infections (cranberries).
Oats: Grains are notoriously good for our health, but the closer they are to their natural state when eaten the better their benefits, meaning that whole oats are a particularly good choice of grain. Oats not only contain many minerals - including zinc, iron and calcium - but they are a good source of B vitamins, which are great for the nervous system. This popular breakfast ingredient has countless other health benefits; helping to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, lower cholesterol, reduce blood pressure and benefit the digestive system. Oats are also a great source of slow release energy, meaning that they will keep you feeling full and active for longer.
Beans: From the macrobiotic to the student, many diets rely on the humble bean in its dry, tinned or baked form - and this could be great news for our health. Studies have found that beans are not only excellent weight-loss and energy foods, but they are a great source of antioxidants, protein and nutrients (such as iron, manganese and B vitamins). Beans are also an excellent source of soluble fiber, which can help to reduce cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar and improve the digestive system, while a study by scientists at the University College of London showed that beans can also help prevent cancer.
Tomatoes
