Well folks, a lot has happened since last we chatted. I’ve lost someone close to me. Gained some of my small weight-loss back. And guess who’s back, Mr. Acid Reflux! The protonix doesn’t seem to be working anymore.
I have purged my house of citrus. 😢 The protonix said not to eat grapefruit. It can hinder the bodies ability to absorb the medicine. When Mr. Acid Reflux came raging back, I did some reading. The Mayo Clinic’s website said all citrus was bad. Bye bye 👋🏻.
I also did a tea purge; this broke my heart. No green, black, mint, citrus, white, Oolong, or any spice infused teas. Mint relaxes the esophageal sphincter that prevents heartburn. Who knew?
Sphincter. 😂 Just get it out. Let your inner child laugh. 😂 Sphincter. 🤣 Moving on. 🤣
Here’s what I’ve learned about caffeine and acid reflux; caffeine relaxes the esophageal sphincter that prevents heartburn. Who knew?
Esophageal Sphincter
You can have surgery to fix this but everything I’ve read says this is horrible! On top of that, it might not work. 😲
So let’s go down the caffeine rabbit hole.
Coffee; my beloved coffee. It’s a double whammy fellow acid reflux sufferers. Caffeine and acid. You can spend a bloody blue fortune buying low acidic coffee. What have I learned: Darker roasts are generally lower in acid because the longer roasting process breaks down acid compounds. Look for French or Italian roasts. Beans grown at lower altitudes, such as those from Brazil, Sumatra, or other Indonesian regions, naturally have lower acidity. Cold brewing is a highly effective, natural way to reduce coffee acidity. Low-acid coffee does not necessarily have less caffeine.
Pop. Oh my beloved Redneck Elixir. Mournful whaling and nashing of teeth. It’s a triple threat. Soda (for all you non-country speaking folks) is carbonated. Carbonation bad! It had caffeine. Caffeine bad! And my elixir has citrus acid. 😢 Do they even make caffeine free pop anymore?
Tea; can I cry now? But all is not lost.
Best Herbal Teas for Acid Reflux:
- Ginger Tea: Known to reduce stomach acid production and soothe the digestive tract.
- Chamomile Tea: An anti-inflammatory tea that helps calm the stomach and may reduce heartburn symptoms.
- Licorice Root Tea: Increases mucus coating in the esophagus, protecting it from acid. Note: Use in moderation as it can increase blood pressure.
- Slippery Elm & Marshmallow Root Tea: Act as demulcents, coating the gastrointestinal tract to soothe irritation.
- Fennel Tea: Helps improve digestion and reduce acid.
I even found teas for calming the stomach. 🎉
Leaving you with something delicious.
Egg roll in a bowl
He uses hot sauce that I leave out.
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