Foods That Provide Heartburn Relief

Heartburn sufferers sometimes rely heavily on medications and pills which can become costly and carry side effects of their own.  You can start experimenting with foods that provide heartburn relief, and sometimes even prevent it from happening altogether, and ditch the pills.

Papaya is a tropical fruit that contains something called papain, which is similar to the pepsin our stomachs create to help food digest.  Papaya can be found in the produce section at your local grocery store, health food store or whole food market.  You can also find papaya juice there too, look for the kind that contains one hundred percent juice for the most benefits.  The big fruit can look quite intimidating, but give it a try.  It is easy to peel, slice it in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and slice up the flesh or fruit part.  It is already quite sweet eaten naturally, but you can add honey if you like.  It is best eaten fresh, not the dried variety.  You can try it on a salad, or make a salsa to serve with chips or as a topping for meats such as pork.  Combine it with fresh pineapple and kiwi and drizzle with honey for a delicious desert that provides powerful heartburn relief and can even prevent it, since pineapple and kiwi have both been found to have similar digestive enzymes as papaya.  Papaya does contain a natural form of latex, so if you are allergic then steer clear, otherwise, eat up.

Another fruit that provides heartburn relief and can also help soothe and prevent it is banana.  The fruit contains enzymes that act as a natural antacid, and they also help aid digestion.  So grab a banana as a snack, or try adding it to cereal, oatmeal, or yogurt.  You could try making a fresh smoothie using banana, pineapple, papaya, kiwi, honey, yogurt and either juice or milk.  If there is an ingredient on that list you do not like, then just leave it out.

Adding these fresh fruits to your everyday diet will not only provide you with relief from acid reflux, but also help in your efforts to eat healthier.