Mailbag! Thanksgiving Heartburn Hacks

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

You’ve got questions…

We’ve got answers!

Happy Thanksgiving!

And since this edition of Living Well Daily is coming to you on the most gluttonous day of the year, we thought we would share two natural ways to ease your indigestion.

Let’s get started…

Hi Natalie,

I’ve heard that some pantry items can help with indigestion. My brother Jesse says that mustard and baking soda work really well for heartburn and upset stomach. Do you know if this is true? If so, how do I use them?

Thanks,

Randy K.

Thanks for the question, Randy.

Yes, your brother is correct – ­­­baking soda and mustard both help fight indigestion and heartburn.

If you’ve ever experienced the pain, discomfort and tightness of heartburn, you’ll likely never forget it. This torturous, burning sensation happens when stomach acid invades your esophagus.

To put out the flame, you need to neutralize the acid. Stomach acid has a low pH. Therefore, ingesting something with a higher pH will help neutralize the acid and keep your retching heartburn at bay.

That’s where mustard and baking soda come in.

Both of these pantry staples are able to neutralize stomach acid and even prevent your stomach from making more acid. These two powers help stop your heartburn and keep it from getting worse.

However, of the two, mustard might be the better choice.

Besides it’s pH balancing powers, mustard also contains minerals like zinc, iron, magnesium, niacin, and calcium that may promote better digestion and help to prevent heartburn. In addition, most prepared mustards have vinegar in them, which can help for quicker digestion.

The best way to take mustard for indigestion is straight without a chaser.  Two teaspoons should do the trick for tummy troubles. (You can always rinse your mouth with water if the taste is too intense.)

That being said, if you want to avoid taking mustard shots after your turkey dinner, baking soda is your best bet. Just like mustard, it can cut the acid quickly but just doesn’t have the bonus minerals (or flavor).

Simply add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to an 8oz glass of freshly filtered water, mix, and drink. Repeat once if needed.

If you want to add some minerals to your baking soda cocktail, simply use water that’s been filtered with a Turapür system. Turapür filters add minerals like magnesium, calcium and potassium to your water while removing nasty tastes and odors. Click here to discover more about Turapür.

Do you have any health questions you want answered? Drop me a line nmoore@lfb.org

Live well,

Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily

Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: nmoore@lfb.org – and click here to like us on Facebook.

Sources

[1] Mustard for Heartburn

[2] Mustard, prepared, yellow Nutrition Facts & Calories

Natalie Moore

Written By Natalie Moore

Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.

View More Free Articles

Is Your Bathroom Hiding a Dirty Secret?

Let’s talk about your bathroom. You probably spend a good chunk of your day there, from your morning routine to your evening wind-down. But how clean do you really keep it? Maybe you’re a neat freak, scrubbing every surface until it sparkles. Or perhaps you’re more of a “clean enough” type, giving things a quick...

Read This

Key Facts to Consider BEFORE Trying Marijuana

Lately, I’ve had a lot of people ask me if marijuana is safe, and my answer always is, “It depends…” You may have lived through the wild days of the 60s and 70s and even experimented with a little weed back then. But the marijuana of today is NOT the same mellow grass you remember....

Read This

MAILBAG: Decoding Chest Pain and Breathlessness During Activity

“I’ve been having chest pain and shortness of breath when I’m active. Could this be a sign of a heart problem? What tests should I undergo to determine if there’s an issue?” -Paul Hi Paul, Regardless of past heart history, I always advise folks to seek medical help immediately if they experience concerning symptoms, including...

Read This

The Surprising Key to SURVIVING a Stroke

Imagine you’re going about your day when, suddenly, your world turns upside down. Your vision blurs, your speech slurs, and you feel a weakness in your arm. You’re having a stroke. It’s a terrifying experience that far too many of us have faced. And if you’re lucky enough to survive, the fear of another stroke...

Read This

The Deadly Truth About Sleep Apnea REVEALED

Where do you put sleep on your priorities list? It should rank pretty high for everyone, but if you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it’s time to make it one of your TOP priorities. After all, the alarming results of the latest OSA research make it clear that quality sleep is truly a matter of...

Read This

Mistakes that Make Seasonal Allergies WORSE

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you know how miserable they can make you feel. Common irritants, such as mold spores, dust mites, pet dander, air pollution, and strong odors, can make your symptoms go from bad to worse. You can avoid some of these triggers, and you have no control over others. Either way,...

Read This

The Hidden Dangers of Fried Foods

It’s no wonder French fries are so popular. They’re crispy, salty, and oh-so-satisfying. As a matter of fact, as I wrote the words “crispy” and “salty” just now, my mouth watered. I’m only human, after all. But brace yourself—because what I’m about to share will make you think twice before diving into your next serving...

Read This

Losing Your Locks? The SURPRISING Solution

There’s no way to sugarcoat it. Losing your hair sucks. The hit to your self-esteem is no joke. You might even find yourself avoiding mirrors and hoarding hats. The treatment options are limited, often come with a laundry list of side effects, and deliver results that are about as predictable as a coin flip. It’s...

Read This

REAL Drug-Free Back Pain Relief

Recently, I’ve had several exasperated people ask me, “Is back pain something I just have to live with?” I battled chronic back pain for years, so I completely understand why some folks feel so hopeless about finding relief. In fact, I used to think I was doomed to a life of pain and limitations, too....

Read This

Mailbag: When to Worry About Memory Lapses

“I’ve been experiencing some memory lapses recently, and I’m worried it might be early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. My mother also had it. What symptoms should I look out for?” – Ann Hi Ann, It’s important to recognize that some degree of memory loss is a normal part of life. Our brains constantly process and...

Read This