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Heartburn Remedy

Millions of people suffer from heartburn every day and are searching for the perfect heartburn remedy..  There are medicines which can alleviate the pain associated with heartburn.  They are, however, not natural and have many negative side effects.  Thankfully, there are many natural elements which come under the category of heartburn remedy.

Heartburn pain is the result of the splashing up of fluids from the stomach into the esophagus.  These stomach fluids are composed of hydrochloric acid (HCL), pepsin and occasionally bile from the liver. Stomach fluid helps break down the food we eat so that it can be digested and assimilated.  The hydrochloric acid in the stomach fluid also helps prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying in the stomach and intestines. Drugs, particularly Proton Pum Inhibitors, cannot be classified as part of the heartburn remedy.   Remedies are usually natural and not created by man, as pharmaceutical drugs are.

Although hydrochloric acid also helps the body absorb vitamins and nutrients, it is very strong and corrosive.  The stomach holds this powerful acid in check with a special protective lining.  The esophagus, however, does not have this protection.  It is when acid splashes up through the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) into the esophagus that we have the problem of heartburn and require a heartburn remedy..

As food travels from the mouth down to the stomach, the LES opens and allows food to enter the stomach. Then it narrows and closes, and restricts the food from returning up into the esophagus.  When the LES is not operating properly and opens when it should not, hydrochloric acid and other stomach fluids splash up into the esophagus.  This causes the burning sensation of heartburn.

There is many a heartburn remedy.  Something as simple as eating honey helps many people control heartburn.  Others, who do not have enough stomach acid, find that apple cider vinegar is the perfect heartburn remedy.