How This Helps
The gastrointestinal tract is responsible for the transport, digestion, and absorption of nutrients in the body. Also, secretion of enzymes and chemicals which aid in the breaking down of food molecules and neutralization of toxins and bacteria. Acid reflux or heartburn is a condition where the acid present inside the stomach flows back up into the food pipe (esophagus), where it causes irritation and burning sensation to the esophageal lining. The majority of people complain about heartburn in the morning due to the back-flow of stomach acid in the esophagus during the night. The treatment for heartburn or acid reflux involves the use of either proton pump inhibitors (reduce the secretion of acid in the stomach) or acid neutralizing agents that neutralize the acid present in the stomach. Many studies have found that functional foods that can be included in the diet to reduce heartburn. About 75% of the population uses a variety of traditional medicine, including herbal plants, herbal spices, and condiments, etc. to minimize the effects of acid reflux in the body. Many functional foods like onion, garlic, ginger, pepper, and mustard, etc. have been shown to provide beneficial effects when included in the diet. These benefits include anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-rheumatic, acid-neutralizing agent, etc. [1,2]
Does mustard help heartburn or acid reflux?
Is mustard good for heartburn, and is it effective? And why? These are common questions that many with heartburn may be keen to get to the bottom of.
Many ayurvedic practitioners recommend mustard for heartburn. Heartburn and acid reflux is a common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Heartburn is a condition of burning sensation in the area behind the breastbone, which is caused due to the back-flow of acid up into the esophagus. It is essential to identify if the patient’s heartburn symptoms could be caused due to an underlying medical condition.
Mustard is a popular condiment that contains a significant number of vitamins and minerals. It also contains antioxidants and sulfur-containing compounds like isothiocyanates and sinigrin, which possess anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties. As per studies, mustard can be used as a natural cure for heartburn because it is considered an alkaline food. Mustard balances out the acid content in the stomach, thereby neutralizing the stomach acid and preventing symptoms of acid reflux. Hence using mustard for acid reflux is a great remedy. Researchers suggest that one tablespoon of mustard daily helps in preventing the symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux. It is found that significant factors contributing to the increase in the symptoms of acid reflux involve the consumption of acidic foods. These acidic foods increase the overall acidity of the stomach can result in the back-flow of excess acid up into the oesophageal lining, causing heartburn. [3,4,5]
Why use mustard for heartburn?
Not only is a popular product that’s added to various dishes to be able to make them spicy and increase their taste, but it’s likewise a popular product used for treating various health and beauty issues. The seeds of a yellow-flowered plant called mustard may be just the ideal substance to get rid of your heartburn.
As mentioned previously, you should know that mustard is an alkaline food. The response of alkalis with acids contributes to the neutralization of the acid and will reduce its amount in your digestive tract. This can provide you immediate relief from heartburn. It is not just a temporary fix.
Using mustard for treating heartburn can enable you to halt the creation of an inordinate number of acids in your stomach. In addition, this product can enable you to get rid of heartburn completely due to other minerals & nutrients it contains. Mustard is full of iron, zinc, niacin, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids that modulate the process of food digestion. Therefore, if you choose mustard regularly, you’ll be able not only to decrease the signs of the malaise but also to eliminate the malaise itself.
It’s interesting to know that mustard seeds are used for centuries as an aid in treating a variety of digestive problems. It helps to normalize the flow of gastric juices that are absolutely crucial in digesting the food properly. Along with it, mustard boosts the metabolism of the body and the digestion of meals. Because of this, your appetite will become healthier.
Scientific studies in mustard for heartburn
What does the research say in how mustard helps heartburn?
As per studies, mustard reduces excess acid production in the stomach due to its vinegar content. Due to its alkaline chemical properties, it neutralizes the acid present in the stomach and thereby prevents the stomach from producing any extra acid further. It improves the stomach ph by balancing the intake of alkaline functional food. Mustard is a good source of vitamins and minerals which enhances digestion and helps prevent heartburn. Mustard contains vinegar, which acts as a potent stimulant of saliva, which helps improve digestion and prevents the back-flow of acid from the stomach.
Many studies suggest that mustard can be included in the diet in the following forms, which are:
⮚ One tablespoon of yellow mustard directly
⮚ Mustard as a food topping on foods such as a sandwich, etc.
⮚ Yellow mustard with buttermilk
⮚ Mustard with honey
⮚ Mustard tea
According to a study, two groups of subjects were tested for the use of mustard and some other spices in their usefulness for preventing acid reflux. After four weeks of research, it was found that the group of subjects that consumed mustard and other spices had significantly fewer episodes of heartburn or acid reflux as compared to the control group. Some studies have been conducted to check the effects of foods like mustard, turmeric, garlic, etc. in the traditional treatment of various ailments of the body. These foods are often regarded as functional foods where incorporation of these foods in the diet help in the prevention of numerous ailments of the body. Mustard is considered to be beneficial in improving the symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux.
Prepare a powder from yellow mustard seeds
It is best to use a pan. Heat your pan and dry your mustard seeds. You may take almost twenty tbsp for preparing a sufficient quantity of powder that you can use in the not too distant future. Be sure not to roast the seeds. You should keep them on the pan for a minute or two. The seeds should not become dark. In this case, they’ll taste bitter, and the curative effect of these seeds will be decreased.
After roasted the seeds, then you should leave them till they become cool. You may apply your own bender or a coffee grinder so as to prepare a smooth feeling powder of the roasted mustard seeds. Use an airtight container for keeping the powder or store the powder in the fridge. Consume a teaspoon of this remedy with a glass of water every time you’re experiencing heartburn. Along with it, you can use the powder as a spice mix to include its curative properties into other dishes.
How do you take mustard for heartburn?
How to Take Mustard for Heartburn?
There are many ways you can apply mustard to your issues with digestion. The easiest alternative is chewing mustard seeds with no other products. Look through these remedies and discover the best one for you.
– Yellow Mustard Seeds Powder
Yellow mustard should not be taken exclusively in the kind of seeds. You could even prepare powder of the product that may be used easily for treating heartburn anytime you want it or add to different dishes.
– Mustard Powder, Honey, and Water
Honey makes everything taste yummy. It’s been stated that you can just take the mustard powder with water, and you’ll find instant relief. Yet, there are quite a few different remedies for heartburn using a mustard powder that will surely help you. One of them is swallowing mustard with honey and water.
– Tea Made of Mustard Powder
You can prepare yummy tea that’s quite valuable to the health of your digestive tract. So as to do it, you should boil two glasses of water in a pot. When you understand that the water begins to boil, you should add a tablespoon of tea leaves. Use either black or green tea.
– Raw Mustard with Water: You may take one of the most popular kinds of mustard for treating your stomach that is yellow mustard. You can consume two tablespoons of yellow mustard with a glass of lukewarm water. In cases like this, it is not advised to chew the seeds. This remedy can help you to feel better.
– Raw Mustard with Buttermilk
Another way you can use the seeds of yellow mustard to your malaise is carrying it with buttermilk and cilantro, asafoetida and salt. Still, you should pay your attention to the fact that carrying yellow mustard exclusively with buttermilk can help you also. This remedy is extremely great for those individuals who feel problems with taking mustard only with pure water. If you want to alter the flavor of this remedy, you may use these extra ingredients. However, they won’t influence the properties of mustard that are used for treating the malaise. Buttermilk is a really good product on its own for digestion – so you can benefit from a double impact to eliminate the inflammation of the cells.
These are the most popular remedies for treating heartburn containing mustard. So as to learn other information regarding using mustard and treating heartburn, read the hints on using mustard while having heartburn.
Tips on using mustard
Helpful Tips on Using Mustard
The best way to consume mustard on a regular basis is by eating the dishes comprising this item. Yet, it does not mean that you ought to eat ready sauces containing yellow mustard. They generally have a number of other ingredients that can only aggravate your health condition.
When you start treating your digestive issues with mustard, you should not drink any liquids immediately after swallowing the remedy. It’s important because any remedy used for treating reflux ought to be held on your food pipe for many minutes to be able to let it work properly. Otherwise, you won’t feel any effects of the remedy in any respect.
In addition to consuming mustard to prevent symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux, these few tips can also be taken into consideration to reduce the symptoms of heartburn further. Avoid eating spicy foods in the diet to prevent the symptoms of heartburn. During sleep, elevate your head 4 -6 inches to avoid the acid flowing back into the esophagus. Avoid drinking any liquids immediately after consumption of mustard to prevent it from washing down. [6,7]
Summary
The incorporation of healthy foods in the diet could prove to be a better alternative, which may help individuals to treat the symptoms of heartburn or acid reflux. Mustard, being the most commonly used condiment, can help individuals to prevent signs of heartburn and acid reflux. Mustard is not only proven to help relieve heartburn, but the vitamins and minerals also provide anti-inflammatory effects to the body. Many studies are still in progress to demonstrate the effectiveness of mustard and other similar foods in the prevention of heartburn and acid reflux and even the mechanism behind the effect. For now, it can be concluded that mustard is known as a very excellent household remedy for the treatment of heartburn and acid reflux symptoms.