Think you might overdo it this weekend and wake up with that dreaded burning sensation in your midsection?
Luckily, your veggie bin holds an easy fix for heartburn pain. It's the humble potato.
Potato power
Maoshing Ni, PhD, author of Secrets of Self-Healing, offers this recipe: Juice one large or two small white russet potatoes, discard the pulp, mix the juice with an equal amount of hot water, and drink on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. Why does it work? Because potatoes are an alkalizing food, meaning they neutralize acid in the stomach. Try these heartburn-free cooking tips.
Banish the burn
Ni also recommends these additional eating habits to help calm your digestive system:
- Eat slowly. Chew each bite thoroughly, and leave the table only three-quarters full. Overeating can trigger heartburn.
- Avoid acidic and processed foods. Ni recommends that people limit tomatoes, pineapple, coffee, greasy or fried foods, dairy, and wheat.
- Eat with mindfulness. Savor each bite -- which means not eating while stressed, angry, or preoccupied.
- Walk. Exercise helps move food along the digestive tract and improves digestion and absorption.
