Heartburn is a fairly strong unpleasant sensation, accompanied by a burning sensation in the chest area. In order to get rid of discomfort, they use a large number of available means and continue to look for new effective ways. Do seeds help with heartburn? This article will provide a detailed answer to this question. Heartburn can occur for a variety of reasons, but the most common are related to poor nutrition.[contents]
Heartburn can occur for a number of reasons
Overeating, eating large amounts of food that irritates the stomach, such as spicy or fatty foods, or eating a heavy dinner at night provoke the development of heartburn. Also, following the popular rule about sleeping after lunch can lead to a different result, because as soon as a person takes a lying position, he will begin to suffer from heartburn. It should be noted that there must be a predisposition for discomfort to occur. Heartburn occurs as a result of the reflux of acidic stomach contents into the esophagus. And this is only possible when the esophageal sphincter has reduced tone and does not completely close the lumen.
In this regard, physical activity after eating and tight clothing provoke the development of unpleasant sensations in the chest area. During pregnancy, discomfort occurs due to the increasing size of the uterus. In addition, during pregnancy, changing hormonal levels cause relaxation of the esophageal sphincter and this is another factor in the occurrence of heartburn.
Heartburn is caused by many reasons. If this is a one-time situation, then there is no need to worry.
Preferred types of seeds
All types of dried, unrefined grains are considered beneficial. In this form they retain the maximum range of healing properties. It is important that the seeds are cleaned of dirt and dust; only in this case can they be used.
Sunflower and pumpkin seeds are especially useful. They will help with heartburn if you eat 20 of them on an empty stomach every morning.
Flaxseed grains are no less useful. To effectively combat heartburn, you need to eat 100 g of the product in powdered form. To facilitate absorption, you can pour boiling water over them: 3 tablespoons of powder are needed for 250 ml of water. The product should be used after infusion for 8-12 hours. During this time, the medicine becomes jelly-like. In this form, it better envelops the walls of the esophagus and stomach. For diarrhea, this remedy is not recommended.
During pregnancy
The expectant mother often experiences discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract. The enlarging fetus puts pressure on the internal organs. Frequent indigestion occurs, a feeling of unpleasant symptoms of nausea, burning sensation. Symptoms most often appear after the twentieth week of pregnancy.
Seeds against heartburn during pregnancy have the following properties:
- will help avoid constipation;
- improves the condition of the skin;
- removes symptoms characterized by a burning sensation;
- relieves toxicosis, increases appetite;
- stabilizes the acid-base balance inside the stomach;
- prevention of diseases of the heart, liver, gall bladder.
The use of seeds by expectant mothers is important for inflammation of the duodenum and stomach. It is better to wash the grains thoroughly and peel them. It is advisable to eat the seeds dried, in a serving of no more than one handful, to suppress the symptoms of heartburn. The option of including seeds in the diet is more suitable for pregnant women than drug relief from heartburn.
Benefits of seeds for heartburn
The seeds help get rid of heartburn symptoms due to their rich content of fatty acids, oils, proteins, and phospholipids. The components have enveloping properties. The composition of the seeds, due to their oils, protects the contents of the esophagus and stomach from the aggressive effects of hydrochloric acid.
The microelements contained in the seeds trigger the body's defense mechanisms, preventing the development of diseases. Grains boost the human immune system. In addition to fruit grains, the following foods that eliminate heartburn have a similar astringent effect: bananas, pears. They remove the unpleasant burning sensation, soothing your well-being.
The seeds will help against heartburn with a number of concomitant diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:
- weak sphincter tone, insufficient closure of the cardia;
- hyperacid gastritis. The seeds envelop the walls of the affected organ, helping to restore the mucous membrane, coupled with medications and diet;
- heartburn during the second or third trimester;
- peptic ulcer of the stomach, duodenum.
We recommend: Why heartburn sometimes occurs after eating and how to treat it correctly
There is a general principle of using seeds correctly to achieve maximum effect. The seeds should be dried. Frying removes most of the beneficial microelements.
The seeds help against heartburn in moderate doses. If you eat 3-5 pieces, the benefits will not be felt. Ideally, you can consume 50-60 g of the product to eliminate symptoms. Seeds must be free of additives and impurities.
Benefits of seeds
Seeds for heartburn neutralize the aggression of hydrochloric acid and gastric juice. When the contents of the stomach are neutralized, burning symptoms are relieved.
Effectiveness is achieved quickly, and the duration depends on the type of product:
- Sunflower fruits, in addition to burning, regulate the nervous system with high blood pressure;
- pumpkin seeds eliminate attacks of toxicosis in pregnant women. The fruits help fight parasites. Pumpkin seeds improve kidney function and have a diuretic effect;
- sesame cleanses the blood and removes cholesterol. Sesame grains are beneficial for women experiencing menopause;
- flaxseeds help fight viruses and microbes. Flax removes toxins from the body and normalizes sugar levels. Jelly made from flaxseeds will be especially beneficial.
No effect
To effectively combat heartburn, you need to eat a handful of grains, since 2-3 grains will not help, and more than 100 g can be harmful. The seeds will be of no use if heartburn occurs in cases not associated with pathologies or functional disorders, for example:
- when overeating;
- for obesity;
- after exercise, immediately after eating.
In these situations, heartburn will only worsen, since the grains are saturated with fatty oils, which are heavy on an already overloaded stomach.
How do seeds work on heartburn?
- Once in the stomach, the seeds bind and thereby neutralize that excess hydrochloric acid, which was the cause of the burning pain in the chest.
- This effect is observed not for a short time, as after eating fruit for this purpose, but over a longer period of time.
- After a short time, a person forgets about the pain for about 30–40 minutes, and sometimes even does not feel the painful symptom of heartburn for more than an hour.
Why do seeds help with heartburn?
As always, everything depends on the structure of the product. The healing properties of the seeds are due to their following qualities.
- Chemical composition: seeds contain from 40 to 50% fatty oil, about 20% protein and no more than 25% carbohydrates.
- They contain carotenoids, phospholipids, important organic acids, vitamins that restore the cell wall, protect the digestive system and other organs from damage, and participate in the healing of the epithelium.
- The seeds are oversaturated with essential minerals for the body: zinc, selenium, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, copper and others, which help the body not only function fully, but also promptly launch all possible defense mechanisms in case of diseases.
- The seeds are used for heartburn even during pregnancy, since in addition to all their advantages, they can improve immunity.
You can always keep this product with you without worrying that it will quickly deteriorate or become wrinkled. Such a delicacy is available at almost any time; it is also important that in our time you can find already peeled seeds, which significantly saves time when eating them and eliminates a large amount of unsightly garbage in the office or at home.
Risks of use
Despite their beneficial qualities, if abused, the seeds will not help, but will cause the development of certain pathologies and discomfort. Possible risks:
- Infection of the gastrointestinal tract. Not all seed producers are conscientious. Sterile conditions are rarely used when processing and packaging grains. Pathogenic microbes may remain on the peel, which can cause not only heartburn, but also intestinal infections.
- Fatty oils are present in large quantities in the product. Despite its plant origin, this component is heavy on the stomach due to its caloric and nutritional content. Therefore, it is not recommended to consume more than a handful of any seeds per day.
- The components of the seeds stimulate the secretion and outflow of bile, so frequent consumption increases the risk of heartburn.
- Grains can loosen stools, especially pumpkin seeds. Therefore, this method of treatment is not suitable for people with weak and sensitive intestines.
- When consuming seeds in the husk, the oral cavity and pharynx may be injured by pieces of the shell. This can cause pharyngitis (inflammation of the larynx).
Heartburn after sunflower seeds
A reverse reaction after seeds can be caused by fried grains and foods eaten in large quantities. Grains contain a high concentration of fats. Such foods negatively affect the production of bile.
The impaired outflow of bile provokes its subsequent reflux into the stomach, then into the esophagus. The process causes irritation of the mucous organs. There is a feeling of burning and pain.
Important! Some diseases of the liver and biliary tract occur without visible symptoms. It is allowed to eat pumpkin and sesame seeds in small portions, dried.
Causes of heartburn
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are often accompanied by attacks of heartburn. The most common gastrointestinal pathologies: gastritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia.
Most often, a burning sensation occurs due to increased acidity of the stomach. The contents of the organ are thrown into the esophagus, irritating its walls. In this case, the sphincter, which closes the gap between the sections, works poorly.
In addition to diseases, the cause of a burning sensation is:
- overeating, eating before bed, eating heavy food;
- tight clothes;
- seizures during pregnancy;
- physical activity after meals.
Important! If heartburn is a one-time occurrence, there is no need to worry.
During pregnancy
You can relieve the consequences of choosing hydrochloric acid into the esophagus during pregnancy with the help of a flaxseed cocktail. To prepare it, you need to grind 100 grams of flax seeds in a blender, pour 250 ml of boiling water over them, wait 30 minutes until the infusion turns into jelly. After which you need to drink the mixture and wait for relief. If the folk remedy does not have a therapeutic effect, it is recommended to consult a gastroenterologist to prescribe medication.
