The human system requires water, vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and carbohydrates at the required quantities to maintain a healthy digestive system. If you fail to maintain any one of it, such as water, you are bound to experience acid reflux. The reason is that of the development of gastro esophageal reflux disease or indigestion.
Healthy water or pure water as we call it consists of a higher pH value, which means that it is low in acidic nature. Drinking such water helps in neutralizing stomach acid and providing relief from the symptoms of gastro esophageal reflux disease or acid reflux. But, can drinking water help with acid reflux?
Alkaline Water and Acid Reflux
Every food that we eat or every liquid that we intake has a particular pH value. Commonly, when the pH value is high, the food or liquid consists of lower acidic nature. It, in turn, helps in reducing the triggering factor of gastro esophageal reflux disease, keeping the heartburn sensation away from development.
The pH value measures from 1 to 14. The tap, as well as bottled water, contain a pH value of 7, which is neutral and a healthy sign for consumption. However, the value can deviate in either direction depending on the sources. It is possible to turn the regular tap water into alkaline by adding filters that increase the pH value to 8 or 9.
Claims Behind Acid Reflux
A human body also contains pH levels. For example, the pH level is neutral in the blood, high in the small bowel and low in the stomach. According to companies that are producing bottled water, the situation becomes severe due to the changing acidic nature in the body. By drinking the bottled water, which has a pH value of eight or nine, it is possible to create a neutral environment that reduces the production of acid reflux.
However, several gastroenterologists state that you do not need such a help in this region because the human structure is a perfect example of sophisticated machinery that helps in keeping the pH levels throughout the body in neutral value.
The other reasons behind the development of acid reflux could be due to the lifestyle and the food habits of the individual. Consuming food at a faster rate, eating fried foods, late-night dinners, smoking, alcohol consumption, and intolerant to dairy products as well as inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen and aspirin also cause acid reflux.
Can Drinking Water Help With Acid Reflux?
Drinking water with the pH value of seven and above is helpful in reducing the burning sensation but it will not address the actual cause of the occurrence of acid reflux. However, drinking water at frequent intervals will be helpful in maintaining the required pH values in the stomach, clear the esophagus, and dilute the acid.
Although drinking water with a higher pH value in moderation is considerable, it is preferable to talk with a gastroenterologist before adding it to the diet. The reason for this is because the esophagus cannot withstand exposure to alkaline. Although you are looking towards reducing the acid reflux, you might be destroying the esophagus in the process.
Better ways to come out of the situation is by speaking with the physician and learn alternative ways through which you can overcome acid reflux. Of course, drinking water is essential. But make sure that it is in moderation to keep the body hydrated at all times. Making changes to lifestyle and food habits also helps in reducing gastro esophageal reflux disease, which is the major underlying problem for causing acid reflux.
