There are several foods shown to be helpful and relieve symptoms of reflux (GERD) or heartburn in pregnant women:
1. Milk
Milk has been shown to help ease the discomfort caused by heartburn. Milk is an alkaline preparation, so it helps create a thin barrier around the stomach and can reduce irritation. Ideally, skim or semi-skimmed milk, as high-fat dairy sources can make heartburn worse.
Dr. Dao Thi Yen Thuy – the Nutrition Center in Ho Chi Minh City says: The daily calcium requirement for an adult according to the recommended nutrition is 500mg calcium/person/day, because only eating other foods can be found difficult to achieve the required amount of calcium. Especially, pregnant and lactating women need very high calcium (1,000 – 1,200mg calcium/day).
2. Herbal teas
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| Herbal tea is good for pregnant women with reflux. |
Herbal teas like ginger, fennel, and mint are heartburn remedies because the herbs are helpful in reducing acidity. Therefore, pregnant women can drink herbal tea between meals as a good source of water that can prevent or relieve heartburn symptoms.
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As technology develops, the space of life gets more rapid. Convenient drinks, therefore, become young people’s priority. The tea includes honeysuckle, good for chest infections; spruce, also good for the chest and throat; which helps to reduce inflammation; chrysanthemum, which has a soothing and cooling effect; monk fruit (a small melon), which is particular!), licorice, which reduces liver fire; rosemary, which promotes wound healing and has anti-bacterial properties; and cucumber, which is also cooling. |
3. Fermented foods
Probiotics benefit digestion and the microbiome, and promotes digestive secretions that can help keep the digestive system functioning properly. These can help prevent problems like indigestion and heartburn in some cases. 1-2 servings of probiotic foods can be included in a pregnant woman’s diet per day.
4. Bananas
Bananas are lower in acid than most fruits. Bananas have inflammatory properties and can reduce bloating in the intestines. Its fiber content ensures smooth bowel movements. Therefore, bananas are a good choice to ensure every day and meet fiber requirements without causing heartburn symptoms. Bananas can be added to yogurt as a snack, or added to cereal
5. Aloe Vera and Mint Juice
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| Aloe vera juice is suitable for pregnant women. |
6. Whole grains
Whole grains like brown rice, brown pasta, whole grain breads, and oats are all high in fiber. In some cases, fiber can help speed up the digestion of food through the stomach, preventing food from stagnation in the stomach for longer than necessary, limiting the amount of acid produced. Therefore, this can reduce the likelihood of reflux.
7. Pineapple or papaya
For some women, the digestive enzymes in pineapple and papaya help ease heartburn symptoms. Eating these fruits after a meal can aid digestion and reduce the likelihood of heartburn. Eating papaya can keep pregnant women safe from acid because it contains the enzyme papain, which improves digestion. Its fiber content also helps to eliminate toxins in the stomach.
However, pregnant women should be careful not to eat too much, only eat in moderation, especially pineapple because according to Dr. Doan Xuan Quang (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology – Hai Phong Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital) if you eat too much, in addition to burning pain in the mouth, it can increase blood sugar too much. If a pregnant woman has gestational diabetes, it can cause hyperglycemia, blood sugar disorders ..,
8. Ginger
Ginger is a good remedy for stomach pain, relieves flatulence, so ginger is very good to fight heartburn. Among the many benefits of ginger, it can reduce inflammation and prevent stomach acid from moving up the esophagus. This may be because the phenolic compounds in ginger can calm stomach irritation. Phenol is also known to reduce stomach spasms that can allow acid from the stomach to back up into the esophagus.
