Water is a transparent, odorless, and tasteless liquid that is essential for all known forms of life. It is also a solvent; it dissolves other substances and minerals that are essential for our bodies to function properly.
In the case of stomach acid or Gastroesophageal reflux disease, these conditions usually result from too little water being produced by the body.
Water’s exceptional properties have led to its use in nearly every aspect of daily life. About 70 percent of the human body is made up of water, including blood and other fluids. It’s even used to cook our food! But when it comes to acid reflux disease, can drinking hot water really help?
Can Drinking Hot Water Help Acid Reflux?
There are many triggers for acid reflux disease. Certain foods, such as fatty or fried items, caffeine, or alcohol, can all contribute to the condition.
Other factors include obesity and smoking. It’s also possible that an increase in stomach acid production is what causes acid reflux. For people with this form of GERD, drinking hot water can help reduce acid reflux.
Hot water is a common and easily accessible method to treat GERD and heartburn. When cold water reaches the stomach, it can cause painful cramping as it chills the body, but when hot fluids reach the stomach, they immediately soothe any inflammation or irritation of the esophagus.
How Does Hot Water Help Acid Reflux?
The esophagus contains a sphincter valve that connects it to the stomach. This sphincter is responsible for letting food and drink pass from the mouth into the stomach and for expelling waste from the stomach up into the intestines.
When acid reflux occurs, this valve fails to close properly, which allows stomach acid to flow into the esophagus.
This can lead to a number of uncomfortable and sometimes painful symptoms such as heartburn, nausea, or even difficulty swallowing.
When hot water enters the stomach, it stimulates the muscles responsible for closing this sphincter.
This allows the relief of discomfort associated with acid reflux disease and may even prevent it from occurring in some cases.
Water also reduces the toxicity of stomach acid by diluting it. By thinning the stomach’s secretions, water reduces their corrosive quality and makes them more tolerable for the body.
If too much acid accumulates in your stomach, it can burn through its lining, leading to severe conditions that are difficult to treat.
Also, hot water speeds up digestion and relieves symptoms of bloating and gas. When food is digested properly, it creates less work for the stomach, which in turn reduces the amount of acid produced.
Less gas is also created when food leaves your body quickly after being consumed, which also lowers the pressure inside your stomach.
Adding some honey gives it a soothing effect. Honey is also another traditional treatment for acid reflux disease, and it’s commonly used to treat sore throats as well.
Honey is a known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which can have a positive effect on any type of GERD.
Can I Take Too Much Hot Water?
Drinking hot water is generally safe, but you should watch out for excessive intake. Drinking too much can lead to hyperthermia when the body temperature rises above 100°F.
Although unlikely, this condition can result in serious or even life-threatening complications for some people.
People with existing heart conditions are more susceptible to hyperthermia, as are pregnant women. If you have any pre-existing conditions or are at risk, it’s best to check with your doctor before drinking hot water or other beverages that may increase the body temperature.
Excess hot water may also make your stomach full and alter your digestive system. It can cause stomach cramping, nausea, or vomiting – all of which are counterproductive to treating acid reflux disease.
Can Fruit-Infused Water Help Acid Reflux?
Fruit-infused water is a popular alternative to plain hot water that can also help treat acid reflux disease.
Fruit adds flavor, nutrients, and even vitamins to your drink without adding any caffeine or excessive sugar.
The peel, in particular, holds beneficial properties for the body, including antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and even fiber.
Fruit-infused waters are commonly made by mixing fruit peels with water and allowing them to steep overnight.
The resulting mixture is not only tasty but also has physical benefits for the body, including reduced acidity.
Fruit-infused water is an accessible treatment that’s easy to make at home using readily available ingredients.
However, some fruits are more effective than others in treating acid reflux. Fruits like lemons, for example, are alkaline and naturally lower the pH in your stomach.
This has the immediate effect of calming down the secretion of gastric acid in your stomach.
Cold Water vs Hot Water for Acid Reflux
Cold water is known to trigger acid reflux, as its abrupt presence in the esophagus causes temporary contractions.
Hot water can also cause these same contractions, but it does so for a longer duration than cold water and at a lower frequency.
Coldwater also inactivates digestive enzymes, while hot water helps activate them to ease the digestive process and reduce symptoms of acid reflux disease.
Digestive enzymes are responsible for breaking down food so that the body can absorb the nutrients.
If you have acid reflux disease, your body may not be producing enough of these enzymes, which can lead to problems digesting food and absorbing nutrients.
One way to help increase the production of digestive enzymes is by drinking hot water. When you drink hot water, it causes a temporary increase in the production of digestive enzymes.
This increase helps to break down food and absorb nutrients more easily, minimizing the symptoms of acid reflux disease.
However, drinking hot water doesn’t actually reduce the acidity in your stomach. The acid-alkaline balance of your body is directly affected by the pH of the food you eat and its interaction with digestive enzymes.
Is Hot Tea Good for Acid Reflux?
Just like hot water, drinking hot tea can help reduce the severity of acid reflux disease by bringing a soothing effect to your esophagus.
Tea also contains anti-inflammatory compounds that reduce the severity of heartburn symptoms.
However, not all types of tea are effective in reducing acid reflux disease symptoms. Some have caffeine that can trigger or worsen heartburn.
Conclusion
Hot water may be suitable for people with acid reflux disease, but not all types of hot water are suitable.
Drinking plain hot water without any added flavors, supplements, or nutrients has to be done at a carefully measured rate in order to avoid stomach discomfort.
Fruit-infused water is a good alternative because it adds flavoring and even extra nutrients to your drink while also minimizing acid reflux triggers like caffeine.
Another popular drink that can help ease acid reflux symptoms is hot tea. Not all types of tea are effective in reducing heartburn, but green tea has been known to lower the risk of esophageal cancer and prevent acid reflux disease.
Other teas also contain various antioxidants that reduce inflammation throughout the body.
Tea requires careful study to determine whether it’s suitable for each individual, but most types of tea can help reduce acid reflux disease symptoms if taken at the right time.