When the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) fails to contract, it allows digestive acids to move backward from the stomach up to the esophagus, causing burning sensations in the chest and throat. This is what’s commonly known as heartburn, or in more severe cases, acid reflux. Unhealthy food habits, lifestyle changes, stress and damaged sphincter are the common causes for acid reflux.
According to studies, 60 million Americans experience this once a month or more. There are just as many commercial remedies for acid reflux, but their effects are short-lived and they often come with unwanted side effects. If you’re looking for a natural alternative for acid reflux that’s quick, simple, and affordable, try green tea. We’re about to tell you why it works and exactly how to use it. Let’s get started!
Why Green Tea is the Best Remedy for Heartburn?
- Green tea contains anti – oxidant polyphenols that promote proper digestion and restricts the acid or the food content flow back to esophagus.
- It is anti-inflammatory, so it relieves burning sensations caused by acid reflux.
- It triggers proper contraction of the LES, preventing backward movement of digestive acids.
- Green tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that reverses the effects of caffeine and calms the nervous system.
- It contains active compounds called catechins (EGCG) which is anti – oxidant and helps to repair damage done to healthy cells.
- Green tea contains theobromine, tannins, theophylline, all of which prevent heartburn.
How to Use Green Tea to Treat and Prevent Heartburn
Green tea can be used alone and in combination with other natural ingredients that prevent and treat heartburn and acid reflux. Try all the methods below until you find the one that works best for you.
1. Green Tea
Green tea bags can be found at most grocery stores and ordered online. Green tea also comes in powdered form. Follow the preparation instructions on the package, and make sure to drink green tea at leat 3 times a day.
2. Citrus Green Tea
Lemon juice fights bacteria while the vitamin C in orange juice strengthens the immune system.
- Boil 4 cups of water and pour it in a pitcher with 2 green tea bags.
- Let steep 20-30 minutes.
- Stir in fresh-squeezed lemon and orange juice to taste.
- Sweeten with raw honey.
- This recipe is good hot or cold.
- Drink 3 times a day.
3. Green Tea with Almond Milk
Almond milk soothes irritated stomach and esophageal linings.
- Brew green tea using a bag or powder.
- Pour into a large cup and fill the rest with cold almond milk.
- Mix well and sip slowly to reduce the acid reflux.
- Drink 3 times a day.
- Note: You can use coconut milk instead of almons milk.
4. Green Tea with Aloe Vera
Aloe vera as a home remedy for acid reflux is recommended as it soothes and helps repair damaged tissues.
- Brew a cup of green tea.
- Cut open and squeeze an aloe vera leaf to extract fresh juice.
- Stir ½ teaspoon of aloe vera juice into green tea.
- Drink 3 times a day.
5. Green Tea with Raw Honey
Raw honey makes a great sweetener, and it soothes irritated stomach and esophageal linings while protecting the body from bacteria that can exacerbate heartburn making honey a great home remedy for acid reflux.
- Brew green tea using a bag or powder.
- Stir in 1 teaspoon of raw honey.
- Drink 3 times a day.
- Note: You can mix 1 teaspoon of lemon juice for added benefits.
Does Green Tea Cause Acid Reflux?
Present research attempting to ascertain the effectiveness of green tea as a heartburn remedy offers mixed results. Green tea has many properties that promote proper digestion, but some believe that green tea actually causes acid reflux. In reality, it is the caffiene in green tea that triggers symptoms. Studies show that those who drink caffeinated tea are 1.5 times more likely to get acid reflux. So, for the remedies listed above, always use organic, decaffeinated green tea.
Tips and Precautions:
For best results, follow the advice below when using green tea to treat and prevent heartburn and acid reflux.
- Replace juices, sodas, and other drinks with herbal teas and de caffeinated green tea.
- Consult doctor if you have acid reflux symptoms more than once or twice a week because it is a serious health condition is called gastro esophageal reflux disease or GERD.
- Before using green tea to treat acid reflux, ask your doctor if it will interact with blood thinners, medications for blood pressure, heart conditions, stomach ulcers, and depression, or any other medicines you may be taking.
- Drink at leat 8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated.
- Eat a healthy diet, including fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Avoid excess sugar and carbohydrates.
- Get regular exercise.
- Reduce stress through meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises.
Have you tried using green tea to treat and prevent heartburn? Which methods worked best for you? Share your experience with us!
Hi everyone, this is Rajee!
I live the beautiful city of Baltimore, where my husband works.
I’m from India. I have been visiting India on and off for past few years and my mom was an inspiration for me to start this site. She has a wealth of knowledge on home remedies for a large number of health problems, and we grew up in an environment where frequent visits to the doctor just wasn’t logistically or financially feasible.
Despite this, she managed to raise a family of healthy kids, and my goal here at Home Remedies for Life is to pass on some of her knowledge of natural remedies.
Lipton green tea helps.
I suffer of heartburn since 15 years already at cause of deformations on my sphincter. So I tried many remedy and i can say Green Tea helps a lot, not just for acid reflux, also to drain and flash away a lot of water from my body which are toxins, and this helps to prevent others kind of medical condition like high blood pressure, bad cholesterol, wear & tear of my skin and joints, blood cloths, diabetes.
I use to drink 3-4 mugs a day as habit already sometimes pure sometimes with some almond milk.
I use Organic Pure Green Tea leaves from Clipper. Good quality in the average, not too expensive and from laboratory tests performed on wide range of “popular” brands, Clipper results as “pesticides free”…(ausome!!).
I am 53, and despite my permanent illness, I look and feel naturally 10-12 years younger of my real age.
I am sure regular use of green tea has its good part in this result.. 🙂
Green tea actually CAUSES acid reflux. It’s a shame because green tea is so healthy. But if you research online you’ll find a link between green tea and acid reflux. One study in China or Japan found that those who drank more green tea had more acid reflux.
Taking green tea in limited quantities doesn’t cause any acid reflux. However if taken in large quantities, then it may worsen the problem.
Can macha tea cause acid reflux its from Japan
Nope, match green usually cause acid reflux.
Lipton tea can help acid reflux?!
What about ginger tea to cure acid reflux
Personal experience I guess….I’ve been noticing acid reflux for the past 6 months….just returned from Japan and realized that consuming green tea was incredibly helpful for my acid reflux. I’ve been drinking matcha green tea for almost a week now. The problem is completely gone. I guess it may work for some and not for others…you’ll just have to try it out.