Fenugreek Fiber and Heartburn Relief

Let’s get to the heart of the matter - heartburn is painful and can be debilitating. Heartburn or acid reflux is a burning sensation in your chest and happens when your stomach acids back up into your esophagus.

This reflux is due to your lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle weakening or relaxing abnormally causing acid to enter into your esophagus.

Heartburn is a very common problem, roughly 25% of Canadian’s suffer from dyspepsia (or heartburn). And there are many causes of heartburn including an unhealthy lifestyle, poor diet, alcohol, smoking, obesity, various foods, diseases, and injuries.

Spicy foods, dairy, tomato products, citrus, and fatty foods are among the many foods that are often to blame for acid reflux. Keeping fit and an average weight will help tremendously to reduce your risk of heartburn.

If your heartburn persists, you can develop GERD or gastro-esophageal reflux disease. GERD can increase your risk of esophageal cancer as well as interfere in normal life. 

While there are healthy lifestyle habits you can include, OTC or prescribed medications can also be used. The main issue with these drugs is that they can cause a dependency and can also increase your issue. 

So, let’s look at a natural solution – FENUGREEK FIBER.

HOW FENUGREEK FIBER WORKS TO SOLVE YOUR HEARTBURN 

Fenugreek is a common plant in the Mediterranean and South Asian. It is used as a vegetable, herb, spice, flavouring agent, and traditionally as an Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. Going back to as far as 2000 BC, fenugreek seeds have even been found in the tomb of Tutankhamen. Fenugreek is, in fact, one of the oldest traditional medicinal plants on record as well as being considered safe by Health Canada.

While fenugreek has medicinal properties like lowering (LDL) cholesterol and keeping your blood sugar level from spiking, it also relieves heartburn.

Let’s go over how fenugreek fiber works to block your stomach acids.

Fenugreek Fiber Research

While fenugreek fiber has been used for possibly thousands of years for heartburn, there are few studies. The available scientific research supports fenugreek fiber’s effective nature on heartburn – such as the pharmaceutical researcher’s clinical trials in Dublin, Ohio, 2011. 

This scientific research concluded after 2 weeks of fenugreek fiber taken 30 minutes before meals, each test subject had a reduction in acid reflux. The results equated fenugreek fiber was as effective as an OTC antacid medication (like ranitidine at 75 mg twice a day). 

Fenugreek fiber is a great replacement for antacids. While antacids work, you can also grow a dependency in which your body produces more acids increasing your need for more antacids. Fenugreek fiber, on the other hand, does not neutralize the acids but instead forms a gel barrier. 

What this means: Fenugreek fiber is a healthier option for heartburn. 

 1. Fenugreek Fiber Water-Soluble Gel

Fenugreek fiber seeds are rich in polysaccharides which form a water-soluble gel. And when you have heartburn, your stomach acids constantly attack the mucus lining in your stomach and esophagus; eventually wear it down. Fenugreek gel acts as an extra protection barrier – saving you from heartburn distress.

 2. Fenugreek Seed Gel has Anti-Inflammation and Anti-Oxidate Effects

Heartburn causes oxidation and inflammation through the acid reflux burning of your esophagus. Not only that, small proteins cytokines are activated; which leads to inflammation; which in turn leads to oxidation. These factors lead to even further damage to your esophagus. 

 In research, the mucilage or gel contains certain properties that neutralize the cytokines thereby protecting the cells from any damage. This protection also applies to other digestive ailments like ulcers.

 3. Fenugreek Fiber for Indigestion 

 When your food is not digested properly, it will stay in the stomach and cause an increase in stomach acids. This increase can disrupt the pressure of your stomach contents creating heartburn. Fenugreek forms a gel to ease the process of digestion allowing food to be efficiently digested and thus preventing heartburn.  

Despite the small amount of research, Fenugreek fiber has been a trusted and true antidote for heartburn and GERD. Not only through a soft gel coating protection and aiding digestion but also through its high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Protecting your stomach and esophagus from acid reflux not only stops the pain but can protect you from Barrett’s disease or esophagus cancer. Fenugreek fiber is a great start to a healthy digestive system.