Short Answer: Magnesium is good for acid reflux. Because it has magnesium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, and magnesium carbonate, and they can neutralize excess acid and relax the LES.
Acid reflux is a condition that affects your esophagus, the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach.
In acid reflux, your lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a ring of muscle that normally closes off the stomach, fails to do so.
This allows stomach acid to flow back into your esophagus, causing irritation, burning, and pain.
This can lead to various health problems, such as esophagitis, ulcers, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal cancer.
One of the key factors in managing acid reflux is diet.
What you consume can affect your stomach acidity, which can impact your acid reflux symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage acid reflux, you should consume alkaline foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, and avoid acidic foods like citrus, tomatoes, coffee, alcohol, and spicy foods.
Now, magnesium is a mineral that plays an important role in many bodily functions, such as muscle contraction, nerve transmission, bone formation, and blood pressure regulation.
People usually get magnesium from their diet, but some may also take supplements to meet their daily needs.
Magnesium is good for acid reflux because it contains magnesium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, or magnesium carbonate, which can neutralize excess acid in the stomach.
Magnesium can also relax the LES, preventing acid reflux from occurring.
Magnesium is beneficial for both occasional and chronic acid reflux, as well as GERD, a more severe form of acid reflux.
One tablespoon of milk of magnesia, a common magnesium supplement, can give you 500 mg of magnesium, which is 125% of your daily needs.
Magnesium hydroxide can reduce stomach acidity and relieve acid reflux symptoms.
Magnesium oxide can also lower stomach acid levels, but it may cause diarrhea.
Magnesium carbonate can buffer stomach acid and improve digestion.
Furthermore, magnesium is a base and bases are good for acid reflux.
Because, bases can neutralize acids and restore the pH balance in the stomach.
You can take one or two tablespoons of milk of magnesia per day safely.
More than that can cause diarrhea, nausea, cramps, or dehydration.
You shouldn’t take magnesium supplements if you have kidney disease, heart disease, or low blood pressure, to prevent complications.
Because, magnesium can affect your kidney function, heart rhythm, and blood pressure.
You can buy magnesium supplements online or offline.
To buy them online, there are many brands and marketplaces to choose from.
But as a nutritionist, I recommend Nature Made Magnesium Citrate from Amazon.
Because, it has high bioavailability, quality ingredients, and positive reviews.
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Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management, and essential medical care, is key to managing acid reflux effectively.
I always recommend my acid reflux patients to follow an acid reflux-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being and enjoy a longer and healthier life.
