Exercise is good for overall health, losing weight, and feeling energetic all through the day. However, what if you get acidity or heartburn post-workout? When you exercise intensively, the acid is pushed towards the esophagus during the movements and leads to irritation or burning.
It is quite common to feel heartburn after a vigorous workout session. It is more common in people who do a lot of bending and twisting exercises or who had a very heavy meal a couple of hours before exercising.
Avoid foods that cause acidity
Even though intense movements do push the acid from the stomach into the esophagus, the formation of acid is triggered only when you eat oily and spicy foods. So you must avoid eating such foods or limit your portion. Drinks such as coffee, carbonated beverages, and alcohol also cause heartburn and should be avoided.
Do not lie down immediately after exercise
It is natural to feel exhausted after a heavy workout routine. However, even then you must not lie down immediately after the exercise. Let the body’s blood circulation and overall functioning settle or it may cause heartburn. You should wait for at least half an hour before lying down after the exercise.
Stay away from certain exercises
At times certain exercises can cause heartburn and acidity. For that, you need to watch which exercises trigger acid reflux. More often downward dog pose or performing inversions can cause acidity as these are the exercises against the natural gravity of the digestion. If intensive workouts or core exercises cause acidity then you should shift to normal exercises like cycling and swimming.
Baking soda can help
You can try natural remedies like baking soda. Add 1 tsp baking soda to a glass of water and drink. Baking soda is known for neutralizing stomach acids as it amps up the intake of salt in the body.
Keep yourself hydrated
Drinking less amount of water can also cause acidity. Make sure that you drink adequate water and stay hydrated, especially during summer when you perspire more.
Disclaimer: This piece of article is for basic information purposes only. It's always advisable to consult a doctor for any type of health issue.