Heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms are incredibly unpleasant. They can be triggered by any food and beverage, so it’s important to keep track of what causes these issues for you.
Many people swear by various drinks that might help neutralize stomach acids and reduce the likelihood of heartburn.
For example, some people think that drinking tea can help with heartburn, especially certain kinds.
So, what types of tea are the best for those suffering from heartburn and acid reflux?
Generally, most teas contain caffeine, which is a known trigger for acid reflux and heartburn. But there are many types of tea that don’t contain this triggering substance. As a result, they can make for great remedies for acid reflux.
In addition to their heartburn-fighting properties, these teas also come with various health benefits, such as reduced anxiety, better sleep, and even improved digestive health. So, drinking these teas can be good even for those without acid reflux.
Table of Contents
10 Best Teas For Acid Reflux & Heartburn
1. Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea not only has a soothing and calming effect on your body and digestive system, but it also helps prevent heartburn.
This is because the compounds in chamomile tea help keep the stomach contents down, preventing them from rising up.
So, if you’re prone to acid reflux, trying some chamomile tea can be incredibly beneficial for you.
Aside from easing heartburn, chamomile tea has been known to reduce anxiety and help calm your nerves. It’s also effective at treating mild skin conditions and reducing menstrual pain.
So, you can get even more health benefits from drinking this tea than just fewer heartburn flareups.
2. Licorice tea
Licorice tea, made with licorice root, may help with the symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux as well as GERD.
According to research, this tea has been shown to be more effective at reducing acid reflux symptoms than antacids.
So, licorice tea might be a great non-medicinal remedy for heartburn.
What’s more, licorice tea also helps coat your esophagus and increases mucus production. This protects your digestive tract from any harmful effects of gastric acid rising up. So, as you can see, there are various ways in which licorice tea helps with heartburn.
Drinking licorice tea has also been recommended for those who often suffer from infections. This is because this rea contains various plant compounds that have antibacterial properties.
3. Slippery elm tea
Slippery elm tea is one of the most soothing teas available on the market. For people dealing with heartburn, drinking this tea creates a protective barrier against gastric acid in your esophagus and stomach.
This kind of tea also has anti-inflammatory effects, which can help prevent inflammation in your stomach. This reduces the likelihood that your stomach will overproduce gastric acid.
Slippery elm tea also contains soluble fiber, which absorbs water and helps coat your stomach. This prevents not only acid reflux but also many other digestive system issues.
Additionally, slippery elm tea increases mucus production, which can be helpful for sore throat and cough. So, it can be good to drink this tea when you’re sick.
4. Marshmallow tea
Just like slippery elm tea, marshmallow tea is very soothing and coats your mouth, throat, and esophagus. This protects your digestive tract from any harm gastric acid might do to your esophagus.
Marshmallow is a very soothing herb, so it can also be beneficial for more severe cases of acid reflux and GERD.
It also doesn’t relax the muscles between your esophagus and stomach, which reduces the risk of heartburn and other unpleasant symptoms.
Aside from that, marshmallow tea can relieve cough, improve dry mouth, soothe skin irritation, and heal wounds.
Because of that, it’s often used as a natural alternative to various medications. So, it has a lot of medicinal properties.
5. Fennel tea
Fennel tea, especially the one brewed from fresh herbs, can help with a sore throat as well as heartburn. It helps keep stomach contents down, creating a barrier that prevents gastric acid from rising up.
It also contains some fiber, which can improve digestive health and prevent various digestive issues.
This kind of tea has other properties as well. For example, drinking fennel tea can reduce the formation of blood clots and provide you with a lot of antioxidants and antifungal compounds.
So, drinking fennel tea is a wonderful idea for your digestive system.
6. Ginger tea
Studies found that small amounts of ginger tea can ease the symptoms of acid reflux, but drinking too much of it can have the opposite effect.
Ginger is a naturally nausea-preventing root. Because of that, it can soothe your stomach and digestive tract.
Alternatively, you can add some ginger root to other teas instead of drinking pre-made ginger tea to get even more out of the ginger found in it.
Aside from stomach-friendly health benefits, ginger tea can help with lowering your blood pressure, suppressing tumor growth, and preventing morning sickness.
It may also aid in weight loss thanks to the antioxidants it contains.
So, as long as you drink it in moderation, ginger tea can be excellent for your health and acid reflux.
7. Peppermint tea
In small doses, peppermint tea can be good for acid reflux. While some older studies claimed that mint is a trigger for heartburn, newer research hasn’t found any truth to these assumptions.
Peppermint is very soothing for your digestive tract, so it can help prevent nausea and morning sickness during pregnancy.
Unfortunately, it also relaxes stomach muscles, so it’s important to drink it in moderation.
Aside from helping your stomach, peppermint tea helps fight bacterial infections, improve your sleep, relieve tension headaches, and relieve clogged sinuses.
So, it can be a great beverage to sip on.
8. Turmeric tea
There are various theories as to whether turmeric tea helps with acid reflux. Some people swear by it, while others claim that they felt worse after drinking it.
So, make sure to start off slowly and see how your body’s reacting.
Turmeric tea contains various antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, which contribute to a lower incidence of acid reflux symptoms like heartburn.
Because of that, drinking this tea can be beneficial for those dealing with digestive system issues.
In addition, turmeric tea may reduce arthritis, boost the immune system, manage irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
So, taking turmeric extracts or drinking turmeric tea can be very good for everyone.
9. Decaffeinated tea
Caffeine tends to be one of the most common triggers for acid reflux symptoms like heartburn. This is because caffeine relaxes lower esophageal sphincter muscles, which help keep stomach contents down.
So, when they’re relaxed, you may experience heartburn and other issues.
Because of that, experts recommend avoiding caffeine, both in sodas and teas. Luckily, there are many caffeine-free teas available on the market these days.
From decaffeinated teas to other varieties, there’s something for everyone. So, you don’t have to give up on your favorite beverage even if you suffer from acid reflux.
10. Herbal tea
Herbal teas often contain powerful antioxidants, especially if you brew them yourself from fresh or dried leaves.
Antioxidants help flush out free radicals from your body, preventing oxidative stress and damage to your cells.
Because of that, you’re at a lower risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
What’s more, herbals teas are good for your digestive tract, don’t contain any calories, and help you stay healthy.
Sipping on herbal tea has been shown to improve various conditions, including heartburn.
So, if regular tea tends to trigger your acid reflux symptoms, try switching to herbal tea to see if it makes a better choice for you.
What teas should you avoid on acid reflux?
If your stomach isn’t too sensitive, you should be able to drink all types of tea. But some people have particular triggers, so you might need to avoid certain foods and beverages.
When it comes to tea, you should avoid drinking black tea as it’s high in caffeine. This substance relaxes the muscles between your esophagus and stomach, which makes gastric acid more likely to rise up.
Some people also experience acid reflux-like symptoms after drinking green tea. While green tea is particularly high in antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds, it also contains caffeine.
So, you might want to limit your consumption of this kind of tea as well.
Everybody has different triggers, though. So, even though one tea might help your friend, it might not work for you.
Because of that, it’s important to try different remedies until you find something that works for you.
Conclusion
Even though many people believe that drinking tea can worsen your acid reflux, there are many tea varieties than can actually soothe your digestive system and reduce unpleasant symptoms.
From herbal teas to other special kinds, there’s something for everyone. So, next time you experience the burning sensation in your throat and chest, try one of these teas, and maybe you’ll find your own cure for heartburn.
Sources: National Library of Medicine and PMC