Given the increasing list of serious complications from long-term use of popular heartburn medicines such as esomeprazole (Nexium) or lansoprazole (Prevacid), it is little wonder that people are pleased when they find a home remedy that helps ease acid reflux.
Coconut Water for Reflux:
Q. I had such painful heartburn and reflux that it would wake me up in the middle of the night. I read somewhere that coconut water helps with heartburn. I have been drinking about two cups of coconut water for four days, and the heartburn is almost completely gone. I haven’t even had to give up my morning cup of coffee.
I cannot believe the quick response that I had to the coconut water. I also noticed that I’m not getting cramps in my legs at night. A friend said that might be due to the potassium in the coconut water.
A. Coconut water is the clear liquid found inside coconuts. It is a popular beverage in the tropics and is indeed rich in potassium. Coconut water has become popular in North America in recent years, so it is now easy to find in any grocery store.
Testimonials But No Science:
Your story is fascinating, but we have found no research to show that coconut water tames acid reflux. We have, however, heard from another reader who reports:
“Coconut water helps me with reflux. I drink a box every morning and take no meds. When I had to fast for my colonoscopy and drank coffee on an empty stomach, the acid attack returned. Since I was allowed clear juice, I drank coconut water and my stomach was soothed.”
We also heard from Saurian in London:
“I have experienced the exact same effect described by the original poster. I have a hiatal hernia which has been causing me extreme pain for 2 years now. I have been taking omeprazole ever since the problem started, but lately it has stopped helping and the pain was becoming unbearable.
“A friend of mine suggested I drink coconut water to alleviate the pain. I didn’t think it would make much of a difference but I tried it nonetheless. The same night I started drinking coconut water I realized that I had run out of my medication and I would have to wait until after work the next day to get to the chemist to restock. I really wasn’t looking forward to enduring a day without my medication but I went to work anyway.
“It was only when I finished work that I realized that I had suffered no chest pains whatsoever through the entire day. The day before I couldn’t even get through the 30 minute train journey back from work without the pain setting in. The day after drinking coconut water the pain was completely gone!
“I haven’t taken my medication in four days as I’m writing this message and I have felt no chest pain whatsoever. I’m so thankful for it and it feels like I won’t be needing medication any more. All it’s taken is a glass of coconut water in the morning and one in the evening to cause my symptoms to vanish. The speed with which this has happened is astounding!
“I would recommend anyone suffering from acid reflux-related health problems to try this. For me it’s been a life changer!”
In the event coconut water doesn’t do the job for you, we have lots of other home remedies for reflux and heartburn in our book from National Geographic, The People’s Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies.
Revised 5/19/16
