Acidity acting up? Say goodbye to heartburn with these desi recipes

That fiery dragon in your chest after a heavy biryani or late-night samosa binge? Yep, that’s acidity breathing fire again. Before you pop yet another antacid, peek into your kitchen—because it’s probably hiding a whole army of tasty little acid-fighters.

Here are 10 easy-to-find ingredients and how to actually use them to tackle acidity.

1. Cold milk
Cool, plain milk works like a fire extinguisher on an acid attack. It coats the stomach and dials down the burn.

How to have it:

• Pour a glass of cold (not hot, not warm—cold) milk.
• Sip slowly. No sugar, no coffee, no fancy syrups. Just chill.

2. Banana
Bananas are naturally alkaline and easy on the gut. Think of them as your stomach’s comfort food.

How to have it:

• Eat one ripe banana on its own.
• Or go fancy: blend it with cold milk for a quick banana smoothie.

3. Ginger
Ginger doesn’t just spice things up—it also calms your gut and tells your stomach acid to behave.

How to have it:

Ginger tea

• Boil 1 cup water with 1 tsp grated ginger for 5 minutes.
• Strain. Sip. Smile.
• Add honey if want to make it sweet.

4. Fennel seeds (saunf)
Your grandma probably handed you saunf after every meal for a reason. It calms the tummy and keeps the burps classy.

How to have it:

• Chew ½ tsp fennel seeds after meals.
• Or steep them in hot water for 10 minutes to make a mellow fennel tea.

5. Buttermilk (chaas)
Spicy food meets its match in a glass of chaas. Buttermilk cools things down and gives acidity a timeout.

How to have it:

Jeera chaas, the classic fix:

• Mix 1 cup buttermilk with ½ tsp roasted cumin powder and a pinch of black salt.
• Toss in some coriander if you’re feeling fancy.
• Sip post-lunch and let it do its thing.

6. Coconut water
Light, alkaline, and naturally hydrating, coconut water is basically a spa treatment for your gut.

How to have it:

• Drink 1 glass of fresh coconut water mid-morning or early evening.
• Bonus twist: Add a crushed clove and let it infuse for 10 minutes before sipping.

7. Jaggery (gur)
Jaggery helps keep your stomach’s pH in check and encourages better digestion without sounding like a dietician.

How to have it:

• Chew a small piece (1 tsp) of jaggery after meals.
• Or dissolve it in warm water with a pinch of cumin powder for a sweet little digestive shot.

8. Clove
Clove is tiny but mighty. It helps reduce gas and keeps your mouth from turning into a fire pit.

How to have it:

• Suck on one clove after meals.
• Too strong? Add it to tea or coconut water for a milder experience.

9. Amla (Indian gooseberry)
Amla comes in peace. It’s rich in vitamin C, cools inflammation, and repairs the stomach lining like a pro.

How to have it:

Amla-jaggery mix:

• Mix 1 tbsp fresh amla juice or grated amla with 1 tsp jaggery.
• Eat first thing in the morning for best results.
• Or dilute amla juice in warm water and sip slowly.

10. Cumin seeds (jeera)
Jeera is your digestion buddy. It helps things move along without gas, bloating, or complaints.

How to have it:

Jeera water reboot:

• Boil 1 tsp cumin seeds in 1½ cups of water for 5–7 minutes.
• Let it cool, strain, and sip after meals.

Don’t expect magic—but do expect relief.