Can Juices Relieve Gastric Issues? Here’s What You Need to Know

Juices are always a great to include in your diet, with each one of them having its own set of benefits. It could be a cool cucumber juice or an aloe vera one; they are all healthy. And guess what? They offer some gastric benefits too. Several people claim them as coolants for their stomach acidity. Some of them are helpful to relieve the inflammatory issues of your gut. For years, juice has been top top-rated stomach-relieving remedy.

But do you know how they exactly work and which juice is good for gastric issues? Whether they only address the issues you see, or if all those are simple claims or myths. Do they really heal your inflamed gut, or do they work on soothing your stomach’s burning fire? We will answer all these questions in this blog.

Mool Health believes that while juices can alleviate the visible issues of gastric issues, they do not address the root cause. Instead, they provide temporary fixes, leaving the underlying issues unresolved.

What Does 'Gastric' Really Mean?

The term ‘Gastric’ is commonly used to refer to stomach-related issues. Sometimes, you may experience bloating or inflammation in your stomach, these are considered primary gastric issues. On the other hand, conditions like heartburn and acid reflux are considered secondary gastric issues.

You can relate it to an analogy of a car engine light here. Just as the light on the dashboard signals a deeper mechanical problem that requires attention, gastric issues indicate underlying issues in your digestive system. Low digestive enzyme levels, reduced gut motility, and an imbalanced gut microbiome are key triggers that often go unnoticed, but they can cause discomfort deep within your gut. While you can’t see these issues with the naked eye, they can lead to issues like bloating or high acidity.

Are Juices Really Good for Gastric Issues?

Certain juices can offer quick relief for various gastric issues by soothing the stomach, improving digestion, and balancing acidity levels. These juices work in different ways, targeting specific aspects of digestion to ease discomfort.

While they provide temporary comfort, it’s important to note that these juices do not fix deeper digestive problems. Here’s a closer look at some juices that can benefit your stomach:

• Aloe Vera Juice

Aloe vera juice has natural anti-inflammatory and soothing properties that help calm an inflamed stomach lining. It’s packed with compounds like polysaccharides that promote healing of the gut lining and reduce irritation.

Why: Aloe vera’s cooling effect works well to ease the discomfort caused by conditions like gastritis or acid reflux. It helps in reducing inflammation in the stomach and intestines, preventing further irritation. Additionally, aloe vera promotes better nutrient absorption by maintaining a healthier gut lining.

• Mint Juice

Mint juice contains menthol, a compound known for its muscle-relaxing properties. This helps regulate the muscles in the gut and prevent spasms that cause bloating and cramping. Mint also stimulates the production of bile, which aids digestion and the breakdown of fats.

Why: Mint juice is effective for easing bloating and discomfort because it reduces the tightness and spasms in the gut muscles that can cause indigestion. The flavonoids in mint also help with digestive enzyme function, facilitating smoother digestion. It also helps alleviate issues of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and indigestion.

• Ginger Juice

Ginger contains bioactive compounds such as gingerol and shogaol that improve digestion by stimulating the stomach’s digestive enzymes. It also helps relax the muscles in the stomach and intestines, which reduces the buildup of gas.

Why: Ginger juice is an excellent remedy for stomach gas because it aids in moving gas through the digestive tract more quickly, preventing bloating and discomfort. It also accelerates gastric emptying, which helps reduce the feeling of fullness and heaviness in the stomach. Additionally, ginger's anti-inflammatory properties help calm an irritated gut.

• Cucumber Juice

Cucumber juice is naturally alkaline and high in water, which makes it an excellent hydrator. Its alkaline nature helps neutralize excess stomach acid, which is a common cause of acid reflux and heartburn.

Why: The high water content in cucumber juice helps maintain proper hydration levels in the stomach lining, promoting healthy digestion. By neutralizing stomach acid, cucumber juice can help reduce the burning sensation that accompanies acidity. Its mild, cooling properties make it a soothing option for those suffering from acid reflux or digestive discomfort.

• Amla Juice

Amla, or Indian gooseberry, is rich in vitamin C, which plays a key role in collagen formation and the maintenance of a healthy digestive lining. The antioxidants in amla help protect the gut from oxidative stress and inflammation.

Why: Amla juice helps balance stomach pH and supports digestive function. Vitamin C is essential for the health of the stomach lining and helps protect it from damage caused by acidic foods. Amla’s cooling and rejuvenating properties also help with digestion by enhancing the breakdown of food and improving nutrient absorption.

Mool Health disclaimer: Juices only promise to solve your issues temporarily. They may not work as well as solutions designed for more severe issues.

Here’s a quick overview of which juices are good for gastric issues:

You should therefore have these best juices for an acidity mindfully and in smaller quantities. These are again your temporary fixes. You need professional expertise advice on finding the right permanent solution.

Mool Health’s Core Analogy: The Vadapav Story

There’s really no better way to explain Mool Health’s root-cause philosophy than with our famous Vadapav story. So, imagine this: you and your friend are both craving a Vadapav. You head to a local street vendor, buy one, and start eating.

Now, you feel totally satisfied, but then your friend’s stomach starts hurting. Maybe she’s feeling bloated, or it’s just some gas buildup. Your first instinct might be to offer her a minty juice or even an antacid. But, honestly, is that really enough?

Here’s where Mool Health thinks a bit differently. We believe that just masking the issues won’t really fix the problem long-term. See, in your friend’s case, the Vadapav wasn’t the issue. You both ate the same thing, from the same vendor, right? But, what it did do was trigger an underlying gut issue that your friend has.

Now, you might think to just give her a glass of milk. It might calm her stomach down a little, sure, but that’s just a quick fix. Her gut needs more than just temporary relief. It needs to be treated at the root.

Root Causes of Gastric Discomfort (That Juices Can’t Fix)

You can now understand that natural juices for digestion are your band-aids. Then what is the real underlying issue? At Mool Health, we look one step deeper:

• Low Digestive Enzymes: Sometimes, your body may or may not produce enough enzymes. In such cases, your food will sit deep inside your gut undigested. It later undergoes fermentation, resulting in gas and bloating.

• Sluggish Gut Mobility: When your food doesn’t move through your digestive system quickly, it can sit and cause bloating, acidity, and discomfort. Slow-moving food is one of the major contributors to digestive issues.

• Imbalanced Gut Bacteria: As complex as your food is, so complex is the microflora that is present in your stomach. You may experience their presence when you feel uncomfortable. Both these conditions lower your gut immunity, and you have increased inflammation.

• Hyper-sensitive Gut Lining: Mostly, your damaged gut lining is the reason behind your acidity and bloating issues. This condition is generally referred to as leaky gut lining. A leaky gut can push your food particles and toxins down into your bloodstream. It might trigger your systemic issues and increase your sensitivity even to normal foods.

• Disruption of Gut-Brain Axis: Chronic stress acts upon your digestive system and weakens it. Both your brain and gut are interconnected. Stress hormones can lower this gut-brain rhythm, enzyme production, and motility.

• Pitta Imbalance or Vata: In Ayurveda, gastric issues often result from your imbalance of doshas. An imbalance in your Vata can cause you erratic digestion and gas buildup. An imbalanced Pitta can manifest your hyperacidity and inflammation issues.

Why Juices Feel Good But Don’t Heal Gut Dysfunction?

Juices are quite popular go-to remedies for many of us. We often are eager to figure out which juice is good for gastric. However, it is easy to confuse them with true healing for our gastric issues. Fixing a problem and true healing are entirely different aspects.

• They are Hydrating and Form Alkaline Foods

Celery, aloe vera, and cucumber contain minerals and vitamins that work on your stomach acidity. Next, they hydrate your gut lining to reduce the inflammation that you feel in your gut. As a result, you feel that your heartburn no longer exists.

• They Offer Mild Nutrition

Vitamins and minerals provide the nutritional value that the juice offers you. A small nutritional boost provides a much-needed energy boost with its nourishment.

But here’s where the fundamental disconnect lies:

• They Do Not Build Agni or Digestive Fire

In Ayurvedic philosophy, Agni is your metabolic fire, contributing to your digestion and absorption. Cold, liquid-based juices dampen the fire inside your stomach, weakening your digestive fire over time.

You need a strong Agni to break down your food. However, juices bypass the breakdown process by your digestive Agni to create a dependency on external nutrients.

• They Do Not Repair Your Gut Barrier

Your healthy gut is both a strong and selective barrier to prevent your undigested food particles and toxins from entering your bloodstream. You can repair this barrier only with specific nutrients, prebiotics, and changes to your lifestyle.

There is no simple liquid to change this barrier. A juice will never mend your ‘leaky gut.’ It can also never rebuild an integral intestinal lining for you.

• They Do Not Restore Enzyme Production or Fix Your Microbiome

Producing enzymes is a complex process for your body, too. No juice in the world can make your body produce more enzymes.

Similarly, you need a diverse diet to fix your imbalanced gut microbiome. Your diet should now be rich in prebiotics and fiber. A juice will never address the complex ecosystem of your gut microbiome.

When Juices Might Backfire?

Juice for gas and acidity are harmless, but using them incorrectly can worsen your issues further:

• Drinking Juices While Having Meals: It is a classic mistake that most of us make. Juice is mainly made of water that works on diluting the natural digestive acids found in your body. This dilution gives rise to digestive issues.

• Too Much Fiber: Some fibers are naturally good. A big glass of vegetable juice contains a lot of insoluble fiber. In case you have a sensitive stomach, you may experience issues such as bloating and gas.

• Cooling Juices in the Wrong Season: Cucumber and mint juices are natural coolants or gut-healing juices. If you have them during winter, they can further weaken your digestive fire. With this weakening, bloating and gastric issues are common.

So, which juice is good for gastric?

The answer is none. However, you can use them intelligently if you cannot resist having them. Here’s how:

How to Take Juices Intelligently?

If you still feel that you should have juice in your diet, you can do so only after understanding certain restrictions.

• Timing: You should drink your juice at least 30 to 40 minutes before your meal. In this way, you prevent your digestive enzymes from being diluted.

• Controlling Your Portion: Drink only 100 to 150 ml per day if you want.

• Rotate and Observe: Observe how your body behaves. A ginger juice is good to start your day with. Cucumber juice is more soothing and relaxing in the afternoons. Switch between juices according to the type, your gastric issues, and seasons.

Other Natural Soothers

Just like your fruit or vegetable juices, many other natural remedies offer you some sort of temporary relief when it comes to gastric issues:

Mool Health’s POV:

You should, however, use these drinks wisely. Work on building the inner strength of your gut health. It will automatically solve your outer issues.

Mool Health Method vs Juice-First Fixes

When it comes to improving your digestive health, juices can offer short-term relief, but Mool Health’s root-cause plan goes deeper to provide lasting healing.

• Hydration: Both juices and Mool Health’s approach provide hydration, but Mool Health focuses on holistic hydration that supports the gut from within.

• Soothing the Gut Lining: Juices can soothe the gut lining temporarily, but Mool Health uses specific herbs and dietary adjustments to offer a more targeted and lasting solution.

• Repairing the Gut Barrier: While juices won’t repair the gut barrier, Mool Health’s root-cause plan focuses on rebuilding it with ghee, herbs, and prebiotics, addressing the core issue.

• Restoring Enzymes: Juices do not restore digestive enzymes, but Mool Health’s method uses agni-building herbs to support enzyme production and improve digestion.

• Balancing the Gut-Brain Axis: Juices don’t directly affect the gut-brain connection, but Mool Health incorporates breathwork and lifestyle changes to restore this vital balance.

• Personalized Healing: While juices are a one-size-fits-all approach, Mool Health’s plan is personalized to your unique needs, ensuring a tailored solution for your digestive health.

Final Thoughts

Juices are great, but they can help fix gastric issues temporarily. Which juice is good for gastric issues? Some juices are apt for superficial issues. However, they do not work on the deep-seated issues.

If your gut inflammation increases with whatever you eat, the food is not. The issue is with your gut. It is a sign that your digestive system is not strong enough and lacks resilience. Do not keep your gut chasing temporary ‘external fixes.’ Mostly, the external fixes mask only the superficial issues. Your path to lasting relief starts with building from the root.

At Mool Health, we believe in going beyond the routine quick fixes. Our experts understand the ‘why’ behind the issues to help you resolve them with Gut Expert-designed Ayurvedic solutions. Your true gut health is to build your internal ecosystem that handles all your life challenges and not just to soothe the system as and when they appear.

Take our gut test today to start true healing and move beyond temporary relief.

FAQs

Which juice is best for acidity and gas?

Mint, aloe, and ginger work well on acidity and gas. However, even if they will only resolve your issues. The best way to avoid acidity is to say NO to foods that cause it.

Can I drink fruit juice on an empty stomach?

It's generally not recommended. The high sugar content can spike blood sugar, and the acidity can irritate an empty stomach. A small glass of vegetable juice might be a better option if you must.

Should I avoid juice if I have IBS?

Many people with IBS find that juices, particularly those high in FODMAPs (e.g., apple, pear), can worsen their issues. Pay attention to how your body reacts and stick to small quantities if you choose to drink them.

Is vegetable juice better than fruit juice?

Yes, vegetable juices have low sugar but high alkaline minerals. Yet, they are not ideal for resolving your gut issues completely.

Can juices replace meals for digestive healing?

Juices do not contain the fibers, proteins, and healthy fats that you need. These are essential food elements that your body uses to repair and rebuild your gut cells. A diet with only juices cannot be a balanced one, as it may lead you to nutritional deficiencies and, in turn, persistent gastric difficulties.

References:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4590155/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6469458/