Tuesday, April 16, 2024

What Foods Give You Heartburn

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1. Gum

OK, technically not a food , but it seems that gum chewers may be onto something when it comes to heartburn prevention. Research has shown that chewing sugar-free bicarbonate gum can help increase saliva production and clear the esophagus of painful acids. We recommend keeping a pack handy in case any of the offending foods mentioned make it onto your plate .

2. Whole-Grain Bread

Yay! Another great reason to eat more carbs! It seems that unlike fatty meats and dairy, high-fiber foods may have a protective role in reducing the risk of reflux.One study found that participants who ate higher fiber bread were twice as likely to relieve their heartburn symptoms than those who ate lower fiber bread.

While the exact rationale for this association is largely unknown, its believed that fiber reduces nitrites in the stomach that otherwise play a role in relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter. Heres a little dietitian tip to help you get your 25-37 grams per day of fiber: When choosing a bread, look for one with at least 4 grams of fiber per serving.

3. Fruits and Vegetables

You know you dont need another reason to get your fruit and veggie fix, but hey, here it goes. In addition to providing a healthy dose of that reflux-reducing fiber, produce also is rich in vitamins A, C, and E, which have a protective effect against reflux thanks to their antioxidant properties. Just be sure to avoid any of the higher acid veggies like oranges, lemons, citrus, and tomatoes.

Foods That Make Acid Reflux Worse

  • Chocolate â Everyoneâs favorite treat comes with a dark side chocolate contains caffeine, cocoa, and plant chemicals that can all trigger heartburn. Also, a chemical in cocoa relaxes the LES, making it easier for stomach contents to leak into your esophagus.
  • Peppermint â Known for soothing an irritable bowel, peppermint has the opposite effect on acid reflux. Peppermint relaxes the muscles used for digestion, and a relaxed LES is a leaky LES.
  • Fatty foods â If you feel like fatty foods make you sluggish, youâre right. They relax your LES and are slower to digest than other foods. When food sits in your stomach longer, your body responds by making more acid. Fried foods like onion rings are obvious culprits, but meats like prime rib or bacon, and whole milk dairy products also cause symptoms.
  • Spicy foods â Spicy foods make acid reflux worse in two ways. First, the capsaicin in many spicy foods can slow digestion. But before it even gets that far, it can irritate an already irritated esophagus on its way down.
  • Acidic foods and drinks â Acidic foods are common triggers of acid reflux. Foods like citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes and tomato products, pineapple, and vinaigrette salad dressings all have a high acid content, contributing to an already acidic environment.
  • Garlic â Garlic, especially raw, is known to cause heartburn and upset stomach in healthy people. That makes it even more likely to cause issues for those who suffer from acid reflux.
  • Sipping Smoothies To Help With Heartburn

    The acid reflux smoothie I created below is made with ingredients that help provide natural heartburn relief. They go down pleasantly, stay down, and soothe.

    • Cashew milk and basil help minimize stomach acid.
    • Spinach reduces stomach acid secretions because it’s naturally low in fat + sugar.
    • Pear adds fiber and natural sweetness. Just make sure it’s super ripe.
    • Ginger is naturally anti-inflammatory, and is therefore used in many natural heartburn treatments.
    • Banana is a non-acidic food known to soothe the esophagus and stomach.
    • Oatmeal is naturally high in fiber, and diets high in fiber have fewer instances of heartburn.

    Hopefully this acid reflux smoothie can help soothe your esophagus along with calming your whole body. It tastes light and is just the right amount of sweet for anyone with a sensitive palate.

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    Heartburn Triggers: Large Meals And Fatty Foods

    A big greasy burger and supersized serving of fries right before bedtime is a good way to fuel the flame of heartburn. Fatty foods, large portions, and late-night meals are the top three triggers that affect many people with heartburn.

    Heartburn is most common after eating a large meal. A belly full of too much food stretches the stomach, causing you to feel “stuffed.” Stomachstretching, or distention, puts pressure on the LES, the ring of muscle that keeps stomach acids from moving in the wrong direction. So juices from your last meal may come back to haunt you. This can happen when eating large amounts of any food, not just foods known to trigger your heartburn symptoms.

    Fatty foods are big no-nos if you suffer from heartburn. High-fat foods sit around in your belly longer. This makes your stomach produce more acid, irritating your digestive system. And fatty and greasy foods lead to a lazy, relaxed LES. So not only do you have more irritating stomach acids, you’re more likely to have the contents splash back up your throat. Ouch!

    Heartburn And Cheese Nuts Avocadoes And A Juicy Rib Eye

    Foods That Cause Heartburn: Tomatoes, Garlic, Onions, Peppermint ...

    What do these foods have in common? They are all high in fat, according to Chutkan. “These foods may not get as much press as acidic foods when it comes to heartburn,” she says, “but they can be major triggers.” Here’s why: Fat slows down the emptying of the stomach, so there is more opportunity for a big distended stomach — which increases pressure on the esophageal sphincter — to make heartburn more likely.

    Chutkan says that doesn’t mean you can never have those foods again. “Don’t have a cheese plate at the end of a meal,” she suggests. “Instead, eat it early in the day when you are not already full.” Remember, a serving of cheese is roughly the size of two dice.

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    Be Careful With Citrus

    Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits are also high in acid and irritating to the digestive tract. The extra acid from these foods aggravates reflux and worsens heartburn. Remember that orange juice, lemonade, grapefruit juice, and products made with citrus fruit juices, such as some marinades, will have the same negative effect. Choose fruits that are less acidic to satisfy your daily fruit requirements.

    Do Onions Cause Heartburn

    It is pretty hard to avoid these flavor-enhancers, but they are well-known heartburn triggers. Eating onions raw is more likely to cause symptoms. One study gave heartburn sufferers a hamburger without onions to eat one day, followed by an identical burger the next with raw onions. The study found that the burger with onions significantly worsened heartburn symptoms.6 Experts suggest anyone prone to acid reflux and heartburn should also avoid garlic, especially in raw form7. If these ingredients do pose problems, antacids can quickly neutralize stomach acid and soothe your symptoms

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    Does Spicy Food Cause Heartburn

    Is spice the most common heartburn trigger? It certainly has a reputation for sparking classic heartburn and indigestion symptoms but are hot wings, curry or salsa dip causing that uncomfortable fire in your chest? The jury is still out. We know many spicy dishes contain capsaicin, a compound found in chilies. Capsaicin is thought to slow the rate of digestion, leaving food sitting for longer in your stomach which is more likely to lead to heartburn symptoms.1

    Cayenne, curry powder, cloves, and black pepper can cause acid reflux2. It may not be the spices themselves that are the problem, however, but more the dishes that they are part of or possibly a combination of both. Spicy salsa, for example, also contains acidic tomatoes and onions. A fiery curry could include high-fat ghee, cream, and red meat such as lamb. If spicy dishes trigger your heartburn, neutralize stomach acid immediately after eating by taking an antacid such as TUMS.

    Foods That Trigger Acid Reflux

    Ask Dr. Soria: Do spicy foods cause heartburn?

    Here at Rockwall Surgical Specialists, as our name implies, our team specializes in surgical solutions for a wide range of problems, from obesity to gallstones. While we can correct some very serious health issues, we also believe that any steps you can take to avoid surgery in the first place are steps well worth taking.

    When it comes to acid reflux, which affects approximately 60 million people in the United States to some degree, the problem is directly affected by the foods you eat. With that in mind, heres a list of 10 foods youd do well to cut out of your diet to avoid an acid reflux flare-up.

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    Tips For Managing Heartburn

    Sprite is a carbonated soft drink that is often enjoyed by people of all ages. However, some people may not be aware that drinking Sprite can actually cause heartburn.

    Heartburn is a condition in which stomach acid rises up into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest or throat. This can be a unpleasant and even painful experience.

    There are a few things that you can do to help manage and prevent heartburn after drinking Sprite. First, try drinking Sprite with a meal instead of on an empty stomach. This can help to buffer the acidity of the drink and prevent it from irritating the esophagus.

    Another tip is to avoid drinking Sprite oo quickly. Sipping slowly will help to prevent the build-up of gas in the stomach that can lead to heartburn.

    If you find that you are still experiencing heartburn after trying these tips, there are over-the-counter medications that can help to reduce the symptoms. Antacids can neutralize stomach acid and provide relief. H2 blockers can reduce the amount of acid that is produced by the stomach.

    If you find that you are still having frequent or severe episodes of heartburn, it is important to see a doctor. Persistent heartburn can be a sign of a more serious condition, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease . GERD may require more aggressive treatment, such as prescription medications or surgery.

    Heartburn Triggers: Heartburn And Exercise

    Need an excuse to skip the sit-ups? Crunches and ab work can trigger heartburn. Body positions that involve bending over increase pressure on the abdomen, thrusting stomach acids back up into the esophagus. So you feel the burn — but not the type you’d expect from going to the gym. Keep in mind that leg lifts also work the abdominal muscles and may aggravate heartburn symptoms too.

    Activities such as headstands and yoga moves like downward dog can reverse the natural flow of stomach contents and may trigger heartburn. Jarring exercises, such as jogging or aerobics, can slosh stomach contents around and upward if you have a weak LES.

    Heartburn is no reason not to exercise. In fact, weight loss from exercise can actually help heartburn. But never exercise on a full stomach. Doing so increases abdominal pressure, which makes heartburn more likely. Food takes several hours to digest so it really is a matter of what works for you. Most experts recommend waiting about two hours after eating before working out.

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    Stay Upright After Meals To Help Acid Reflux Symptoms

    Stay upright after meals. Even if you are fatigued or feel nauseous after a meal, it is important to keep your bodyupright for at least hour after eating. Lying down after a meal or even a snack, can cause acid to move up your esophagus, causing discomfort or even pain. You dont have to sit completely straight. Instead. make sure your bed or recliner is elevated at least 45-degree angle to prevent heartburn. Eating right before bed can also be problematic, even if your head is elevated. Wait at least 1-2 hours after a big meal before going to bed.

    Foods That Are Making Your Gerd Worse

    Best Food For Heartburn Relief

    by The Surgical Clinic |

    Everyone needs to eat, but for people who have gastroesophageal reflux disease , eating the wrong thing can have painful consequences. If youre just starting to experience GERD symptoms and youre not sure whats causing your symptoms, heres a list of eight foods that are making your GERD symptoms worse.

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    Heartburn Triggers: Heartburn And Medications

    Many different medications can trigger heartburn, or make heartburn worse. An aspirin here or there is not likely to lead to that fiery feeling. But regular use of aspirin or a popular class of painkillers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may irritate the esophagus. NSAIDs include ibuprofen, naproxen, and prescription Cox-2 inhibitors such as Celebrex. These drugs are often used to treat arthritis.

    Several different types of blood pressure medicines can also cause heartburn. Many blood pressure and heart disease medicines, including calcium channel blockers and nitrates, relax the LES muscle, making it easy for your stomach acids to retreat backwards.

    Several other types of medications are known to relax the LES muscle and lead to heartburn. They include:

    Chemotherapy drugs and a class of osteoporosis medicines called bisphosphates can injure the lining of the esophagus and make heartburn more likely. Taking your osteoporosis medicine with a big glass of water and avoiding lying down for 30 minutes to an hour helps to prevent problems.

    Always tell your doctor if a new prescription or over-the-counter medicine gives you heartburn or makes your heartburn worse. Your doctor may be able to suggest alternatives.

    Foods To Ease Heartburn

    While there are both prescription and over-the-counter remedies available for heartburn and GERD, altering your diet is a great place to start if you want to make lasting change. These key foods can help keep symptoms of acid reflux at a minimum, according to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders .

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    Eat More Helpful Foods To Reduce Symptoms

    Finally, you may find it helpful to adopt a GERD-friendly diet. Green vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats are all great options for controlling reflux in your daily activities. Eating these foods may actually help reduce the number and severity of acid reflux events, while helping you avoid the foods that may trigger them.

    Additionally, it may be helpful to shift your mindset and attitude about GERD. It can be a difficult condition to deal with, but making these changes to your diet and lifestyle is an important first step toward controlling it. Managing GERD doesnt have to mean eliminating fun foods from your diet instead, think of this as an opportunity to try new things and enjoy a greater variety of foods. After all, when it comes to GERD, controlling your diet is a necessity for living a healthier, higher-quality life.

    Eating Late At Night Or Laying Down After Eating

    Avoid THESE Food If You Have Heartburn | Acid Reflux | GERD

    Taking a nap after a filling meal may sound tempting but can also cause acid reflux. Especially if you ate fatty foods. Laying down means you no longer have the benefit of gravity to help keep stomach contents in your stomach they are more likely to leak up through your LES when youâre laying down. If you must lay down, laying on your left side or elevating your upper body can help keep your stomach contents where they belong.

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    How To Prevent Acid Reflux With Cancer Treatment

    Acid reflux, heartburn, indigestion, sour stomach, etc. no matter what you call it, it can be an uncomfortable issue. There are foods to prevent acid reflux and acid reflux with cancer treatment is a common side effect. Eating Well Through Cancercookbook includes recipes for cancer patients like this easy to tolerate Rice and Pasta recipe. Sometimes caused by the cancer itself or other factors, such as treatment, diet, being overweight, or inactivity. Acid reflux is also a risk factor in developing esophageal cancer so how to prevent acid reflux? For some it can cause a few hours of discomfort, but for others it can be the difference in eating and not eating. Below Savor Health has provided a few tips to prevent and help acid reflux during cancer treatment and beyond. Be sure to try the Rice and Pasta recipe.

    Watch What You Drink Too

    Certain beverages can make heartburn more likely. Drinks with caffeine boost acid in the stomach. Alcohol can relax the valve between your esophagus and stomach, letting acid escape more easily. And carbonation from fizzy drinks can bloat your stomach, which may lead to heartburn. Tomato and citrus juices have acid, too.

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    Foods That Could Trigger Heartburn And Indigestion

    Each person is unique, and what triggers stomach problems for you may not be what triggers them in someone else. Keeping a food diary is useful for determining what foods trigger your indigestion. Once your food triggers are identified, it is best to eliminate them from your diet completely to avoid experiencing further stomach problems and heartburn episodes. That being said, there are several foods that are known to trigger indigestion in many people, including:

    • Caffeinated beverages
    • Carbonated beverages
    • Tomatoes and tomato juice

    Dial Down On The Heat

    Pin on Acid Reflux Diet

    You aren’t necessarily headed for a lifetime of bland foods. Easing up a bit on the spiciness could make a difference. You don’t have to drown your wings in hot sauce, for example. Maybe go with two alarms for your chili instead of four. Look for other ways to flavor foods that don’t require burning your tongue.

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