Foods That Boost Heartburn: 9 Big No-No's | Gastrointestinal Disorders slideshows | Body & Health Conditions center

What Is Heartburn?

Heartburn is a medical condition in which the gastric acid present in the stomach, regurgitates (flows back) in the esophagus. Normally, this should not happen because there is a sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach (called the "lower esophageal sphincter") that prevents any substance, liquids and solids, to return to the esophagus once it has been dumped in the stomach for digestion. Unfortunately, in some individuals, that sphincter is characterized as "incompetent", either because it is not elastic enough, or because it is too thin. Consequently, they are at risk of developing gastric reflux. And with continuous acid reflux, those individuals would eventually develop the so-called "Barrett Esophagus" which will later on lead to an esophageal adenocarcinoma. With that said, we have identified some lifestyle habits, and even types of foods that could trigger or worsen the acid reflux. On top of the list, we have:

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www.rxlist.com/heartburn_slideshow/article.htm

Eating Too Much Food

Eating too much food puts us at risk for many things, and some of them even much worse than heartburn! People who eat too much, and at different times of the day are at an increased risk of indigestion, uncontrolled weight gain and possibly hypertension. When it comes to acid reflux, the problem with eating too much food at once (and continuously) is that, with every portion of food that is dumped in the stomach, gastric acid must be secreted, to digest it, and the larger the amount of food you eat, the more acid is released! We're not implying that starving yourself is the solution, but controlling the amount of food you eat per meal, and even the timeline of your meals could be a great first step!

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Reduce Your Intake Of Fatty Foods

Eating fatty foods can also worsen the symptoms of heartburn. In fact, fat is naturally bulky, and because of that the digestion of fats takes more time....and space! So when the fats get into the stomach, it sits in there for a longer period of time than all the other nutrients, and this triggers the release of more gastric juice. Even if the gastric acid does not majorly contribute to the breakdown of fats in the stomach, the sole presence of fat molecules (alongside with other nutrients) is a natural trigger for the release of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. So watch out!

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Stay Away From Acidic Foods

As we would surely imagine, acidic foods simply add up to the overall acidity of the stomach. Just imagine that a house is already on fire, and you come in and add more fuel to that already burning fire. That is exactly the effect that acidic foods have on gastric reflux! By acidic foods, we refer to citrus fruits, all the berries, apples, vinegar, etc. Now this could have a huge impact on your diet, especially given the fact that most of these fruits provide us with energy and antioxidants. But hey, don't feel too bad about it: a great suggestion could be to alter the fruits that you eat, so as to avoid eating the same irritant fruits everyday.

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source 1: goaskalice.columbia.edu/which-foods-are-acidic

Spicy Foods Won't Do You Any Good Either!

Just like acidic foods, spicy foods add up to the acidity of the stomach, when it comes to heartburn. And here, we make reference to pepper and some exotic spices (Chinese, Mexican, etc.). Spicy foods have a dual effect on the stomach: first they cause an increase in the release of gastric acid (since they are generally proteinated meals), and secondly, they cause irritation of the gastric mucosa. And both effects concurrently contribute to pain during and after meals. And because of their effect on the stomach lining, spicy foods also play a role in the formation of gastric ulcers.

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The Reason Why Tomato Sauce Is Also Prohibited For Acid Reflux Patients

Tomatoes and tomatoes based products (sauces, pastes, mixes, etc.) are also potential triggers for heartburn. Why? Once again, it's all about the acids! Tomatoes are part of the group of acidic foods, but more specifically, they contain not one, but two acids: citrus and malic acid. That is the main reason why most of the people who suffer from heartburn experience those symptoms when consuming tomato products. Certainly, tomatoes are a group of outstanding nutrients for health: they are great antioxidants and protect our cells from cellular damage. But when it comes to heartburn, they probably do more harm than good.

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Chocolate, Not So "Sweet" When You Suffer From Heartburn!

Unfortunately, this is a heart-breaker for all the chocolate lovers! Every main ingredient present in chocolate is a trigger for heartburn. First of all, chocolate is rich in theobromin and caffeine, which are both central nervous system stimulants; and like other stimulants, they stimulate the release of gastric acid; and increase in production leads to increase in reflux. Next, chocolate is also rich in cocoa, which in turn plays a huge role in acid reflux. Moreover, chocolate is high in fats, and as we previously mentioned when we spoke about fatty meals, fat can also trigger heartburn. Lastly, chocolate is rich in serotonin, the neurotransmitter that "makes us feel food". In reality, serotonin is also the active ingredient in the majority of anti-depressants sold in the market. It relaxes us and puts us in a positive mood, but it also has the same effect on our lower esophageal sphincter! So sad, yet so true!

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source 1: www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20443643_2,00.html
source 2: heartburn.about.com/b/2009/09/29/is-that-chocolate-causing-your-heartburn.htm

No More Fizzy Drinks!

Sodas, fizzy drinks, soft drinks, anything that belongs to that category is a complete "No-No". Here, what actually contributes to the heartburn is the gas that they contain. Those refreshing bubbles that we so eagerly drink are actually bubbles of gas, and once they get into our stomach, they expand, increase the internal pressure and subsequently cause reflux. And let's not even talk about energy drinks, which contain both gas AND caffeine! That is why Doctors recommend to patients suffering from heartburn to abstain, or at least reduce their intake of soft drinks and all the other gaseous beverages.

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source 1: www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20443643_3,00.html

Heartburn Tip: Try Chewing Gum

You might have to readjust your diet if you suffer from heartburn, but do not feel discouraged, it's not a lost cause! There are several other tips and strategies that you could adopt for a simpler and easier life with heartburn; and it doesn't always require you to take medications! Because progress is made one step at a time, start first with this very simple tip: chew gum. Simple, right? But what is the secret behind it? Actually, chewing gum doesn't just freshen your breath or relax you, but it also increases saliva production in your mouth. The more saliva you produce, the more saliva goes into your stomach; and since saliva is highly alkaline, it greatly contributes in reducing the stomach pH. So lowering the symptoms of your heartburn is really as simple as you want it to be, but you have to make the first step!

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Garlic And Onion: Two Other Culprits!

Yes, garlic and onions are classified as one of the world's healthiest foods because of their richness in antioxidants; but unfortunately they are not so healthy for people who suffer from acid reflux. But still, there are some good news! Many heartburn sufferers have reported that they only experience the burning sensation when they consume "raw" onions, but eating cooked onions and garlic is fine. The reason is, when garlic and onions are cooked, some of their components are attenuated, so in this case the specific ingredient that causes heartburn is denatured. So even though you might need to cut down with the onions in your salads and salad dressings, you could still use them in your soups and stews!