Foods To Avoid If You're Prone To Heartburn?

Answer 1

When it comes to foods that cause heartburn, there is no list of culprits that cause symptoms for everybody. Each heartburn sufferer seems to have their own familiar triggers for reflux. However, there are a number of foods you hear about again and again and certain foods actually have chemical properties that increase the risk of heartburn.

Foods That Are Hard To Digest

Insufficient stomach acid is a problem that can cause heartburn and often occurs when there is excessive fat and protein present. Not everybody can digest a huge steak and proceed to go to bed and be fine. Many people take several hours to break down the densest foods, raising the risk of acid reflux considerably.

Reflux-Causing Foods

Some plant foods actually relax the esophageal sphincter that keeps stomach acid from splashing up into the esophagus. Peppermint is one of these, and is best avoided by those prone to heartburn. This includes herbal teas and anything else with natural peppermint flavor--even peppermint toothpaste can cause symptoms for some. The nightshade vegetables are also known to cause heartburn. The nightshade family includes tomatoes, potatoes, green peppers, eggplant and tobacco, which is a notorious inducer of reflux.

Spicy Food

Spicy foods are problems for many who are prone to heartburn. Cayenne, jalapeno, and green Chile are common causes of acid reflux, but do not cause issues for all. Ginger, though spicy, is actually an excellent remedy for heartburn, particularly in its fresh form.

Alcohol

All types of alcohol, including beer, wine, and spirits, are known to cause heartburn because of ethanol's relaxing effects on the esophageal sphincter. Alcohol also inhibits the digestion of protein, spurring reflux even more. If you wish to drink alcohol anyway, it is best to avoid it before bed because it can easily make for a poor night's sleep due to reflux.

Lastly, water should not be drunk excessively before or with meals, or excessively cold--it dilutes your stomach acid and when cold it practically brings digestion to a standstill, promoting heartburn.