Foods To Avoid For Heartburn Relief

Heartburn is quite a painful burning sensation. It is triggered by excess stomach acid flowing back up into the esophagus. Unlike the stomach lining, which is designed to handle stomach acid, the lining of the esophagus is sensitive and the acid irritates it. This is what causes the burning pain associated with heartburn. If heartburn is persistent, it can result in damage to the esophagus.

Many patients get heartburn relief medication to help control their symptoms. There are also indigestion tablets available to provide some relief. The best heartburn relief, many individuals believe, is making the right lifestyle changes. Specifically, making smart decisions in regards to the food individuals eat can make a big difference in heartburn. It can even act as a 14-day heartburn treatment.

Citrus Fruits

When individuals think of acidic foods that are the most likely to irritate their stomach and cause an episode of heartburn, they will often think of citrus fruits almost immediately. Citrus fruits are, after all, the iconic acidic food. Citrus fruits include oranges, lemons, grapefruit, limes, tangerines, mandarins, kumquats, and pomelos. All of these citrus fruits are liable to dramatically increase the amount of acid the stomach produces.

In addition to this, citrus fruits also contain a high amount of fiber, and as a result of this, they will remain in the stomach for longer periods. This prevents gastric emptying, which makes it quite a bit more difficult for acid to leave the stomach through the intestines. Instead, it will build up in the stomach and flow back into the esophagus.

Get information on how spice interacts with heartburn next.

Spicy Foods

Many individuals will find that spicy food irritates their stomach. In response to this irritation, the stomach will produce more acid than it normally would. This, though it might reduce the direct irritation from the spicy food that was eaten, will cause heartburn. The more acid the stomach produces, the higher the chances are of acid flowing back into the esophagus.

The spicier a food is, the more likely it is that it will irritate an individual’s stomach. This may mean some individuals who are irritated by eating hot versions of the sauces or salsas they like will experience heartburn, but eating milder versions will not trigger their symptoms. This applies to peppers as well. Someone may be irritated by Thai peppers and experience heartburn whenever they consume them, but they may not deal with this when they consume jalapeno peppers or red peppers.

Find out if fat impacts heartburn next.

Foods High In Fat

Fatty foods are a serious trigger behind episodes of heartburn. This is because fat, both saturated and unsaturated, is more difficult for the body to digest, which means the fatty food will sit in the stomach for longer. Food can then block the stomach from emptying and this allows stomach acid to build up enough so that it ends up back in the esophagus and causes heartburn.

Aside from fast food, common foods that are high in fat individuals with heartburn may have to avoid are nuts, cheese, avocados, dressings and dips, bacon, and chicken thighs. Individuals will also need to read the labels on packaged foods to check how much fat they contain before eating them. Individuals are at the highest risk of heartburn induced by fatty food if they eat a large meal with lots of fat.

Uncover what other fruit impacts heartburn next.

Tomatoes

Eating tomatoes regularly is fairly healthy. However, individuals who suffer from heartburn are often unable to consume many tomatoes at all. This is because tomatoes, especially fresh ones, are highly acidic. The stomach will, therefore, produce more acid in response to the tomatoes individuals consume. Once again, the more acid that is in the stomach, the more likely it is that at least some of the acid will back up into the esophagus and trigger severe heartburn. In some cases, individuals can consume cooked tomatoes and not trigger an episode of heartburn, but it is better to be safe rather than sorry. Eliminating tomatoes at least temporarily is the best way to get some heartburn relief.

Discover another ingredient to avoid for heartburn relief now.

Caffeine

It might come as a surprise, but most foods and drinks that contain caffeine are fairly acidic. Acidic foods are prone to increasing the stomach's production of stomach acid, which increases the likelihood of stomach acid flowing back up into the esophagus. The most common sources of caffeine individuals with heartburn must avoid if they want to achieve relief from the painful burning are coffee, black tea, and dark sodas. Surprising foods with caffeine may include chocolate, cereals, ice cream, and pudding.

Individuals with heartburn who consume a high amount of caffeine each day will still need to slowly taper off their consumption. If they do not do this, instead of dealing with heartburn, they may find they will have caffeine withdrawal headaches and other symptoms. The exact process for tapering this off depends on how much caffeine individuals consume in the first place.