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.

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