Heartburn Safe Foods

If you are suffering from heartburn, you need to be conscious about your diet and lifestyle.  The food you eat is one of the primary causes of heartburn.  Planning a good meal and making wise food selection can definitely help you prevent heartburn.  Here are the most common foods that cause heartburn:

1.  Drinks that contain caffeine like tea, coffee (regular or decaffeinated), soda and energy drink – caffeine relaxes the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) thus, allowing the acid in your stomach to reflux into the esophagus, giving you that burning sensation.

2. Chocolate – contains the compound called Theo bromine which also relaxes the    LES (lower esophageal sphincter).

3. Fried, greasy and fatty foods (red meat and processed foods) – these foods weaken the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) since they take time to digest and stay longer in the stomach.

4. Tomatoes and tomato-based products – tomato is good for the body because it has lycopene which helps prevent cancer however, it also relaxes the LES (lower esophageal sphincter).

5.  Alcohol (wine, beer, liquor, spirits) – alcohol relaxes the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) and increases the acid production in the stomach.

6.  Citrus fruits and juices like orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit – citrus relaxes the LES (lower esophageal sphincter).

7.  Spicy foods (foods with curry, chili peppers and black peppers) – these foods are acidic and usually irritate the esophagus.

8.  Milk and dairy products – milk works as an instant antacid and is given to heartburn sufferers for temporary relief.  But just like fat, milk and dairy products have calcium and protein which make them more difficult to digest compared to other foods therefore, causes the stomach to produce more gas and acid.

9.  Peppermint (mint candy or mint ice cream) – although peppermint is actually good for the digestive system, it relaxes the LES (lower esophageal sphincter).

10. Raw onion – makes heartburn worse if eaten in big quantities.

It may be hard to resist these foods but avoiding them will save you from the painful discomfort of heartburn.  Remember, any food that makes the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) weak or relax will trigger heartburn.  So, the best thing to do to avoid them is to get rid of any stocks that you have in your refrigerator and pantry.  And when you are dining out, don’t go to fast food chains, pastry shops, ice cream parlors, burger stands or pizza places to steer clear of these tempting foods that cause heartburn.

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