The acidic taste in your throat, the fiery feeling in your chest, the chronic cough and difficulty
swallowing. If you’re part of the 40 percent of Americans who suffer from regular heartburn,
you know it feels pretty terrible. Hi viewers and welcome back to Bestie!
Heartburn is a burning pain in your chest, just behind your breastbone. It is often
worse after eating, in the evening, or when lying down or bending over. The good news is
that most of the sufferers can trace their symptoms back to a few particular foods.
And avoiding them will definitely help you ease up on heartburn troubles. In today’s video,
we will tell you about foods that you should steer clear of. From caffeine, alcohol, onions,
tomatoes to spicy food and more, watch till the end to learn about all of them.
Soda: Soda and other carbonated beverages are some of the main
culprits of acid reflux. The bubbles of carbonation expand inside the stomach,
and the increased pressure contributes to reflux. Sodas with caffeine are even worse.
In fact, Coke and Diet Pepsi are two of the most acidic sodas out there.
All carbonated beverages can be a problem, so abstain completely from all of them.
Which is your favourite soda that would be the most difficult to give up? Tell
us quickly down below in the comments section!
Onions: Onions, while nutritious, contain a fermentable fiber which
may relax the lower part of the throat and increase reflux.
One study compared people’s symptoms after eating a burger with raw onions
compared to one without and found that the onion-eaters had significantly more heartburn.
Can’t imagine a burger without onions? We hear you. Just make sure to cook them
well to break down those tough on the gut fibers.
Alcohol: As it turns out, like most things, alcohol does zero to help heartburn. Several
studies have shown that drinking too much alcohol can lead to several stomach-related problems.
It can also curtail the normal functioning of the stomach and oesophagus. Avoiding it
completely or restricting it to 1 to 2 drinks a week is important to keep the organs healthy.
Salt: Eating table salt or salty foods may increase reflux,
a risk factor for heartburn. For instance, one study found that people who added table
salt to their meals had 70% higher risk of reflux than people who went without.
The same study also found that people who ate salted foods at least three times a week had a 50%
higher risk of reflux than normal.
However, it’s not completely understood how salt increases the risk of reflux.
It’s possible that people who eat salty foods also eat more fried and fatty foods.
In that case, those foods are a more likely trigger for heartburn than salt alone.
Chocolate: Bad news for chocolate lovers: It seems to cause more reflux than any
other food. And it’s a triple whammy. It contains caffeine and other stimulants
which cause reflux. It is high in fat and cocoa, both of which cause reflux as well.
Theoretically, dark chocolate might not be as bad as high-fat milk chocolate, but
let’s face it, all chocolate is bad for reflux.
Caffeine: If you get heartburn from drinking coffee, it's probably from the caffeine.
Caffeine relaxes the lower part of the throat. Often, a cup is fine but several
cups a day could trigger heartburn. The amount of caffeine in coffee varies by
brand. It's usually 100 milligrams to 160 milligrams in 12 ounces of brewed coffee.
Eight ounces of black tea can have up to 80 milligrams. Soft drinks, energy drinks,
snack food, and ice cream also contain caffeine. Additionally coffee, which is highly acidic,
stimulates your stomach to produce digestive acids and can make symptoms of heartburn worse.
Fatty Foods: Fatty foods, such as fried, full-fat dairy, or fatty meat
can all contribute to acid reflux. First, they take longer to digest and
so delay the stomach emptying which can increase the likelihood of acid reflux.
Secondly, such foods cause the release of a hormone that relaxes a valve in the
throat which is supposed to prevent anything coming back up the stomach
into the oesophagus. This may fail if the throat is too relaxed.
Fatty Foods that contain saturated fats such as butter, cream and cheese,
can be especially bad for acid reflux. So try to ensure that the fats you eat
are healthier unsaturated ones, such as avocado or walnuts.
Peppermint: So you thought peppermint is a cooling herb? On the contrary,
it is thought to reduce throat tension, which makes it easier for stomach acid to creep up.
One study found that 8 percent of heartburn patients reported
complaints after eating peppermint. Maybe stick to chamomile next time.
Tomato: These tasty, healthy fruits are,
unfortunately, very acidic and irritating to the stomach and oesophagus. When coupled with
stomach acids that creep up and cause uncomfortable heartburn, reflux just gets worse.
Avoid tomatoes and tomato-based products. This includes a wide range of foods, such as ketchup,
pizza with tomato sauce, pasta sauce, and chili. Steer clear to better manage your heartburn.
Fried Foods: Regardless of whether you are eating healthy fats or not-so-healthy ones,
you are putting yourself at risk for digestive discomfort. Fried foods cause the lower throat to
relax and, ultimately, not carry out its duties properly. Which is to seal the bottom of the
esophagus in order to stop food from traveling back up after it deposits in your stomach.
Foods like French fries, fried chicken, and funnel
cake are some of the main culprits for this problem. They also take longer to digest,
so they sit in the stomach for a long time allowing reflux symptoms to last.
Dairy Products: Eating high to full-fat dairy products can help you feel fuller, longer. But
unfortunately, those who suffer from acid reflux struggle to reap the benefits of these items.
Again, it has to do with the high-fat content. There are milk alternatives to cow's milk that
have non-existent levels of lactose. The sugar in dairy can cause gas, bloating, and congestion.
It's also likely that the reflux is caused by an intolerance or sensitivity to dairy which
can cause your body to trigger inflammation. For many, nixing dairy can eliminate reflux.
Citrus Fruits: Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits are also high in acid
and irritating to the digestive tract. The extra acid from these foods aggravates
reflux and worsens heartburn. Remember that these juices and products made with citrus fruit juice,
such as some marinades, will have the same negative effect.
Choose fruits that are less acidic to satisfy your daily fruit requirements.
Spicy Foods: This one is a bit of a no-brainer. When you suffer from reflux,
your esophagus already feels like it's on fire. And the last thing
you want is to eat something that ignites the flames any further.
Spicy food can trigger acid reflux symptoms in many people for primarily two reasons.
First, it can inflame an already irritated digestive tract. Second, they may also
take longer to digest, and food sitting in the stomach for a long time can cause acid reflux.
Spices are not always bad for you. In fact, the right ones can actually help
your mental health. Get to know more of what we are talking about by watching
this video titled “5 Calming Herbs And 6 Spices That Fight Off Stress And Anxiety”
Now, back to the worst foods for heartburn.
Sparkling Water: We’ve told you how soda is usually off limits to people with acid reflux.
But you might be surprised to learn that all carbonated beverages may trigger acid reflux,
even the kind with zero sugar or additives. This is because the carbonation can cause bloating,
which can in turn put pressure on the lower throat, leading to acid reflux.
Avocados: Listen up, avocado toast fans. While avocados are a very good-for-you food,
if your diet is already packed with fat, eating high-fat avocados could bring about acid reflux.
Healthy nut butters may be a culprit here, too. Since guac is always extra,
save a little money the next time you’re out and avoid heartburn.
Peanut Butter: Attention all peanut butter addicts, this PSA is for you. Peanuts are
one of the higher-in-fat nuts. This means they can definitely cause heartburn. For comparison,
2 tablespoons of peanut butter clocks in at roughly 3 grams of saturated fat,
whereas 2 tablespoons of almond butter clocks in at only 1 gram.
The difference doesn't seem very big here. But if you plug these
numbers into a full week's worth with 2 tablespoons every day,
it calculates to an extra 14 grams of saturated fat per week. No wonder your chest is in distress.
Table Sugar: So you’ve always been advised against eating too much sugar to avoid a
stomach ache. Well, there’s a reason for it. Sugar is loaded with fructose which can
cause acid reflux. Sugars that aren't readily absorbed in the bloodstream tend to linger,
and they become nutrients for unhealthy bacteria. This causes chaos for your stomach and esophagus.
Tobacco: Nicotine in tobacco again relaxes the upper digestive mechanism causing acid reflux.
If you’re addicted to smoking or any tobacco product, it might be time to give up the habit.
Nicotine gum can help you overcome the habit
and will provide relief from acid reflux symptoms in the long run.
While avoiding these foods can definitely help you fight heartburn,
there are certain good foods that can actually help you fight acid reflux. And
these should be a part of your daily diet. Know more of what we are talking about by:
Learning about must have alkaline foods.
Or
Watching: the healthiest foods to eat in the morning.
These 2 videos will definitely help relieve heartburn and acid reflux.
Which foods cause you heartburn? Were they on the list? Let us know in the comments section below!