What You Need To Know About The Top Ten Heart Burn Foods

You know it all too well. Heart burn a fiery sensation that grabs hold of your lower chest after you eat something you know you shouldn't have. What often follows is that sour or bitter taste of acid reflux in your throat and mouth that can last minutes (if you are lucky) or hours (if you are not). Yes, millions of people are familiar with the discomfort of heartburn, a condition in which stomach acids back up into the esophagus. The good news is that heartburn is largely avoidable if you steer clear of the top ten heartburn foods. It also helps to avoid certain classic heartburn-inviting situations. From coffee and liquor to tomatoes and grapefruit, experts says that certain foods are known heart burn triggers. Here is what you need to know about the top ten heart burn foods. 1. Heart Burn and Tangy Citrus Fruits. Oranges, grapefruits and orange juice are classic heart burn foods. These fruits are very acidic. As a result of being so acidic, they are likely to cause heart burn, especially when consumed on an otherwise empty stomach. 2. Heart Burn and Tomatoes. While they might be chock full of health nutrients like lycopene, tomatoes are also highly acidic and likely to cause heart burn in those who are prone to it. The acid antidote may be a sour ball. Things that promote saliva like sour balls are good for acid reflux because saliva neutralizes the acid that comes up from your stomach. 3. Heart Burn and Garlic and Onion. Some people with heart burn do not do well with either garlic or onion. For avoiding heart burn, keep a food log to help you track the foods that are your heart burn offers and try to develop a list of safe foods like broiled chicken, baked sweet potatoes, toast, or cottage cheese. 4. Heart Burn and Spicy Foods. Pepper, Mexican food, chili, and any other food that is loaded with pepper or other spices can trigger heart burn. Not only those who have heart burn should avoid eating spicy foods but also those women approaching menopause - particularly if she is suffering from hot flashes, a common menopause symptom. Spicy foods could also trigger hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. Therefore it should be avoided. 5. Heartburn and Peppermint. While many people think peppermint is soothing for the tummy, it is actually a heart burn trigger food. They may be good for your breath on a date but they are not so good if you are prone to heartburn. Peppermint may increase your chances of heart burn because it relaxes the sphincter muscle that lay between the stomach and esophagus. This allows stomach acids to flow back into the esophagus. 6. Heartburn and Cheese, Nuts, Avocados, and A Juicy Rib Eye. What do these foods have in common? They are all high in fat. These foods may not get as much press as acidic foods when it comes to heart burn, but they can be major triggers. Why? Fat slows down the emptying of the stomach, so there is more opportunity for a big distended stomach which increases pressure on the esophageal sphincter to make heartburn more likely. But these does not mean you can never have those foods again. Don't have a cheese plate at the end of a meal, instead, eat it early in the day when you are not already full. Remember, a serving of cheese is roughly the size of two dice. 7. Heart Burn And Alcohol. Wine, beer, or your favorite cocktail can all trigger heart burn, especially when they are imbibed with a heavy meal. If you have a meal of steak, cream spinach, and lobster bisque and then alcohol on top of that, you may be in for it. A glass of red wine may not be a big deal on its won, but if you also have tomato sauce on your pasta and a glass of orange juice in the morning on an empty stomach, it could be a problem. Like peppermint, alcohol opens the sphincter, allowing the acid free range. 8. Heartburn and Caffeine. Coffee, soda, tea, iced tea, and any other food or beverages that contain caffeine are big offenders. But java junkies do not have to give up their Joe forever. It is not 'no coffee ever' if you have heart burn. It is about cutting down and paying attention to portion sizes. If you have heart burn, you can likely consume a 3 or 4 ounce cup of coffee each morning with no problem. But if you guzzle coffee all day long, then, yes, heart burn is a consequence. 9. Heart Burn and Chocolate. Sure, it can be loaded with caffeine, but chocolate can also be a heart burn food in and of itself. Chocolate relaxes the sphincter, allowing stomach acids to flow back into the esophagus. So pack up all of your chocolate and give it to your gastroenterologist for safekeeping if you have heart burn. 10. Heart Burn and Carbonated Beverages. Carbonated beverages cause gastric distension and if your stomach is distended, this increases pressure on the esophageal sphincter, promoting acid reflux. People with heart burn may be wise to steer clear of pop and other carbonated beverages. The above list are your guide to help you figure out your heart burn foods and heart burn trigger situations. But even if your favorites are not on this list, you don't necessarily have a free pass. Too much of any food can trigger heart burn. It is not just what you eat; it is how much you eat and when you eat it. Consuming a heavy meal right before you lie down will likely cause heart burn even if it does not include any of these heart burn foods.

What Causes Your Heart Burn?

Despite its name, heart burn has nothing to do with the heart although some of the symptoms are similar to a heart attack. Heart burn, also called acid indigestion, is an irritation of the esophagus caused by acid that refluxes (comes back up) from the stomach. When swallowing, food passes down the throat and through the esophagus to the stomach. Normally a muscular valve called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) opens to allow food into the stomach or to permit belching; then it closes again. Next, the stomach releases strong acids to help break down the food. But if the lower esophageal sphincter opens too often or does not close tight enough, stomach acid can reflux, or seep back into the esophagus, damaging it and causing the burning sensation you know as heart burn. Not only can stomach acid in the esophagus cause heart burn, but it can also cause esophagitis, ulcers, strictures (narrowing), and can increase the chance of cancer of the esophagus. Most people have felt heartburn at one time or another. In fact, the American Gastroenterological Association reports that more than 60 million Americans experience heart burn symptoms at least once each month. Though uncomfortable, heart burn does not usually present a serious health problem for most people. However, if heart burn symptoms occur frequently and persistently, they can be an indicator of a more serious problem, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease. Left untreated, GERD can cause a host of complications. Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a relatively common condition that affects from 5 to 7 percent of the population. It is a chronic reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. This problem manifests itself as several symptoms including heart burn, and difficulty swallowing. Thus, if heart burn symptoms occur frequently (two or more times per week) and persistently, they are most likely caused by GERD. The severity of GERD depends on lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction as well as the type and amount of fluid brought up from the stomach. Treatments aim to reduce the amount of reflux or reduce the potential for damage to the esophageal lining from refluxed substances. In addition, doctors recommend lifestyle and dietary modification to lessen acid reflux. Various lifestyle and dietary factors can contribute to heart burn by relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter and allowing it to open, increasing the amount of acid in the stomach, increasing stomach pressure, or by making the esophagus more sensitive to harsh acids. These factors include: Eating large portions; Eating certain foods, including onions, chocolate, peppermint, high-fat or spicy foods, citrus fruits, garlic, and tomatoes or tomato-based products; Drinking certain beverages, including citrus juices, alcohol, and caffeinated and carbonated drinks; Eating before bedtime; Being overweight; Smoking; Wearing tight-fitting clothing or belts; Lying down or bending over, especially after eating; Pregnancy; Bulging of the stomach into the chest cavity, also called hiatal hernia; GERD; Taking certain medications, especially some prescription sleep aids for insomnia, antibiotics, aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

The Correlation Between IBS With Constipation, Heart Burn And Antacids

Most people think of IBS with constipation in relation to your intestines. It is useful to know that many women with a diagnosis of IBS with constipation also complain of symptoms in their upper gastrointestinal tract: heart burn/acid reflux, nausea, and stomach pain. These upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms are often related to the rate at which the stomach empties. If the gastric environment is out of balance, the stomach tries to squeeze out its partially digested contents from both ends as quickly as possible. This leads to a burning sensation that many people self-medicate with antacids. Unfortunately, using antacids will not get at the root cause of your upper gastrointestinal symptoms, and might even make the problem worse. Acid reflux and chronic heart burn can actually be the result of too little acid in the stomach - not too much. Overuse of antacids will initially lend some relief only to end up aggravating the underlying condition. In addition, antacid use can lower the acidity of the stomach to such a degree that it loses its ability to protect you from bacterial infection. It is now widely recognized that bacterial infection can cause ulcers. Of course, if you are currently taking a prescription medication for heart burn, do not stop taking it except with the advice of your primary care provider. If you would like to seek an alternative (of which there are many), look for an alternative practitioner in your area or Google it.

Causes And Symptoms Of Heart Burn In Children And Infant

Heart burn is a common complaint in adults especially after eating a hearty or spicy meal. Yet infants and children also can experience that burning sensation in the chest. According to some estimates, about 2 percent of children ages 3 to 9, and 5 percent of children ages 10 to 17 have heartburn. Compared to the negative publicity of anti aging skin care product, this heart burn in children and infant is quite alarming. Heart burn in infants and young children is usually a sign of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). That is a condition that occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus - the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. There is a muscle at the bottom of the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES normally keeps acids in the stomach. But if the LES relaxes too much, the harsh stomach acids can rise up and irritate the delicate lining of the esophagus. That leads to heart burn as well as other symptoms. Gastroesophageal reflux is an uncomfortable but very common condition in infants. Up to half of all babies less than 3 months old have symptoms of the condition. Splitting up is a common sign of GERD, but many babies also experience the discomfort of heart burn. In very young children, the cause of heart burn is usually an immature digestive tract. In older children, risks include being overweight, getting exposed to secondhand smoke, and eating certain types of foods (for example, spicy foods). Children with neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy, are also at greater risk. Heart burn feels like a burning sensation in the chest, neck, and throat. If the cause of heart burn is GERD, the infant or child may also experience other symptoms, such as: * arching of the back during feedings, * chest pain, * coughing, * fussiness, * hoarse voice, * painful swallowing, * poor eating, * sore throat, * vomiting, and * wheezing. In addition to feeling discomfort, infants with heart burn may fail to gain weight properly. Sores can form in the esophagus from the constant backing up of acid. If not treated, GERD can lead to narrowing of the esophagus or abnormal cells in the lining of the esophagus (a condition called Barrett's esophagus). Bleeding in the esophagus and breathing problems are other complications.

Eleven Planning Tips To Prevent Heart Burn

If you are one of the 15 million Americans experiencing heart burn every day, there is more to discouraging the discomfort than avoiding certain foods and beverages. Heart burn relief also has to do with the timing and size of your meals, which is why planning your meals can be so important. But before you get to the planning part, it helps to know what causes heart burn. In people with frequent heart burn, the lower esophageal sphincter muscle (LES) may be weak, or relax too frequently, allowing stomach acids to get into the esophagus. Heart burn happens when the lining of the esophagus comes in contact with too much stomach acid, producing a burning pain and injuring the esophagus. Yet heart burn can be halted that is where meal planning comes in. If you have frequent or occasional heart burn, you can help decrease the tendency of the LES to relax, and decrease the likelihood that the stomach contents and stomach acid will splash up toward the LES by keeping in mind a few tips: * Avoid lying down for two to three hours after eating. When you lie down, it is physically easier for stomach contents to splash up toward the LES. By sitting up or standing, gravity helps stomach contents say where they belong at the bottom of the stomach. * Avoid items that weaken the LES muscle like chocolate, peppermint, caffeine, alcohol, fatty foods and foods and beverages that may irritate a damaged esophagus lining (citrus and citrus juice, tomatoes and tomato juice, and chili peppers and black pepper. * Avoid eating heavy meals because the more volume in the stomach, the more likely the stomach contents will splash toward the LES. Try eating four to five small means instead of two or three large ones. * Avoid high-fat meals because they tend to stay in the stomach longer; greasy or fried foods can also weaken the LES muscle. * Avoid smoking and avoid alcohol before, during, or after meals and even you are working with your website design Lexington project, that seem to result in heart burn. Both smoking and alcohol weaken the LES muscle. * Try waiting at least two hours after a meal before exercising if you find your heart burn seems to get worse after exercise. * Chew gum (a nonpeppermint flavor) after meals to stimulate saliva production (the bicarbonate in saliva neutralizes acid) and increase peristalsis (which helps move the stomach contents into the small intestine more quickly). * Plan your meals to encourage slow but sure weight loss if you are overweight. Extra weight around the midsection, especially, can press against the stomach and increase the pressure going up toward the LES. * Drink a small glass of water at the end of meals to help dilute and wash down any stomach acid that might be splashing up into the esophagus. * Plan on heartburn-friendly beverages like water, mineral water, decaffeinated tea, noncitrus juices, or nonfat or low-fat mild. Beverages to avoid include: Sodas (These can bloat the abdomen, increasing the pressure in the stomach and encouraging stomach acid to splash up into the esophagus.) Juices (Tomato and citrus juices can irritate a damaged esophagus.) Alcoholic beverages, coffee (even decaf) and caffeinated tea and cola can increase the acid content in the stomach as well as relax the LES. * Eat a high fiber diet. A recent study found that people who followed a high fiber meal plan were 20 percent less likely to have acid reflux symptoms, regardless of their body weight. You will find fiber in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds (basically unprocessed plant foods).

Three Heart Burn-Preventing Lifestyle Changes

While watching what you eat and drink can help reduce your occurrences of heart burn, there are a few changes you can make in everyday life that can go hand in hand. * Watch Portion Size: Larger meals and higher-fat meals tend to stay in the stomach longer before moving into the small intestine, so the LES and esophagus are potentially exposed to stomach contents/acid for a longer time. So if you have frequent or occasional heart burn, it helps to keep meals in your stomach for as short a time as possible that means watching portion size. * Keep A Heart Burn And Food Journal: Keep in mind that anything you say about food and heart burn are generalizations and in any given individual, all bets are off. That is why it is important to keep a heart burn journal, discovering what triggers your heart burn, whether it is eating peppermint, drinking fruit juice, or lying down after a meal. To make the most of your log, record symptoms, the time they occurred like for example while you are working in front of your computer about the SEO campaign project, what you ate, and activities you engaged in before the discomfort started. * Eat Out, Right: Many people end up eating out many times a week and restaurants definitely offer a few challenge for those with heart burn. But, once you know what your personal heart burn triggers are, eating out can be easier, leaving just two important restaurant challenges: High-fat foods - Choose low-fat options when you eat out and you will avoid one of the prime triggers for heart burn - fatty foods; Huge portions - eating too much can increase stomach pressure, causing acidic stomach contents to splash back into the esophagus. When you eat out, avoid big portions or take half your meal home. Simple changes in diet and lifestyle can yield big heart burn relief. That is why it is a good idea to take the time to track your triggers, avoid the foods that irritate your heart burn and make a few behavioral changes and reap the relief that follows.

Heart Burn Relief: Food Facts

Though heart burn triggers can vary from person to person, certain food and drinks are more prone to allowing stomach acid to splash up into your esophagus, including: * Meat. Ground beef, marbled sirloin, chicken nugget-style, and chicken/buffalo wings. * Fats, Oils And Sweets. Chocolate, regular corn and potato chips, high-fat butter cookies, brownies, doughnuts, creamy and oily salad dressings, fried or fatty food in general. * Fruits, Vegetables And Juice. Orange juice, lemon, lemonade, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, tomato, mashed potatoes, French fries, raw onion, potato salad. * Other Beverages. Liquor, wine, coffee, and tea. * Grains. Macaroni and cheese, spaghetti with marinara sauce. * Dairy. Sour cream, milk shake, ice cream, regular cottage cheese. Foods and beverages like these contribute to heart burn and the more serious GERD by lessening the effectiveness of the LES to keep stomach contents in the stomach. Smoking also plays a large role, and carbonated beverages should be added to the list as they can put pressure on the stomach, forcing stomach acid back up into the esophagus. Avoid the foods and beverages above - but if you plan to include foods and beverages in your gift ideas for Christmas then try to choose foods and beverages that are healthy for the heart - and eat smaller meals and you may decrease the amount of reflux from your stomach into the esophagus. Yet changing what you eat isn't the only way to avoid the horrors of heart burn, there are simple lifestyle changes you can make as well.

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