Identifying Foods That Cause Heartburn

Henry ♦ December 15, 2011 ♦ Leave Your Comment

Determining the foods that cause heartburn is very important because it can serve as triggers of your problem. Let us take a look at a few of the foods that cause this problem.

Firstly, heartburn is manifested with pain in the lower part of the chest extending to the upper part of the abdomen due to reflux of stomach acid. It is usually characterized by a sour taste in the throat. It is not a disease though, it is a condition but it could be a symptom of another disease. It can last for a few minutes to a number of hours depending on the extent of the situation.

Sometimes it is mistaken for a disease that has something to do with the heart when in truth it is all about the stomach. In this article I will identify the foods that cause heartburn and their capacity of causing such. I will also give you the information on symptoms of the condition.

Foods that cause heartburn and their capacity of causing it:-

Tomatoes and citrus fruits:

We think these foods as something good for the body. Hence, we eat them especially if we are on a special vegetable and fruit diet. In all fairness they are healthy but these foodstuff trigger heartburn because of the lycopene in tomato which is highly acidic and the ascorbic acid content in citrus fruits.

Spicy Foods:

Spices like onions, garlic, and chili peppers are irritating even in the soft tissues of the mouth. How much more with the lining of the stomach where they stay there for hours? It is because of their distinct taste.
Chocolates, peppermints, fatty foods and alcohol

All of this foods and beverages relax the sphincter which controls the acid from going up into the esophagus thus reflux occur. Alcoholic beverages, depending on the alcohol content, can also irritate the esophageal lining because of the reflux. The more alcohol it has, the more damage it will cause to the lining.

Caffeine:

Coffee is good as long as it is consumed in moderate amounts. But if your coffee cup is bottomless, prepare yourself for heartburn because it will be a frequent occurrence.

These foods can cause heartburn because of their content which contributes to the reflux of acid from the stomach to the upper part of the digestive tract which is the esophagus, the throat and the mouth. The same thing happens when a person is pregnant or is obese. There is pressure exerted in the stomach so the reflux of acid occurs.
Now you are happy that beef, pork and pasta are not included in my list? Don’t be too cheerful because overeating is a major basis for heartburn. Patients are even advised by their doctors to lose weight. They experience the same acid reflux like pregnant women.

We eat most of them every day and even if we experience the condition we didn’t think some of them could cause it. If you are experiencing the symptoms try to make a food diary and take note of the effects of other food that are not listed here. So you can avoid next time.

Meanwhile, let us delve deeper on the symptoms of heartburn:-

 

• Burning pain in the lower part of the chest connecting to the upper part of the abdomen usually after a heavy meal and during bedtime. The manifestation of a full stomach or the positioning of the body like what we do during bedtime which is lying on our backs without elevation promotes acid to go up the esophagus and sometimes cause esophageal ulcers.
• Sour taste in the throat caused by sudden gush of acid fro the stomach because of the causative agents such as food enumerated above.
• Chest pain after bending over, when lying down with your head flat on the surface, and eating a huge meal.
• Feeling of something is stuck in your throat so you keep on swallowing
• Making an effort in swallowing

 

Just like identifying the foods that cause heartburn, understanding the symptoms of heartburn is also equally important. All these details will help you with your progress as you consult with your medical professional and develop a better lifestyle over the long run.