Some Of The Foods That Cause Acid Reflux May Surprise You
If you suffer from heartburn you need to understand there are certain foods that can cause acid reflux symptoms to be worse than other foods. Getting to know which foods affect the sufferer the most is just as important as knowing which foods should be avoided. While some foods effect different people in different ways, there are few smart choices that can be made to avoid acid reflux, or heartburn as it is most commonly called.
We know that acid reflux is partially caused by the amount of acid in the stomach, putting acidic foods in the stomach, or foods that promote the production of more acid, should be avoided. Some may be considered old wives tales and now understood to be myths, while other may be foods that cause acid reflux with which most people may not identify. While many may associate having acid indigestion after eating spaghetti with sauce, they may not believe the same can happen with macaroni and cheese.
The belief that drinking milk is good for heartburn but in reality milk is one of the foods that cause acid reflux. While it may provide a temporary coating to the esophagus it also fuels the production of acid in the stomach, allowing more to possibly slip through the lower esophagus sphincter, increasing the uncomfortable feeling of heartburn. It is not only milk, many dairy products including cottage cheese and even ice cream can spark an increase in the acid secretion.
Digestive Enzymes May Help
Some people seem to see improvement by doing the opposite. Some studies show that acid reflux is caused by improper digestion. This is food that is not properly digested and sits in your stomach too long instead of being digested and passed on into your digestive system. So taking digestive enzymes that may increase stomach acidity may help in some cases.
Foods To Avoid
Foods and drinks can irritate and possibly damage the esophagus lining such as tomatoes and tomato juice, chili peppers, black pepper as well as foods and juices high in citrus, including lemons, oranges, pineapples and grapefruit so avoid these foods if at all possible.
These foods and beverages may weaken your lower esophageal sphincter muscle
-see the article; (Acid Reflux Foods To Avoid) These foods include chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, peppermint, spearmint, greasy fried foods fatty foods, and coffee, caffeinated and decaffeinated.
Meat And Vegetables Can Also Cause Trouble
Ground beef, marbled steaks as well as chicken nuggets and Buffalo wings can prove disastrous to someone affected by the foods that cause acid reflux. Many of the spices used in preparing many foods will also cause acid indigestion, but eating too much of anything can prompt acid reflux. French fries and raw onions are foods that cause acid reflux and surprisingly so are mashed potatoes. The extra starch can cause more acid to be produced in the stomach.
Citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruit and lemons are also listed as foods that cause acid reflux, along with cranberries and strawberries. Additionally, if they are mixed with alcohol beverages, it creates a double-sided problem, as both are foods that cause acid reflux. Coffee and tea are both on the do not drink list for acid reflux, and it makes no difference if it caffeinated or decaf.
Avoid Soft Drinks
Remember that all carbonated drinks, including all sodas, can cause stomach acid to backup into the esophagus. This is because they cause bloating of your abdomen and increases the pressure in your stomach.
You may find acid reflux relief from eating smaller portions and not lying down for several hours after eating. Some studies recommend an increase in protein, which can aid in strengthening your lower esophagus. The proteins should be low in fat, such as fish, poultry and skim dairy products.
Every person is a little different so it’s important to keep a diary of foods consumed that cause reflux and avoid them.
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