Foods That Cause Heartburn
The diet a person consumes on a daily basis is the biggest factor that determines the risk of heartburn. There are certain foods that cause heartburn and are best if avoided. In this article we discuss many of those foods.
You can find more information about foods that cause heartburn and much more great information on heartburn at TreatHeartburn.org.
Citrus fruits should be avoided by people who are at risk for heartburn. Oranges, grapefruits and orange juice are the typical foods that can cause heartburn. These fruits are acidic in nature and should especially not be consumed on an empty stomach.
Tomatoes are highly acidic in nature and can cause heartburn. Garlic and onion too should be avoided by people who are more susceptible to heartburn. Foods which are of a bland nature should be consumed by people who want to stay away from heartburn. Spicy food is known to have triggered heartburns in several cases and as such it is best if people who are at risk of heartburn keep away from pepper, Mexican food, chili and such similar spices.
Consuming peppermint after meals should be avoided as peppermint relaxes the sphincter muscle which can cause the acid to flow back into the esophagus. Foods that are high on fat content should not be consumed in order to avoid heartburn as fat slows down the digestion process and this causes more pressure on the esophageal sphincter which in turn leads to heartburn. Giving up hard drinks is also necessary if we want to stay away from heartburn. Wine, beer and cocktails greatly trigger the occurrence of heartburn.
Food items such as mashed potatoes, burgers and hot dogs, French fries, chicken nuggets, ground beef, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, corn chips, ice cream, chocolate, potato chips and salad dressings are all foods that cause heartburn. Unless the pH levels in the stomach are balanced, it is not possible to escape from heartburn. This is only possible by sufficient intake of water and as such if one does not consume at least 8 glasses of water a day, the risk of heartburn can greatly increase. The flavors used on steamed vegetables and stir fries such as onion and garlic can also lead to heartburn.
Beverages such as tea, coffee, soda, ice tea that contain caffeine can definitely cause heartburn in the long run. Chocolate relaxes the esophageal sphincter and causes stomach acids to flow back into the esophagus and as such it is best avoided. The addiction to carbonated beverages is also dangerous as it is highly related to the risk of heartburn. Carbonated Beverages cause gastric distension which results in heartburn. Thus, these are a few of the foods that cause heartburn and as such one should take them in measured amounts in order to stay healthy. We should observe our diet and monitor it to notice if the food we are consuming are helping in making us stay fit or are leading to heartburn. Then we need to prepare a diet that suits our needs and can help us stay fit and sincerely follow it to stay fit.
