What foods cause heartburn?

In 2020, heartburn medications were the best-selling drugs in the world, after cholesterol medications. Pharmaceutical corporations make a lot of money from mistakes in people's diets. A banal burning sensation can eventually develop into gastritis, ulcers and even oncology. Therefore, it is so important to know the foods that cause heartburn and try to avoid them in every possible way.

Heartburn is a burning sensation behind the breastbone as a result of sphincter dysfunction and the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. The mucous membrane of the esophagus is not able to resist hydrochloric acid, which causes the characteristic feeling of heartburn.

The cause of heartburn is a whole bunch of factors. Most often these are poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, low stomach acidity, obesity, tight clothing, sudden bending and sleeping after eating.

People are used to thinking that heartburn occurs due to increased acidity. But the normal acidity of the stomach of a healthy person is 1-2 pH and cannot rise above this value. On the contrary, 90% of the world's inhabitants suffer from hypochloridria (low level of gastric juice production). In 30% of people over 60 years of age, hydrochloric acid is practically not synthesized.

Hydrochloric acid in the stomach is vital for humans! It acts as a kind of barrier between the external and internal world. Without gastric juice, any pathogenic bacteria will enter the body unhindered, which will lead to quick death.

Therefore, I want to warn everyone against uncontrolled use of antacids and antihistamines. Taking such drugs does not cure heartburn, but only neutralizes gastric juice or blocks its production. Which will lead to cancer in the long term. And to get rid of unpleasant symptoms, you need to lead an active lifestyle and eliminate foods that cause heartburn.

Etiology

Several factors can provoke the appearance of such a symptom:

• irritant effect on the lining of the stomach. At the same time, the body needs to neutralize and get rid of such food as soon as possible in any way, in particular, through the sphincter into the esophagus;
• the entry of additional acid into the cavity of this organ - this is especially harmful if there is already high acidity of hydrochloric acid, which has formed against the background of gastritis, peptic ulcer or other gastrointestinal pathology.

In addition, the method of preparing food plays an important role. Patients with any disease of the digestive system are recommended to prepare dishes in the most gentle ways, namely boiling, baking, stewing or steaming.

Features of anti-heartburn products

Heartburn is one of the common symptoms of digestive system diseases. It causes significant discomfort, affecting a person’s performance. The burning sensation in the esophagus increases with overeating and after heavy physical exertion. The main reason for its appearance is considered to be increased stomach acidity. Regular entry of acid into the esophagus provokes the formation of scars.

The main danger of the symptom is the high risk of developing cancer. Therefore, it is extremely important to adhere to the basics of a therapeutic diet. It involves eating foods rich in fiber.

The following foods must be excluded from the diet:

• sour berries;
• spices;
• flour products;
• salted, smoked and fried foods;
• fatty meat and fish broths;
• alcoholic drinks.

Baking soda is especially effective against heartburn
. Attention! To prevent burning in the esophagus, it is advisable to avoid clothing that puts pressure on the stomach.

Classification

Foods that cause heartburn are usually divided depending on how they affect the organs of the digestive system. Thus, there are several groups of such ingredients:

• the first - affects the mucous membrane and the level of acidity of gastric juice. Such products include citrus fruits, sour berries and alcohol;
• the second – increases the formation of gases and causes flatulence. These could be legumes and baked goods;
• the third – reducing the functioning of the esophageal sphincter – strong tea or coffee;
• the fourth – slows down the processes of digestion of incoming food. For example, fatty and spicy foods.

Oxidative properties of products

A large number of food products are “heavy” for the digestive system, and some of them become a source of increased secretion of hydrochloric acid. However, it is worth considering that the human body is individual, and what may cause heartburn for some may not cause any discomfort for others.

Foods that cause heartburn - 12 culprits

Bad fats

Digesting fats is one of the most difficult tasks for the digestive system. Even such healthy foods as avocados, nuts and cheeses are a real test for the pancreas. Especially if you have a lack of gastric juice or low acidity.

If you regularly consume trans fats (margarines, confectionery, palm and other hydrogenated fats), food stays in the stomach longer, the body spends more energy and enzymes on its digestion. This reduces the acidity of gastric juice, which leads to the proliferation of pathogenic microflora. Harmful bacteria such as Helicobacter pilory corrode the protective layer of the stomach, causing heartburn and other unpleasant symptoms (heaviness, diarrhea, bloating, nausea, vomiting).

Normal stomach acidity of 1-2 pH promotes complete, rapid digestion of food and does not allow pathogenic microflora to multiply. With such acidity, Helicobacter pylory lives no more than 15 minutes. If the acidity drops to 3-5 pH, the population of microorganisms actively multiplies and can cause heartburn, gastritis, ulcers and even oncology.

Consumption of fatty foods also stimulates the synthesis of the hormone cholecystokinin, which relaxes the sphincter. This can provoke the reflux of gastric juice into the esophagus and cause heartburn.

Salt and curing mixtures

According to research, salty foods cause heartburn 50% more often than similar foods without salt. But natural salt itself is not terrible. Its analogues, which are used in the food industry to improve the technological and taste characteristics of the product, are more dangerous. These include nitrite salt and monosodium glutamate (E621).

Nitrite curing mixture is used in meat products to inhibit bacterial growth. Sodium nitrite also improves their appearance and gives them a characteristic pinkish color. Consuming a product with nitrite salt can cause micro-wounds in the mouth and throat infections. Sodium nitrite damages the mucous membrane of the food tract, leaving a person with little protection against bacteria, especially with weakened immunity. By irritating the protective layer of the esophagus, this salt causes heartburn.

Regular consumption of sausages, sausages and ham with an unnatural pinkish tint can provoke the formation of gastritis, ulcers and even cancer.

Monosodium glutamate (monosodium salt of glutamic acid) has the same effect. It is added to industrially processed products to enhance taste. Glutamic acid is a protein marker for the body and when it hits the receptors on the tongue, the body thinks that there is a whole piece of meat in the mouth. However, in the end it turns out to be a banal cracker or sausage with a lot of carbohydrates and a small amount of amino acids. Such a deception of the body.

Alcohol

Alcohol is also one of the foods that causes heartburn. The fact is that all alcohols burn the mucous membranes of the mouth, esophagus, stomach and intestines. This makes the esophagus more sensitive to stomach acid, in the case of acid reflux.

Alcoholic drinks help relax the esophageal sphincter, which cannot prevent acid from entering the esophagus. In addition, wine and beer release large amounts of hydrochloric acid, which can worsen heartburn symptoms.

Drinking beer in large quantities helps stretch the stomach and sphincter. Additionally, this increases intra-abdominal pressure, which the sphincter is sometimes unable to contain, which causes heartburn.

Coca-Cola and other carbonated drinks

Coca-Cola is considered one of the main enemies of the human digestive system. This drink provokes heartburn by three factors: damage to the mucous membrane of the stomach and esophagus, increased intra-abdominal pressure due to a large amount of gas and its high acidity. By the way, the acidity of Coca-Cola is 2.6 pH - higher than that of vinegar. That's why it perfectly helps digest fatty foods, dissolves rust and replaces detergent. True, a person does not feel acid due to the large amount of sugar.

Carbonated drinks have a double effect on the body: they irritate the mucous membranes and increase intra-abdominal pressure. The carbon dioxide bubbles leave behind micro-damages, which causes a burning sensation inside.

Large amounts of gas cause bloating. When the stomach is stretched, additional pressure is placed on the sphincter, which it is sometimes unable to restrain. A food valve that is not tightly closed can allow food particles to pass through along with gastric juice and cause heartburn. The list of such products includes artificially carbonated mineral water, sparkling wines, kvass, energy drinks, etc.

Citrus juice

In some cases, drinking fresh or concentrated citrus juices can cause heartburn. This most often occurs when drinking juice on an empty stomach. A study of 400 patients with heartburn found that drinking orange or grapefruit juice increased the likelihood of heartburn by 73%.

Fast food

Fast food products are usually made from cheap, low quality ingredients. These are mainly fast carbohydrates, hydrogenated fats, vinegar, dyes, preservatives and flavor enhancers. Most often, such not entirely healthy food is washed down with even less healthy Cola, and the accelerated absorption of food on the go, in the aggregate, results in problems.

Burgers, fries, shawarma, chips, crackers, instant noodles, mayonnaise, ketchup, sauces, all these are foods that cause heartburn if consumed regularly. All these tasty, at first glance, snacks are absolutely empty, from the point of view of microelements and vitamins. They satisfy hunger, but do not provide any nutritional value.

Coffee

Coffee and caffeine-containing products that cause heartburn are causing more and more trouble for drink lovers. This is because coffee can relax the food sphincter and cause acid reflux. Numerous studies have confirmed the connection between caffeine consumption and heartburn. One thing is certain - coffee increases acidity . This is good for our digestive system, but bad if the sphincter is weakened! It can let that extra acid into the esophagus and cause a burning sensation.

Spicy food

Spicy foods are notorious for heartburn sufferers. The thing is that it contains a substance called capsaicin, which slows down digestion. Food stays in the stomach longer, which is a significant factor causing heartburn.

On the other hand, chili peppers can aggravate existing digestive problems. An irritated esophagus or any other damage to the lining can lead to a painful reaction to capsaicin, the compound that causes the pungent taste. It is not recommended to consume spicy foods during exacerbation of gastritis and ulcers.

Mint

Mint is a rather rare guest on the table of the average resident of the CIS countries. However, people who prefer to drink mint teas, tinctures, and sweets may experience unpleasant symptoms of heartburn.

Surprisingly, mint does not relax the alimentary sphincter or increase abdominal pressure. However, if abused, this type of herb can irritate the mucous membrane of the esophagus.

A study of 500 volunteers found that drinking peppermint tea daily caused heartburn twice as often as usual.

Chocolate

Chocolate is one of the foods that cause heartburn. This popular dessert is rich in valuable fats that relax the lower digestive valve. But the problem with modern chocolate is that valuable cocoa butter is replaced with cheap trans fats. Most often, this trick is used in the production of milk chocolate. This significantly reduces the cost of products, but this does not make chocolate any healthier.

In addition to fats, chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which also weaken the sphincter. Therefore, when purchasing chocolate, you should give preference to high-quality manufacturers with a cocoa content of more than 80%.

Onion, garlic, horseradish, mustard

Unfortunately, this list also includes useful products. Onions, garlic, horseradish and mustard are those foods that cause heartburn in people with damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa, but are absolutely safe and even beneficial for people with a healthy stomach. A burning sensation is caused by sharpness and bitterness when in contact with unprotected tissues, so at the time of exacerbation of gastritis and ulcers it is better to avoid them.

These products are also a strong digestive stimulant, which increases the amount of gastric juice. If the sphincter function is impaired, this can lead to acid reflux and a burning sensation in the chest.

Baked goods made from premium white flour

Heartburn often appears after eating flour products. The fact is that many chemical improvers and preservatives are added to refined flour, which injure the mucous membrane. For example, bleaching agents to make flour snow-white and synthetic gluten to improve organoleptic properties.

Artificial gluten is difficult to digest, stays in the stomach longer and often causes celiac disease. Excess gluten causes heaviness, belching, bloating, which leads to the reflux of enzymes into the esophagus and causes heartburn.

This problem can be solved by abandoning premium flour and replacing it with whole grain BIO flour. You can buy organic flour from the “Black Bread” company at wholesale prices, plus a 5% DISCOUNT using the “BE HEALTHY” Promo Code.

It is better to buy yeast-free bread made from whole flour. Sourdough during the fermentation process breaks down the complex components of the grain into simpler ones, which improves their absorption. And bran is good at eliminating the cause of heartburn.

You can learn to bake sourdough bread at home. The Kornyshov online school will help you with this ; there you will find many free lessons and recommendations from experienced bakers. There are also paid lessons for those who want to learn how to bake more than 18 different types of bread.

This is the kind of healthy sourdough bread you can learn to bake at home!

Aggressive ingredients

The lining of the stomach is designed so that it has several protective mechanisms, namely:

• mucus secretion;
• presence of an epithelial barrier;
• good blood circulation and blood supply;
• constant renewal of tissues and cells.

Despite this, there are some foods that can be irritating and thus cause heartburn or increase acidity. Excessively hot dishes, as well as some foods, have this effect:

• sour varieties of fruits. Of this group, citrus fruits most strongly influence the appearance of a burning sensation in the chest area. This is due to the fact that they contain a large amount of aggressive organic acids. They are the ones who destroy the protective barrier and negatively affect the lining of the stomach, especially if they are eaten on an empty stomach. In addition, oranges and grapefruits cause an increase in the formation of acidic gastric juice. Also, many of them can cause an allergic reaction;
• sour or unripe berries have a similar effect. In particular, it is worth paying attention to red varieties of currants, sea buckthorn, cranberries and lingonberries. They are best eaten in small quantities after meals or as jam;
• onion and garlic;
• white or sauerkraut;
• ketchup, pasta, juice and all tomato-based products.

Also considered aggressive products are:

• mushrooms;
• some types of cereals, in particular pearl barley, corn grits and millet;
• all fatty meats - pork, lamb and beef, as well as rich broths prepared on their basis;
• seafood - squid, shrimp and oysters;
• nuts;
• alcohol.

In addition, you should be wary of exotic ingredients that are not typical for the patient’s region of residence.

If heartburn occurs frequently, all of the above foods should be completely excluded from the diet or at least their consumption should be reduced to a minimum.

Components that increase gas formation

When patients ask what foods cause heartburn , gastroenterologists often provide them with a list of the following foods:

• kvass and other carbonated drinks. When they are consumed, the walls stretch, the pressure on the walls of this organ increases, as well as the concentration of digestive juices increases, which becomes a source of heartburn;
• legumes and peas - endowed with similar actions;
• dairy and fermented milk products with a high percentage of fat content;
• butter and margarine, especially in large quantities;
• milk, because with age, there are less and less enzymes for its processing;
• ice cream;
• baked goods and confectionery products;
• fresh bread.

Products that increase gas formation

Other products

Nutritionists recommend that anyone who is prone to heartburn pay special attention to their diet. What was indicated above is what causes heartburn , but there is a list of components that in reasonable quantities will not cause such a symptom. These include:

• freshly squeezed juices diluted with purified or boiled water, but without pulp;
• peaches and grapes;
• raspberries and blueberries;
• strawberries;
• chicken and other dietary varieties of meat, poultry and fish.

Dietary recommendations

In addition to what you should not eat if you have heartburn , patients should also follow simple nutritional rules:

• prepare dishes using the gentle methods mentioned above. This will help avoid heartburn even when consuming prohibited foods, but in small quantities;
• completely exclude marinades, smoked meats and pickles from the menu, as well as fatty dishes and fast food;
• eat food often, but in small portions;
• monitor the temperature of the dishes - they should not be too cold or too hot;
• enrich the diet with foods that are easily absorbed by the body. These include porridge with water, vegetarian broths, herbs, jelly, etc.

In addition, patients will not be able to get rid of heartburn if they continue to lead an unhealthy lifestyle and do not monitor normal body weight.

Due to the wide variety of foods that cause heartburn, people who are prone to frequent attacks of this symptom should consult a gastroenterologist before eliminating or introducing a new component into the diet. Only a specialist will be able to determine the cause of such discomfort, prescribe an appropriate examination and draw up a complete list of permitted and prohibited foods for heartburn.

What foods can you eat if you have heartburn?

Heartburn products should contain a lot of fiber. These include whole grain bread, artichokes, most fruits, watermelon, cabbage, and lentils. In addition, water is an important element in getting rid of heartburn. It flows down the walls of the stomach, washing away excess acid and thereby reducing its concentration.

Milk porridge and fresh milk are good for heartburn. Dairy products against heartburn are best eaten in the morning. Start your day with a glass of milk half an hour before breakfast.

Milk can reduce acidity levels and eliminate the feeling of discomfort. In addition, milk-based cereals should be included in your daily diet. You can create a menu of cereals for every day. It is best to opt for buckwheat and rice groats. They contain a large amount of vitamins and minerals. A week of diet spent on milk porridges can eliminate all symptoms of heartburn.

Among the herbal products that help with heartburn are:

• Bananas relieve pain and discomfort from high acidity in the stomach. It is preferable to eat them fresh.
• Clove oil is an effective remedy against heartburn. Three drops of oil are dissolved in one glass of water. In addition, cloves can be used dry as a seasoning in cooking.
• Four grams of fresh crushed ginger per day will help eliminate the symptoms of heartburn.
• You can drink raw potato juice. It is diluted with water and drunk in the morning on an empty stomach. It is recommended to drink this drink an hour before meals.
• Applesauce contains many vitamins and fiber. It can be eaten in unlimited quantities.

Products that relieve heartburn include various water-based cereals and soups. The exception is cereals, which take a long time to boil. These include pearl barley and corn grits. You can eat all other cereals in unlimited quantities in any form. But limit adding butter.

Soups have a beneficial effect on the condition of the gastric mucosa, they help heal it. Low-fat broths are always a must in the diet for people with stomach diseases.

What foods help with heartburn during pregnancy?

Heartburn is a common companion for pregnant women. It affects expectant mothers the most in the third trimester. It can appear even in those who have never encountered such a phenomenon before.

The release of acid into the esophagus during pregnancy occurs due to compression of the internal organs. To ease the situation, it is important to know which foods do not cause heartburn during pregnancy. Foods for heartburn during pregnancy include consuming milk and dairy products. During pregnancy, drinking large amounts of water will not help, as in normal physiological conditions.

Grapefruit and carrot juice have a good effect against high acidity. In addition, walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds help well during pregnancy. But you shouldn’t get carried away with nuts and seeds. You can eat them only in moderation, as they contain a large amount of fat and are very high in calories.

Try to limit the use of antispasmodics. It is these drugs that can reduce the tone of the muscle ring. Mint has the same effect.

Often during pregnancy, women relieve an uncomfortable burning sensation by using baking soda. But the effect of this method is very short-lived.