Heartburn happens when stomach acid comes up into the esophagus. A number of things can cause heartburn, including smoking, drinking too much alcohol or carbonated drinks, being overweight and certain medicines like aspirin and prescription drugs for high blood pressure. Certain foods can also trigger heartburn or worsen the symptoms. However, not everybody reacts the same way to the same food, so try keeping a diary to see which foods cause you heartburn so you can then eliminate them.
Citric Fruits
Orange and grapefruit are the first fruits that come to mind when thinking of heartburn, but other fruits can be equally damaging. Tangerines, clementines, limes, lemons and pomelo are also citrus fruits. Tomato is acidic as well, so you should be careful with any products that contain tomato sauce. Juices can trigger heartburn just as much as eating the whole fruit.
Dairy Products
While dairy products have long been blamed for causing heartburn, not all of them do. It's the fat in full-fat milk, cheese and creams that triggers or worsens heartburn. Skim milk, reduced-fat cheese, low-fat yogurt and other options low in fat should be fine for most people. If you find that even low-fat dairy causes you to feel sick, try switching to non-dairy products such as soy or rice milk, soy cheese or oat milk.
Spicy Foods
Experts are divided on whether spicy foods trigger heartburn or not. In an article for Third Age magazine, registered dietitian Karen Schroeder includes spicy food in the list of foods to avoid when suffering from heartburn. However, a 2006 article in Live Science magazine says that giving up certain things, including spicy food, doesn't seem to improve heartburn and that patients should go ahead and indulge in it if they want. Next time you eat spicy food, pay attention to how you feel after so you can decide whether spicy foods should be out or not for you.
Member Comments