Although a tall, cool glass of milk is just the thing to go with a fresh cookie or a bowl of morning cereal, it may not be the ideal complement if you suffer from frequent heartburn. For some patients, milk may have the potential to cause, aggravate or worsen heartburn and related symptoms.
Cause
Heartburn is related to acid reflux since both have the same cause. According to MayoClinic.com, heartburn results when stomach acid enters the esophagus. Normally, a muscle known as the lower esophageal sphincter keeps stomach contents out of the esophagus. However, in some people, the LES muscle may relax or weaken irregularly, causing heartburn and reflux.
Trigger Foods
Fatty foods are common "trigger foods" for heartburn because they tend to relax the LES muscle. A trigger food is an item that is likely to cause heartburn or worsen existing symptoms. Since whole dairy milk is relatively high in fat per serving, it can be a trigger, and so can milk products such as full-fat yogurt, cheese and cream.
Nutrition Facts
Whole milk contains considerably more fat and cholesterol than low-fat and nonfat varieties of milk, which makes it more likely to cause or exacerbate heartburn. According to the USDA, 1 cup of whole milk has 150 calories and 8 g fat, 4.5 g of which are saturated. The milk also has 24 mg cholesterol. A cup of skim milk, by contrast, has just over 80 calories and only 0.2 g fat, about half of which is saturated. Skim milk has just 5 mg cholesterol per cup.
Prevention
Getting heartburn relief can be as simple as avoiding whole milk, whole milk products, 2 percent milk and chocolate milk, as the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center recommends. Switching to skim or 1 percent milk may relieve symptoms, and nondairy milks are also a healthy choice. One cup of unsweetened soymilk has just 4 g fat and no cholesterol, and a cup of almond milk has 5 g fat and is also cholesterol-free. Other potential remedies include losing weight, eating smaller meals, wearing loose clothing and staying upright for several hours after you eat.
Considerations
Not everyone has the same triggers for heartburn. To learn more about how milk may affect you, keep a food journal and record how much milk you consume as well as how you feel after you drink it. If your heartburn is chronic or you can't find relief from it by eliminating milk from your diet, talk with your doctor.
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