Cranberry juice has acidic contents that might trigger heartburn and sometimes appears among items to avoid in acid reflux diets. Other diets to prevent heartburn don't list the juice as an offender. People differ in the way they respond to foods. You might have specific triggers and find that cranberry juice works just fine in your diet or it might result in symptoms.
Stomach Acid
Heartburn produces an uncomfortable or burning sensation in the upper chest and throat. The feeling can result from overeating, which causes the stomach to secrete more acid for digestion, increasing the risk of stomach acid backup, also known as acid reflux. Certain foods and beverages trigger acid reflux by relaxing an esophageal muscle, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. The ring-like muscle normally opens as contents enter the stomach and closes to prevent acid reflux. A relaxed muscle does not shut tightly and allows acid to rise back up into the esophagus, resulting in heartburn.
Heartburn Triggers
Products that might trigger acid reflux include cranberry juice and other acidic items, such as citrus fruits, citrus juice, tomatoes and tomato-based foods. Other foods often cited as offenders include fried and fatty foods, spicy foods, onions, peppers, chocolate and alcohol. However, your body has its own individual response to foods. To identify your heartburn triggers, follow a food journal for about a week. Jot down the foods you eat, the time of day and the symptoms you experience. This helps you gradually eliminate suspected triggers, according to McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. You might experience heartburn and discover a food other than cranberry juice causes the problem.
Strengthening the System
Cranberry herbal extract, tinctures and teas might strengthen the body's system to reduce or prevent acid reflux. Cranberry might inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The bacteria causes stomach inflammation, gastritis and ulcers, which contribute to heartburn. Cranberry juice has been used for urinary tract infections and might relieve the burning sensation from that disorder. Check with your doctor when using cranberry or other alternative remedies for health conditions.
Acid Reflux Diet
Experiment with cranberry juice alone to see how your body responds. Other foods play an important role in avoiding heartburn. Acid reflux diets usually include decaffeinated non-mint teas, non-citrus fruit juice, non-citrus fruits, fresh or steamed vegetables, whole grains and low-fat foods, such as lean meat, skinless poultry, fish and low-fat or nonfat dairy products. The diet might provide you with long-term protection from heartburn instead of relying on antacids or acid-reducing medication.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD); May 2007
- McKinley Health Center: The GERD Diet
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease; September 2009
- LoveToKnow: Acid Reflux Diet
- Phytochemicals: What's the Use of Cranberry Juice?
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