Limiting many familiar foods in many cases is the solution to getting rid of physiological heartburn
Products that cause heartburn contribute to increased secretion of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice, provoke burns of the mucous membranes and the formation of ulcerative-erosive lesions. Heartburn can be a physiological and pathological manifestation.
In the first case, an increase in acidity is associated with pregnancy, occasional diet violations, and the use of medications. In the second case, hyperacidity refers to secondary manifestations of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Why does heartburn occur?
The mechanism of the unpleasant phenomenon, when a burning sensation is observed in the upper part of the stomach and throat, has long been studied. The cause of burning in the epigastric region is the entry of acidic stomach contents into the esophagus.
Normally, the food bolus reaches the stomach, where it is exposed to hydrochloric acid. This is an aggressive liquid, but it is thanks to its properties that food begins to be digested and reaches a state where it passes unhindered into the intestines. The final digestion and absorption of nutrients occurs in the intestines.
What causes heartburn: causes and treatment
But when the lower esophageal sphincter weakens, part of the stomach contents is thrown back into the esophagus. The walls of this organ become irritated - burning, burning, and soreness occur. Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux (reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus).
Weakening of the sphincter is possible due to a number of reasons, in particular:
- age (older people are more likely to suffer);
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- congenital features;
- excessive love for fatty and heavy foods.
To understand what causes heartburn and belching, you need to start keeping a food diary. Some foods have the ability to relax the sphincter, causing the person to suffer from repeated attacks.
Start writing down everything you eat and drink throughout the day, including small snacks, and note how you feel after eating each item.
How to get rid of heartburn with folk remedies
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The tricky thing about heartburn is that the same foods can cause different reactions in different people. Therefore, when creating a therapeutic diet, an individual approach is important. Consult your doctor and find out first-hand what is possible for heartburn and what is not in your case.
At the same time, there are foods that are definitely excluded from the diet. First of all, we are talking about fatty and fried foods. This doesn't mean you have to give up your favorite meat, fish or potatoes forever. Just stop frying them in oil, and cook them in the oven, slow cooker and steam. But you will have to say goodbye to hot spices and sauces. An exception can be made only for ginger, cinnamon and turmeric.
Tomatoes, as well as fresh juices and sauces based on them, cause irritation to the gastric mucosa. Baking, sweet desserts and sugar in any form have a similar effect on the digestive organs. Excessive indulgence in coffee and chocolate also threatens a burning sensation in the esophagus.
Among fruits, citrus fruits and drinks made from them are dangerous. Especially if they are consumed on an empty stomach. Sugary soda should also be removed from your diet. In addition to the prohibitive amount of sugar, they contain carbon dioxide. It stretches the walls of the stomach and the valve that separates it from the esophagus. As a result, some of the food can rise to the top and cause heartburn. You should use marinades, pickles, rich broths, onions, garlic, sour berries and mint with extreme caution.
Properties of foods that cause heartburn
The list of properties of foods that cause heartburn is not so extensive. The properties are as follows:
- ability to weaken the sphincter;
- “ability” to irritate the mucous membranes and stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid by the lining cells of the stomach;
- ability to slow down digestion.
If you want to understand what foods cause heartburn for you, you must first study the list of those that are considered potentially dangerous in this regard. It is not a fact that, for example, pork kebab, which your friend cannot eat because every time after such a picnic he suffers from stomach pain and drinks Almagel, will cause discomfort in you. It is possible that completely different products are contraindicated for your body.
And yet, let's first look at what general recommendations are given by doctors - gastroenterologists and nutritionists. Their advice is based on many years of patient observation.
Prohibited foods for heartburn
The list will definitely include the following, beloved by many, dishes:
- fatty meat and fish broths, soups, hot dishes;
- salted fish and in general everything that is salted from the heart;
- citrus fruits – fresh and their juices;
- spices;
- raw onion;
- coffee;
- alcoholic drinks;
- soda.
It is not necessary that the entire list is prohibited for you. Try eliminating each product in turn, and then it will become clear to you what you should give up.
Knowing what foods you shouldn’t eat if you have heartburn, you can create the perfect menu for yourself.
Why are fatty foods dangerous? They cause the sphincter to relax, and you won’t have to wait long for reflux.
Fatty foods include:
- red meat;
- many types of sea fish;
- cheese;
- cream;
- dough confectionery products prepared with a large amount of butter or margarine;
- nuts.
In addition to weakening the muscles that act as a barrier between the esophagus and the stomach, fatty foods promote the active release of the hormone cholecystokinin, which can also cause acid reflux. When the hormone is released excessively, food stays in the stomach longer. On the one hand, this is good, because it is better digested. On the other hand, the chances of reflux increase.
Milk deserves a separate discussion.
In many cases, it (in combination with soda) is used to relieve heartburn. But lately, you can increasingly hear about the opposite reaction: for many, milk just causes a burning sensation behind the sternum. This is probably due to the increased fat content of the product. Low-fat milk is not dangerous in this regard, but fatty milk, like cream, can provoke an attack. Increased individual sensitivity is also possible.
Foods that cause heartburn with gastritis
Gastritis occurs with high and low acidity. With low acidity, heartburn is rare, but increased acidity requires special attention.
In case of increased acidity of the stomach, during exacerbation of gastritis, the following are contraindicated:
- any seasonings;
- raw vegetables (not all fruits can be eaten either, for example, sour apples and citrus fruits are prohibited);
- fresh bread;
- alcohol.
All of them increase the production of gastric juice and are therefore unsafe.
Knowing which foods cause heartburn with high acidity, you can quickly cope with the disease and bring your stomach back to normal.
Some people find it easier to drink warm milk and soda from time to time. This method of helping yourself is not prohibited, but you should not abuse it, as you can achieve the opposite effect.
Products that increase the formation of hydrochloric acid with increased stomach acidity should be excluded. Otherwise, even the medications prescribed and taken according to the regimen will not give the desired effect.
What causes belching
Often reflux esophagitis is expressed by a burning sensation behind the sternum and belching.
Let's see which foods are best to avoid for heartburn and belching.
Below is a table that will help you remember what is best to exclude when belching, and what you can pamper yourself with.
Table 1. Dos and don’ts for heartburn with belching
| Foods that should not be eaten during belching and other dyspeptic symptoms | Authorized Products |
| Dishes flavored with pepper, mustard, ketchup | Puree soups with a minimum amount of salt, vegetable soups, chicken fillet |
| Pickled cucumbers and tomatoes | Stewed or baked vegetables |
| Marinated mushrooms | Mushroom soup |
| Chocolate, chocolate candies | Marmalade, marshmallow |
| Strong coffee | Tea |
After eating, it is extremely important not to lie down - instead, take a leisurely walk. You should not drink carbonated drinks with your meals.
Fermented milk products and milk
Products that contain alkali will help eliminate high acidity. Cream and cottage cheese are especially effective in this case.
A glass of milk also helps to quickly overcome heartburn.
But you need to remember that taking dairy products is possible only if they have a small amount of fat content.
Cheeses such as cheddar or mozzarella must be taken very carefully, in small quantities.
It is advisable to exclude milkshake and ice cream from your diet. It is recommended to drink yogurt with a small amount of fat.
List of foods that can cause heartburn
Once you keep a food diary, you will be able to determine which foods to avoid.
Not only citrus fruits, spices, salt and fatty foods, but also seemingly harmless herbs like mint contribute to increased acidity and a burning sensation in the esophagus. Mint irritates the mucous membranes of the stomach and esophagus, and therefore should be discarded. Sometimes, of course, you can indulge in a cup of aromatic tea with a mint leaf, but you should not arrange such gatherings often.
Foods that provoke heartburn in pregnant women can be anything if the food is eaten in large quantities and before bedtime. During early pregnancy, hormonal changes occur in the body, and a burning sensation can arise suddenly from the safest foods. Under the influence of progesterone, the smooth muscles of internal organs relax, including the sphincter between the esophagus and stomach. This leads to the fact that the sphincter is constantly in a half-open state.
In the later stages, the uterus enlarges and puts pressure on the stomach, and therefore the likelihood of heartburn and belching increases.
With gastritis and reflux, if these were observed before pregnancy, the requirements for dieting increase.
During pregnancy, exclude everything fried and fatty, give up fast food: salted nuts, chips, crackers. Forget about pizza, no matter how tasty it may seem, and about semi-finished products.
Other helpers for burning chest
Other remedies that help get rid of heartburn are:
When preparing salads, it is advisable to use olive oil, which has a beneficial effect on the stomach and esophagus. In recent years, other remedies for chest burning have emerged. Using cola for heartburn has become a popular method of getting rid of an unpleasant symptom. Among folk remedies, sea buckthorn oil and raw eggs are noted. These remedies relieve heartburn quite effectively.
Foods you can eat against heartburn
The following products will help get rid of the burning sensation in the esophagus and stomach:
- melons and watermelons;
- boiled rice (without spices);
- raw carrots;
- bananas.
All of these anti-heartburn products partially eliminate the discomfort and help alleviate the condition.
You can try apples (sweet, soft) - they are rich in pectin, which helps reduce the burning sensation. Bananas contain potassium, which has an alkalizing effect.
You can prepare dishes from lean fish and stewed vegetables. Ginger is allowed as a seasoning, which reduces the time food stays in the stomach, promotes its speedy digestion, which means the likelihood of heartburn is reduced.
Lifestyle recommendations to help reduce discomfort
To get rid of the unpleasant feeling in the epigastrium, you need not only to adjust your diet (exclude foods that cause heartburn), include in the menu dishes made from products that act against heartburn, but also follow the recommendations of nutritionists:
- eat food in small portions, but often;
- grind food well or chew food thoroughly (mechanical sparing of the stomach reduces the secretion of hydrochloric acid);
- dishes should be warm (hot and cold - irritate the gastric mucosa, as a result, secretion is stimulated)
- do not go to bed on a full stomach;
- sleep on your left side;
- lead an active lifestyle, move more;
- forget about the habit of smoking.
Sleeping on your side (left) eliminates pressure on the pancreas and reduces the likelihood of gastric juice refluxing in the wrong direction.
Small meals allow food to be digested faster. It is necessary to maintain water balance, that is, drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day. More quantities are allowed if desired. This helps to establish metabolism and normalize the process of food processing.
What foods can you eat?
If you have heartburn, you can eat without fear:
- stews;
- steamed dishes;
- fresh carrots;
- dairy products.
All these are dishes that do not cause digestive disorders and do not overload the gastrointestinal tract.
Starchy and some other vegetables
Salad with beetroot,potatoes,carrots and cucumber (Beet Salad-Vinegret)
Carrots, beets and potatoes will have a coating effect on the stomach and reduce pain. In addition, they will help maintain optimal acid-base balance in the body. Regular consumption of vegetables will help prevent the occurrence of acute attacks of heartburn, and in some cases, even allow you to forget about it.
Vegetables can be eaten either fresh (so they will be healthier), or boiled or stewed. By frying them, you will negate their benefits for heartburn, since fried foods provoke it like no other. Only alcohol, vinegar and sour wine can compete with fried food.
A glass of carrot or beet juice, drunk before a meal, significantly reduces the risk of discomfort after a meal.
It is important to know that not all vegetables are beneficial for heartburn. For example, eating onions or cabbage with it is not recommended. Tomatoes can also aggravate the problem.
conclusions
If you are from time to time tormented by a burning sensation in the chest, it is important not only to know what foods you should not eat if you have heartburn, but also to follow a diet, that is, snack 5-6 times a day in small portions.
Severe heartburn is most often provoked by heavy lunches or dinners, so moderation should be observed during any feast.
Any dish should be eaten no later than an hour and a half before bedtime. After eating, you need to take a short walk and stretch.
It's difficult to control yourself while sleeping, but try not to fall asleep on your right side or back so you don't wake up at night from a heartburn attack.
Heartburn is not life-threatening, but it is the most common sign of trouble in the digestive system. If it does not recur often, it makes sense to analyze your diet in order to eliminate foods that provoke it. But if the burning sensation in the chest is constantly repeated, accompanied by pain, heaviness, and nausea, it is worth being examined by a gastroenterologist to identify diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment may be needed, as heartburn can be a symptom of gastritis, stomach ulcers and other ailments.
