Foods that Cause Heartburn
ByMillions of us suffer with occasional bouts of heartburn. And many of us know that it’s on the way, because of something we just ate or drank. Over the years, I’ve learned what foods cause heartburn. And by looking over many doctor’s recommendations, I know you and I are pretty much alike.
Today, I’ll present you with a naughty list of common foods that cause heartburn in all of us. Sure, sometimes they will cause heartburn and other times not, but you can avoid any unpleasantness by avoiding these foods or at least limiting them, unless you’re using medication that eliminates their effect on your body.
Oranges and Grapefruits – Heartburn Triggers
These fruits are highly acidic. While they do provide health benefits, watch out. Sound advice would be to avoid eating these on an empty stomach.
Tomatoes Cause Heartburn
Many of us know this already—that late-night pizza run that ends up killing you during the night. Personally, I don’t avoid tomatoes even though I can very occasionally get heartburn from them. Hey, I’m Italian. You might as well tell me not to breathe too.
From pasta to pizza and everything else, I love tomatoes. And they are great for your body. So what do you do?
Daniel Mausner, MD (head of gastroenterology / Mercy Medical Center in New York) had a wonderful idea. By stimulating your saliva with something like a sour ball, you can neutralize the acid that’s coming from your stomach.
Heartburn from Spicy Foods
For some, spicy foods can be heartburn triggers. Foods like chili can really do a number on them. While avoiding spicy foods might not be a great option, you could look for milder versions of these foods. It could be a simple matter of simply “cooling” it down a bit.
Garlic & Onions = Heartburn
The foods that cause heartburn is highly individualized. Garlic and/or onions is another trigger in some. Personally, while tomatoes can do it for me, I have no problem with garlic or onions. And sometimes how an item is cooked can set your heartburn off.
Alcoholic Drinks and Heartburn
Drinking on an empty stomach or one that’s full with “catalysts” for heartburn can spell disaster. Whether it be beer, wine or other spirits, it’s going to interact and react to the contents of your stomach.
Picture this crazy concoction. You are enjoying a lovely red wine. As it flows down, it runs into some orange glaze from the chicken you’ve eaten and some tomatoes from your dinner salad. To top it off, you wake the next morning to enjoy a grapefruit with your breakfast. Heartburn isn’t just about single items, but about the combination of food and drinks we consume.
Caffeine Heartburn Attack
Caffeine is in many things you probably drink—coffee, soda, tea, etc. Unfortunately, caffeine can lead to heartburn. For many, the “trick” is in the consumption amount. You can probably consume up to a certain amount of caffeine without triggering your heartburn.
Keep in mind that when you order your soda, coffee or tea out that a small, medium, large, etc is actually many cups. Even a small coffee at many places can be the consumption equivalent to multiple cups of coffee.
When possible, get decaffeinated beverages.
Other Foods that Cause Heartburn
Some other foods that could possibly cause heartburn either in small amounts of consumption over time are chocolates, carbonated beverages (soda, etc), large meals in general, cheeses, nuts, avocados, and how some items are prepared.
Going Forward with Heartburn
The best cure for heartburn as far as food is concerned is to be mindful of what you’re consuming. When heartburn strikes, write down everything you consumed and how it was prepared. Maybe you won’t learn much the first time, but as it happens again, you’ll start to notice patterns.
By avoiding foods that cause heartburn, you’re already on the right track. If you find you just can’t avoid them, look for heartburn medication that assists you in enjoying the foods you love without the acid reflux that comes with them.
