What not to eat if you get frequent heartburn

What not to eat if you get frequent heartburn

People who want to relieve heartburn often have to change their diet to do so. In some cases, people suffer from chronic heartburn as a result of an underlying condition that can only be treated through direct medical intervention. In other cases, people's diet and lifestyle predispose them to repeated episodes of heartburn.

Much of the food that characterizes the modern Western diet is extremely acidic, which is one of the many reasons why so many people in this part of the world regularly suffer from chronic heartburn. While these people can provide short-term relief from heartburn by taking antacids during heartburn episodes, they may be able to eliminate this heartburn completely by changing their diet and avoiding certain foods.

Many people suffer from chronic heartburn, in part because they regularly drink tea and coffee. The modern business-oriented lifestyle encourages people to skip sleep and they will often compensate by consuming lots of caffeinated drinks. Unfortunately, coffee and tea are naturally acidic, which is why so many people get heartburn after drinking them straight away.

Many people also drink coffee and tea at relatively high temperatures, which will only further irritate the esophagus and increase a person's problems with heartburn. Many people drink tea and coffee throughout the day, which will only make the problem worse. The frequency with which people consume these acidic drinks makes heartburn relief even more difficult. Carbonated drinks, especially soda, will have exactly the same problems in terms of acidity. People also often drink these types of drinks throughout the day, so they will absorb this type of acid more quickly.

People in the West often eat extremely fatty diets. Eating high-fat meat products, dairy products, and desserts is an almost daily experience for many people. Many people eat more or less nothing else. Cutting out, or at least eating, these products may be the first step toward heartburn relief for Westerners.

Unfortunately, people trying to avoid heartburn may also need to eliminate some healthy and delicious foods from their diet. For example, many fruits and vegetables are acidic. Citrus fruits, tomatoes, onions, and most other fruits and vegetables with a sour taste will be acidic, meaning they can trigger or worsen heartburn. People who replace less acidic fruits and vegetables with these products are more likely to suffer from heartburn. Individuals who try to eat more carefully will likely make more nutritious choices, but they will also manage to relieve their heartburn.

Inspired by Eldridge Williams II