Heartburn Diet
Things To Eat If You Are On A Heartburn Diet
If you have been struggling with acid reflux, you can benefit by following a heartburn diet. You can start to learn what foods are causing problems and how you can avoid having a burning sensation in the esophagus after eating. Occasionally, acid reflux or heartburn can be a symptom of a much bigger health problem. So before you start your heartburn diet, it might be a good idea to be checked out by a doctor. He can rule out any dangerous diseases and make an assessment of your specific type of acid reflux. He will also prescribe a specific heart burn diet to eliminate any discomforts.
People suffering with acid reflux or heartburn should limit some of the foods that are known to cause a problem. In some cases, the symptoms can be so severe that the sufferer should probably avoid some foods altogether. But this depends on the individual. The most common fruits that cause acid reflux are Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, apple cider, strawberries, raspberries and grapes. The vegetables include things like garlic, onions and sauerkraut. Cheaper meats like hotdogs and ground beef are known to cause heart burn as well as certain dairy products. But the biggest culprits seem to be certain types of drinks. Soda pop, colas and root beer are known to cause burning sensations in the esophagus and different types of alcohol like beer and wine can also aggravate symptoms.
Luckily, there are other foods that cause little to no trouble and can be consumed frequently by heartburn sufferers. They should be incorporated into a heartburn diet, to avoid further problems. Fruits that can ease the symptoms of acid reflux include fresh apples and bananas. Baked potatoes, green beans and carrots are a few vegetables that can also be eaten frequently. Lean steak, chicken breasts and baked fish are good meat choices and it is recommended that people who have this condition eat licorice, jelly beans and baked potato chips as snacks. These foods will not cause heartburn.
When it comes to a heartburn diet, sometimes it isn’t what you eat but when you eat. If you consume a large amount of food right before you go to sleep it can cause pain. Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter does not close complete, when you swallow. The acid produced by the stomach can then move back up into the esophagus. But when you eat a big meal before you go to sleep, your lower esophageal sphincter will not have time to fully close. So again, the stomach acids used to break down foods can enter the esophagus. If you do suffer with this condition at night, it is recommended that you sleep on a high, slanted pillow so that the acid will flow away from the esophagus. But to avoid heartburn at night altogether, do not consume any types of foods 2 to 3 hours before you plan on going to sleep. This can not only help with acid reflux but the foods that you eat will be digested more thoroughly and this can really help to produce a healthier colon and intestinal tract.
There are a few things that people who suffer with this condition can do, to lessen the painful symptoms. Instead of eating larger meals 2 to 3 times a day, you can eat smaller 300 to 400 calorie meals 4 to 5 times a day. This can also be a good way to shed a few extra pounds. Obese or overweight people suffer with acid reflux more frequently, so a proper heartburn diet can really reduce or even cure the problem. Drinking more water can also help. Avoid any drinks that contain a lot of sugar or caffeine and stick with a full 8 glasses of water everyday.