If you suffer from heartburn, you are not alone. This painful and arguably annoying condition is experienced by one in five adults every week. The main culprit is the release of stomach acid into the esophagus. This is commonly referred to as acid reflux and cam lead to feelings of pain and tightness in the chest. If left untreated, it can cause permanent damage as stomach acid is so potent that it can essentially eat away at the lining of the esophagus. Therefore, it is highly suggested that you seek medical attention if you experience acid reflux that persists and does not seem to go away with over the counter antacids.
Your doctor might diagnose you with acid reflux disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (also known as GERD) if you suffer from persistent heartburn. Your chances of experiencing heartburn are influenced by a variety of lifestyle factors. For instance, many find that taking steps toward improved health like exercising, weight loss and quitting smoking can decrease the likelihood of experiencing heartburn.
certain foods can increase the likelihood of experiencing acid reflux
The largest influence, and arguably the easiest contributing factor to change, is the food you eat, as certain foods can increase the likelihood of experiencing acid reflux, especially in large quantities. The reason for this is due to the fact that eating large quantities of food causes your stomach to produce more acid, which in turn increases the chance of it leaking into your esophagus. Therefore, we recommend having smaller meals four to six times a day instead of three larger ones.
Read below to find out which foods (and drinks) you should limit if you would like to get heartburn relief. Don’t panic! Like we said, these are things you should eat/drink less of. You don’t need to remove these things from your diet completely.
1. Alcohol
Although all types of alcohol can trigger heartburn, red wine and beer are the most likely to cause heartburn. One effect of alcohol that is not widely known is that it relaxed the esophageal sphincter, which helps to keep stomach acid in the stomach where it belongs. Therefore, we would suggest staying away from too much alcohol, especially if it is being used to wash down a feast. If you insist on having a drink with your meal, try not to overdo it and keep your portions small.
