Acid reflux is something that many people do not even think about. Even though it affects millions of people, they just don’t realize how much of an impact it has on their lives. You are likely to have heard of the foods that cause heartburn, and most of them are acidic foods such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, peppers, garlic, onions, grapefruit, and others.
However, the truth is that there are a lot of other things that you can eat that cause acid reflux and other health problems as well. A couple of these things are described below. Once you know the food that can cause heartburn, then you can make sure that you are consuming the right ones for your diet.
Alcohol – Alcohol is something that is regularly consumed by almost everyone. While the ingredients in the drinks might be completely natural, the level of acidity that they contain can cause acid reflux in many people. When you drink too much alcohol, you put extra strain on your stomach and make it work overtime.
Spicy Foods – Many spicy foods are often used in Indian cuisine. These spices include turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, paprika, cardamom, etc. When you eat spicy food, this causes your stomach to produce acid. As a result, acid is released into your esophagus and into your bloodstream and this is what causes heartburn.
Coffee – Coffee contains caffeine, which has the effect of weakening the muscles in your esophagus. When this happens, the contents of your stomach relax, causing the material to flow backward, into your esophagus. It is a very common problem and one that can be easily solved. This is done by drinking caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, or cola soft drinks.
Dietary Fatty Foods – Fatty foods are not only tasty, but they also make the food you eat taste better. It is therefore no surprise that they are often consumed on a regular basis. In fact, fatty foods, particularly red meat, cause heartburn. On the other hand, green vegetables contain fiber, which is helpful for people with heart problems and is certainly healthy.
Low-Fat Dairy Products – For those who want to avoid the effects of spicy foods, dairy products are a good choice. However, you should watch out for the foods that contain saturated fats like butter, cheese, and ice cream, because these can be a big contributor to acid reflux. If you use low-fat milk or yogurt, you can reduce the amount of acid in your body, and this is very important if you want to prevent acid reflux.
Whole Grains – Whole grains contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals and can reduce acid reflux. However, it is recommended that you avoid processed whole grains such as white bread and white rice. It is also good to avoid refined flour, especially in foods that are high in fat content.
Processed Foods – Some manufacturers add too much sugar or other sweeteners to their products, which can cause you to suffer from acid reflux. This is especially true of foods that are processed, such as soft drinks, candies, cookies, cakes, puddings, biscuits, and pastries. It is important to read the labels carefully before you buy your next favorite snack food.
Junk Food – Another factor that can cause acid reflux is junk food. If you are a regular snack eater, you might want to avoid foods that contain too much salt or sugar. These are unhealthy and cause problems in the digestive system.
To prevent acid reflux, you will need to avoid any of the above-mentioned factors. However, if you consume more than one of the above factors, you should immediately begin to see some improvements. Then, if you do suffer from heartburn, you should visit your doctor so that they can prescribe some antacids to alleviate the symptoms of acid reflux.
