THESE food items should be avoided for heartburn

Heartburn affects millions of people globally. Often described as a painful, burning sensation that occurs in the lower chest area after consuming something - heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux. Acid reflux happens when acid formed in the stomach cannot escape into the oesophagus because of a barrier called the lower esophageal sphincter. This ring-shaped muscle is often weakened during acid reflux. It is one of the reasons why people with acid reflux suffer from heartburn as well. 

More than all this, diet also plays a key role in heartburn. Many food items can trigger acid reflux in the body, which then leads to heartburn. So, if acid reflux and heartburn are common to you or someone in your family, then you must avoid these food items.  

High-fat foods:

High-fat foods like cheese, nuts, and meat can cause heartburn. High-fat foods stimulate the release of the hormone cholecystokinin. This hormone relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter and causes acid reflux and encourages the food to stay in the stomach for a longer time, which also increases the risk of acid reflux, and in turn causes heartburn. 

Chocolate:

Chocolate is another common trigger for heartburn. Chocolate is made from cocoa which contains serotonin. Serotonin relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, which results in acid reflux followed by heartburn. It also contains theobromine and caffeine, which can stimulate the lower esophageal sphincter to relax. 

Spicy Foods:

Spicy food is really bad when it comes to heartburn. They contain capsaicin, which may slow the rate of digestion. It means food will sit in the stomach longer, which again will cause heartburn. Avoid spicy food as much as you can if you are prone to heart burns or acid reflux.

Onions:

Onions, especially raw onions, which goes with almost every Indian food also causes heartburn. Onions are a rich source of fermentable fibre, which may cause belching. Belching aggravates acid reflux symptoms like heartburn.  Hence, avoid consumption of raw onions.

Milk:

Milk is usually considered as a remedy for heartburn, but the truth is that milk can cause heartburn too. Drinking whole milk can increase stomach acid, which causes heartburn. And this happens because of the fat content in the milk. If whole milk doesn't suit you and aggravates acid in your body, then it's better to avoid it. 

Citrus juices:

Drinking juices like orange, sweet lime or grapefruit juice may cause acid reflux and heartburn. Drinking citrus juices may trigger heartburn symptoms. The reason behind this is still unclear, but if you face any issues while consuming them, then it's best to avoid. 

Lastly, eat in moderate quantity, exercise daily, and try to avoid these items for a healthy digestive system.