Hydrochloric acid, a powerful acid in the stomach, helps break down food and guard against pathogens such as bacteria. While the oesophagus is not covered properly, the stomach's lining is modified to protect it from the stomach's potent acid. Here, the gastroesophageal sphincter usually serves as a regulator to keep food from coming back into the oesophagus while giving it way to enter the stomach.
When this regulator malfunctions, stomach acid goes back into the oesophagus, this is reflux of acid. As the acid start building, a person will feel a burning sensation in their oesophagus, which is called indigestion.
It is important to mention that many foods can also cause heartburn. Read on to know some of the most common triggers for acid reflux.
Avoid these 7 foods and beverages that can cause acid reflux or heartburn
1. Spicy foods
Pepper, certain cuisines, chili, and other highly spicy meals can all cause heartburn. It's not necessary to follow an all-or-nothing approach to preventing heartburn. If spicy food gives you heartburn, avoid eating it. Then, reintroduce your preferred options gradually in softer variations.
2. Fatty foods
Fatty meals should be avoided by people for a number of health concerns, including acid reflux. Foods heavy in fat can exacerbate acid reflux symptoms because fat has been shown to relax your lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle that creates a barrier between your oesophagus and stomach. The hormone cholecystokinin, which likewise relaxes the LES, may also be released by consuming meals rich in fat.
3. Caffeine
Coffee, soda, tea, iced tea, and all other caffeinated beverages are included in this category. No, if you have heartburn, you shouldn't avoid coffee. It entails eating fewer calories and watching serving sizes carefully. If you have heartburn, you generally won't have any problems with having a cup of coffee every morning. However, if you consume a lot of coffee during the day, heartburn will occur.
4. Peppermint
Although many people wrongly think that peppermint calms the stomach, when ingested, it actually promotes heartburn. If your dinner was substantial, skip the mints afterward. Peppermint may make you more likely to have heartburn since it relaxes the sphincter muscle between your stomach and oesophagus. As a result, the oesophagus may experience reflux of stomach acids.
5. Chocolate
Eating chocolate causes the release of serotonin, which makes people happy. In addition to making you happy, serotonin also relaxes your lower esophageal sphincter. which, as was previously mentioned, may make one more likely to experience heartburn.
6. Carbonated drinks
Drinks with carbonation make the stomach grow. A bloated stomach also increases reflux and puts extra pressure on the esophageal sphincter. If you have heartburn, it may be a good idea to stay away from soda and other carbonated drinks.
7. Alcohol
Drinking wine, beer, or your preferred cocktail might cause heartburn, especially after a large meal. If you only have a glass of red wine, it might not be too much of an issue. However, there might be a problem if you also consume orange juice first thing in the morning and eat spaghetti with tomato sauce. Similar to peppermint, alcohol relaxes the sphincter and allows for the release of acid.
8. Everybody responds differently to certain meals.
Some people who have heartburn may feel worse after eating garlic or onions. Everything is wholly original. Keep a meal diary to track what causes your heartburn and concentrate on creating a list of safe meals to help you prevent it. Grilled chicken, roasted sweet potatoes, toast, and cottage cheese are among the heartburn-friendly foods.
