What happens inside your body is that the muscle between your esophagus and stomach — called the lower esophageal sphincter — has become weakened and so is allowing stomach acid to back up into the esophagus.
Your stomach has a tough lining that protects it from this strong digestive acid, but the esophagus, lacking such a lining, can become painfully inflammed by these repeated acidic incursions.
While medication may be needed to control heartburn, your diet can also play an important preventive role. Foods themselves don't cause heartburn but certain foods can incite your stomach to make more acid or can encourage the production of hormones that help to reduce pressure on the esophageal sphincter.
If you are trying to avoid heartburn, try to steer clear of these:
- fatty foods
- spicy foods
- citrus fruits and juices
- tomato products
- chocolate and peppermint
- drinks containing caffeine, alcohol, or carbonation
Smoking and being overweight are also linked to heartburn.
While your reaction to these particular foodstuffs is individual, see if staying away from them will reduce your number of heartburn flare-ups. Eating smaller, more frequent meals and avoiding the urge to overeat can also reap benefits.
Choose your food and drink wisely and decrease the occurrence and severity of heartburn attacks.
