Heartburn occurs when acids in the stomach rise up the throat. It is also called acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux, but it is a symptom of these conditions.
Continuous acid reflux that does not improve or interferes with your life is called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. This condition can cause serious lesions as well as a pathology called Barrett’s esophagus.
Here are some of the symptoms of heartburn:
– A feeling of tightness or burning in the chest after eating or during the night.
– An unpleasant acid taste in the mouth.
– A painful feeling in the chest when you bend down.
– A feeling of discomfort in the chest when lying down.
– a cough.
– Sore throat.
Where does heartburn come from?
Food is transported from the mouth through the esophagus to the stomach. When you swallow, a valve between your esophagus and stomach, called the lower esophageal sphincter, opens and lets food pass into your stomach. If this valve becomes weak, stomach acid can back up through this valve.
The pressure put on your stomach during pregnancy, obesity, and smoking can weaken this valve. A few herbs such as spearmint and peppermint can cause the valve to relax, leading to heartburn.
Other things that can trigger heartburn include:
- spicy foods
- Coffee
- Citrus foods
- Tomatoes
- The alcohol
- Fat food
- fried foods
- Medications for blood pressure
- overeating
Here are some foods that help relieve heartburn.
Changing the diet is an effective way to relieve heartburn. Start by excluding products that make symptoms worse, then incorporate new, nutritious foods. There is no specific diet for acid reflux, but these heartburn foods may help:
Sweet potatoes:
Root vegetables such as sweet potatoes are a great source of fiber and complex carbohydrates. Try roasting, or grilling sweet potatoes with other root vegetables like beets and carrots. Roasting brings out sweet flavors and avoids frying, which can trigger heartburn. Be sure to leave out garlic and onions, which trigger heartburn.
Ginger :
Ginger is renowned for its digestive-relaxing properties. It can help with gas, nausea, and bloating, and it’s anti-inflammatory, which can help soothe an irritated digestive system. If you prefer coffee, substitute ginger tea. Just add a slice of fresh ginger to a glass of hot water.
Chicken broth:
If your throat is sore and irritated from acid reflux, you may need to eat soft, watery foods for a while. Broths and chicken soups are soothing, and the extra water helps dissolve stomach acids. Make sure the broth isn’t too hot so it doesn’t burn your sore throat.
Fennel :
Fennel is one of the low acid vegetables and is known for its anti-inflammatory and digestive, soothing properties. Traditional cultures often consume fennel or drink fennel tea for nausea, gas, stomach pain and gastritis, or inflammation of the stomach lining. Fennel is sweet and crunchy, with a slight licorice flavor, and it’s high in fiber.
Skimmed milk:
It was usually said that you should drink milk in case of heartburn, but it is important to pay attention to the fat content of milk and dairy products. Fatty foods take longer to digest and can delay stomach emptying, which can trigger acid reflux.
At the same time, non-fat milk can act as a temporary barrier between your stomach lining and stomach acid. This can immediately relieve your symptoms. Be sure to consume milk and fat-free dairy products.
Olive oil :
Greasy foods are likely to cause heartburn. We must therefore give up diets high in fat and focus on healthier fats. Animal fats like butter are high in saturated fat. Replace them with vegetable fats such as olive, sunflower or coconut oil.