Painful Heartburn? Avoid These Foods That Worsen Acid Reflux

There is this moment when you indulge in food, and suddenly you felt a pain in your chest that is like burning. That is how heartburn feels, and it might be triggered by something you ate from the feast you attended to. You heard that right; there are worst foods for acid reflux that just makes it worse.

According to WebMD, a ring of muscle is called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) that closes soon when the food passes during your mealtime.

However, the health site adds that if the LES does not close or opens too often, then the stomach's acid may go up, causing a burning sensation in the chest. Avoid these worst foods for acid reflux to prevent the painful, burning episodes of your chest.
Read also: Teas for Upset Stomach

Fried Foods

This is challenging to avoid everything you eat and grab from a fast-food chain when you are on your way to work is fried or grease. According to Everyday Health, fatty, greasy, and fried foods prevents the LES from fully tightening, creating an opening for the stomach acid to flow upward. They add that greasy food is heavier to digest, making the stomach emptied more slowly, triggering heartburn.

Chocolate

This might be your favorite treat after indulging in your favorite foods because it restarts or cleans your palate. However, Eat This Not That shares that even dark chocolate, which is known for its health benefits, causes the acid to flow upward because of the Methylxanthines that makes the LES relax, weakening it and allowing the acid to pass through the barrier and cause the painful sensation in your chest.

Meat

In the smorgasbord, you might have eyed that beef or pork belly, and the thought of it makes your mouth water. But did you know that these meats can cause acid reflux? Health reports that cuts of high-fat meat usually cause acid reflux. They are harder to digest because of their fat content, making them sit more in the stomach and increase your risk of acid reflux. They recommend consuming lean meat yet limiting the consumption at least once a week.

Jam and Jelly

In case you did not go to a buffet and just had your tea party with your friends, excessive consumption of that jam and jelly sandwich might cause acid reflux. According to Eat This Not That, jelly alongside jam ranks the topmost acid-forming foods weighing in a pH of 5.5.

But if you really cannot avoid having that peanut butter and jelly, Eat This Not That recommends putting alkalinizing foods like banana or strawberries. That way, you'll not have acid reflux and enjoy the sandwich with your tea.

Spicy Foods

A bowl of spicy ramen and that spicy chicken wings might make you experience acid reflux even if you love them so much. Healthline notes that spicy foods have capsaicin making the digestion last longer, allowing the food to stay in the stomach for a longer time. They add that spicy food may irritate the inflamed esophagus and can worsen heartburn or acid reflux symptoms.

Heartburn is one of the most annoying feelings after enjoying what you eat at the diner table with your friends. Avoiding excessive consumption of these worst foods for acid reflux will prevent you from experiencing the burning sensation we all do not like.

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