6 Surprising Heartburn Triggers That You May Not Know About
If you suffer from heartburn then you probably already have a laundry list of things that you avoid as they serve as triggers for your heartburn. And while there are common things that most people associate with heartburns, there are some pretty serious triggers that people don’t really know about. This is why we thought it would be useful to put together a list of uncommon triggers so that you can start avoiding them to keep your heartburn at bay. If this is something that you want to know more about, read on as we list down six surprising heartburn triggers that you may not know about!
Peppermint
Because peppermint is a common home remedy for an upset stomach people wrongly assume that it is also good for heartburns. However, the opposite is true as peppermint is a trigger for heartburn. This is because it causes the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to relax which makes it easier for the acid to flow back up from the stomach to the esophagus.
Chocolate
Chocolate is high in fat. This causes it to linger in the stomach for longer, which in turn puts additional pressure on the LES. To add to this, the caffeine and the theobromine in chocolate can also trigger acid reflux.
Dairy Products
While milk has always been considered a cure for heartburn, this just isn’t the case. In fact, dairy products actually serve as a trigger for heartburn. This is especially true for cow’s milk as it stimulates the production of acid, which can make heartburn infinitely worse. The next time you’re experiencing heartburn, we suggest that you don’t reach for the milk.
Avocadoes
While avocados are usually heralded for being superfoods due to the sheer amount of vitamins and nutrients they contain, they are also high in fat. Fat and heartburn do not go together at all. As we’ve already mentioned fatty food tends to stay in the stomach for longer, which causes a lot of pressure on the LES.
Eggs
We understand that many of you love having eggs for breakfast but we implore you to avoid them if you have a problem with heartburn. While eggs are a good source of protein, they are also high in fat. Like other food that is high in fat, eggs induce heartburn by aggravating the LES.
Iced Tea
Lastly, iced tea is also a pretty bad trigger for heartburn. This is due to the amount of caffeine that the drink contains. While we’ve singled out iced tea, it’s important to note that all types of food and drinks that contain caffeine can serve as a trigger for heartburn.
Conclusion
When it comes to heartburn and GERD, it’s in your best interest to keep yourself informed. Hopefully, the information that we’ve listed above proves to be useful when it comes to helping you avoid heartburn triggers. If you are interested in knowing more about heartburn and GERD, feel free to check the various resources on Reflux Away.
We here at Reflux Away tackle a wide range of topics including the effects of baking soda on acid reflux and other uncommon ways to deal with GERD. We also answer the most common questions about heartburns such as “does eating mustard help heartburn” and “do probiotics help with acid reflux”. We are dedicated to providing you crucial information to help you deal with your condition. Visit our site to learn more about this!