Does Food Cause Heartburn?

Heartburn frequently occurs after eating. Sometimes it is almost immediate. Other times, it is longer, but it still appears to be linked to food. This is why so many people believe food causes heartburn. If so, what is the food that causes heartburn? Identifying the Food that Causes Heartburn Identifying the food that causes heartburn for a particular person is not always easy. Here are some of the commonly-held theories. * Any food that is difficult to digest is a food that causes heartburn. Think fatty foods, greasy foods, heavy sauces, and heavy deserts. * Too much of any food makes it a food that ...

Beware of Heartburn

Heartburn is a mystery to both patients and their physicians. Nobody knows what really causes it. Researchers have learned that "for some reason" the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not function properly, allowing the stomach's contents to flow back into the esophagus. They don't know, however, why the LES fails to fulfill its duty. What researchers and doctors do know is that heartburn can be a serious matter. Danger According to the American College of Gastroenterology, 60 million plus people in the United States endure a heartburn episode about once a month. Those who suffer heartburn every day number more than 15 million. ...

Heartburn Relief from Bananas

Bananas and heartburn are said to be enemies. Eating bananas seems, for many people, to be a great means of heartburn relief. Fresh bananas or dried bananas, they apparently can conquer heartburn for many. Bananas give heartburn relief when used in a heartburn diet, too. Use the fruit as a snack or with your meal. Work bananas into menus. Bananas and heartburn simply do not co-exist in many people. Natural Antacid Bananas are a natural antacid, says Dr. P. Bradley Carey. They neutralize an acid stomach. In most cases, they will give heartburn relief in minutes. For a soothing, natural antacid, eat a banana ...

The Main Cause of Heartburn

Many things are said to be the cause of heartburn. Certain foods are claimed to be the cause of heartburn. Eating too fast is also listed as a cause of heartburn, along with large meals. The main cause of heartburn, however, seems to be none of these. Rather, the main cause of heartburn appears to be weakness of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Sphincters and Their Work The human body has several sphincters. A sphincter is a circular band of muscle fiber. It is found around several body passageways or natural openings. Sphincters function somewhat as a tourniquet does. When they tighten, they ...

Why Do I Have Heartburn?

Heartburn is experienced by more than 70 million Americans every year. After a large meal, when bending at the waist or lying down after a meal, many people have that sudden burning sensation in the upper abdomen. Some experience a sour or bitter taste in their mouths. Why? What Causes Heartburn? Food and stomach juice that backs up into the esophagus causes heartburn. This backing up of food and juices is known as gastroesophageal reflux. The Basic Cause The process may be explained this way: 1. Something weakens or overpowers the ring of muscle at the lower end of the esophagus (esophageal sphincter). The muscle ...

Acid Reflux and Drinking Coffee

Other articles on this site describe the cause of acid reflux - a muscular cause. The ring of muscle between the esophagus and stomach (LES) fails to squeeze shut properly, allowing acid to flow back (reflux) into the esophagus. Acid reflux and drinking coffee would seem, then, to be unrelated. How can the drinking of a certain beverage cause a muscle to malfunction? If acid reflux were a disease, with symptoms suggesting that coffee caused acid to build, it might be understandable. Acid reflux is, however, a muscular condition. Caffeine Acid reflux and drinking coffee is thought by some to be related by ...

Heartburn in Children

Television commercials for heartburn medication commonly show an older person experiencing the burning sensation in the upper abdomen or lower chest. All of that could change, however, as the results of a new (2007) study become better known. That study, done by Medco Health Solutions Inc., analyzed U.S. prescription data for the years between 2002 and 2006.The results suggest that the incidence of serious heartburn in children is rising. During the past year alone, more than two million of the United States' children (ages 18 and under) received prescriptions for digestive or gastrointestinal complaints. Asked about the study's meaning, Robert Epstein, Medco�s ...

Heartburn: Is Food the Culprit?

Heartburn is a common complaint, with at least 50 percent of the adult population in the U.S. experiencing it once a week or more. Heartburn varies from one individual to another, but most agree that it is a burning or uncomfortable sensation at the top of the abdomen, just behind the breastbone. Heartburn's True Cause The main cause of heartburn is a malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle. This muscle is to open the "door" to the stomach to allow swallowed food to enter, and then close it quickly before food and stomach juice can wash back into the esophagus. ...

Heartburn – How to Stop It