Heartburn Diet to Fit You

You have just finished eating a delicious meal. You ended on a piece of chocolate cake, washing it down with coffee. You get up from the table, move to a comfortable seat by the television, and settle down to relax. Within 15 minutes, you have heartburn.

A heartburn diet was recommended, but you hate the thought of it. Sure, the heartburn is uncomfortable, but you have visions of giving up the foods you most love. You’ve read some of those heartburn diets.

A heartburn diet to fit you would be great, but how do you find that? It seems to be a matter of trial and error.

Less Is More

A heartburn diet to fit you can begin as simply as taking smaller portions of everything, not avoiding any food. A stomach that is too full cannot carry out its task of digesting food. Like an electric blender that is too full, it pushes up on the “lid” to let air escape. When you eat too much, your stomach exerts pressure on the sphincter at the top of the stomach, opening it to expel air. With the air, stomach acid leaks back into the esophagus, and you have heartburn. A heartburn diet that simply limits the amount of food may be all you need. If not, continue as below. Eliminate only one category of food at a time to isolate the one or ones that may affect you.

Cut the Caffeine

Your heartburn diet may require that you cut the caffeine for a week or two and see if that relieves symptoms. Choose beverages without caffeine. If heartburn continues, add these back and look for other causes.

Add Water

Water is essential to your heartburn diet, as it helps in digestion. Just be careful not to drink so much that you make the stomach too full.

Baked, Not Fried

Most heartburn diets recommend that you avoid all fried food. This helps some people, but not everyone. Try to eliminate all fried foods for 2 or 3 weeks. If you notice no change, add them back to your heartburn diet.

Lower the Fat

Some believe all fatty foods should be eliminated from a heartburn diet plan. Many low fat foods are available for you to try. Trim fat from meat, too, and cut the number of egg yolks you eat. If this does not relieve symptoms, fat foods, too, may be placed back on your heartburn diet list.

Limit Spices

Television ads for Heartburn Relief medications indicate that spicy foods should be removed from the heartburn diet “allowance” list. Avoid them for 2 or 3 weeks and see if that is true for you.

CAUTION: If you do not get Heartburn Relief with one of the ginger recommendations above, seek professional advice from a licensed health care provider. Heartburn can be serious if persistent.