What Is The Cause Of Heartburn?

December 19, 2009 By: Andrew Benford Category: Natural Health

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Heartburn is a burning sensation and pain in the stomach and chest that occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter or LES weakens and fails to close during digestion. Heartburn is also known as acid reflux.

Do you ever wonder why you get heartburn right after eating? It’s because some of the food you eat can trigger heartburn. Beverages with caffeine makes the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) weak thus causes the acid reflux in the stomach.

Eating spicy, fatty, fried and greasy foods put pressure to the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) because they slow down the digestion process and stays in the stomach longer.

Tomatoes and tomato-based products like sauces and juices relax the LES (lower esophageal sphincter. It may be hard to do away with spaghetti and meatballs but there are other pasta dishes that you can enjoy without the red sauce.

Drinking orange, lime or lemon juice also triggers heartburn. These citrus fruits relax the LES (lower esophageal sphincter).

Milk and dairy products causes acid production because it takes longer time to digest and stays in the stomach for quite a while.

Beverages with alcohol content also relax the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) and increase production of acid in the stomach. You might want to get rid of the stock beer and liquor in your fridge to avoid temptation.

Control yourself from eating chocolate, it relaxes the LES (lower esophageal sphincter).

Food may be the biggest contributor in causing heartburn but there are other factors such as cigarette or cigar smoking. The chemicals in the cigarette smoke weaken the LES (lower esophageal sphincter).

Taking a snack before bedtime is not a good idea if you have heartburn. The food in your stomach are pressed against the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) when you lay down.

It is recommended that you wear comfortable loose clothing because tight clothes constricts the stomach and causes acid reflux.

Doing sit-ups, crunches and other strenuous exercises strain the stomach and the LES (lower esophageal sphincter).

If you are suffering from other illnesses, ask your doctor if the medicines you are taking can trigger heartburn.

Learn more about Heartburn. Stop by Andrew Benford’s site where you can find out all about Heartburn Safe Foods.