You can just tell you have heartburn when your chest feels like it is on fire. Such a distinct symptom! Heartburn is often caused by the reflux of gastric juice containing pepsin and other enzymes up the esophagus.
The reflux may be due to obesity, pregnancy, hernia, and overeating, causing an alteration in the function of the valve that separates the stomach from the esophagus.
Heartburn can be caused by smoking, alcohol, caffeine, greasy foods, carbonated drinks, low dietary fiber intake, high intake of salt, inactivity, antidepressants, and chemotherapy agents.
How to stop reflux at night
Avoid sleeping immediately after eating and stay off late-night food. Increased stomach acid for digestion increases your chances of having heartburn. Wait a few hours after eating before going to bed as this could cause reflux as well.
Limit the number of citrus fruits that you take as they are acidic, especially grapes and oranges.
If you take these fruits for your vitamin C needs, you can take other fruits like Mangoes, watermelons, Apples, peaches, cucumbers, pears, and yellow bananas which are other sources of vitamin C. They also aid digestion and help to combat acid reflux.
Greasy and fatty food trigger heartburn. At least have a limit for such food at night.
Milk does not relieve heartburn as most people think. The fat in milk can aggravate acid reflux except you are taking nonfat milk. Take antacids instead.
Ginger aids digestion, it also has anti-inflammatory properties. It is alkaline and might act as a temporary buffer between the acidic stomach contents and the stomach lining.
Eat vegetables such as lettuce, leafy green vegetables, broccoli, green beans, and potatoes.
Vegetables are low in fat. They help reduce stomach acid. Soluble Fibre-rich diets such as oatmeal, barley, and beans will help absorb liquid in the digestive system, this will prevent displacement of stomach acids. These are excellent food choices for Dinner.
Even when you take the healthiest of meals, remember overeating could still cause the same problems you are trying to avoid.
Spicy foods are known to cause heartburn, so avoid eating spicy food late at night, you really cannot avoid it totally but you can have exceptions at night.
Caffeine, carbonated drinks, alcohol aggravate acid reflux.
Read Also: Stop Skipping Breakfast
Having a hectic schedule could relegate one to eating heavy meals at a go and unhealthy eating patterns. Eating nuts and fruits might be a better option for meals on the move till you have time for a proper meal.
Better still set aside a compulsory meal break. Remember, even when you eat the healthiest of meals, overeating could still cause the same problems you are trying to avoid. Read More Here
