- 1. Spicy foods
- 2. Onion
- 3. Acidic foods
- 4. Fried foods and fats
- 5. Mint
- 6. Chocolate
- 7. Alcoholic beverages
- 8. Coffee or caffeinated drinks
There are foods and beverages that can cause heartburn and burn the esophagus or that can aggravate this problem in people with a tendency to suffer from reflux, such as caffeine, citrus fruits, fats or chocolate, for example.
Most of the foods that cause heartburn, cause relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, which is a muscle that acts as a barrier between the esophagus and the stomach and that, if relaxed, facilitates the passage of gastric contents into the esophagus.
Some examples of foods that can cause heartburn are:
1. Spicy foods
Generally, spicy foods have a component called capsaicin in their composition, which slows digestion, causing food to remain in the stomach for longer, thus increasing the risk of reflux.
In addition, capsaicin is also a substance that can irritate the esophagus, causing a burning sensation. Know what to do to calm these symptoms.
2. Onion
The onion, especially if it is raw is a food that relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, which is a muscle that acts as a barrier between the esophagus and the stomach and that if it is relaxed, it facilitates reflux. In addition, it has a high fiber content, which ferment and aggravate heartburn symptoms.
3. Acidic foods
Acidic foods like citrus fruits like orange, lemon, pineapple or tomato and tomato derivatives, increase the acidity of the stomach, intensifying heartburn and the burning sensation in the esophagus.
4. Fried foods and fats
Fried foods and fats such as cakes, butter, cream or even avocado, cheese and nuts are foods that also relax the lower esophageal sphincter, making the stomach acid escape more easily into the esophagus, causing burning.
In addition, high fat foods stimulate the release of the cholecystokinin hormone, which also contributes to the relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter and prolongs the permanence of food in the stomach to be better digested, which, in contrast, increases the risk of reflux..
5. Mint
Some studies have shown that peppermint foods increase gastroesophageal reflux and burning. It is also thought that, in some cases, mint causes irritation of the lining of the esophagus.
6. Chocolate
Chocolate foods also relax the lower esophageal sphincter, increasing acid reflux, due to the theobromine composition and the release of serotonin.
7. Alcoholic beverages
After drinking alcoholic beverages, alcohol is quickly absorbed by the gastrointestinal system, which irritates the mucous membranes of the esophagus and stomach and changes the intestinal membranes, impairing the absorption of nutrients.
In addition, alcohol also relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter and increases the acidity of the stomach.
8. Coffee or caffeinated drinks
As with other foods, coffee and products that have caffeine in their composition, such as soft drinks, for example, relax the lower esophageal sphincter, increasing acid reflux.
Know other causes that may be the cause of heartburn.
