All of us love food to some degree, whether it is a lavish chocolate cake, a greasy hamburger with fries or a five-course meal at your favorite restaurant. However, did you ever notice the discomfort it causes not long after you are done enjoying it? Well, here are some tips for identifying the food that causes heartburn so you can prevent the discomfort next time.
What Types of Foods Cause Heartburn?
Any food that is hard to digest will cause heartburn and some of the common examples include anything that is fried and greasy, minced meats, heavy sauces, chocolate cakes or other heavy deserts – and of course over eating of anything regardless of how good it is for you.
It is important however to identify the type of food that causes heartburn as even if there are specific categories foods from which you will expect to get heartburn there might be others that will irritate your stomach or digestive tract resulting in an uneasy feeling.
Eating fast is another cause of heartburn which many of us are not even aware of. There are times when you get really hungry, perhaps because of missing a meal or excessive activity but, whatever the cause may be, you will end up with way too much in your plate. And before you know it you are gulping down at a extremely quickly because you are starving, only to later feel the repercussions of your haste.
The brain usually takes about 20 minutes to register that the stomach is full and at times, when you are hungry, it will take half the time to eat a whole meal and be half way through the second serving by that time! When eating quickly the food that causes heartburn can be almost anything because here the stomach does not have the time to register the intake leave alone digest it.
How to Avoid Heartburn
Identifying the food that causes heartburn is the first step you should take. Then you can prevent it by having heartburn and indigestion pills before you start eating a meal. All drug and grocery stores carry heartburn medications as they do not need a prescription to purchase or administer. However, do read carefully the labels and do not take more than the indicated dosage.
Enjoy your food slowly and drink plenty of water during the meal; this will help greatly with the digestion of food and reduce the frequency and intensity of heartburn. The food that causes heartburn can still be enjoyed if you eat sensibly and prevent it before hand. There is no need to give up your favorite dishes and meals or deprive yourself of any enjoyment as long as you are careful and responsible for your intake.
