We all know the common trigger foods that cause heartburn, from fried foods to spicy foods. However, did you know there are certain drinks you could be drinking that are causing your heartburn more easily than some of the common food triggers?
Coffee, carbonated drinks, and alcohol are the major heartburn triggers. Kevin Ghassemi, a gastroenterologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, mentions alcohol directly has an effect on your stomach and causes heartburn. The esophageal sphincter’s function is to keep food and beverages in the stomach. The sphincter is to remain closed expect when food passes down the esophagus into the stomach. However, alcohol can relax the sphincter and create an opening, causing acid to be pushed back up into the throat causing heartburn.
The same goes for coffee, as the caffeine can cause the same problem as alcohol does.
With summer in full swing – parties, BBQs, and family gatherings, cutting back on alcohol and sodas may be difficult. Cutting your usual morning cup of coffee may not sound like the best way to start your day either. Gradually reducing can help. Here are some alternative beverages that are “heartburn friendly” you can try instead:
- Non-citrus juices, such as apple juice
- Water
- Decaffeinated, non-mint herbal teas, such as green tea
To prevent heartburn, it is advised to drink small amounts of water to stop your stomach from over working, as this will create excess acid in your stomach.
If you have already tried to cut these addictive beverages, and nothing has helped, or you simply can’t live without your morning cup of coffee, make an appointment with Dr. Darido today to start a life without heartburn.