Some Foods That Cause Acid Reflux May Come As A Surprise
There is a direct correlation between the foods you eat and the prospect of developing acid indigestion, however some of the foods that cause acid reflux may come as quite a surprise. Considering some things that many people believe to be cures for acid indigestion can actually make matters worse, understanding the causes of indigestion can help avoid the foods that cause acid reflux while discovering others that can provide relief.
Acid indigestion is often caused by eating too much or eating too fast, causing the stomach to become over filled. Consider a tube of toothpaste with the lid on loosely and if you squeeze it real hard, chances are the toothpaste is going to seep out through the crack at the lid. When your stomach is too full and you lie down or bend at the waist, it essentially creates the same environment. However, there are also foods that cause acid reflux without being consumed in abundance that should be avoided in the future.
One of the most misconceptions is with milk. Most people believe that milk is used as a remedy for acid indigestion when in reality it is one of the foods that cause acid reflux. In the presence of strong acid in the stomach not only can it curdle quickly, the protein in the milk instructs the stomach to produce more acid.
Quantity More Than Type Causes Most Problems
Essentially, the amount of food eaten at one time has more of an effect than the type of foods that cause acid reflux. Eating smaller portions throughout the day can help reduce the instances of acid indigestion and avoiding processed foods, such as those from fast-food restaurants can also help. These foods tend to take longer to digest which prompts the stomach to produce more acid.
Another common misconception is that coffee and drinks with citric acid are among the foods that cause acid reflux. Recent studies have shown these products do not prompt the production of additional stomach acid, but they may help dilute solid stomach content making it more likely to seep through a weakened lower esophageal sphincter muscle.
While the quantity of food stuffed into the stomach has a larger role in indigestion than the foods that cause acid reflux, once a person tracks which foods cause them the most trouble, it is wise to avoid them as much as possible. Keeping track of the diet and discovering foods that cause acid reflux, can help relieve a lot of the pain of indigestion.
