Heartburn, Acid Reflux and Indigestion...Things you wouldn't think of can cause this issue.

We've all been there before. Lots of folks experience some type of indigestion heart burn or acid reflux after eating obvious foods like Nachos, Chile, greasy fried foods etc.

For some of us However, it's a daily grind. Anyone who has experienced these (pretty much everybody) knows that this is not only painful and annoying, but can cause potential health risks down the road. Prescription medication for acid reflux and heartburn is at an all-time high, with the number of prescriptions rising every day. Is acid reflux, indigestion and heartburn something we have always lived with, or is it the foods we're eating that has caused it to rise? There may be no concrete answer, but I'm going to dig a little deeper on the subject and share with you some of the things that cause me the symptoms I'm talking about. Some of the foods on this list are very unlikely suspects because they are healthy and natural, but I know for a fact due to my own experiences that they are to blame for one or all of these conditions.

Heartburn/Acid Reflux

When you swallow, the food is supposed to follow a certain path, down your esophagus and into your stomach. A valve opens to allow the food to pass into your stomach. This valve should close once the food has passed. If this valve does not work properly, it may allow some stomach acid to enter your esophagus. This is called acid reflux, which can be painful. Acid reflux is often synonymous with heartburn.

Indigestion

Indigestion is often a sign of an underlying problem, such as gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcers, or gallbladder disease, rather than a condition of its own.

Also called dyspepsia, indigestion is a term used to describe a feeling of fullness or discomfort during or after a meal. It can be accompanied by burning or pain in the upper stomach.

• Bloating (full feeling)
• Belching and gas
• Nausea and vomiting
• Acidic taste
• Growling stomach
• Burning in the stomach or upper abdomen
• Abdominal pain

These symptoms may increase in times of stress.

People often have heartburn along with indigestion. But heartburn is caused by stomach acids rising into the esophagus.

I may be alone on this one because it has been said to eat oatmeal to avoid heartburn!

Oatmeal gives me crazy heartburn! You wouldn't think of rolled oats as being something that can do this, but it does. Every time I eat oatmeal, it leaves me in writhing pain looking for an antacid immediately. There is an obvious downside to oatmeal having an adverse effect on someone's digestive system because of the health benefits:

1. With the exception of certain flavored varieties, the oats found in your grocery store are 100% natural. If you look at the ingredients on a canister of rolled oats, you will usually see only one ingredient... rolled oats.
   
   
2. Oatmeal contains a wide array of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and is a good source of protein, complex carbohydrates and iron.
3. The fiber and other nutrients found in oatmeal may actually reduce the risk for certain cancers.

Raw Onions can wreak havoc on certain people when eaten both raw or cooked. I also noticed that onions, like oatmeal, also lower cholesterol. How ironic! Foods that are good for your bodies health in one aspect, can be possibly damaging in another way!

Did You Know?

Onions are high in energy and water content. They are low in calories, and have a generous amount of B6, B1, and Folic acid.

Onions contain chemicals which help fight the free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals cause disease and destruction to cells which are linked to at least 60 diseases.

To make onions milder, soak them in milk or pour boiling water over slices and let stand. Rinse with cold water.

Eating at least 1/2 a raw onion a day, your HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) will go up an average of 30%. Onions increase circulation, lower blood pressure, and prevent blood clotting.

Carrots are delicious and nutritious. They also give me indigestion like you read about. Indigestion is not like heartburn because there is no burning sensation. Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is a term used to describe one or more symptoms including a feeling of uncomfortable fullness after a meal, and burning or pain in the upper abdomen. It's more of a pain in the thorax which is in between the middle of the collar bone and the top of the abs, right in the middle of the chest. Whereas heartburn for me is usually in the bottom of my throat. I only get indigestion form raw carrots. If they are steamed or stewed, I generally have no problems at all.

It is still more than beneficial to eat cooked carrots as they hold most of their nutritional content even after being cooked through.

Did you Know??

Only 3% of the in raw carrots is released during digestion: this can be improved to 39% by pulping, cooking and adding cooking oil. That's an even better reason to cook up those carrots!

Alternatively they may be chopped and boiled, fried or steamed, and cooked in soups and stews, as well as baby and pet foods.

Carrots are very versatile and delicious. I eat them all the time, and as you can see, I now prefer them cooked a little!

Yep. That's right. Your exercise routine can cause bad heartburn, because some exercises reverse the flow of digestion, forcing stomach acid back into the esophagus. Examples are gymnastics moves, such as somersaults and forward rolls, which cause you to be upside down. Certain yoga moves, such as a downward dog, may reverse the natural flow of your digestion, as do stomach exercises such as crunches, which can tighten stomach muscles.

Avoidance:

In my opinion, it's best to work out not hungry nor full. A nice in between is perfect. This will help minimize the reflux issue should you be a yoga enthusiasts or an avid worker f our abs.

Here are some ways to prevent Heartburn and reflux from being a bigger issue:

Lighten up on the caffeine. Even though most people rely on them for their daily grind, Caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea, and cola may irritate an already inflamed esophagus. Caffeine also relaxes the sphincter muscle. (not good by the way)

Ladies, I apologize in advance. What's the #1 food to avoid when you're suffering from heartburn? Chocolate. (again, my apologies) The sweet, decadent treat deals heartburn sufferers a double doozy. It is nearly all fat, and it contains caffeine.

Don't despair! May I make a suggestion? I recommend that you go with the "new age" chocolate bars. They still taste delicious, but are made with a significant boost of pure cocoa powder and less sugar. The bars are usually labeled with what % of the bar is pure cocoa. I wouldn't go any higher than 60%, or else it tastes like tree bark. Naturally, there is a benefit to a higher cocoa concentrate. Cocoa has tons of antioxidants, and helps lower blood pressure! It might take some getting used to, but you will probably end up enjoying these "uber cocoa" bars very much. Especially when you'll have a lot less heartburn!

Check your waistline. Compare your tummy to a tube of toothpaste. If you take the cap off and you squeeze the tube in the middle, something's going to come out of the top, right?. A roll of fat around the belly squeezes the stomach pretty much the same as a hand would a tube of toothpaste, but what you get is that nasty stomach acid.

Loosen your belt, buddy. Think again of the toothpaste analogy. "Many people can get relief from heartburn simply by wearing suspenders instead of a belt..

Sugar and spice is not always Nice. Chili peppers and their spicy cousins may seem like the most likely heartburn culprits, but they're not. Many heartburn sufferers can eat spicy foods without added pain. Then again, some can't. I won't be one to tell you to stay away from spicy foods because they have a different impact on everyone. This is completely up to you and how you handle these types of foods.

Be cautious about, but not afraid of the Citrus Family. Acidic foods like oranges and lemons may seem like bad news, but the acid they contain is tiddly-winks compared to what your stomach produces. I suggest you go with your gut to decide on these foods. (get it? I'm hilarious)

Have you heard you should drink milk when you have heartburn?

Well, it goes down smooth and cold, but the proteins and fats in milk actually stimulate stomach acids. Milk will help you for a short period of time, but the heartburn will be back to bite ya soon enough. Possibly even worse than it was half an hour before! You've been warned :)

I want to thank you for reading, and I hope this has helped. Feel free to leave a comment below or make a suggestion!