As of: April 3, 2024, 12:12 p.m
By: Natalie Hull-Deichsel
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Occasional acid regurgitation after eating is unpleasant but usually does not have serious consequences. It can become critical if you experience frequent heartburn.
The reflux of gastric juice leads to heartburn, a burning belch - regular heartburn is considered a risk factor for esophageal cancer, along with obesity, smoking and regular and high alcohol consumption. In order to prevent heartburn from becoming chronic and resulting in esophageal diseases, it is recommended, especially for people who suffer from heartburn more often, to adjust their diet or keep track of what they eat and drink every day.
Diet promotes reflux – esophageal diseases can result
Some people tend to avoid coffee because they realize that it triggers annoying heartburn. © AndreyPopov/Imago
Diet can promote the development of various diseases, including chronic reflux. Relatively minor adjustments in eating behavior, for example choosing small meals with little fat and sugar and ideally not eating after 7 p.m., can have a big effect, as the NDR nutrition docs
recommend
. The stomach is relieved and the esophagus is protected from the consequences of heartburn.
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If you regularly suffer from heartburn, you should consult your family doctor or a nutritionist and discuss how to change your diet.
Recognize heartburn: Keep a diary and determine which foods promote reflux
In order to find out more precisely which foods could trigger heartburn, your doctor will advise you to keep a so-called heartburn diary. This allows you to keep a written record of all the foods you consume every day as food - including spices - and drink. You should keep the diary for at least two weeks. It makes sense to assign the food to certain categories such as “baked goods”, “sweets” or “beverages”.
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Foods that can cause heartburn include:
Bread and baked goods:
Freshly baked bread, white bread, toast bread, pretzels, coarse, grainy wholemeal bread
Side dishes:
French fries, croquettes, potato pancakes, potato salad with mayonnaise
Sweets:
Ice cream, baked goods high in fat and sugar, chips, flips, crackers, pastries with a lot of salt
Fruit:
grapefruit, kiwi, pineapple, tangerine, nectarine, orange, sour cherries, fruits with a high sugar content
Vegetables:
leeks, garlic, horseradish, peppers, onions
Nuts
, salted
Oils and fat:
Fatty broths, large amounts of spreadable and cooking fat, mayonnaise
Drinks:
Soda, cola, coffee, carbonated water, alcohol
Fish:
herring, eel, mackerel, breaded and smoked varieties
Sausage and meat:
Fatty types of sausage such as salami, bratwurst, liver sausage, mettwurst, liver cheese
Milk and milk products:
Milk and yoghurt with over 3.5 percent fat content, fatty cheese, pudding
Spices:
chili, curry, pepper, paprika, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder
Feelings of fullness, belching or heartburn are also influenced by individual dietary habits. If you adapt your lifestyle, you can promote digestion and significantly increase well-being.
Three insider tips against heartburn
If you suffer from reflux from time to time, in addition to Grandma's heartburn tips, the following home remedies can provide relief:
Drink chamomile tea in the morning, followed by exercises to relieve the stomach:
Pour hot water (250 ml) into loose chamomile flowers and let it steep for 20 minutes. Strain the infusion and drink tea on an empty stomach. Then lie comfortably on the floor/a mat and relax for five minutes on your back, side and stomach.
Flaxseed infusion
Pour lightly ground flaxseeds (approx. 1 tbsp) in a bag or tea strainer into a cup of hot water. Let it soak for around 20 minutes. Remove flax seeds and drink tea in small sips.
Drink decoction with caraway, potatoes, linseed and water throughout the day to protect the esophagus.
Caraway seeds or fennel seeds (2 tsp), 2 medium-sized, unpeeled potatoes cut into large pieces, unground linseed (2-3 tsp) and water (2 L) Cook in a pot for about 20 minutes. Then strain and collect the cooked liquid and bottle it as a drink. Tip: drink the warmed drink in the morning on an empty stomach about 20-30 minutes before breakfast, after dinner or before going to bed and optionally also during the day. It is recommended that the treatment be carried out over four to six weeks in order to strengthen the mucous membrane of the esophagus. If you have any symptoms, make the brew again and drink it.
You can read about other home remedies that are often effective against heartburn at the following link: From a teaspoon of mustard to potatoes: home remedies for heartburn
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.