Heartburn Free Foods for the Holidays: How to Enjoy Great Food Without the Heartburn This Holiday Season

Ahhh, the holidays... a time of friends, family and for all too many people...

Heartburn!

If youre one of the 60 million Americans who suffer from acid reflux disease you know how one meal of indulgence can lead to a day or night of misery.

The problem is that during the holidays we allow more things into our diets than we do the rest of the year. We eat more sweet and rich foods, drink more alcohol and coffee, and quite often can pay the price with increased heartburn.

But be of good cheer, dear holiday party-goer, you can still eat well, have a great time, and avoid your heartburn problems!

The secret lies in knowing what foods are bad so you can limit them or substitute something in their places.

The bad heartburn foods come in two varieties.

1. Those that cause an increase in stomach acid, some of which can spill over into your esophagus causing heartburn.
2. Those that relax the esophageal sphincter. The esophageal sphincter is a little muscle at the base of the esophagus that acts as a lid that prevents stomach acid from entering the esophagus.

Here are some of the heartburn causing foods you should look out for this holiday season.

Peppermint

What candy is more associated with the holidays than the red and white striped candy cane? Yet, peppermint is one of those foods that relaxes the esophageal sphincter and allows acid up into your esophagus.

Instead, try a stick of red licorice. You can buy these sticks in bulk, or individually wrapped.

Chocolate

Yes, Im afraid its true; chocolate is another "relaxing" food that can open the way for stomach acid to reach your esophagus. Instead of chocolate, though, try substituting...

Just kidding. True chocoholics know that theres no substitute for chocolate, but there are people who are thinking of creative ways to make chocolate heartburn free.

See the resource box at the end of this article for a collection of heartburn-free recipes, including one for fudge!

Alcohol and Coffee/Tea

Between the office holiday party, Christmas with the family, and New Years Eve, alcohol consumption for many people sky rockets during this time of year. And, even non-drinkers can over indulge with higher than normal levels of coffee or tea (regular and decaf).

All of the above beverages can increase the acid production in your stomach and give you heartburn. Instead try substituting hot cider (in moderation) for the coffee or tea, and non-alcoholic beer or wine for your other favorite alcoholic beverages.

Hors d' Oeuvres

Spicy and fatty foods are notorious for generating stomach acid production, and no place are these foods more conveniently and neatly presented than on the hors d Oeuvres trays and tables at holiday parties.

Foods to look out for include cheese, salami, beef sticks, and, of course, spicy buffalo wings. Instead, stick with pretzels, apples, or carrots and broccoli dipped in low fat ranch dressing.

Brunch Food

Lastly, another meal that friends and family share together during the holidays--and one thats loaded with heartburn traps and snares--is brunch.

From the coffee, to the eggs prepared in butter and garnished with bacon or sausage, to the donuts and fruit juices, brunch offers heartburn foods at every turn. Even here, just a few modifications can result in a very satisfying meal followed by a pleasant, heartburn free day.

Here are a few tips for making your brunch selections...

Egg white omelets are better than those made with whole eggs, and if you like to have some sort of bread with breakfast, try a whole grain bagel with low fat cream cheese.

Apples and bananas are the best choices for fruit and, if you want a fruit juice, apple is probably your best bet there, too.

As you can see, there are plenty of opportunities for acid reflux and heartburn sufferers to enjoy delicious heartburn-free food this holiday season.

Simply, approach each get together or party with a strategy about what and how much you'll eat. Then, choose to avoid the bad heartburn foods and, most importantly, have a great time this holiday season!

Happy Holidays!

Heartburn Diagnosis And Treatment

Heartburn or pyrosis is a painful or burning sensation in the esophagus, just below the breastbone caused by regurgitation of gastric acid. The pain often rises in the chest and may radiate to the neck, throat, or angle of the jaw. Heartburn is also identified as one of the causes of asthma and chronic cough.

Heartburn Diagnosis.

Physicians normally diagnose gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) based on symptoms alone. When the clinical presentation is uncertain, other tests can be performed to confirm the diagnosis or exclude other disorders. Confirmatory tests include:

Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Series: A series of x-rays of the upper digestive system are taken after drinking a barium solution. These can demonstrate reflux of barium into the esophagus, which suggests the possibility of gastro esophageal reflux disease. More accurately, fluoroscopy can be used to document reflux in real-time.

Ambulatory pH Monitoring: A probe can be placed via the nose into the esophagus to record the level of acidity in the lower esophagus. Because some degree of variation in acidity is normal, and small reflux events are relatively common, such monitors must be left in place for at least a 24-hour period to confirm the diagnosis of GERD. The test is particularly useful when the patient's symptoms can be correlated to episodes of increased esophageal acidity.

Endoscope test: The esophageal mucosa can be visualized directly by passing a thin, lighted tube with a tiny camera attached (an endoscope) through the mouth to examine the esophagus and stomach. In this way, evidence of esophageal inflammation can be detected, and biopsies taken if necessary.

Manometer test: In this test, a pressure sensor (manometer) is passed through the mouth into the esophagus and measures the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter directly.

Biopsy test: A small sample of tissue from the esophagus is removed. It is then studied to check for inflammation, cancer, or other problems.

Heartburn Treatment.

Prevention: If heartburn occurs when lying down, raising the head with pillows or sitting up frequently provides relief although care must be taken to avoid placing continuous strain on the neck. Avoidance of certain foods shortly before bedtime is frequently advised to avoid future attacks.

Medications: Antacids, H2-receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors are used - in that order - to treat heartburn.

Antacids: Daily treatment with Antacids is effective for 25-30% of people with GERD. Acid-blocking medications are the most effective for mild forms of the condition.

H2-receptor antagonists: With the advent of proton-pump inhibitors, H2-receptor antagonists are not widely used.

Proton-pump Inhibitors: Proton pump inhibitors are a class of medications which can be effective for people who do not respond to antacid or acid blockers. Proton-pump inhibitors directly block acid production in the stomach cells and provide more effective relief than less powerful medications. In order to prevent heartburn the medication disfigures and disables the proteins (proton pumps) that control the pH of the stomach, allowing the body to digest them.

Restricting Diet: Restricting diet is very important, since 90-95% of sufferers of heartburn or esophageal disorder can link their symptoms to specific foods. Therefore, it is important that heartburn sufferers manage their diets as a way to treat their heartburn. Sufferers should choose the kinds of foods and drinks which have little risk of causing acid reflux, while some kinds of foods or drinks should be avoided as they are major heartburn triggers.

Important Information About Heartburn

Reflux symptoms is a seriously basic disorder that tons of individuals experience. Some individuals experience it occasionally while others have chronic heartburn / acid reflux pain. It is brought on by stomach acid which leaves the stomach and goes up into the esophagus. The usual symptom of acid reflux is a burning sensation that occurs in the upper chest and feels as though it is near the heart. Although it is frequently only in the upper chest it also radiates upwards into the throat and neck.

This problem can be treated by a variety of over-the-counter, prescription, and all natural home therapies. Chronic pyrosis ( heartburn ) should really always be checked by a physician to ensure that there is no underlying cause such as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) which is also called Acid reflux/heartburn Disease. If GERD is left untreated it can hurt the lining of the esophagus and lead to various other problems.

There are countless over the counter remedies for symptoms of heartburn. These include antacid tablets and acid neutralizing pills which can be taken before or after the onset of heartburn symptoms. There are also a number of home cures and foods that can be eaten to greatly reduce the discomfort of acid reflux / heartburn. One of these solutions is simply taking in an apple or dissolving a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and drinking it. Caution: Baking soda contains numerous salt so if you are on a low sodium diet dont use this trick.

There is no need to suffer day and night with the discomfort associated with acid reflux disease. A little studying and self-education and this situation can be overcome.

10 Proven Tips to Make Heartburn Disappear

In our last newsletter, we discussed heartburn and its harmful effect on the body. Armed with that knowledge, we can now put into practice 10 tips for heartburn relief!

My husband has terrible heartburn. In fact, he's the one who pops antacids like they're candy. Over the past couple of weeks I have encouraged him to try these tipsand you know what? They've worked! I hope these tips help you or someone you love find heartburn relief and kick this health problem we call heartburn.

1. Simple Techniques:

Heartburn can cause major problems if not treated. People with heartburn have a 43% higher risk of developing esophageal cancer, compared to those who do not have heartburn or indigestion.

For heartburn relief, lets start with a few simple techniques. Cut your food into smaller pieces, chew your food longer, stop smoking, don't drink a lot with your meal, lose a few pounds, loosen your belt a couple of notches and raise your head a few more inches when you sleep.

2. Get your digestive system back on track:

It's a good idea to take digestive plant enzymes with every meal. This will help gas and bloating, as well as to help bowel movements become more frequent.

Another technique is to take hydrochloric acid supplements with meals. These will help to alleviate digestive problems. And again, don't dilute your stomach acid or enzymes by drinking liquids during your meal!

3. Enhance your immunity:

Colostrums, maitake mushroom and sterols or sterolins are effective at enhancing under active immune function. You can take one alone or in a combination for heartburn relief.

4. You have to reduce your stress:

The connection between stress, the immune system and inflammation are perfectly clear. Intestinal flare-ups, colitis, Crohns disease and excess acid production are often associated with increased stress. If you can, eliminate stressful factors within your life. Try exercising, reading, breathing exercises, hiking, sports, meditation, or anything else that can helps to naturally relax you. This will do wonders to help you experience heartburn relief!

5. Stop using non-sterol anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS):

When seeking heartburn relief, most of us run for these! These drugs only increase your risk of upper gastrointestinal ulcers, bleeding and digestivedifficulties. Willow bark, boswellia, turmeric, pycnogenol and other natural products are safe alternatives to NSAIDS.

6. Your diet is extremely important:

Eat 7-10 half-cup servings of organic fruits and vegetable daily. Steam your vegetables or eat them raw. Raw vegetables are much healthier for you, but some of us just don't like raw veggies. Steaming will at least keep the majority of the nutrients in place.

It's wise to eat a cup of acidophilus rich yogurt every day unless you are lactose intolerant. If you suffer from lactose intolerance, you are at greater risk for stomach problems. If this is you, try cutting out all dairy products from your diet for 6 weeks and see how your stomach feels. You should experience some heartburn relief.

7. Eat more small meals instead of big ones:

The bottom line is that big meals are hard to digest. By eating smaller meals, you will actually heal stomach problems and keep your blood sugar in a healthy range. Remember, digestion begins in your mouth. Sit back and enjoy your food.

8. Try tea with lemon:

Coffee only aggravates stomach problems, so try a cup of tea! This will get your digestive juices flowing and help you to find heartburn relief. Drink your herbal tea with fresh squeezed lemon 15 minutes before breakfast. Try peppermint, fennel or ginger tea to soothe practically any stomach problem.

9. Stay away from fake sugar:

A lot of us have been brainwashed in believing that a safe alternative to real sugar is the "fake stuff". Not so! Sorbital and other artificial sweeteners can create gas, bloating, and increased diarrhea.

White sugar has been found to reduce the activity of certain immune cells that fight bacteria, viruses, parasites and cancer. One teaspoon of white sugar inactivates these important immune cells for up to six hours. Try the herbal sweetener stevia at your health food store instead.

10. Don't forget your fiber:

Fiber will combat against constipation and control diarrhea. Psyllium, guar gum, ground flax seeds or pectin can be added to your daily regimen. Drink 6-10 glasses of purified water every dayespecially if you are taking fiber supplements.

No one should have to live with painful heartburn. By becoming proactive, you can find heartburn relief, enjoy your meals and live a more healthy and enjoyable life!