Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. It is a burning discomfort from the chest area up to the throat. It can happen when stomach acid refluxes, or flows up, through a valve called the lower esophageal sphincter and irritates the esophagus. Certain foods can trigger heartburn so this slideshow can help you identify and be more aware. read more @ http://gastricproblems.blogspot.com

1. Put together by Dawn Ho
HEARTBURN : FOODS TO
EAT, FOODS TO AVOID

2. What is heartburn?
 Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. It
is a burning discomfort from the chest area
up to the throat. It can happen when stomach
acid refluxes, or flows up, through a valve
called the lower esophageal sphincter and
irritates the esophagus. Certain foods can
trigger heartburn so this slideshow can help
you identify and be more aware.

3. Heartburn Trigger: Too Much
Food
 When it comes to heartburn
risk, the sheer volume of what
you eat matters.
 No matter what the food is, how
good it looks, or how much you
like it, eating too much food at
once makes heartburn more
likely.
 Heartburn tip #1: Try using
smaller plates to trim your
portions.

4. Heartburn Trigger: Eating on
the Go
 Grab, gulp, and go -- don't make for good
digestion and can make GERD
(gastroesophageal reflux disease) symptoms
more likely.
 Slow down when you eat if you're concerned
about heartburn symptoms.

5. Heartburn Trigger: Fatty
Foods
 High-fat foods tend to stay in the stomach
longer, and the longer they're there, the more
likely discomfort can be.
 If you're eating big servings of those high-fat
foods -- like a lot of fried chicken, chips, or
wings -- then you've got a double whammy of
two potential heartburn triggers -- too much
food and fatty fare.

6. Heartburn Tip: Cut Back on
Fat
 You may not have to give up your favorite
foods.
 Preparing them differently could help tame
your heartburn.
 Heartburn Tip #2: You might be able to
bake, broil, grill, or roast some foods instead
of frying them. You could trim extra fat off
meat and poultry, and cut the skin off
chicken.

7. Heartburn: Trigger: Acidic
Foods
 Acidic foods can trigger heartburn, especially if
you eat them by themselves, on an empty
stomach.
 Tomatoes and products that contain tomatoes
(such as tomato sauce and salsa)
 Citrus fruits (such as oranges, grapefruits, and
lemons)
 Vinegar is also highly acidic -- not that you're
going to eat vinegar by itself, but it's a common
ingredient in salad dressings and other dishes.

8. Drinks That May Trigger
Heartburn
 Coffee (regular or decaffeinated), caffeinated
tea, colas, other carbonated drinks, and
excess alcoholic beverages.
 Caffeinated beverages boost acid in the
stomach and alcoholic beverages can relax
the lower esophageal sphincter, leading to
heartburn.
 Sodas can bloat the stomach, which may lead
to heartburn.

9. Heartburn tip #3: Choose drinks that aren't fizzy
and don't contain caffeine.
Options include herbal teas, milk, and plain
water. Having water with meals would also
dilute stomach acid, making heartburn less
likely

10. Heartburn Trigger: Chocolate
 Chocolate contains stimulants similar to
caffeine, and caffeine can be a heartburn
trigger.
 But if you can't bear the thought of giving up
chocolate, see if cutting back helps you avoid
heartburn.

11. Heartburn Trigger: Spicy
Foods
 Got a taste for spicy foods -- the hotter, the
better? All that heat may provoke heartburn.
Peppery foods and hot sauces can be
heartburn triggers
 Peppermint is cool, not fiery, but it may relax
the lower esophageal sphincter, leading to
heartburn.
 Although garlic and onions aren't spices, they
are flavorful foods that may spur heartburn.

12. Heartburn Tip #4:
Write down what food or drinks you can handle
and what leads to heartburn. Your heartburn
triggers might be different from someone
else’s.
Jotting down can help you pinpoint what eating
habits you need to change.

13. Heartburn Tip #5: Try Chewing Gum
Chewing gum after a meal to stimulate saliva
production, since saliva neutralizes acid and
spurs the stomach to move its contents into the
small intestine faster -- basically, moving it
down the line before heartburn sets in.
I recommend picking a flavor that isn't
peppermint or mint, in order to avoid relaxing
the lower esophageal sphincter.

14. Heartburn Tip #6:
Don't lie down right after a meal -- allow three
hours between dinner and bedtime.
Since smoking and being overweight may also
make heartburn more likely, take steps toward
a healthier lifestyle.
Although occasional heartburn is common, you
may want to ask your doctor about frequent
heartburn, which could be a symptom of GERD.

15. Credits to:
 http://www.medicinenet.com