What to Eat When You Have Heartburn

Different foods affect everyone differently. Most people say that the foods we list here are great to eat when you have heartburn.

Heartburn, or the burning feeling at the top of your stomach, is one of the main reasons for visiting the doctor these days. This pain usually comes after eating. It is especially common to get it after large meals. It’s so uncomfortable that you might not know what to eat when you have heartburn.

We can refer to this as a modern sickness. This isn’t because it only happens in modern times. It’s because we seem to be eating more and thus getting more heartburn in recent times.

In this article, we want to discuss advice about what to eat when you have heartburn.

What causes stomach acid?

Heartburn, sometimes called pyrosis by doctors, is a feeling of burning or pain in your esophagus. It primarily happens in the lower areas near your stomach. Heartburn is brought on by the regurgitation of gastric acid.

The burning starts in your chest. In some cases, it can reach your neck, jaw, or tongue.

The main causes of excess stomach acid are:

• Stress, worry, or a fast-paced life
• Diets rich in saturated fats
• Eating too much processed or refined carbohydrates
• Eating quickly without chewing properly
• Skipping meals (this alters your digestive rhythm)
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Smoking
• A sedentary lifestyle
• Not sleeping enough
• The bacteria Helicobacter pylori

As you can see, many of the causes of acid are based on your lifestyle choices.

You often have the power to get rid of this problem and even avoid more serious conditions like ulcers and gastritis. All you have to do is change some of your daily habits.

Foods to eat when you have heartburn

Having acid can be very annoying. It may even keep us from doing activities we normally like to do.

Granted, we don’t always feel like eating when we have heartburn. However, here are some foods that can reduce the symptoms.

Oats

This cereal is normally eaten for breakfast. It gives you a sensation of fullness and also reduces the burning feeling of acid.

The good news is that you can eat it anytime you’re hungry. We recommend you eat it with raisins.

Don’t worry about any possible acidity of the raisins. Experts say the oats absorb their acid.

Ginger

You should always use ginger in moderation due to its strong flavor. That being said, this is one of the best foods for fighting acid. It acts as an anti-inflammatory agent for gastrointestinal issues. 

Just grate a small piece and make a ginger tea. Alternatively, put it in foods or smoothies. It gives foods a citrus flavor.

Aloe vera

This is one of the best natural remedies for wounds. When your have heartburn, your esophagus’ walls are harmed. That’s when the aloe comes into play.

Some opt for eating the gel found in the leaves directly. This can be done either alone or in a juice. Others eat store-bought products that are made from aloe vera.

Vegetable salad

Leafy greens, like lettuce or arugula, are important. They have the ability to reduce the pain and burning sensation caused by acid.

We recommend that you avoid using onion, tomato, cheese, or dressing in the salad if you intend it to fight heartburn.

The best dressing is a pinch of salt and some olive oil.

Garlic is one of the ingredients you should always have in your salads. It has a lot of water and is an excellent source of fiber. Plus, garlic reduces your appetite.

Bananas for heartburn

This is a good food to eat mid-morning or in the afternoon. Bananas have a pH of 5.6. This means that it’s one of the foods that’s good for acid issues. That being said, there are some people get worse heartburn when eating this fruit.

It’s just a matter of trying a banana and seeing if and how your heartburn changes.

Watermelon

Much like banana, you can also eat a watermelon when you suffer from heartburn. It’s true that watermelons are mostly made of water. However, they regulate the levels of acid in your stomach.

You can eat a slice after lunch or dinner. Then, just like with the banana, see if it works for you or not.

Fennel

This medicinal plant is great. Not only is is rich in nutrients, but is also helps your digestion. It has a smooth flavor and a crunchy texture. You can enjoy it in salads, soups, vegetable pies, or sauces.

Cut it into fine rounds. Then mix it with arugula and spinach. Dress it with olive oil and you’re ready to eat.

Chicken or turkey

White meats are a better food option than red meat to eat when you have heartburn. It’s best to have meat that’s baked or grilled. Never eat white meat fried or with skin, because these are high in fats when prepared this way.

Fish and seafood

The rule for eating seafood is the same as with chicken. Never eat it fried. Among the best options, we recommend shrimp and salmon.

Cooked vegetables

We recommend that you eat root vegetables like carrots and beets. These should always be cooked.

Rice for heartburn

Couscous, bulgur wheat, or cream of wheat can all be included in this group as well. In the case of rice, the best is whole or yamani brown rice. All of these are great to eat when you have heartburn.

For best results, have your cup of rice with cooked vegetables.