6 Drinks to Avoid with Heartburn

Posted: Sep 13 in Diet & Reflux by Staff

Most people have heartburn from time to time. This burning, painful feeling is experienced in the throat or chest and is caused by stomach acid that backs up into the esophagus. People who have heartburn twice a week or more are often diagnosed with Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) by their local Georgia doctor. GERD is caused by esophageal muscles that don’t close tightly, which allows the contents of your stomach to enter back into the esophagus.
The cause of heartburn is different depending on the person, although doctors have identified some common triggers, such as fried foods, pregnancy and certain drinks. In order to figure out what is causing your symptoms, it’s a good idea to keep a food diary that lists the foods you eat, your symptoms and your activities. In particular, avoid the following types of drinks in order to avoid heartburn; doing so can help you to avoid complications associated with GERD and may prevent the need for laparoscopic surgery.
1. Alcohol
The effects of alcohol on the body in relation to GERD are two-fold: the body produces more stomach acid and allows the muscles in the lower esophagus to relax. The obvious result is heartburn. If you would like to continue to enjoy a drink from time to time, dilute the alcohol with club soda or water or choose white wine over red.
2. Citrus Juices
Pineapple and orange juice both cause an increase in production of stomach acid. Other types of juice that can cause heartburn include cranberry, lemon, grapefruit and lime.
3. Carbonated Beverages
All carbonated beverages can cause heartburn due to the bubbles inherent in these types of drinks.
4. Caffeinated Drinks
Soda, tea and coffee with caffeine cause heartburn in many people. Instead, try versions without caffeine.
5. Tomato Juice
Tomato juice, such as V-8, increases the amount of stomach acid that your body produces, while also relaxing the esophageal muscles.
6. Milk
Milk is a trigger for many people, but drinking fat free milk can actually improve GERD by neutralizing stomach acid.
Water is the best thing you can drink in hopes of warding off heartburn. Water keeps the digestive system moving, which stops acid from building up in the stomach. Additionally, water doesn’t signal the stomach to produce additional acid.