Is your heartburn triggered by exercise
Posted: May 12 in Lifestyle & Behavior by Staff
Does aerobic exercise burn your muscles and your stomach? If your cardio routine triggers heartburn, you may have a weak or relaxed lower esophageal sphincter (LES) that’s allowing food or stomach acid to flow back up into your esophagus. Find out how you can avoid heartburn without giving up your fitness.
3 Ways to Avoid Exercise Heartburn
- Eat something soothing before you work out. You may need to experiment a little to find out what foods trigger your heartburn (and should be avoided before exercising) and which foods can actually comfort your stomach. Some popular stomach soothers include bananas, yogurt, whole-grain cereal, and toast.
- Exercise on an empty stomach. While some people may be able to have a snack 30 minutes before a workout, you may find that waiting two to three hours gives your stomach enough time to empty and helps you avoid heartburn. Waiting to work out may also help you get more from your exercise, since some experts say that working out on an empty stomach causes your body to burn more fat.
- Try a new workout. You may find that certain types of exercise are more likely to cause heartburn than others. If running leads to acid reflux, consider hiking or riding a bike. If you do yoga, you may want to avoid inverted poses like Downward Dog. As with all potential heartburn triggers, the key is to figure out what works best for your body.