Acidity and heartburn: these dietary changes can help

Jan 14, 2021 14:59 IST

Acid reflux is a far too common issue that we experience from time to time. It happens when stomach acids travel from the food pipe to the mouth. Heartburn, not associated with the heart at all is, in fact, a symptom of acid reflux. It is the burning sensation in the abdomen or the chest. People often turn to commercial medications, such as omeprazole, for relief. However, there are a number of lifestyle changes that can offer you long term relief from the tricky problems of acid reflux: Acid reflux usually occurs after you have a meal and a large meal only makes it worse. Try avoiding large meals and cut down on your portion sizes. Replace larger meals with a higher number of smaller meals during the course of the day. How you eat and when you eat could trigger heartburn. Make sure you finish your meal at least two hours before bedtime. Eat slowly, relishing each bite to the fullest. High-fat foods, onions, tomatoes, citrus fruits and caffeine are commonly blamed to be a trigger for acid reflux in some people. Make a list of the food items you’ve consumed that caused you heartburn to keep track of your trigger points. Experts believe a majority of patients with acid reflux avoid drinking citrus juice, as it can be a major cause of acidity. You may not believe it but tight clothes tend to worsen the problem, increasing the pressure on the abdomen. Therefore, if you’re a victim of acid reflux and often complain of heartburn, try to opt for loose clothes and see if that does the trick for you. If the problem persists even after you’ve tried all of this, it would be best to see a doctor.