Avoiding Heartburn Over the Holidays

There always seem to be a lot more fatty and sugary foods around the holidays than are good for you, and for some, they can lead to heartburn troubles.  According to a news article on "Avoiding Holiday Heartburn," foods full of fat and sugar can "trigger acid reflux because they weaken the esophageal sphincter. This muscle at the end of the esophagus acts as a one-way valve to the stomach. Normally, this muscle relaxes when you swallow to let food enter your stomach. It closes to prevent stomach acid from reentering the esophagus."  In addition, foods full of fat tend to sit in the stomach longer, which can contribute to acid reflux.

The answer is to simply eat in moderation and avoiding filling yourself to a level of discomfort.  Also make substitutions for fatty foods when possible (let veggies take up a large portion of your plate, with stuffing, fatty meats, butter, and calorie-laden sides being kept to small servings).  Just take a single small slice of pumpkin pie instead of 1/4 of the pie.  If you're having turkey, choose the light meat (very low in fat) over the dark meat.  Skip the second servings (you can always eat a small meal of leftovers later if you are hungry then).  And just because this is a holiday doesn't mean you shouldn't get some exercise.  A half hour walk after dinner can help food digest and stave off heartburn symptoms.

Comments

[David Lippert]

I found I suddenly had a lot of heartburn after drinking Dunkin Donut coffee that is way too hot. I did nome research, and the tissue in the valve at the top of the stomach has no pain sensors. It is scalded just as your finger would be if exposed to liquids that are too hot. I took me four months avoiding drinking scalding liquids before I could sleep lying down. Avoid heartburn, do not burn your stomach valve.

[Pat James]

My daughter gets acid reflux quite severely. After a glass of wine and an Easter meal that was larger than normal she ended up in severe distress. The extras are not worth the pain.