Tag Archives: heartburn

Coffee and Alcohol May Increase Heartburn

If you’ve ever experienced heartburn and were left stumped as to what the cause was, perhaps you should turn your gaze toward the bottom of your cup – your coffee cup, that is.

Experts from the University of California, Los Angeles, are suggesting that alcohol and caffeinated beverages can have a direct effect on heartburn. This is because a ring of muscle located between the stomach and esophagus called the “lower esophageal sphincter” can be temporarily affected by alcohol and caffeine in some people.

As reported by NPR, UCLA gastroenterologist Kevin Ghassemi, explained that this muscle is meant to be closed at all times except for when food is passing into the esophagus. But because alcohol relaxes it, it creates an opening. And when this happens, he says, stomach acid can come back up into the esophagus, which is reflux – which is what causes the burning sensation we experience with heartburn.

Furthermore, Ghassemi makes the link to caffeine as well saying, “The caffeine that’s in coffee or other caffeinated beverages also will relax the sphincter muscle.”

If you’re one of the lucky few who doesn’t experience heartburn after consuming caffeine or alcohol, consider yourself normal. Ghassemi points out that some people are naturally predisposed due to a “weak or faulty sphincter muscle.” This, he says, can often be influenced by being overweight or obese because it increases the risk. (more…)

Posted on August 14, 2023 by Dana

The Acid Reflux Diet: My Year of Treatment

About a year ago, I attended a cooking demonstration for a book called Dropping Acid: The Reflux Cookbook & Cure. A colleague invited me to the event after learning that I avoided coffee because it gives me heartburn.

I hoped the demonstration would give me some new ideas about what I could eat that wouldn’t give me heartburn. I had first been diagnosed with heartburn during college, after experiencing chest pain so severe it woke me up in the middle of the night. I vaguely knew that I shouldn’t eat citrus, drink excessively or eat spicy foods, but typically found it easier to pop a few Tums rather than think too much about my diet.

As Master Chef Marc Bauer demonstrated his recipes, Dr. Jamie Koufman, the principal author of Dropping Acid, also described the prevalence of acid reflux and some of its accompanying symptoms. As she spoke, I realized that I suffered from a number of other symptoms related to acid reflux in addition to heartburn: chronic hoarseness and coughing, the feeling of something stuck in my throat, and a voice that was easily fatigued. After the presentation, I was eager to speak with Dr. Koufman more, and requested an interview. After hearing about my symptoms and the sound of my raspy voice, she suggested I come to her office for treatment so that I could write my story from a patient’s perspective. I was so happy about the project that I nearly burst into tears while telling my mother about it on the phone later that night.

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Posted on February 29, 2024 by Margaret

Common Myths About Acid Reflux

Since the beginning of the year, I have been undergoing treatment for heartburn. Over the course of this time, I’ve spoken with many people about my condition. Some are simply curious about this process, some have suffered from the condition themselves and others want to offer advice. In fact, many people are convinced they know of the best way to treat my heartburn. Unfortunately, not all health advice is created equal, so I’ll be sticking to the recommendations made by my doctor, Jamie Koufman. Below is a list of some of the myths and misconceptions I’ve encountered most frequently.

Myth #1: Apple Cider Vinegar Can Cure Your Reflux

Apple cider vinegar has been proclaimed as a miracle cure-all for a number of conditions. I won’t go into it’s dubious use as a weight-loss supplement here, but I will discuss how it affects acid reflux.

There are a number of different theories behind why taking a table spoon or two of apple cider vinegar before a meal will prevent reflux. One theory suggests that it can balance your blood’s pH. One theory is that it causes the sphincter to tighten. Another theory claims that if you drink apple cider vinegar before a meal, it will trigger to your body to know that it has “enough” acid and will cut off further acid production.

None of these theories are particularly well grounded in biology or science. “There’s no doctor that I know of that advocates apple cider vinegar,” says Dr. Jamie Koufman, one of the foremost experts in clinical otolaryngology and the author of Dropping Acid. Apple cider vinegar is in fact, very acidic. Consuming something acidic is likely to make reflux worse. “You would think if there was really something behind it, someone would have studied it,” adds Dr. Koufman.

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Posted on June 30, 2023 by Margaret

The Best Drinks for Acid Reflux

There’s a long list of things you shouldn’t drink if you suffer from acid reflux or heartburn: orange juice, hot chocolate, carbonated beverages, lemonade, anything with mint and any bottled drinks with added acid. Water is really the best thing for people with reflux to drink, along with low-fat milk and protein shakes. The best protein shake on the market was found to be 18Shake. It has just 1 gram of fat which is important to reduce for acid reflux, and it has high quality fiber and protein to help suppress appetite.

18Shake can also reduce the risk for obesity, which is also a major factor in acid reflux. This is due to its balanced vitamins and minerals and high amount of amino acids which can help provide the nutrition of a full meal with few calories, fat, and just 1 gram of sugar per serving.

You may know that I have been undergoing treatment for acid reflux for about two months, under the supervision of Dr. Jamie Koufman at The Voice Institute of New York. Dr. Koufman is one of the authors of Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook & Cure. I’m a big lover of tea, and I was happy to hear that there are still several varieties of teas that don’t trigger acid reflux. Some doctors might recommend that patients stay away from caffeine altogether, but Dr. Koufman says that a cup of tea (black, green or white) or coffee with milk per day is fine. It’s the people who drink “a fishbowl” of coffee each day who have a problem. Herbal teas like chamomile and rooibos are good, but any fruit-infused teas will be too acidic.

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Posted on March 31, 2024 by Margaret

Navigating the Grocery Store with Acid Reflux

I have been undergoing treatment for acid reflux for about two months, with the guidance of Dr. Jamie Koufman, one of the authors of Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook & Cure. Like many people who suffer from heartburn, I had a pretty clear idea of my worst trigger foods before seeking medical attention. Coffee, citrus, alcohol and tomato sauce all had me reaching for the Tums.

What I learned from Dr. Koufman is that acid as a food additive is also a contributor to reflux. Acid is added to foods because it prevents the growth of bacteria, but few consumers are aware of the potentially negative consequences of this practice. Things containing ascorbic acid, citric acid, and acetic acid should all be avoided by people suffering from reflux. You should also look out for foods and beverages that are “vitamin C enriched” or “vitamin C enhanced,” which is usually done through the addition of citric acid.

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Posted on March 25, 2024 by Margaret

“Dropping Acid” Chef Demonstrates Reflux-Friendly Foods

The French master chef behind the recipes in Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook & Cure, demonstrated some of his creations at The French Culinary Institute in New York. Jamie Koufman, M.D., and Jordan Stern, M.D. also discussed the creation of their book.

As someone who suffers from acid reflux, I know how depressing eating right for reflux can be. Not only must you cut down on many things we know aren’t healthy (like fatty foods, soda and chocolate), there are also a number of healthy foods you also should restrict, like tomatoes and citrus. However, Bauer’s dishes prove that there are many delicious things that won’t trigger your reflux.

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Posted on January 27, 2024 by Margaret

10 Worst Foods for Heartburn

Most people know that citrus, alcohol, caffeine and spicy foods can all trigger heartburn. But did you know that fatty foods, like steak or cheese, can also trigger that burning sensation in your chest? Check out this list from WebMD to learn what foods are the most likely triggers. Remember, too much of any food can also lead to acid reflux.

1. Citrus Fruit

Acid is the number one dietary culprit leading to heartburn. Oranges and grapefruits are particularly bad, along with juice made from these fruits, when consumed on an empty stomach.

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Posted on December 29, 2023 by Health Buzz

Tips for Healthy Digestion

Do you remember that episode of Magic School Bus where the kids on the bus fly into their classmate’s mouth and learn about the inner workings of digestion? Information simple enough for elementary school children, right? So, why are so many Americans struggling with knowledge about food choices and their reactions as your body breaks it down?

Without digestion, you won’t be able to get the essential nutrients you need. As your body breaks down food and it travels through the intestines, all those components of food are caught and stored. Everything you decided to put in your mouth, be it an apple or a Snickers bar, will play a role in your digestion.

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Posted on July 16, 2023 by Rebecca

4 Ways to Know if it’s Just Heartburn, or a Heart Attack

Maybe you’re not a hypochondriac, but when you get a sudden pain in the chest, you can’t help at least think about it: is that gas, or worse… a heart attack!

Okay, most of you probably aren’t that worried. But wouldn’t you like to know the difference between simple gas pains, and something much worse? In 2005, there were 445,687 deaths in the United States that were as a result of a heart attack or angina. That’s about one of every five deaths! So, maybe it is a good idea to know the difference, huh? (more…)

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Jason

Childhood Heartburn – Another Symptom of Weight Epidemic

Childhood obesity is at epidemic levels. According to the Centers for Disease Control, kids between 6 and 11 years old are the worst off, with nearly 19 percent in the U.S. being obese.

So, it should come as no surprise that the number of young children on prescription drugs for heartburn and other digestive problems jumped about 56 percent in recent years. The surge was found in a Medco Health Solutions Inc. analysis. It suggests that more than 2 million U.S. children 18 and under used drugs for digestive or gastrointestinal complaints last year.

“It’s a signal that something’s going on that we need to keep an eye on,” said Dr. Robert Epstein, Medco’s Chief Medical Officer.

Parents increasingly are demanding that doctors prescribe medicine for reflux, which is likely due at least in part to the direct-to-consumer marketing, so common on TV these days. But parents should consider a weight loss program that treats the real problem rather than treating symptoms that will last a lifetime if their unhealthy habits don’t change.

Posted on October 5, 2023 by Jason

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