The right choice of foods and drinks, sparing nutrition are the easiest ways to avoid burning behind the sternum. A patient who has been prescribed a diet for heartburn by a doctor should follow all recommendations. Expert advice applies not only to determining the set of dishes, but also to the methods of culinary processing, the basic principles of cooking and eating food.
Material Content:
General nutrition
If the lower sphincter of the stomach does not cope with its functions, then acid is thrown into the esophagus (gastroesophageal reflux). There is burning pain in the upper abdomen and behind the sternum, discomfort in the throat due to acidic or bitter belching. Heartburn more often occurs with increased acidity of the stomach. It affects the appearance and abuse of certain foods and dishes.
The habit of “extinguishing a fire” in the esophagus with soda or other antacids is temporary help. It is necessary to get rid of the conditions for the appearance of discomfort.
Causes of heartburn:
- diseases (reflux esophagitis, esophageal sphincter spasm, gastritis, etc.);
- abuse of alcohol, coffee, strong tea;
- decreased tone of the esophagus sphincter;
- tight belt, tight clothing;
- food intolerance;
- dry food, in a hurry;
- weight lifting;
- overweight;
- pregnancy;
- smoking;
- stress.
With digestive disorders and some diseases of the digestive tract, heartburn appears day and night, combined with belching, bloating. Aggressive contents that enter the esophagus cause irritation and inflammation. In these cases, treatment with adsorbents, prokinetics, H2 antihistamines, proton pump inhibitors will be required.
Proper nutrition for heartburn eliminates the need for medication or reduces medication.
Chew food thoroughly. Well-ground food, abundantly moistened with saliva, irritates the esophagus less, is digested faster and leaves the stomach.
Other rules:
- Reduce the consumption of fats that slow down digestion in the stomach, alcohol and chocolate, causing a decrease in the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter.
- For heartburn and gastritis with high acidity, use fresh fruit and vegetable juices diluted with water.
- Drink more milk (in the absence of intolerance), which helps fight heartburn and lose weight.
- Eat a balanced diet rich in protein and fiber.
- Avoid overeating, stimulating the production of excess acid.
- Replace sweet carbonated drinks with herbal teas and fruit drinks.
- Reduce the consumption of coffee, fresh bread, strong tea.
- You can’t eat up at night, eat at night.
You should adhere to the basic rule - do not eat too much at a time.
After a hearty meal, more acid is produced to digest food. When the stomach is full, pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter increases, and reflux occurs.
Allowed foods for heartburn
Dishes should be chosen with knowledge of their composition and method of preparation. Certain foods and cooking methods are considered more sparing for the stomach. For example, a popular dish for treating heartburn and gastritis is oatmeal or cereal, soaked overnight, boiled until thick after draining water.
Food and drinks that do not cause or increase burning in the esophagus
| Meat and fish | Low-fat varieties of fish, poultry, meat. |
| Flour and cereal | White bread (not fresh), wholemeal pasta, white and brown rice, oatmeal, couscous. |
| Dairy | Skim milk and dairy products. |
| Cheeses | Feta, goat, creamy. |
| Vegetables | Zucchini, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, spinach, potatoes (baked and in jacket). |
| Fruits | Banana, grape, mango, pear, melon, strawberry, apple. |
| Oils | Olive, rapeseed, flaxseed. |
| Spices | Ground ginger, dried onions, parsley, coriander, tarragon, basil, thyme, dill. |
| Beverages | Mineral water without gas, apple juice, unsweetened tea. |
Fully or partially restricted products
Everyone should find out for themselves what food causes heartburn. You can enjoy fresh white bread, relax in the afternoon, and not suffer from the consequences of your habits. After some time, even after one cup of sweet tea with jam, heartburn occurs. In order not to get into this situation, you need to avoid certain dishes or reduce their use to a minimum.
Heartburn Food and Beverage
| Meat and fish | Fatty meats, ground beef, chicken nuggets and fried wings, sausages and smoked meats, bacon. |
| Flour and cereal | Fresh and toasted bread, pasta with cheese sauce. |
| Vegetable | Mashed potatoes, french fries, raw onions, sauerkraut, tomato salad, potato chips. |
| Fruits and juices from them | Raspberries, orange, grapefruit, mandarin, lemon. |
| Dairy | Sour cream, fat cottage cheese, milkshake, ice cream. |
| Sauces | Fatty mayonnaise, salad dressing with vinegar and oil. |
| Spices and spices | Peppers: chili, red, black and white; mustard, curry, fresh garlic. |
| Sweet | Chocolate, sweets, waffles, shortbread cookies, cakes, cake with cream. |
| Beverages | Alcohol, soda. |
Features of a diet during pregnancy
Heartburn usually affects in the second and last trimesters. A change in the level of hormones in pregnant women leads to a decrease in the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter. The uterus gradually increases and puts pressure on the stomach.
The combination of several factors is the cause of persistent heartburn in the second half of pregnancy.
You should adhere to certain rules in food:
- Eat more often during the day, avoid excesses during main meals.
- It’s not too late to dine, 2 hours should elapse between the last meal and sleep.
- Instead of soda, drink juices, weak tea, water.
- Choose fresh low-fat foods.
- Eat slowly, chew thoroughly.
Products that should be removed from the diet during pregnancy
| List | Causes |
|---|---|
| Spicy foods, sweets, chocolate, sugar, nuts (except almonds) | Promotes acid formation in the stomach |
| Carbonated drinks, red and white wine, apples, citrus fruits | High in acid |
| French fries, chips, mayonnaise, fatty meat products and sausages | High in fat |
| Legumes (beans, peas), onions, white and red cabbage, corn | Hard to digest |
A pregnant woman can eat a banana to stimulate the production of mucus that protects the esophagus and stomach. It’s good to chew almonds, raw carrots, and drink milk from heartburn. Oatmeal or cracker made from white bread helps to reduce the acidity of the stomach contents.
Menu for a week with high acidity
In the diet must be fresh and stewed vegetables, cereals, dairy products, fruits. Of the drinks, bifidoc, kefir, and green tea are preferable.
Sample menu for the week
| Breakfast | Snack | Dinner | High tea | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Oatmeal with banana and nuts, green tea | Milk with cracker | Chicken breast soup, vegetable stew, carrot juice | Tea with biscuit cookies | Steamed fish pasta, compote |
| 2 day | Buckwheat pancakes, compote | Yogurt | Oatmeal soup, steam meatballs, carrot puree, dried fruit compote | Banana | Jacket potatoes, low-fat cottage cheese with sour cream |
| 3 day | Soft-boiled egg, dried bread, herbal tea | Baked apple | Milk soup, steamed chicken, compote | Bifidoc | Rice casserole, boiled vegetables, jelly |
| 4 day | Steam omelet with parsley, tea | Kissel with cookies | Rice soup, boiled veal with mashed vegetables, compote | Pear | Boiled potatoes, rosehip tea |
| 5 day | Cheesecakes, herbal tea | Galette cookies with milk | Barley soup, minced chicken meat, boiled rice, juice | Baked apple | Cheese pasta, kissel |
| 6 day | Low-fat cottage cheese and sour cream, tea | Cookies, yogurt | Vegetable soup, fish cakes, compote | Fruit Cupcake | Rice porridge with vegetables, kissel |
| 7 day | Semolina pudding, jam-watered tea | Tea with sushi | Cream of zucchini soup, fish baked in foil with carrots and herbs, compote | Low-fat cottage cheese with jam | Dumplings with potatoes, jelly |
Heartburn is an unpleasant sensation, but it is not an independent disease. Painful heartburn is accompanied by gastritis, peptic ulcer.
Burning behind the sternum in the absence of pathologies of the esophagus and stomach occurs rarely, quickly passes.
With an irregular appearance of burning pain in the esophagus, it is enough to adhere to a diet. It is important to avoid foods saturated with fats and carbohydrates, alcohol. You should give preference to foods rich in easily digestible proteins. If heartburn occurs several times a week or daily, then you should consult a gastroenterologist.
