Despite humorous commercials touting heartburn remedies with funny words like “plop-plop” and “fizz-fizz,” heartburn is no joke. More than 60 million Americans suffer from it at least occasionally, according to the American College of Gastroenterology.Heartburn, also known as acid indigestion, occurs when acidic stomach juices flow backward into the esophagus, irritating the esophageal lining. The resulting pain can be uncomfortable, annoying or excruciating. “It can hurt as much as a heart attack,” says Paige Hastings, a certified nurse practitioner at The Little Clinic in Nashville, Tenn.But not everyone has such pain; you could also feel a bitter or acidic taste in the back of your throat or the awful sensation of food or liquid washing back into your mouth and down the gullet.In fact, frequent heartburn (two or more times a week) and food sticking in the throat are signs of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Untreated, these problems can lead more serious problems, including strictures (narrowing or obstruction of the esophagus), ulcers, cancer and pneumonia, explains Patricia Raymond, MD, a gastroenterologist based in Virginia Beach, Va.
Swap processed foods for whole foods. Eat the apple instead of drinking juice. Cook brown rice or barley instead of yellow rice pilaf. Eat one small serving of whole grains with each meal. Enjoy a variety of at least 1.5 cups of fruits and 2.0 cups of vegetables every day. Add chickpeas, kidney beans and other beans to soups and salads. Add dried fruit to muffin and pancake batter. Sprinkle a few nuts on salads. Mix wheat germ or ground flax seed into oatmeal.
