Acid reflux: 10 foods to eat less of this Christmas if you want to avoid symptoms

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Acid reflux can trigger a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including heartburn, which feels like a burning sensation in the middle of your chest, and an unpleasant sour taste in your mouth, caused my stomach acid.

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  • Heartburn warning – the BEST Christmas foods to prevent acid reflux

Bring overweight, smoking or pregnancy can trigger acid reflux, but one of the main causes is certain food and drink.

While Christmas is a time of indulgence, if you want to avoid symptoms of acid reflux ruining the festive period there are certain Christmas foods you should try to keep off your plate.

A survey conducted by Ethicon, part of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Company, revealed the top ten Christmas foods and drinks that trigger acid reflux.

These are:

  1. Alcoholic drinks 46 percent
  2. Spicy crisps and dips 31 percent
  3. Mince pie 21 percent
  4. Christmas pudding 15 percent
  5. Chocolate 14 percent
  6. Pigs in blanket 10 percent
  7. Pork stuffing 10 percent
  8. Brandy sauce 10 percent
  9. Roast potatoes 7 percent
  10. Gravy 5 percent

Heartburn and acid reflux treatment

Simple lifestyle changes ca help stop or reduce the symptoms of acid reflux.

The NHS recommends the following:

  • Eat smaller, more frequent meals
  • Raise one end of your bed 10 to 20cm by putting something under your bed or mattress – make it so your chest and head are above the level of your waist, so stomach acid does not travel up towards your throat
  • Try to lose weight if you’re overweight
  • Try to find ways to relax

Certain things should be avoided:

  • Do not have food or drink that triggers your symptoms
  • Do not eat within three or four hours before bed
  • Do not wear clothes that are tight around your waist
  • Do not smoke
  • Do not drink too much alcohol
  • Do not stop taking any prescribed medicine without speaking to a doctor first

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  • Heartburn: Seven remedies to help get rid of the burning sensation

The health body adds your local pharmacist can help with heartburn and acid reflux.

It says: “Speak to a pharmacist for advice if you keep getting heartburn. They can recommend medicines called antacids that can help ease your symptoms.

“It’s best to take these with food or soon after eating, as this is when you’re most likely to get heartburn. They may also work for longer if taken with food.”

But you should see a GP if lifestyle changes and pharmacy medicines are not helping.

Also see your doctor if you have heartburn most days for three weeks or more, or you have other symptoms, like food getting stuck in your throat, frequently being sick or losing weight for no reason.

A GP can provide stronger treatments or eel out any more serious causes.

Prescription medication which may be recommended includes omeprazole, lansoprazole and ranitidine.

In severe cases, tests may need to be carried out to find out what’s causing symptoms, such as a gastroscopy.

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