Heartburn triggers

Heartburn is an extremely uncomfortable experience that affects thousands of people across Australia on a daily basis.

Also known as acid reflux, heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest that occurs as a result of stomach acid rising up into the oesophagus.

Heartburn symptoms can also range from burning in the chest to a sour acidic taste in the back of throat and is often triggered by foods many of us eat on a daily basis.

Here are some of the most common heartburn triggers and the things you could try replacing them with if you think these might be a trigger for you.

HEARTBURN TRIGGER: SPICY FOOD

Replacement: Even though spicy foods can be a popular choice for a lot of us, it can be a big problem if you suffer from heartburn.

While many people enjoy the sensation of heat given off by spicy foods such as curries and spices like cayenne, nutmeg and cinnamon, there is no need to make your food bland.

Try replacing the spices in your food with herbs like basil, oregano, thyme and ginger that still infuse your cooking with plenty of flavour but don’t have the same propensity for inducing heartburn as spicy food.

HEARTBURN TRIGGER: CITRUS FRUITS AND JUICES

Replacement: Citrus fruits and juice are also amongst the most common causes of heartburn.

Lemons, oranges and tomatoes are highly acidic, while many soft drinks also contain citric acid to help give them their tart flavour.

Replacing acidic drinks with plain water or a heavily diluted squash may not only help you avoid heartburn but your dentist will also thank you!

Meanwhile, fruits such as berries, apples, pears and bananas are less acidic than citrus fruits and can be a great replacement.

HEARTBURN TRIGGER: GARLIC AND ONIONS

Replacement: For many wannabe gourmet chefs the thought of cooking without garlic or onions is completely incomprehensible – and thankfully you don’t need to give them up at all.

Dehydrated versions of both garlic and onion are both widely available and provide a comparable taste to their fresh counterparts, without the acidity that can trigger a bout of heartburn.

HEARTBURN TRIGGER: FRIED FOODS

Replacement: Fried food is a common heartburn trigger due to the high levels of fat.

Thankfully, fried food is also one of the easiest to replace in the diet.

There are plenty of simple and healthier ways to prepare your food - baking, grilling, poaching or roasting are less likely to give you heartburn so, next time you reach for the frying pan, think about alternate ways of cooking your food.

Foods that contain a high level of fat can slow the emptying of the stomach, increasing the chance of heartburn (acid reflux). The alternative option is to indulge in foods that are baked, grilled, poached or roasted instead.

Of course, if you do get heartburn, then Rennie is on hand to help. Rennie is a fast-acting, effective remedy for heartburn and indigestion. When heartburn hits, Rennie quickly gets to work to relieve painful symptoms.

Rennie’s antacid-based calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate formula works fast, neutralising excess stomach acid, turning it into water and other natural substances to help keep your tummy happy.

Rennie gets to work directly on the cause of the problem - the acid in your stomach and acts physically rather than by entering the bloodstream.