Health and Fitness

Heartburn also called reflux oesophagitis is a discomfort or pain caused by regurgitated stomach contents travelling from the stomach up into the guller(lower part of your oesophagous).

Soothing foods in heartburn:

• Lean meats, fish, poultry and skin lactose products are protein rich and they stimulate the esophagus valve (in particular the gullet).
• Soluble fiber found in cereals, bread and brown rice helps to prevent constipation and releases tension in the colon without pressing on the stomach.
• Bananas and cabbage juice help to reduce gastric acid. Cabbage juice is prepared by processing 3 cabbage leaves in a blender with 2 cups of water. Drink 2 or 3 times during the day.

Foods to avoid

• Fried foods, fatty meats, sweets, chocolate, butter, alcohol, margarine and cream because they weaken the esophagus valve.
• Coffee, tea and soft drinks because they are high in caffeine and produce more gastric acids.
• It is also not recommended to use mint tea as a therapeutic infusion.

During pregnancy avoid weight gain and eating too much. Drink water between and not during meals, because it dilutes gastric secretion.