11 Doctor Approved Ways to Avoid Holiday Heartburn

Even if you’re not a foodie most people look forward to indulging in the culinary delights of holiday time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. This  means that even people who are typically disciplined eat too much in one evening, eat rapidly, imbibe amounts of alcohol they are unaccustomed to, and consume foods that may not be part of their regular diet because ’tis the season. While nobody likes a medical grinch, there are ways to have gastronomic fun without paying the price with holiday heartburn. Dr. Niket Sonpal, an internist and gastroenterologist at Touro College of Medicine, shares his tips for having your holiday cake and eating it too.

Heartburn happens when stomach acid flows backward into the esophagus. It can also go by two names: GER (gastroesophageal reflux) or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). GER is also known as acid indigestion, happening only once in a while. GERD is chronic heartburn that can lead to esophageal cancer if left untreated.

TIPS FOR AVOIDING HOLIDAY HEARTBURN

1. Eat light turkey, not dark

High-fat food can spell trouble if you’re prone to heartburn, so do yourself a favor and skip the skin when it comes to turkey time. Your best bet is to eat turkey breast and avoid the oilier dark meat. The same goes for gravy. If it’s not fat-free, it may be smarter to skip this dish.

2. Choose baked, not mashed

If you have chronic heartburn, you don’t have to give up your favorite foods. You just have to choose wisely to save yourself some pain later on. For example, mashed potatoes can trigger heartburn, but baked potatoes may not. When it comes to dairy products, the less fat the better.  Limit butter and avoid sour cream.

3. Choose multigrain rolls or bread

When choosing grain-based food for the holiday, you will not go wrong with multigrain bread or rolls. Cornbread and white bread are good choices too, if you want to avoid heartburn.

One side dish that should be strictly for the kids, however, is macaroni and cheese. This is one of those dishes known to trigger acid reflux, according to the National Heartburn Alliance.

4. Select a salad

Salads are good news for those with chronic heartburn or GERD, if you have the right salad dressing and ingredients, that is. High-fat creamy salad dressings, as well as oil and vinegar, are a known trigger for acid reflux. Your best bet is a low-fat salad dressing, and avoid tomatoes, raw onions, and other acid-aggravating ingredients. (Want fruit in your salad? Choose apples, not oranges, if you want to avoid heartburn.)

5. Avoid foods that cause heartburn

People who suffer from heartburn often know the trigger foods that cause symptoms. Common foods include chocolates, caffeine and greasy foods. These foods relax the lower esophagus sphincter muscle, when this muscle is relaxed, the food will go back up and cause heartburn. Other foods that can trigger heartburn include acidic foods such as citrus fruits or carbonated beverages. This means avoid Champagne!

6. Skip Mint Desserts

Candy canes and chocolate mint desserts are best left for others. These dangerous holiday delectables are notorious for irritating acid reflux reactions.

7. Eat more ginger

Ginger is one ingredient that can help ease heartburn if you don’t get too much of it. (More than 2 to 4 grams per day can actually cause heartburn.)

Ginger is a natural match for root vegetable dishes commonly served during the holidays. Heartburn-friendly vegetables include carrots, cabbage, peas, broccoli, and green beans

8. Linger Over Your Food

Take the time to eat slowly and enjoy your food. Rushing through your meal or chewing with your mouth open can increase your chances of indigestion or heartburn. Linger over your food and allow yourself to feel full by giving your food time to digest.

9. Limit Alcoholic Beverages

Have to have that holiday egg nog? Limit it to one glass. This festive beverage can do double the damage. Not only does it contain alcohol that irritates your stomach but it contains the added dose of dairy that can cause bloating and gas.

10. Cut yourself off

After-hours holiday parties can keep you snacking all night, but eating too close to bedtime can make acid reflux worse. Stop eating and drinking (water included) three hours before bedtime.

11. Ditch the post-meal nap

Sleeping right after eating can increase GERD symptoms. Instead of falling asleep, try going for a walk.

Dr. Niket Sonpal is a native of Long Island NY and a graduate of Medical University of Silesia “Hope Medical Institute in Poland. He is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and Clinical instructor at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn. Dr. Sonpal is also on the board of the NYC American College Of Physicians (NYACP), and AAP NYC METRO as the MSRF liaison. He has recently become a board member for NYCMS (New York County Medical Society).