As the muggy dog days of summer approach, don’t let summertime heartburn trigger foods ruin your fun. Many summer favorite treats can cause those of us who suffer from acid reflux or chronic heartburn to be miserable. Below is a list of some common heartburn-causing foods. I will explain why these foods cause heartburn and also recommend some delicious alternatives.
1. Lemonade
This classic summer beverage is made with an acidic citrus fruit which can easily trigger acid reflux. A better alternative is ice water with just a twist of lemon. The smaller amount of lemon will be less likely to trigger heartburn but will still be very refreshing.
2. Cheeseburgers
Nothing says summer like a char grilled cheeseburger. Unfortunately, regular hamburger as well as cheeses are high is fat, a known heartburn trigger. Other triggers include raw onions, tomatoes and high fat mayo and ketchup. A better burger can be made from extra very lean ground beef. Leave off the cheese, and use a smaller amount of the toppings that might trigger heartburn.
3. Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are often high in fat. Add typical toppings like chili, ketchup and mustard and you have a recipe for heartburn. A better dog is made from lean beef or turkey. Use a very small amount of ketchup, mustard and onions.
4. Corn on the cob
My favorite treat during the summer is fresh corn on the cob. Unfortunately, butter is often a heartburn trigger. Try boiled or grilled corn, with a very small amount of butter. Some people like it without any better at all.
5. Iced coffee
A delicious summer treat is iced coffee. However coffee has a high amount of caffeine which can trigger heartburn. Alternatives would be decaffeinated iced coffee or iced tea instead.
6. BBQ Ribs
There really is nothing better on a hot August day than a slab of baby back ribs and an ear or fresh sweet corn. The problem is that ribs are very high in fat and BBQ sauce often contains heartburn triggers such as tomato sauce, spicy peppers and liquid smoke. A better alternative is boneless skinless chicken breasts with a light amount of mild BBQ sauce.
7. Ice cream
What says summer more than ice cream? The trouble is that regular ice cream, especially the premium varieties are loaded with fat. In addition, some flavors such as chocolate can also be triggers for heartburn. A better alternative would be fat free frozen yogurt. Be sure to choose flavor varieties that are not acid reflux triggers.
8 Baked Beans
Another old time favorite is baked beans. Basically Navy beans doctored up with brown sugar, molasses, tomato sauce and spices. Every recipe is a little different but they all contain acid reflux triggers. A better alternative would be a delicious black bean salad.