Is Cabbage Good For
Heartburn?
Consuming certain kinds of foods causes heartburn whilst
certain other foods act as cures or preventives against the disease. Heartburn is defined as the condition caused
due to acid reflux or backing up of stomach acids into the esophagus, largely as the result of certain food or
beverage consumption. It is believed that consumption of certain foods causes the lower esophageal sphincter to
relax and remain open, which in turn leads to the backing of stomach acids into the esophagus. In order to protect
yourself from such problems, it is important to both avoid heartburn triggering foods whilst including those that
help prevent such conditions.
Overview
Cabbage has always been considered as a gas producing food,
leading to bloating and belching in many people. However, despite this fact, cabbage has always been considered as
the perfect remedy for heartburn. Interestingly, it is important to note that the cabbage family includes green and
red cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. The high level of vitamins and fiber in cabbage is the
reason why it is perfect for digestion. Additionally, this is the reason why it helps prevent heartburn in many
cases.
Common triggers that
cause heartburn
Given that heartburn is caused by acid reflux, it is obvious
that food and drinks are the common triggers of this disease. These include foods like chocolate, mint, caffeine,
alcohol, spicy food, fatty food, citrus fruits and juices, tomato, pepper, carbonated drinks etc. However, it is
also important to remember that consumption of certain foods is not the only reason why you suffer from heartburn.
Lack of exercise, heavy drinking, smoking, stress, anxiety, obesity, eating heavy meals, lying down or exercising
immediately after meals and certain health disorders etc also give rise to heartburn in most
people.
How does cabbage prevent
heartburn?
It is important to note that cabbage, when eaten fresh or
lightly steamed or cooked, is a great way to prevent heartburn. When eaten raw or lightly cooked without any
additives, especially fatty additives, cabbage retains most of its vitamins and fiber. Being rich in both, cabbage
is actually a great aid for digestion, which in turn ensures that you do not suffer from heartburn or acid reflux.
However, when you cook cabbage or add other additives to it, it could cause problems.
The best way to have
cabbage when suffering from heartburn
When you overcook cabbage or use it in combination with other
foods, including spices, it could lead to heartburn as well as bloating or gas problems. This is largely because
cabbage loses its nutritional value when you overcook it. Similarly, certain foods when cooked together with
cabbage are the reason for heartburn. So, when cooking cabbage, make sure that you do not include any ingredient
that will cause heartburn. These include foods like heavy cream sauces, butter, spices, corned beef etc. Similarly,
when cabbage soup causes heartburn, it is important to remember that the spices in the soup are causing the problem
and not the cabbage. Therefore, it’s best to avoid fatty additives with cabbage, including butter, cream or oil as
they may lead to heartburn instead of preventing it.
Other factors to avoid
when suffering from heartburn
Whilst including cabbage in your diet in the prescribed form
will definitely help you control your heartburn, it is not enough. People suffering from heartburn or acid reflux
should ideally avoid all foods that trigger such responses in them. In addition, they should ensure that they eat
small meals more times in a day. Similarly, they should never sleep or exercise immediately after eating food;
rather, they should ensure a proper gap between the two activities. Heavy meals should be avoided at all times,
more specifically at night. Stressful activities, tension etc should be controlled through other measures as these
are common triggers of heartburn.
Treatment of
heartburn
It is important to note that avoiding certain foods and
including certain others is not enough for treating heartburn. Medicines, either prescribed by a physician or those
that are available over-the-counter, should be included as part of your regime to help overcome this problem. It is
important to note that where the heartburn is mild, over-the-counter medications as well as home remedies are
excellent but where it is severe, it is often advisable to visit a doctor and get proper medications as
prescribed.
So, if you are suffering from heartburn, make sure you include
cabbage in the prescribed form in your diet whilst also discussing other preventive and treatment measures with
your physician.
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