Can Sugar Cause Heartburn?

Anyone, at some point in their lives may experience heartburn. It is a very common symptom to hose people who suffer from acid reflux, leaving a very uncomfortable and burning feeling that rises inside the chest, spreading throughout, towards the throat. Sometimes, the body’s immediate reaction to the pain, such as bending forward or lying down, only aggravates the condition.   

The answer to this question will not only help identify the cause but also suggest ways to entirely avoid heartburn from recurring. Although the symptom, as what it’s called, suggests certain heart disorders, this is very far from the truth.

Heartburn does not have anything to do with cardiovascular diseases, so there’s no need to worry too much. However, if left untreated, it may develop into a very serious condition called GERD or Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease.  

Heartburn is one of the symptoms of acid reflux. This happens when acids in the stomach or some of its content flow back up into the esophagus, causing excruciating pain. The lower esophageal sphincter, which blocks the entry of acids, weakens, resulting in the reflux of gastric acids.

There are a lot of factors, both internal and external, which can also cause acid reflux such as the food we eat. A list of food coming from the health experts proved to be leading causes of heartburn including those high in fat and sugar content. 

What You Need to Know About Sugar 

Sugar is one of the many natural products that provide the body with more than sufficient amounts of energy. Some of you might noticed that drinking a can of cola or eating a bar of chocolates, is an effective way of keeping your entire system alert and awake. However, every one of us knows the fact that too much sugar is not very healthy.

The body may be able to take so much energy from sugar, but all the excess will be turned into cholesterol if unused, to keep the blood sugar regulated. Sugar is also proven to be high in calories. For every teaspoon, there is an equivalent 20k calories, which is why minimal intake of sugar is advised. 

Sugar and Heartburn 

Chocolates which are high in sugar and fat are one of the leading products that trigger heartburn. Sugar is a main ingredient in many other products such as soft drinks and energy drinks. These carbonated drinks irritate the stomach lining and may worsen an already existing acid reflux. The body’s initial response would be to counter the irregularities by producing antacids within the blood.

This reaction will lower the calcium levels, directly affecting the bones. The sugar contained in carbonated drinks will enter the blood stream, causing the pancreas to get overworked as it produces insulin, and in turn, lower the testosterone in the blood. This will later on yield even more negative conditions such as hormonal imbalance. 

A common misconception in methods of avoiding high sugar intake is resorting to artificial sweeteners. These products can be very deceiving to the taste and can lead to worse disorders in the body. Many of you may not know of this but artificial sweeteners have ingredients which can damage vital organs in the long run. These products can also interfere with the body’s normal metabolism. 

The best treatment for sugar-caused heartburn is not to totally avoid sugar but lessen the amounts of intake. Choose some alternatives such as honey, molasses and stevia to replace in your everyday diet. Sweetness is a taste which almost all people crave for, so avoiding it will be extremely difficult. But, you should keep in mind that too much of the good stuff can actually be bad, so discipline is very important in achieving a healthy lifestyle.