A burning sensation in the esophagus most often occurs with gastritis with high acidity. Until 1980, one of the remedies that relieved the symptom was considered a glass of warm milk. The drink was recommended to neutralize the acidity level of gastric juice. Research and observations of people with gastrointestinal problems have helped to understand whether milk helps with heartburn.
The chemical composition of the product includes magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, and sulfur. Calcium is considered the main microelement.
Is it possible to drink milk if you have heartburn?
Analysis of the chemical structure shows why the product was considered to have a healing effect.
Chemical composition of milk:
- proteins (3.5%);
- fats (3.4%);
- milk sugar (4.6%);
- mineral salts (0.75%);
- water (87.8%).
There are about 100 biologically active substances in the nutrient fluid. The components neutralize hydrochloric acid by reacting with it. The acidity level of milk is lower than that of gastric juice. It was believed that the drink strengthens the body; the proteins in the product soothe irritated mucous membranes and relieve pain.
To understand whether you can really drink milk if you have heartburn, a study was conducted in the 1970s. After gastric lavage, ten healthy volunteers were given milk into the stomach through a tube. The patients were observed for an hour. Then the contents were pumped out, and the volume of digestive juice and acidity were measured every 5-7 minutes. Experimenters established an increased level of acidity after 3 hours from the moment milk was introduced into the body. This fact explains the discomfort in patients with stomach ulcers 2-3 hours after eating and the appearance of an unpleasant burning sensation behind the sternum and in the throat.
Periodic bouts of burning may be accompanied by nausea and acute pain in the stomach.
Further studies were carried out regarding the indicators in the composition of calcium. At the same time, they noticed: when drinking a drink with a low calcium content, the secretion of juice in the stomach does not increase, and the symptom does not appear. Positive results were observed in people who did not experience digestive problems during the experiment.
Is it possible to drink milk if you have heartburn?
The presence of heartburn and nausea after drinking milk clearly shows that this person should not consume this product. This condition occurs in people in the absence of the lactase enzyme and the body’s inability to digest lactose - “milk sugar”.
Nausea is not always caused by intolerance. If there is a frequent debilitating burning sensation behind the sternum, it is worth monitoring the body’s reaction to foods. With the help of a food diary, it is determined whether milk helps with heartburn or, conversely, the burning sensation intensifies. If stomach discomfort appears 1-1.5 hours after consumption, the product should not be consumed.
Contraindications
For some people, consuming dairy products will not only not be beneficial, but will also cause a number of complications. It is prohibited to use such products for the following pathologies:
- Diseases of the digestive glands and other gastrointestinal diseases. Milk contains fats that promote the secretion of bile - in excess, the bitter liquid penetrates into the stomach cavity. Therefore, in case of anomalies of the digestive system, it is necessary to consult a gastroenterologist.
- Lactose intolerance is the body's inability to digest milk sugar due to insufficient production or absence of the lactase enzyme.
- Individual intolerance to milk sugar.
- Toxicosis.
On a note! If you have heartburn, it is not recommended to drink unpasteurized milk - it may contain bacteria that contribute to the development of diseases of the digestive system, inflammation of the mucous layer and general intoxication.
Can milk cause heartburn and why?
To understand why milk causes heartburn, you should note the drink’s effect on acidity levels. The reasons for the appearance of unpleasant sensations lie in the process of digestion. First, relief occurs within 20-30 minutes after consumption. But after another 10-20 minutes the person begins to experience a burning sensation. Why is this happening? 50-60 minutes after milk enters the stomach, acidity begins to increase. Even more hydrochloric acid is produced, and heartburn begins.
When mixing foods, it is difficult to determine their effect on digestion. For example, after coffee with milk, a burning sensation may appear in the chest. And it’s not just dairy products that stimulate the secretion of gastric juice. Coffee, beer, and tea cause the same unpleasant symptoms. Porridge with milk must be prepared correctly, depending on the characteristics of the disease. For gastritis with high acidity, cereals are boiled in water, a small amount of milk is added at the end of cooking.
Can coffee cause heartburn?
Not all types of medicinal drink have a negative effect on the contents of the stomach. Goat milk contains a complex of vitamins and microelements that neutralizes hydrochloric acid. The process is not accompanied by painful heartburn or belching. Because of this property, the product is used for gastritis, to relieve stomach pain. The product must be consumed in a separate dose. Failure to take a fatty drink can cause heartburn and chronic constipation.
When used correctly, goat's milk will not only relieve heartburn, but will also help the body during seasonal colds and with weakened immunity.
Heartburn from other dairy products
Heartburn from dairy products is often unknowingly relieved with a sodium bicarbonate solution. Soda helps faster. The solution relieves painful symptoms. But alkali harms the gastric mucosa and provokes symptoms of flatulence. The person's condition worsens over time.
By taking soda for heartburn, you are putting yourself at risk. One of the links in the regulation of hydrochloric acid production is the level of acidity in the stomach.
By neutralizing the acid with a soda solution, you trigger the body's reaction to restore balance - the stomach should have an acidic environment, not a neutral or alkaline one. The brain perceives this as a signal and instructs the stomach to produce more hydrochloric acid. This leads to heartburn of greater intensity. Milk works on the same principle, having a slightly acidic reaction. After drinking a glass, heartburn subsides, but over time it appears again.
Before resorting to getting rid of heartburn with milk, consider the possible causes of the symptom:
- violation of diet, abuse of fatty, smoked, fried foods.
- tight clothing, squeezing belt, belt;
- habit of lying down immediately after eating;
- cold or very hot food;
- playing sports after lunch;
- binge eating;
- drinking alcohol the day before;
- diseases of the esophagus, stomach.
Milk porridges cooked with the addition of water are always included in the menu for gastrointestinal diseases. During cooking, you should not use fatty foods or overuse butter.
A number of fermented milk products can cause bile to reflux into the esophagus. These drinks include mixed fermentation products:
- kefir;
- curdled milk;
- kumiss;
- ayran;
Cottage cheese, low-fat sour cream, fermented baked milk do not provoke heartburn in a healthy person.
A complete therapeutic diet should include non-fermented fermented milk products: sour cream 15%, cottage cheese no more than 5% fat.
For diseases of the stomach and esophagus, it is advised to exclude sweets, buns, and hot bread from the diet. Dairy products are included in the diet depending on the method of their preparation and the percentage of fat content. It is necessary to choose sour cream 15%, cottage cheese no more than 5%.
Lifestyle and nutrition
Diet therapy plays an important role in treatment. Regular meals in small portions every few hours, the absence of fatty foods, preference for dietary varieties of meat and fish, and a sufficient amount of fiber in the diet can largely improve the condition of GERD.
Milk can provoke episodes of heartburn, but this does not mean that it should be completely excluded from the diet. This is done only in case of intolerance. In other cases, the main thing is:
- Do not take milk as a separate meal. Drink a small amount after meals.
- Use milk with a small percentage of fat content.
- Do not take milk in order to relieve yourself of heartburn.
In addition, sufficient physical activity and giving up bad habits: alcohol and smoking will help you maintain your health.
With early detection and proper and timely treatment, you can overcome heartburn, the main thing is to influence the cause of this condition, and not try to mask the disease.
Heartburn from condensed milk
If condensed milk causes heartburn, you should stop drinking it, or reduce your intake to 2-3 teaspoons per day. Condensed milk is fatty and sweet. The presence of additives affects the condition of the mucous membrane of the digestive organs. A high percentage of fat and sugar in the product stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid.
Real condensed milk contains normalized cow's milk and sugar. A natural product of white color with a slight creamy tint.
During pregnancy
Heartburn is a phenomenon related to changes in hormonal levels, and milk as a means of getting rid of esophagitis often works just fine. During pregnancy, the reasons for the appearance of unpleasant health may be:
- an increase in the size of the uterus, its pressure on the digestive organ;
- The production of progesterone helps to relax the gastric sphincter.
Changes during pregnancy cause juice from the stomach to enter the lower esophagus, causing the sensation of heartburn.
The method of alleviating a woman’s health using milk is the safest, even when compared with the use of medications approved during pregnancy.
Milk with the addition of a drop of fennel essential oil or honey has increased effectiveness in combating reflux during pregnancy. It is good to take it for preventive purposes, as well as for burning sensations as an additional treatment.
There are cases when expectant mothers cannot afford to drink the drink due to toxicosis, an allergic reaction to lactose, or due to intolerance to the drug.
But if a pregnant woman likes a natural product, then let her drink it for her health, since it contains a lot of calcium, which is especially necessary for building the skeleton of the unborn baby, and also helps the expectant mother keep her teeth and hair healthy.
Goat's milk can be very beneficial for pregnant women. It contains components (fats and medium chain triglycerides) that are beneficial and easily digestible.
Sometimes esophagitis may occur after childbirth. The phenomenon occurs if a woman’s body has not yet had time to adjust to its previous mode of functioning. In this situation, this phenomenon does not require treatment and goes away without external intervention.
For most pregnant women, a natural, low-fat product helps relieve reflux.
Milk has a positive effect on the body of a person suffering from heartburn. The secret lies in its moderate use. But the folk remedy is not a cure; it only helps relieve the symptoms of heartburn. Therefore, it is necessary to undergo examination and receive adequate therapy in a medical institution.
This product, loved by adults and children, cleanses internal organs of harmful toxins, saturates with calcium, and helps in the treatment of diseases of the stomach and intestines. Let's talk about how effective milk is for heartburn.
A burning sensation inside is a phenomenon that causes discomfort. A bitter sensation in the mouth, an unpleasant warmth in the chest, a feeling of overeating, and a sour taste are the main signs of heartburn. This is inconvenient. To get rid of all these signs, a person tries medications and traditional methods of treatment. It is believed that milk also helps against heartburn. From an early age, the idea of the healing properties of cow, goat, and mare's milk is strengthened in the mind. In the recipes of healers, milk is included in every potion.
- It is extremely rich in calcium and other useful microelements. Has a positive effect on the condition and functioning of skeletal bones and muscles.
- Useful microelements help cope with fatigue and balance the functioning of vital systems for humans.
- Milk helps keep fat intake and body weight under control.
- It has a good effect on the condition of the gastric mucosa and gastrointestinal tract.
- Honey in combination with the drink is considered an excellent sedative.
- Daily use of the product prevents the occurrence of heart attacks.
How to help yourself if the cause of heartburn is milk
It can be considered a myth that if you have heartburn, you can drink milk or that a glass of warm drink will relieve the burning sensation in your throat. The product only extinguishes the symptoms and eliminates heartburn for 20-25 minutes. Milk helps digestion as part of dietary cereal dishes, and taking goat's milk in combination with treatment relieves discomfort.
If a person develops heartburn after eating familiar foods (including milk) and constantly accompanies it, this is a symptom of trouble in the gastrointestinal tract. It is necessary to contact a gastroenterologist and be examined. What to do next and how to treat the identified disease will be determined by the results of the examination.
