Heartburn doesn't have to be on the menu

HOUSTON, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- It's not the turkey, dressing, green beans or sweet potatoes that cause post-Thanksgiving heartburn, it's the high-fat items, a U.S. expert says.

Dr. Gilchy Ergun, a gastroenterologist at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, explains that heartburn is mainly caused by the consumption of fatty and acidic foods. Some experience an acid or burning taste in their throat and some feel like food is coming up -- especially when bending over or lying down.

"When a person eats fatty or acidic foods, two things happen. One, it takes longer for the stomach to empty, and two it releases a hormone that causes the sphincter, the barrier between the stomach and the esophagus, to drop," Ergun says in a statement.

Ergun said eating fatty foods in moderation, or not at all, can prevent holiday heartburn, but other ways to help prevent the condition are:

-- Take an over-the-counter antacid such as Zantac or Pepcid before the meal.

-- Avoid alcohol and cigarettes, mint products, chocolate, cranberry sauce, relish, tomato sauce, ketchup, pepper, mustard and vinegar.

-- Avoid carbonated beverages and fruit juices.

-- Skip pecan pie, which is high in fat, in favor of apple or pumpkin pie.