Does Mustard Get Rid Of Heartburn

In this brief article, we will answer the question, “does mustard get rid of heartburn?” and discuss the relationship between mustard and heartburn as well as foods that can cause heartburn and habits that can relieve symptoms of heartburn.

Does mustard get rid of heartburn?

It is possible that mustard can help get rid of heartburn. However, this depends on the person and the quality of the mustard, that is, its ingredients, because mustard seeds can also cause increased acid secretion and worsen the symptoms of reflux (1).

On the other hand, mustard contains turmeric, which has a protective effect on the gastrointestinal tract due to the presence of anti-inflammatory compounds (2). 

What is the relationship between mustard and heartburn?

The relationship between mustard and heartburn depends, as mentioned above, on the ingredients present in the composition of the mustard, as well as the individual reaction after the consumption of mustard.

However, mustard itself has a negative effect on heartburn and can aggravate the symptoms, as it stimulates the secretion of bile acid in the stomach (3) and the symptoms of heartburn are associated with a higher bile acid production in patients suffering from GERD (5).

Studies showed that many spices, such as pepper, fenugreek, cumin, ginger and mustard  induce the secretion of bile acid in the stomach and accelerate digestion and improve the breakdown of fats. 

On the other hand, the increase in the bile acids in the stomach and the presence of bile acid in the esophagus causes heartburn, chest pain and other symptoms related to gastroesophageal reflux disease. 

What is the relationship between turmeric and heartburn?

The relationship between mustard and heartburn is the possible relieving effects of turmeric on acid reflux disease, as well as other gastrointestinal diseases, such as ulcer, dyspepsia and irritable bowel disease (5).

Turmeric has been shown to improve the secretion of gastrin, secretin, and bicarbonate, which are substances that reduce the pH of the stomach. In addition, it possesses anti-inflammatory properties that protects the mucosa on the gastric tract.

Many studies showed the improvement in the symptoms related to heartburn, and other gastrointestinal discomforts by the regular consumption of turmeric. 

What are the benefits of mustard?

Mustard is reported to have many benefits due to its composition. Mustard is rich in vitamins, such as vitamin C and carotenoids, minerals, such as calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium and especially in polyphenols, such as coumaric, ferulic, vanillic and caffeic acids (4).

The seed contains 28–32% lipids, 13-18% carbohydrates and 28–36% protein in the composition, being a source of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and amino acids (2). 

Some health benefits of mustard include (2,3,4):

  • improves digestion and stimulate salivary secretion
  • helps in the digestion of fats due to the improved secretion of bile acid
  • helps in the relieve of vomiting
  • reduces the risk of some types of cancer, due to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties of the bioactive compounds found in the mustard, especially glucosinolates and their degradation products
  • it is effective against many pathogenic bacteria
  • helps preventing diabetes and hyperglycemia 

How can you reduce the symptoms of heartburn?

There are some dietary and lifestyle modifications in life which can reduce the symptoms of heartburn. The risks of heartburn are increased in the cases of alcohol consumption and high fat diet. In addition, obese and pregnant individuals may experience heartburns with an increased incidence. 

Some examples of dietary habits that can help reduce the symptoms are following (8): 

  • eat smaller meals, and more often
  • avoid ingesting liquids during the meals
  • ingest liquids between the meals
  • avoid foods containing too much fat 
  • reduce the consumption of coffee, chocolate, acid fruits, such as tomato and citric fruits, spicy foods and carbonated beverages
  • avoid going to bed right after dinner or before 3 hours after eating
  • avoid or reduce smoking

Conclusion

In this brief article, we answered the question, “does mustard get rid of heartburn?” and discussed the relationship between mustard and heartburn as well as foods that can cause heartburn and habits that can relieve symptoms of heartburn.

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References

1.-

Thavorn, K., Mamdani, M.M. & Straus, S.E. Efficacy of turmeric in the treatment of digestive disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. Syst Rev, 2014, 3, 71. 

2.-

 Sharif, R. H., et al. Physicochemical characters of oilseeds from selected mustard genotypes. J Banglad Agri Univ, 2017, 15, 27-40. 

3.-

Platel, Kalpana, and K. Srinivasan. Digestive stimulant action of spices: a myth or reality?. Indian J Med Res, 2004, 119, 167.

4.-

Tian, Yan, and Fangming Deng. Phytochemistry and biological activity of mustard (Brassica juncea): a review. CyTA-J Food, 2020, 18, 704-718.

6.-

MacFarlane B. Management of gastroesophageal reflux disease in adults: a pharmacist’s perspective. Integr Pharm Res Pract, 2018, 5, 41-52.