So, um, does a high sodium diet lead to heartburn?

[WindRavenX]

Just askin' coz I think I realized why I fucking hate ramen.

[KurtNYC]

1. I think heartburn is usually one of two things

1) meat and starch eaten together, or
2) too much food in one meal

Salt is acidic but I don't think it plays into heartburn.

[eardoc]

6. sorry, but salt is not acidic

Salt (NaCl) dissolves in water to Na+ and Cl-. Neither of these ions affect H+ (acid) or HCO3- (the bicarbonate buffer in your body). A solution of salt in water is neutral pH, not acidic.

I agree with you the salt is not causing indigestion.

[eardoc]

2. No, but high carbs do

I used to have indigestion all the time, until I started Atkins (low carb). I now only get indigestion if I eat carbs. Its a good motivation to stick with a low carb diet.
Try this - if you have indigestion forget the antacids, they make it worse. Eat a slice of luncheon meat and dring some water. Instead of digeting your stomach, the acid/pepsin works on the meat.

[tuvor]

5. I was gonna say Welcome to DU, eardoc.

But you've been a member about twice as long as me!

Regardless, :hi:

[eardoc]

7. Thanks tuvor, I'm a sorta quiet dude, till I'm pissed off.

[mcscajun]

3. I'd have expected you to get a headache rather than heartburn.

But anyway... TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Much sodium in packaged Ramen soups. You should be drinking about 2 quarts of water afterwards, based on thirst alone. :(

[tuvor]

4. When I'm low-carbing it, I almost never have heartburn.

My guess is the starch.

[WindRavenX]

8. thanks for the info, sounds like the startch

Because usually when I can afford to eat well, it's low carb and lots and lots of fruit.
Not til I get my paycheck. For 3 weeks, it's been ramen and rice and beans.
I feel like ass.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

9. Eat smaller portions, and,

stay upright for at least half an hour after eating.

Go for a walk after you eat. You'll be all right.

But, if you're wheat-intolerant (more common than you might think), that ramen stuff will kill you. It's fried first - did you know that? - and then dried. Loaded with bad stuff. Try throwing in some vegetables with it, use less of the powdered shit that passes as "soup base," and use wine vinegar as a seasoning. You might like it a lot, and I guarantee you - no heartburn.

[WindRavenX]

10. Im not eating big portions

I eat very little, actually.

[sir_captain]

11. Salt doesn't cause heartburn

Heartburn is just acid reflux... and the sodium certainly doesn't increase the acidity of your stomach. On the contrary, it ought to contribute to the alkaline balance in there. Do you have any tums or anything like that? A little milk might help too...