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Mint Makes Heartburn Worse

Q. Several years ago I was experiencing serious heartburn. I had always enjoyed chewing mint gum, and as the symptoms got worse I chewed more and more. I thought that chewing gum was helping the problem.

When I went in to see the doctor, I was shocked to learn the mint was making things worse. I went “cold turkey” on mint and my symptoms disappeared completely in less than two months. I hope you can let people know that mint can contribute to this common problem.

A. Heartburn is caused by acid from the stomach splashing up into the esophagus. Normally, a ring of muscle (the lower esophageal sphincter) keeps acid where it belongs. When the muscle relaxes, it can lead to acid reflux.

Mint, chocolate, alcohol, tobacco, fatty food and prescription drugs such as Valium (diazepam), progesterone and nitroglycerin can all relax the sphincter. Avoiding such triggers can help control heartburn.

Although mint is problematic, chewing gum actually can help heartburn symptoms. It stimulates saliva, which can help wash acid back down into the stomach.

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About the Author
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. His best-selling book, The People’s Pharmacy, was published in 1976 and led to a syndicated newspaper column, syndicated public radio show and web site. In 2006, Long Island University awarded him an honorary doctorate as “one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.”.
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