If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, you know there may be some foods that make it worse. Here are 5 foods you should avoid if you have acid reflux.
1. Tomatoes and Citrus Fruits
Tomatoes and other citrus fruits are high in nutrients, but they can also make your acid reflux worse. Reducing, or eliminating these foods can help.
They include salsa, tomato sauce, oranges, lemons, and grapefruit.
2. High-Fat Foods
Another culprit can be the high-fat foods you eat. Your lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes when you eat fatty and fried foods. When this happens, stomach acid backs up into your esophagus. High-fat foods also slow down your digestion and delay your stomach from fully emptying.
High-fat foods to eliminate or avoid are French fries, fatty cuts of meat, full-fat dairy products, ice cream, and cream sauces.
3. Onions, Garlic, and Other Spicy Foods
Unfortunately, if you like highly spiced food but have acid reflux you will need to avoid or limit these foods too. It doesn’t happen to everyone with acid reflux. But, if you think it may be a concern you should keep track of your meals in a food diary.
4. Chocolate
Additionally, chocolate may also make acid reflux worse. It contains methylxanthine, which can increase instances of reflux because it can relax the LES.
5. Caffeine
Lastly, your cup of coffee may be the reason you experience acid reflux. Caffeine is known to trigger acid reflux in many people. It can increase the amount of stomach acid you have and also lead to heartburn and other stomach upsets.
Final Thoughts
Many of these foods you should avoid if you have acid reflux triggers are food favorites. So, if you find that you can’t eliminate them, at least cut down on how much you eat.
