Avoid These Foods To Keep Acid Reflux At Bay

1. Avoid These Foods To Keep Acid Reflux At Bay Here is a list of foods that trigger acid reflux: Tangy Citrus Fruits Avoid orange juice, grape fruit, sweet lime and other citrus fruits if you suffer from acid reflux. As these fruits are very acidic in nature they are likely to cause severe heart burn especially when consumed on empty stomach. Tomatoes They are full of nutrients like Vitamin C, lycopene, etc, but tomatoes are also highly acidic. Those who are prone to heartburn, tomatoes can trigger the condition in them. Garlic and Onion Some people who suffer from frequent bouts of heartburn cannot tolerate garlic or onion. Although, the problem may be limited to some people only. While some people may find the problem aggravated by certain foods, others may be able to digest them well. Spicy Foods Spicy food is usually considered a major cause of heart burn. Any food that is full of pepper and other spices can trigger heartburn. It is better to avoid such food, but one can still continue to enjoy such food by including milder version. Have the food minus pepper and lesser amount of other spices. Peppermint There is a wrong notion among people that peppermint soothes the stomach, but in reality it triggers heartburn. Peppermint is helpful in freshening up your breath, but if you are prone to heartburn, just avoid it. Don’t have peppermint especially after a heavy spicy meal because it relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Consequently, the acids formed in the stomach flow up to the esophagus. Cheese, Nuts, Avocadoes These foods may not top the list of acidic foods, but still they can be major triggers of heartburn. Rich in fat, these foods cause a lot of uneasiness when consumed by people who suffer from acid reflux. Fat rich foods delay the emptying process of the stomach and the stomach gets enlarged and remains that way for a longer period of time. This exerts pressure on the esophageal sphincter allowing the acid to flow to the food pipe.

2. Alcohol You can be in for heartburn when you combine beer, wine or cocktails with a large meal comprising of items like cheese, steak, creamed spinach, etc. Red wine alone may not be a cause of any problem on its own, but when you eat it along pasta with tomato sauce; you can feel the symptoms of heartburn. You can make it even worse, if you have a glass of orange juice or any other citrus fruit the next morning. This happens because alcohol also loosens the sphincter allowing acid reflux. Chocolate Chocolate is a bigger culprit than any other food. It contains caffeine and stimulants like the obromine which are known to trigger reflux. It is also rich in fat and cocoa, all responsible for causing acid reflux. Even though dark chocolate is considered better than milk chocolates that are high in fat content, consuming any tye of chocolate can multiply your chances of getting reflux. With the above list you have a fair idea of what foods to avoid for acid reflux. However, there can be more additions to this list as different foods have different effects. It would be better if you make a list of food items that seem to cause heartburn in your case and avoid them to handle the problem better.