That burning feeling in your chest after a meal can make eating uncomfortable. Acid reflux happens when stomach contents flow back into the oesophagus, causing symptoms such as heartburn and regurgitation. When this happens repeatedly, it may develop into gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Food is not the only cause of reflux, but certain foods and drinks can trigger or worsen symptoms. The problem is that there is no single list that works for everyone.
What causes severe symptoms for one person may not bother another. Still, some foods and drinks are commonly linked with reflux symptoms and are worth cutting back on when they trigger your symptoms.
In this article, Tribune Online highlights the foods and drinks to watch if you are trying to control acid reflux through your diet.
Spicy foods
Pepper and very spicy meals can make reflux symptoms worse for some people. If you regularly experience burning or regurgitation after eating spicy food, reduce the amount of pepper and other hot spices in your meals.
You do not necessarily have to remove every spice from your diet. Just simply identify the spices that trigger your symptoms and limit them.
Fatty and greasy foods
Fried and high-fat meals can be a problem for people with reflux. Foods such as fried meat, fatty cuts of meat, chips and other greasy meals may worsen symptoms in some people. High-fat foods are among the foods commonly associated with GERD symptoms.
Instead of completely avoiding every source of fat, reduce very fatty and heavily fried meals, particularly when they repeatedly cause symptoms.
Tomatoes and tomato-based foods
Tomatoes are acidic and are commonly associated with reflux symptoms. Tomato stew, tomato-based sauces and other meals containing a large amount of tomato may cause problems for some people.
If you notice heartburn after eating tomato-based meals, reduce the amount you use and see whether your symptoms improve.
Citrus fruits and their juices
Oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits and their juices can trigger symptoms in some people.
Their acidity may irritate an already sensitive oesophagus and make heartburn more noticeable. If citrus consistently causes burning or regurgitation, reduce your intake rather than forcing yourself to continue eating it.
Coffee and other caffeinated drinks
Coffee is another common reflux trigger. Some people notice symptoms after drinking coffee, while others can tolerate it without a problem. Other caffeinated drinks may also cause symptoms in some people.
If you notice a clear connection between caffeine and your reflux, try reducing your intake and monitor whether your symptoms improve.
Chocolate
Chocolate is another food commonly linked with reflux symptoms. If chocolate repeatedly causes heartburn, reducing or avoiding it may help you control your symptoms. However, you do not need to remove chocolate simply because you have reflux if it does not trigger symptoms for you.
Alcohol
Alcohol can contribute to reflux symptoms and is commonly included among foods and drinks that people with GERD may be advised to avoid. If alcohol makes your symptoms worse, avoiding it may reduce those episodes.
