Twenty to thirty percent of the adult population regularly suffer from symptoms related to acid reflux. If it’s a condition you’ve suffered from, you know the pain all too well. When that fiery sensation strikes, or you feel like you’re on the verge of spewing your guts everywhere, you’re reminded of all the foods you’ve eaten over the past few days and instantly regret your choices.
The good news is that heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms are avoidable, by either eliminating or simply cutting down on some of these fifteen heartburn trigger foods. We know it will be difficult to cut out favorites like chocolate, cheese, or coffee, but if you find yourself awake in the middle of the night—nearly paralyzed in agony with severe heartburn, it might be time to give these trigger foods the boot.
5. Alcohol
The good news is that heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms are avoidable, by either eliminating or simply cutting down on some of these fifteen heartburn trigger foods. We know it will be difficult to cut out favorites like chocolate, cheese, or coffee, but if you find yourself awake in the middle of the night—nearly paralyzed in agony with severe heartburn, it might be time to give these trigger foods the boot.
5. Alcohol
Everyone loves a drink every now and then, but people who suffer from recurring acid reflux should be cautious. Red wine and beer are especially likely to cause heartburn, as is drinking excessively or with a large meal.
4. Spicy Food
4. Spicy Food
Believe it or not, some people say eating spicy food actually soothes their heartburn. Still, eating too many spicy foods is one of the most common reasons people get heartburn. That’s because spicy foods tend to affect the acid levels in your stomach, which can lead to acid reflux and severe heartburn, as well as digestion issues.
3. Tomatoes
3. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a remarkably healthy fruit, but they’re also remarkably high in acid. Avoiding them isn’t as easy as you might think: pasta sauce, ketchup, salsa, or even canned tomato varieties can trigger a severe reaction.
2. Oranges
2. Oranges
Think twice before having that glass of orange juice for breakfast, it could give you heartburn later in the day. Oranges and other citrus fruits like lemons and limes are high in acid content. If you suffer from acid reflux, try high-alkaline fruits like berries, apples, pears, melons, and bananas.
1. Chocolate
1. Chocolate
Sorry, chocoholics, this isn’t easy for us either. Chocolate is a heartburn triple threat: it’s high in fat, contains caffeine, and is a natural relaxant that can over-relax the esophageal sphincter if eaten in excess.
