Worst things to eat with acid reflux

Home » 5 Worst Foods For Acid Reflux

Table of Contents Show

1. Fatty Foods
2. Tomatoes
4. Carbonated Beverages
5. Citrus Fruits
3. Tomatoes
4. Spicy Foods
7. Fried Foods
8. Chocolate
What Can Cause GERD Symptoms?
4 Foods That Help reduce Acid Reflux Symptoms
GERD Treatment in Nashville
What foods are worst for acid reflux?
What should you eat when you have acid reflux?

It is estimated that 63 million Americans suffer from acid reflux disease, and if you are one of the affected, you know that acid reflux is a serious matter. There’s nothing worse than enjoying a plate of food and then shortly after you finish eating, there’s a burning feeling backing up into your esophagus. Some of the foods you are eating might be the cause of this, as some foods can worsen acid reflux symptoms by decreasing the tone of the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach. This prolongs the amount of time that food spends sitting in the stomach, which can cause the stomach to produce excess gastric acid, the chemical that is responsible for breaking down food. There are also some foods that cause the stomach to produce too much acid, so if you are one of the estimated 63 million that suffers from acid reflux, you might want to eliminate these 5 common trigger foods from your diet.

1. Fatty Foods

Fatty foods will spend more time hanging out in your stomach, as they are digested slowly; this gives gastric acid more opportunity to work its way up into your esophagus. In addition, high fat, low-nutrient foods can cause weight gain in some individuals; research published in the Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics shows that obesity can cause esophageal dysfunctions that are linked to acid reflux symptoms. So if you are going to enjoy a fat-loaded meal, make sure it’s a small one and make sure you are eating it at least a few hours before bed; if you lay down shortly after eating a fatty meal, you risk suffering from acid reflux in the middle of the night.

2. Tomatoes

Tomatoes and tomato products are packed with malic and citric acid, both which can make the stomach produce too much gastric acid. Tomatoes can make your gastric acid levels rise high enough to make it force back up the esophagus. Cooking tomatoes won’t reduce the acidity enough to prevent acid reflux either, so next time you are making pizza sauce, trying whipping up some fresh pesto instead, and try to limit (or eliminate) tomatoes from your diet.

3. Onions

Onions is another food that should be eliminated, as there is a clear link between them and acid reflux; when you eat onions they stimulate gastric acid due to it prolonging the amount of time food sits in the stomach, so it will exacerbate heartburn and belching. Cooking onions might help some with acid reflux symptoms, but it might not be enough to stop excessive acid from forming, so instead try eating green onions and milder shallots as a replacement.

4. Carbonated Beverages

While one every once in a while may not trigger symptoms, carbonated beverages should be limited or avoided if possible. The gas that is released from carbonated beverages only increases gastric pressure, as the bubbles push on your stomach; this will stretch your stomach and will force the esophageal sphincter open. In addition to the bubbles, many carbonated drinks contain caffeine, which can trigger acid reflux in some people as it is highly acidic.

5. Citrus Fruits

Eliminating or cutting back on citrus fruits are a must if you want relief from acid reflux, as oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and other citrus fruits are acidic and can exacerbate acid reflux symptoms due to their low PH content. If you are really craving something juicy and sweet, reach for pineapple instead; pineapple even contains the digestive enzyme bromelain, which can help digestion by helping break down protein. However, start off small at first with pineapple, as it does contain some potentially reflux-inducing citric acid.

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Everyone needs to eat, but for people who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eating the wrong thing can have painful consequences. If you’re just starting to experience GERD symptoms and you’re not sure what’s causing your symptoms, here’s a list of eight foods that are making your GERD symptoms worse.

1. Dairy

Milk and dairy products are high in fat and tend to make heartburn worse. When you have frequent GERD symptoms, like heartburn, eating high-fat dairy products like cheese can aggravate your symptoms.

Furthermore, cold dairy products like ice cream can actually numb and inhibit the lower esophageal sphincter’s function. As a result, stomach acid can backwash up into the esophagus much easier.

2. Citrus

Lemons, oranges and limes are all foods that can make your GERD symptoms worse. Grapefruit is another food you might want to avoid in order to manage your symptoms.

Why Does Citrus Give Me Heartburn?

Because citrus fruits contain high amounts of citric acid, they cause your stomach to produce more stomach acid. As a result, your stomach is more full and the chances for reflux increase. You may not experience heartburn every time you eat citrus fruits, but if you enjoy a glass of orange juice every day, you might want to moderate your citrus intake if you notice a connection between your symptoms.

3. Tomatoes

These red, ripe fruits grow quickly and are a staple in many foods. Their umami or savory flavor makes many favorite foods tasty. Pasta with marinara sauce, pizza, lasagna, stew and more benefit from tomatoes. They’re also nutritious, packing antioxidants, vitamin C, and potassium.

However, tomatoes are also highly acidic. Just like citrus, the acids in tomatoes will increase your stomach’s acid levels.

4. Spicy Foods

Chili peppers, hot sauce, paprika, salsa, wasabi, and other spicy additives make food delicious. However, spicy foods contain a substance called capsaicin which gives them their spice. Capsaicin also causes a burning sensation on the mucous membranes in the digestive tract and increases stomach acid production

5. Coffee

An almost essential part of everyone’s day, the caffeine in coffee helps many people get their day started and maintain their energy throughout the day. However, the caffeine in coffee also impairs the contractions of the LES. A cup of coffee a day may not be enough to cause problems. However, the answer may be in how much caffeine you’re taking in.

If you drink coffee with high caffeine content and have recurring heartburn, try decreasing the amount of caffeine you drink.

6. Soda

There are two factors from soda and soft drinks that aggravate acid reflux symptoms. One, just like coffee, is caffeine content. The second is carbonation.

Energy drinks, cola and even some citrus sodas all have caffeine. If you drink multiple caffeinated sugary drinks per day, the greater the chances are that your LES will have a hard time functioning properly. The carbonation from sodas inflates the stomach while also increasing its internal pressure. Combining the increase of pressure and the relaxant effect of caffeine on the LES, reflux becomes more likely.

7. Fried Foods

Naturally, these foods are high in saturated fats which take much longer to break down in the stomach. Fatty fried foods also slow down the digestion process. In order to break down these complex fats, your stomach will produce more acid. As a result, your stomach will become more full and increase the likelihood of reflux.

8. Chocolate

Like coffee, chocolate contains some amounts of caffeine, which relaxes the LES. Additionally, cocoa powder is another acidic substance that can increase stomach acid. Chocolate also releases serotonin when eaten. Serotonin is a mood-regulating hormone that calms stress. However, serotonin can also cause the LES to relax and increases the likelihood of acid reflux.

What Can Cause GERD Symptoms?

As you might have noticed the common factor through most of the above foods is how they make symptoms worse. Most cause a combination of either relaxing the LES, increasing stomach acid production or keeping the stomach full for too long. The above foods are not the only foods and drinks that can aggravate GERD symptoms. Additional items include the following:

→ Alcohol
→ Mints
→ Nitrates
→ Processed Foods
→ Pain relievers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen and aspirin
→ Antibiotics

Other medications such as alpha-blockers and calcium channel blockers can also make symptoms worse. If you suspect that one of your medications is the reason for your GERD symptoms, talk to your doctor before stopping your medication.

4 Foods That Help reduce Acid Reflux Symptoms

There are plenty of foods that can nullify or even just help you manage your GERD symptoms. Keep in mind that eating these foods is not a permanent cure. However, these foods will help you reduce your symptoms and prevent them from getting worse.

The first thing to note about foods that make GERD worse is their high-fat content, their relaxant properties, and their difficulty to digest. Once you know this, consider the foods that might be the opposite.

1. Vegetables

Low in calories, low in fat and low in sugar, vegetables are an excellent source of key nutrients. Additionally, vegetables have a high satiating factor, meaning they will leave you full and satisfied after a big meal without regrets. Vegetables are also easy to digest, which reduces the risk of a flare-up.

2. Oatmeal

A high-fiber food that can be flavored with any mix-ins, oatmeal is a good choice for any diet. Fiber promotes healthy digestion and reduces acid reflux as a result. Oatmeal, as a whole grain, also provides healthy energy levels throughout the day.

3. Ginger

This spicy root actually helps soothe upset stomachs and reduce inflammation. For most people, ginger is too strong to be eaten raw. Brewing ginger tea, drinking ginger ale, or adding ginger to a salad can help you manage painful reflux symptoms.

4. Healthy Fats

Saturated and processed fats take much longer to digest. On the flip side, your body does need healthy fats that can be found in tree nuts, avocados, olive oil and flaxseed.

GERD Treatment in Nashville

If you need treatment for acid reflux and GERD in Middle Tennessee, the surgeons and doctors at The Surgical Clinics can help. We want you to know that surgery is the last resort when treating GERD. Many cases can be adequately treated with medications that reduce stomach acid production and help the esophagus heal.

However, if these approaches do not work, we can perform surgery that strengthens the LES with either implants or surgical modification. With our access to advanced surgical techniques and resources, we also offer groundbreaking GERD treatments that many patients have benefited from.

Contact the Surgical Clinic to schedule your GERD consultation today.

What foods are worst for acid reflux?

Foods That May Cause Heartburn.

Fried food..

Fast food..

Pizza..

Potato chips and other processed snacks..

Chili powder and pepper (white, black, cayenne).

Fatty meats such as bacon and sausage..

Cheese..

What should you eat when you have acid reflux?

Lettuce, celery and sweet peppers – These mild green veggies are easy on the stomach – and won't cause painful gas. Brown rice – This complex carbohydrate is mild and filling – just don't serve it fried. Melons – Watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew are all low-acid fruits that are among the best foods for acid reflux.