Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a digestive disorder characterized by the backward flow of stomach acid into the esophagus. Certain foods can trigger or worsen acid reflux symptoms, including heartburn and indigestion.
Common food triggers of acid reflux include fried and fatty foods, citrus fruits, caffeine, alcohol, garlic, spicy foods, tomato-based foods, chocolate, peppermint, and carbonated beverages. These foods can relax the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus, or they can irritate the esophagus directly. Eating large meals and lying down after eating can also make symptoms worse.
If you suffer from acid reflux, it’s important to identify and avoid your food triggers. Some people find that keeping a food diary helps them to identify which foods trigger their symptoms. You may also want to consider cutting back on portion sizes and eating several smaller meals throughout the day, instead of three large meals.
Additionally, you may want to try certain lifestyle changes and home remedies to reduce symptoms. These include avoiding lying down after eating, elevating the head of your bed, wearing loose-fitting clothing, quitting smoking, avoiding stress, and avoiding certain food and drinks such as alcohol, caffeine, and carbonated beverages.