There are many things that can cause acid reflux, and finding the actual cause for each individual can be difficult. Most people think only spicy foods lead to acid reflux, but in fact there are many things that lead to acid reflux.
These are common causes of acid reflux disease:
- Being overweight or obese
- Eating large meals or lying down right after a meal
- Eating a heavy meal and lying on your back or bending over at the waist
- Being pregnant
- Snacking close to bedtime
- Smoking
- Taking aspirin, ibuprofen, certain muscle relaxers, or blood pressure medications
- Drinking certain beverages, such as alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, or tea
- Eating certain foods, such as citrus, tomato, chocolate, mint, garlic, onions, or spicy or fatty foods
Foods that Cause Acid Reflux
Like mentioned above, another one of the causes of acid reflux can be the food you eat. Here are some foods that can cause acid reflux:
- Spicy foods, such as those containing chili or curry
- Alcohol
- Carbonated beverages
- Coffee or tea (regular or decaffeinated)
- Chocolate
- Fatty or fried foods
- Citrus fruits, such as oranges or lemons
- Foods containing tomato, such as spaghetti sauce, salsa, or pizza
- Garlic and onions
- Mint
