List of 7 Acid Reflux Foods to Avoid

1. Chocolate – Chocolate has 2 of the known risk factors for acid reflux, caffeine and high fat. It also has other stimulants that increase the risk making it one of the most important acid reflux foods to avoid. While dark chocolate is less risk than normal milk chocolate, there is still a risk when eating it.
2. Soda – Soda and other carbonated beverages contains carbonation that bubbles up in the stomach. The increased pressure causes the stomach acid to rise, which leads to a higher risk of acid reflux. Almost all sodas are also acidic which increases the risk, and most are caffeinated.
3. Fried Food – Fried foods are one the most recognized causes of acid reflux. The high fat content in fried foods are what land them on the increased risk list.
4. Alcohol – Alcohol is said to relax the bottom of valve of the esophagus which leads to a high risk of acid reflux. Some alcohol drinks have carbonated beverages mixed in which increases their risk factor.
5. High Fat Dairy Products – The high fat content of cheeses and butters make them one of the acid reflux foods to avoid. All foods with high fat content increase the risk of acid reflux, and cheeses and butters are no different.
6. High Fat Meats – The same with the cheeses and butters, high fat meats have the high fat content that make them a high risk. They also stay longer in the stomach and increase the pressure in your stomach which make them one of the acid reflux foods to avoid.
7. Foods with Caffeine – This was already discussed with chocolate, but any food that contains caffeine, or any drink that contains caffeine will increase your risk of getting acid reflux.

Now that you have this quick list of acid reflux foods to avoid, you can steer clear of these foods and keep your acid reflux at bay.

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

• Heartburn — a burning pain or discomfort that may move from your stomach to your abdomen or chest, or even up into your throat
• Regurgitation — a sour or bitter-tasting acid backing up into your throat or mouth

Other, less common symptoms of acid reflux disease include:

• Bloating
• Bloody or black stools or bloody vomiting
• Burping
• Dysphagia — a narrowing of your esophagus, which creates the sensation of food being stuck in your throat
• Hiccups that don’t let up
• Nausea
• Weight loss for no known reason
• Wheezing, dry cough, hoarseness, or chronic sore throat