23 Foods That Cause Heartburn, Acid Reflux, Indigestion, Gas

Heartburn, or acid reflux, is characterized by a considerable burning sensation in the stomach and esophagus region. The good news is that heartburn is largely avoidable if you steer clear of the top foods that cause acid reflux, heartburn, indigestion, gas, and bloating in adults. From coffee and liquor to tomatoes and grapefruits, here is what you need to know about heartburn triggers.

I. Foods That Cause Acid Reflux, Heartburn, Indigestion, Gas And Bloating In Adults

1.    Citrus Fruits

It is said that citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruits, orange juice, and tangerines are big heartburn culprits. Especially, your breakfast orange juice can be giving you heartburn later in the day. Citrus foods are high in acidic qualities, which make them likely to cause symptoms of heartburn, particularly in an entire empty stomach.

If you still love drinking orange juice, try to get them in as early in the day as possible like in the morning, then you can take advantage of a low-acid orange juice. This will reduce the risk of acid reflux because a lot of people experience it in bed or while lounging.

2.    Tomatoes

The second one in the list of foods that cause acid reflux, heartburn, indigestion, gas and bloating in adults is tomato. Yes, tomatoes are great for the human health as they are packed with healthy nutrients such as vitamin C and lycopene. However, these tasty red fruits are as acidic as their citrus cousins and might lead to the condition of chest pain afterward. Tomatoes, both fresh and canned, can upset your stomach when you digest them. Thus, be careful of tomatoes used in cooking. Consuming a tasty pasta sauce can haunt you later in the night. Besides, you should also consider such condiments which are high in tomatoes and acid, like salsa and ketchup.

Want to know ways to cure heartburn at home? Check out the useful guide here.

3.    Garlic And Onions

Obviously, garlic and onion are used in most dishes in order to make them taste better. A large number of people consider garlic as a healthy food and eat it when their stomach upset. Yet, according to some studies, these foods also trigger the risk of heartburn. Thus, try eliminating garlic as well as onion from your current diet and replace them with different herbs to flavor your dishes.

See: nutrition advice for a healthy alkaline diet plan that can help you get better health naturally.

4.      Pepper And Salt

A lot of people see the symptoms of heartburn after consuming spicy foods. They may react with chili, yet they may forget that pepper can also be a trigger. Pepper could be rather spicy but people tend to ignore it as a simple spice. In other words, salt could also be a big trigger for acid flux or heartburn. Many studies pointed out that those people who eat such diets which are high in salt tend to have the higher risk of developing heartburn than those who do not. Therefore, it is better for your stomach to cut down the sodium intake in your diet and watch your spice amounts.

5.      Butter

foods that cause heartburn - butter

The majority of us know that fatty foods could be culprits of heartburn, how you process your foods could also play an important role in this problem. Frying in oil and butter may add unwanted calories as well as fat to your daily meals. Instead, you should choose a nonstick pan and make use of a touch of cooking spray. Steaming or grilling should be considered if you do want to develop heartburn. Abolish butter and sprinkle some herbs for flavor.

6.      Peppermint

This is another trigger of heartburn, especially if you have just eaten garlic, then reaching an after-dinner mint in the purse just makes your risk of heartburn increased.
In fact, many people believe that peppermint can soothe the upset stomach, but actually, peppermint might cause heartburn symptoms as it relaxes the sphincter, which is the muscle between the esophagus and the stomach. This will let those stomach acids flow freely back into the esophagus.

 If you want to find the replacement for mint, then you should consider ginger as it is an all-natural nausea decreasing foods. Drinking ginger tea before going to bed will lessen the chance of overnight heartburn effectively.
7.      Candies

Sugar included in candies can be the worst culprit of acid reflux, particularly in those who had heartburn. So, you had better avoid the foods included sugar. Though natural sugar could be good, you still need to listen carefully to your body’s voice. Candy includes vitamin C for flavor and the preservative qualities. That could make the candy so acidic, leading to heartburn risk.

8.      Spicy Foods

As mentioned above, spicy foods containing chili could be trigger of heartburn. And foods flavored with salsa are also likely to trigger this problem in those individuals who are prone to it.

However, the impact of spicy food on acid reflux is interesting. A few people complain that they get heartburn after consuming spicy dish while others might find spicy foods assist them in calming their chronic heartburn. Spicy food can impact the levels of acid in your own stomach, producing more hostile environment that could enhance acid reflux. If you find spicy food could trigger your heartburn, you should cut back the heat in your meal plans.

9.    Caffeine & Soda

Those drinks with caffeine such as tea, coffee, and soda are likely to trigger the symptoms of heartburn in those people who are easily prone. Any beverage high in caffeine may also cause the condition of heartburn.

In case that you are one of those individuals who could not function without a cup of coffee in the morning, fortunately, you do not have to stop drinking it entirely. . Moderation is key here. Just cut down and pay attention to the portion sizes. For example, drinking a 3- or 4-ounce cup of coffee per day can help you enjoy your favorite beverage while still keeping heartburn at bay.

Likewise, soda could also be very damaging to those who are suffering from acid reflux. Colas and fruits flavored drinks consist of carbon dioxide which is a danger. The bubble might force your esophagus, letting acid creep up. If you feel that carbonation of soda result in heartburn, then replace it with water. Water is always a better option!

10.      Alcohol

Beer, wine and such tasty pomegranate martinis can cause heartburn attacks as alcohol can open and relax your sphincter muscle between your throat and your stomach, allowing stomach acid to travel, likewise as the way mint does.

A large intake of alcohol can be a disaster for your stomach. In case that you enjoy a drink it, reduce the portion so that you can minimize the risk of heartburn.

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